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FROM -THE- LIBRARY- OF- 
A.   'V.    Ryder 


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Illustrated  Sterling  edition 


THE    ABBOT 


KENILWORTH 


BY 
SIR   WALTER  SCOTT,    BART. 


BOSTON 
DANA    ESTES   &    COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS 


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LIST   OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


THE   ABBOT 

PAGE 

Roland  at  Langs ide Frontispiece 

" '  Roland,  go  kiss  the  hand  of  the  noble  knight '"  .       27 
'•  The   appearance   of    the    crowd    was    grotesque    in 

the  extreme" 117 

" '  A  Seyton  !    A  Seyton  1    Set  on  I    Set  on  ! '  "         .         .     152 

"'Is     THIS     THE     JACKANAPE     PAGE     FOR    WHOM    WE     HAVE 

WAITED    THUS    LONG?'"   . 201 


KENILWORTH 

"The  blow  was  arrested  by  the   gra%p;  ^y   MickAEL,^  -  V 

Lambourne" '."*.'.        .   '  40 

The  Farrier's  Cavern  .  .  .  ? ,  '  .  p*  V  * -J  ,,\;1^4; 
"The  gallant,  throwing   his    cloak   FftoM' iiis' shoul-' ' 

ders,  laid  it  on  the  miry  spot  "  .  .  .  .  163 
"'What   may  your   ladyship   please   to    lack?*    said 

Wayland" .         .232 

"  <  Men  say,'  thus  ran  his  thoughts  .  .  .  <  that  i  might 

marry  Elizabeth'"      ,        .        .        •        .        .        .    242 


M29082 


^i 


INTRODUCTION  TO  THE  ABBOT 


From  what  is  said  in  the  Introduction  to  the  Monastery,  it 
must  necessarily  be  inferred  that  the  Author  considered 
that  romance  as  something  very  like  a  failure.  It  is  true, 
the  booksellers  did  not  complain  of  the  sale,  because,  unless 
on  very  felicitous  occasions,  or  on  those  which  are  equally 
the  reverse,  literary  popularity  is  not  gained  or  lost  by  a 
single  publication.  Leisure  must  be  allowed  for  the  tide 
both  to  flow  and  ebb.  But  I  was  conscious  that,  in  my  sit- 
uation, not  to  advance  was  in  some  degree  to  recede,  and 
being  naturally  unwilling  to  think  that  the  principle  of 
decay  lay  in  myself,  I  was  at  least  desirous  to  know  of  a 
certainty  whether  the  degree  of  discountenance  which  I  had 
incurred  was  now  owing  to  an  ill-managed  story  or  an  ill- 
chosen  subject. 

1  was  never,  I  confess,  one  of  those  who  are  willing  to 
suppose  the  brains  of  an  author  to  be  a  kind  of  milk,  which 
will  not  stand  above  a  single  creaming,  and  who  are  eter- 
nally harping  to  young  authors  to  husband  their  efforts,  and 
to  be  chary  of  their  reputation,  lest  it  grow  hackneyed  in 
the  eyes  of  men.  Perhaps  I  was,  and  have  always  been,  the 
more  indifferent  to  the  degree  of  estim^.tfe'i'ir.  whic-ii'l 
might  be  held  as  an  author  because  I  did'  hbt'put'so  higli  a 
value  as  many  others  upon  what  is  termed  lit(jr'ary  repata-^ 
tion  in  the  abstract,  or  at  least  upon  the'  specie^s  of  J)opu- 
larity  which  had  fallen  to  my  share ;  for  though  it  were 
worse  than  affectation  to  deny  that  my  vanity  was  satisfied 
at  my  success  in  the  department  in  which  chance  had  in 
some  measure  enlisted  me,  I  was,  nevertheless,  far  from 
thinking  that  the  novelist  or  romance-writer  stands  high  in 
the  ranks  of  literature.  But  I  spare  the  reader  farther 
egotism  on  this  subject,  as  I  have  expressed  my  opinion 
very  fully  in  the  Introductory  Epistle  to  the  Fortunes  of 
Nigel,  and,  although  it  be  composed  in  an  imaginary  char- 
acter, it  is  as  sincere  and  candid  as  if  it  had  been  written 
-'  witl.out  my  gown  and  band." 

In  a  word,  when  I  considered  myself  as  having  been  un- 
iuooensfid  iu  the  Monastery,  I  was  tempted  to  try  wheth^ 


«|  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

I  could  not  restore,  even  at  the  risk  of  totally  losing  my  so- 
called  reputation  by  a  new  hazard.  I  looked  round  my 
library,  and  could  not  but  observe  that,  from  the  time  of 
Chaucer  to  that  of  Byron,  the  most  popular  authors  had 
been  the  most  prolific.  Even  the  aristarch  Johnson  allowed 
that  the  quality  of  readiness  and  profusion  had  a  merit  in 
itself,  independent  of  the  intrinsic  value  of  the  composition. 
Talking  of  Churchill,  I  believe,  who  had  little  merit  in  his 
prejudiced  eyes,  he  allowed  him  that  of  fertility,  with  some 
such  qualification  as  this — '^  A  crab-apple  can  bear  but  crabs 
after  all ;  but  there  is  a  great  difference  in  favor  of  that 
which  hears  a  large  quantity  of  fruit,  however  indifferent, 
and  that  which  produces  only  a  few." 

Looking  more  attentively  at  the  patriarchs  of  literature, 
whose  career  was  as  long  as  it  was  brilliant,  I  thought  I 
perceived  that  in  the  busy  and  prolonged  course  of  exertion 
there  were  no  doubt  occasional  failures,  but  that  still  those 
who  were  favorites  of  their  age  triumphed  over  these  mis- 
carriages. By  the  new  efforts  which  they  made,  their  errors 
were  obliterated,  they  became  identified  with  the  literature 
of  their  country,  and  after  having  long  received  law  from 
the  critics,  came  in  some  degree  to  impose  it.  And  when 
such  a  writer  was  at  length  called  from  the  scene,  his  death 
first  made  the  public  sensible  what  a  large  share  he  had  oc- 
cupied in  their  attention.  I  recollected  a  passage  in 
Grimm's  Correspondence,  that,  while  the  unexhausted  Vol- 
taire sent  forth  t?apt  after  tract,  to  the  very  close  of  a  long 
'lif^  the  'firsi  ♦ijrfiJ)r6ssion  made  by  each  as  it  appeared  was 
tblat  it  tVEts  iliferior  to  its  predecessor — an  opinion  adopted 
frOijl'the 'general 4dea*. that  the  Patriarch  of  Ferney  must  at 
laat'Biid'  the*  point*,  f i?o*m  which  he  was  to  decline.  But  the 
opinion  of  the  public  finally  ranked  in  succession  the  last  of 
Voltaire's  £^88ays  c  n  the  same  footing  with  those  which  had 
formerly  charmed  the  French  nation.  The  inference  from 
this  and  similar  facts  seemed  to  me  to  be  that  new  works 
were  often  judged  of  by  the  public,  not  so  much  from  their 
own  intrinsic  merit,  as  from  extrinsic  ideas  which  readers 
had  previously  formed  with  regard  to  them,  and  over  which 
a  writer  might  hope  to  triumph  by  patience  and  by  exertion. 
There  is  a  risk  in  the  attempt : 

If  he  fall  in,  good-night,  or  sink  or  swim. 

But  this  is  a  chance  incident  to  every  literary  attempt,  and 
by  which  men  of  a  sanguine  temper  are  little  moved. 


JNTB0DUC2I0N  TO  THE  ABBOT  y^i 

I  may  illustrate  what  I  mean  by  the  feelings  of  most  men 
in  travelling.  If  we  have  found  any  stage  particularly 
tedious  or  in  an  especial  degree  interesting,  particularly 
short  or  much  longer  than  we  expected,  our  imaginations 
are  so  apt  to  exaggerate  the  original  impression  that,  on 
repeating  the  journey,  we  usually  find  that  we  have  con- 
siderably overrated  the  predominating  quality,  and  the  road 
appears  to  be  duller. or  more  pleasant,  shorter  or  more  tedi- 
ous, than  what  we  expected,  and,  consequently,  than  what 
is  the  actual  case.  It  requires  a  third  or  fourth  journey  to 
enable  us  to  form  an  accurate  judgment  of  its  beauty,  its 
length,  or  its  other  attributes. 

In  the  same  manner,  the  public,  judging  of  a  new  work, 
which  it  receives  perhaps  with  little  expectation,  if  sur- 
prised into  applause,  becomes  very  often  ecstatic,  gives  a 
great  deal  more  approbation  than  is  due,  and  elevates  the 
child  of  its  immediate  favor  to  a  rank  which,  as  it  affects  the 
author,  it  is  equally  difficult  to  keep  and  painful  to  lose. 
If,  on  this  occasion,  the  author  trembles  at  the  height  to 
which  he  is  raised,  and  becomes  afraid  of  the  shadow  of  his 
own  renown,  he  may  indeed  retire  from  the  lottery 
with  the  prize  which  he  has  drawn,  but,  in  future 
ages,  his  honor  will  be  only  in  proportion  to  his  labors.  If, 
on  the  contrary,  he  rushes  again  into  the  lists,  he  is  sure  to 
be  judged  with  severity  proportioned  to  the  former  favor  of 
the  public.  If  he  be  daunted  by  a  bad  reception  on  this 
second  occasion,  he  may  again  become  a  stranger  to  the 
arena.  If,  on  the  contrary,  he  can  keep  his  ground,  and 
stand  the  shuttlecock's  fate,  of  being  struck  up  and  down, 
he  will  probably,  at  length,  hold  with  some  certainty  the 
level  in  public  opinion  which  he  may  be  found  to  deserve  ; 
and  he  may  perhaps  boast  of  arresting  the  general  attention, 
in  the  same  manner  as  the  Bachelor  Samson  Carrasco  of 
fixing  the  weathercock  La  Giralda  of  Seville  for  weeks, 
months,  or  years,  that  is,  for  as  long  as  the  wind  shall  uni- 
formly blow  from  one  quarter.  To  this  degree  of  popularity 
the  Author  had  the  hardihood  to  aspire,  while,  in  order  to 
attain  it,  he  assumed  the  daring  resolution  to  keep  himself  in 
the  view  of  the  public  by  frequent  appearances  before  them. 

It  must  be  added,  that  the  Author's  incognito  gave  him 
the  greater  courage  to  renew  his  attempts  to  please  the 
.public,  and  an  advantage  similar  to  that  which  Jack  the 
O-iant-killer  received  from  his  coat  of  darkness.  In  sending 
the  Abbot  forth  so  soon  after  the  Monastery,  he  had  used 
the  well-known  practise  recommended  by  Bassanio  : 


rUi  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

In  my  school-days,  when  I  had  lost  one  shaft, 
I  shot  another  of  the  self-same  flight, 
The  self -same  way,  with  more  advised  watch. 
To  find  the  other  forth. 

And,  to  continue  the  simile,  his  shafts,  like  those  of  the 
Lesser  Ajax,  were  discharged  more  readily  that  the  archer 
was  as  inaccessible  to  criticism,  personally  speaking,  as  the 
Grecian  archer  under  his  brother's  sevenfold  shield. 

Should  the  reader  desire  to  know  upon  what  principles 
the  Abbot  was  expected  to  amend  the  fortune  of  the  3/on- 
astery,  I  have  first  to  request  his  attention  to  the  Introduc- 
tory Epistle  addressed  to  the  imaginary  Captain  Clutterbuck 
— a  mode  by  which,  like  his  predecessors  in  this  walk  of 
fiction,  the  real  Author  makes  one  of  his  dramatis  personam 
the  means  of  communicating  his  own  sentiments  to  the 
public,  somewhat  more  artificially  than  by  a  direct  address 
to  the  readers.  A  pleasing  French  writer  of  fairy  tales. 
Monsieur  Pajon,  author  of  the  History  of  Prince  Soly,  has 
set  a  diverting  example  of  the  same  machinery,  where  he 
introduces  the  presiding  Genius  of  the  land  of  Eomance 
conversing  with  one  of  the  personages  of  the  tale. 

In  this  Introductory  Epistle,  the  Author  communicates, 
in  confidence,  to  Captain  Clutterbuck  his  sense  that  the 
White  Lady  had  not  met  the  taste  of  the  times,  and  his 
reason  for  withdrawing  her  from  the  scene.  The  Author 
did  not  deem  it  equally  necessary  to  be  candid  respecting 
another  alteration.  The  Monastery  was  designed,  at  first, 
to  have  contained  some  supernatural  agency,  arising  out  of 
the  fact  that  Melrose  had  been  the  place  of  deposit  of  the 
great  Kobert  Bruce's  heart.  The  writer  shrunk,  however, 
from  filling  up,  in  this  particular,  the  sketch  as  it  was  orig- 
inally traced  ;  nor  did  he  venture  to  resume,  in  the  con- 
tinuation, the  subject  which  he  had  left  unattempted  in  the 
original  work.  Thus,  the  incident  of  the  discovery  of  the 
heart,  which  occupies  the  greater  part  of  the  Introduction 
to  the  Monastery^  is  a  mystery  unnecessarily  introduced, 
and  which  remains  at  last  very  imperfectly  explained.  In 
this  particular,  I  was  happy  to  shroud  myself  by  the  example 
of  the  author  of  Caleb  Williams,  who  never  condescends  to 
inform  us  of  the  actual  contents  of  that  iron  chest  which 
makes  such  a  figure  in  his  interesting  work,  and  gives  the 
name  to  Mr.  Colman's  drama. 

The  public  had  some  claim  to  inquire  into  this  matter, 
but  it  seemed  indifferent  policy  in  the  Author  to  give  the 
explanation.     For,  whatever  praise  may  be  due  to  the  Ip- 


INTSODtTCTiON  tO  T^S  ABBOT  im 

gennity  which  brings  to  a  general  combination  all  the  loose 
threads  of  a  narrative,  like  the  knitter  at  the  finishing  of  her 
stocking,  I  am  greatly  deceived  if  in  many  cases  a  superior 
advantage  is  not  attained  by  the  air  of  reality  which  the 
deficiency  of  explanation  attaches  to  a  work  written  on  a 
different  system.  In  life  itself,  many  things  befall  every 
mortal  of  which  the  individual  never  knows  the  real  cause 
or  origin  :  and  were  we  to  point  out  the  most  marked  dis- 
tinction between  a  real  and  a  fictitious  narrative,  we  would 
say,  that  the  former,  in  reference  to  the  remote  causes  of 
the  events  it  relates,  is  obscure,  doubtful,  and  mysterious ; 
wherieas,  in  the  latter  case,  it  is  a  part  of  the  author's  duty 
to  afford  satisfactory  details  upon  the  causes  of  the  separate 
events  he  has  recorded,  and,  in  a  word,  to  account  for  every- 
thing. The  reader,  like  Mungo  in  the  Padlock^  will  not 
be  satisfied  with  hearing  what  he  is  not  made  fully  to  com- 
prehend. 

I  omitted,  therefore,  in  the  Introduction  to  the  Ahhoty 
any  attempt  to  explain  the  previous  story  or  to  apologize 
for  unintelligibility. 

Neither  would  it  have  been  prudent  to  have  endeavored 
to  proclaim,  in  the  Introduction  to  the  Abbot,  the  real 
spring  by  which  I  hoped  it  might  attract  a  greater  degree 
of  interest  than  its  immediate  predecessor.  A  taking  title, 
or  the  announcement  of  a  popular  subject,  is  a  recipe  for 
success  much  in  favor  with  booksellers,  but  which  authors 
will  not  always  find  efficacious.  The  cause  is  worth  a 
moment's  examination. 

There  occur  in  every  country  some  peculiar  historical 
characters,  which  are,  like  a  spell  or  a  charm,  sovereign  to 
excite  curiosity  and  attract  attention,  since  every  one  in  the 
slightest  degree  interested  in  the  land  which  they  belong 
to  has  heard  much  of  them,  and  longs  to  hear  more.  A 
tale  turning  on  the  fortunes  of  Alfred  or  Elizabeth  in  Eng« 
land,  or  Wallace  or  Bruce  in  Scotland,  is  sure  by  the  very 
announcement  to  excite  public  curiosity  to  a  considerable 
degree  and  ensure  the  publisher's  being  relieved  of  the 
greater  part  of  an  impression,  even  before  the  contents  of 
the  work  are  known.  This  is  of  the  last  importance  to  the 
bookseller,  who  is  at  once  to  use  a  technical  phrase, 
"brought  home,'*  all  his  outlay  being  repaid.  But  it  is  a 
different  case  with  the  author,  since  it  cannot  be  denied 
that  we  are  apt  to  feel  least  satisfied  with  the  works  of 
which  we  have  been  induced,  by  titles  and  laudatory  adver- 
tisements, to  entertain  exaggerated  expectation.     The  in' 


WAVEULEY  NOVELS 


fcention  of  the  work  has  been  anticipated,  and  misconceiyed 

or  misrepresented,  and  although  the  difficulty  of  executing 
the  work  again  reminds  us  of  Hotspur's  task  of  **  o'erwalk- 
ing  a  current  roaring  loud,*'  yet  the  adventurer  must  look 
for  more  ridicule  if  he  fails  than  applause  if  he  executes 
his  undertaking. 

Notwithstanding  a  risk  which  should  make  authors  pause 
ere  they  adopt  a  theme  which,  exciting  general  interest  and 
curiosity,  is  often  the  preparative  for  disappointment,  yet 
it  would  be  an  injudicious  regulation  which  should  deter 
the  poet  or  painter  from  attempting  to  introduce  historical 
portraits  merely  from  the  difficulty  of  executing  the  task  in 
a  satisfactory  manner.  Something  must  be  trusted  to  the 
generous  impulse,  which  often  thrusts  an  artist  upon  feats 
of  which  he  knows  the  difficulty,  while  he  trusts  courage 
and  exertion  may  afford  the  means  of  surmounting  it. 

It  is  especially  when  he  is  sensible  of  losing  ground  with 
the  public  that  an  author  may  be  justified  in  using  with 
address  such  selection  of  subject  or  title  as  is  most  likely  to 
procure  a  rehearing.  It  was  with  these  feelings  of  hope 
and  apprehension  that  I  ventured  to  awaken,  in  a  work  of 
fiction,  the  memory  of  Queen  Mary,  so  interesting  by  her 
wit,  her  beauty,  her  misfortunes,  and  the  mystery  which 
still  does,  and  probably  always  will,  overhang  her  history. 
In  doing  so,  I  was  aware  that  failure  would  be  a  conclusive 
disaster,  so  that  my  task  was  something  like  that  of  an  en- 
chanter who  raises  a  spirit  over  whom  he  is  uncertain  of 
possessing  an  effectual  control ;  and  I  naturally  paid  atten- 
tion to  such  principles  of  composition  as  I  conceived  were 
best  suited  to  the  historical  novel. 

Enough  has  been  already  said  to  explain  the  purpose  of 
composing  the  Abbot.  The  historical  references  are,  as 
usual,  explained  in  the  notes.  That  which  relates  to  Queen 
Mary's  escape  from  Lochleven  Castle  is  a  more  minute  ac- 
count of  that  romantic  adventure  than  is  to  be  found  in  th^ 
histories  of  the  period. 

Abbotsford.  \st  January,  1881. 


INTEODUCTORY  EPISTLE 

FROM 

THE  AUTHOR  OF  WA  VERLEY 

TO 

CAPTAIN  CLUTTERBUCK, 
Of  His  Majesty's Regiment  of  Infantry 

Dear  Captaik — 

I  am  sorry  to  observe,  by  your  last  favor,  that  you  dis- 
approve of  the  numerous  retrenchments  and  alterations 
which  I  have  been  under  the  necessity  of  making  on  the 
Manuscript  of  your  friend,  the  Benedictine,  and  I  willingly 
make  you  the  medium  of  apology  to  many  who  have 
honored  me  more  than  I  deserve. 

I  admit  that  my  retrenchments  have  been  numerous, 
and  leave  gaps  in  the  story,  which,  in  your  original  manu- 
script, would  have  run  well-nigh  to  a  fourth  volume,  as  my 
printer  assures  me.  I  am  sensible  besides,  that,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  liberty  of  curtailment  you  have  allowed  me, 
some  parts  of  the  story  have  been  huddled  up  without 
the  necessary  details.  But,  after  all,  it  is  better  that  the 
travelers  should  have  to  step  over  a  ditch  than  to  wade 
through  a  morass  :  that  the  reader  should  have  to  suppose 
what  may  easily  be  inferred  than  be  obliged  to  creep 
through  pages  of  dull  explanation.  I  have  struck  out,  for  ex- 
ample, the  whole  machinery  of  the  White  Lady,  and  the 
poetry  by  which  it  is  so  ably-supported  in  the  original  manu- 
script. But  you  must  allow  that  the  public  taste  gives  little  en- 
couragement to  those  legendary  superstitions  which  formed 
alternately  the  delight  and  the  terror  of  our  predecessors. 
In  like  manner,  much  is  omitted  illustrative  of  the  impulse 
of  enthusiasm  in  favor  of  the  ancient  religion  in  Mother 
Magdalen  and  the  abbot.  But  we  do  not  feel  deep  sym- 
pathy at  this  period  with  what  was  once  the  most  power- 
ful and  animating  principle  in  Europe,  with  the  exception 

xi 


xii 


W.AVEELET  NOVELS 


of  that  of  the  Keformation,  by  which  it  was  successfully 
opposed. 

You  rightly  observe  that  these  retrenchments  have  rendered 
the  title  no  longer  applicable  to  the  subject,  and  that  some 
other  would  have  been  more  suitable  to  the  work  in  its 
present  state  than  that  of  the  abbot,  who  made  so  much 
greater  figure  in  the  original,  and  for  whom  your  friend, 
the  Benedictine,  seems  to  have  inspired  you  with  a  sym- 
pathetic respect.  I  must  plead  guilty  to  this  accusation, 
observing,  at  the  same  time,  in  manner  of  extenuation,  that 
though  the  objection  might  have  been  easily  removed  by 
giving  a  new  title  to  the  work,  yet,  in  doing  so,  I  should 
have  destroyed  the  necessary  cohesion  between  the  present 
history  and  its  predecessor  the  Monastery,  which  I  was  un- 
willing to  do,  as  the  period  and  several  of  the  personages 
were  the  same. 

After  all,  my  good  friend,  it  is  of  little  consequence 
what  the  work  is  called,  or  on  what  interest  it  turns,  provided 
it  catches  the  public  attention  ;  for  the  quality  of  the  wine, 
could  we  but  insure  it,  may  according  to  the  old  proverb, 
render  the  bush  unnecessary  or  of  little  consequence. 

I  congratulate  you  upon  your  having  found  it  consistent 
with  prudence  to  establish  your  tilbury,  and  approve  of  the 
color,  and  of  your  boy's  livery  (subdued  green  and  pink). 
As  you  talk  of  completing  your  descriptive  poem  on  the 
Huins  of  Kennaquhair,  with  Notes  by  an  Antiquary,  I  hope 
you  have  procured  a  steady  horse. 

I  remain,  with  compliments  to  all  friends,  dear  Captain, 
Tery  much 

Yours,  etc.  etc. etc., 

The  Author  of  Waverley. 


TH  E  ABBOT 

CHAPTER  I 

Do*num  mansit,  lanam  fedt 

Ancient  Roman  Epitaph. 
Sho  keepit  close  the  hous,  and  birlit  at  the  quhele. 

Gawain  Douglas. 

The  time  which  passes  over  our  heads  so  imperceptibly 
makes  the  same  gradual  change  in  habits,  manners,  and 
character  as  in  personal  appearance.  At  the  revolution  of 
every  five  years  we  find  ourselves  another,  and  yet  the  same  : 
there  is  a  change  of  views,  and  no  less  of  the  light  in  which 
we  regard  them,  a  change  of  motives  as  well  as  of  actions. 
Nearly  twice  that  space  had  glided  away  over  the  head  of 
Halbert  Glendinning  and  his  lady  betwixt  the  period  of  our 
former  narrative,  in  which  they  played  a  distinguished  part, 
and  the  date  at  which  our  present  tale  commences. 

Two  circumstances  only  had  embittered  their  union, 
which  was  otherwise  as  happy  as  mutual  affection  could 
render  it.  The  first  of  these  was  indeed  the  common  calam- 
ity of  Scotland,  being  the  distracted  state  of  that  unhappy 
country,  where  every  man's  sword  was  directed  against  his 
neighbor's  bosom.  Glendinning  had  proved  what  Murray 
expected  of  him,  a  steady  friend,  strong  in  battle  and  wise 
m  council,  adhering  to  him,  from  motives  of  gratitude  in 
situations  where  by  his  own  unbiassed  will  he  would  either 
have  stood  neuter  or  have  joined  the  opposite  party.  Hence 
when  danger  was  near— and  it  was  seldom  far  distant— Sir 
Halbert  Glendinning,  for  he  now  bore  the  rank  of  knight- 
hood, was  perpetually  summoned  to  attend  his  patron  on 
distant  expeditions,  or  on  perilous  enterprises,  or  to  assist 
him  with  his  counsel  in  the  doubtful  intrigues  of  a  half 
barbarous  court.  He  was  thus  frequently,  and  for  a  long; 
space,  absent  from  his  castle  and  from  his  lady  ;  and  to  this 
ground  of  regret  we  mast  add,  that  their  union  had  not  been 
blessed  with  children,  to  occupy  the  attention  of  the  Lady 
of  Avenel  while  she  was  thus  deprived  of  her  husband't 
domestic  society. 


\ 


\ 


WAVEBLET  NOVELS 


On  such  occasiorHs  she  lived  almost  entirely  secluded  from 
the  world,  within  tl.ie  walls  of  her  paternal  mansion.  Visit- 
ing amongst  neighbo^f s  was  a  matter  entirely  out  of  the 
question,  unless  on  occiasionsof  solemn  festival,  and  then 
it  was  chiefly  confined  to  .^^lear  kindred.  Of  these  the  Lady 
of  Avenel  had  none  who  b  survived,  and  the  dames  of  the 
neighboring  barons  affected  t07  regard  her  less  as  the  heiress 
of  the  house  of  Avenel  than  ab>  the  wife  of  a  peasant,  the 
son  of  a  church-vassal,  raised  up  t.^^  mushroom  eminence  by 
the  capricious  favor  of  Murray.  -n^^ 

This  pride  of  ancestry,  which  ranklea^  in  the  bosom  of  the 
ancient  gentry,  was  more  openly  expresse(i"^o  by  ^^^^^  ladies, 
and  was,  moreover,  embittered  not  a  little  C^J  the  political 
feuds  of  the  time,   for  most  of  the  Southron^^^^  chiefs  were 
friends  to  the  authority  of  the  Queen,  and  ver}>'  jealous  of 
the  power  of  Murray.     The  Castle  of  Avenel  was,    therefore, 
on  all  these  accounts,  as  melancholy  and  solitary  a  i  Residence 
for  its  lady  as  could  well  be  imagined.     Still  it  had  thv^p  essen- 
tial recommendation  of  great  security.    The  reader  is  already 
aware  that  the  fortress  was  built  upon  an  islet  in  a  ^^mall 
lake,  and  was  only  accessible  by  a  causeway,  intersected  d  by 
a  double  ditch,  defended  by  two  drawbridges,  so  that,  Wx^^th- 
out  artillery,  it  might  in  those  days  be  considered  as  i.^m- 
pregnable.     It  was  only  necessary,   therefore,   to    secuJ^^e 
against  surprise,  and  the  service  of  six  able  men  within  thv(ie 
castle   was  sufficient  for  that  purpose.     If  more   seriou-j^s 
danger  threatened,  an  ample  garrison  was  supplied  by  the  * 
male  inhabitants  of  a  little  hamlet  which,  under  the  aus-, 
pices  of  Halbert  Glendinning,  had  arisen  on  a  small  piece  of 
level  ground,  betwixt  the  lake  and  the  hill,  nearly  adjoining  . 
to  the  spot  where  the  causeway  joined  the  mainland.     The 
Lord  of  Avenel  had  found  it  an  easy  matter  to  procure  in- 
habitants, as  he  was  not  only  a  kind  and  beneficent  over- 
lord, but  well  qualified,  both  by  his  experience  in  arms,  his 
high  character  for  wisdom  and  integrity,  and  his  favor  with 
the  powerful  Earl  of  Murray,  to  protect  and  defend  those 
who  dwelt  under  his  banner.     In  leaving  his  castle  for  any 
length  of  time,  he  had,  therefore,  the  consolation  to  reflect 
that  this  village  afforded,  on  the  slightest  notice,  a  band  of 
thirty  stout  men,  which   was  more  than  sufficient  for  its 
defense  ;  while  the  families  of  the  villagers,  as  was  usual  on 
such  occasions,  fled  to  the  recesses  of  the  mountains,  drove 
their  cattle  to  the  same  places  of  shelter,  and  left  the  enemy 
to  work  their  will  on  their  miserable  cottages. 

One  guest  only  resided  generally,  if  not  constantly,  at   / 


THE  ABBOT  8 

the  Castle  of  Avenel.  This  was  Henry  "Warden,  who  now 
felt  himself  less  able  for  the  stormy  task  imposed  on  the 
Reforming  clergy ;  and  having  by  his  zeal  given  personal 
offense  to  many  of  the  leading  nobles  and  chiefs,  did  not 
consider  himself  as  perfectly  safe  unless  when  within  the 
walls  of  the  strong  mansion  of  some  assured  friend.  He 
ceased  not,  however,  to  serve  his  cause  as  eagerly  with  his 
pen  as  he  had  formerly  done  with  his  tongue,  and  had  en- 
gaged in  a  furious  and  acrimonious  contest  concerning  the 
sacrifice  of  the  mass,  as  it  was  termed,  with  the  Abbot 
Eustatius,  formerly  the  sub-prior  of  Kennaquhair.  Answers, 
replies,  duplies,  triplies,  quadruplies  followed  thick  upon 
each  other,  and  displayed,  as  is  not  unusual  in  controversy, 
fully  as  much  zeal  as  Christian  charity.  The  disputation 
very  soon  became  as  celebrated  as  that  of  John  Knox  and 
the  Abbot  of  Crossraguel,  raged  nearly  as  fiercely,  and,  for 
aught  I  know,  the  publications  to  which  it  gave  rise  may  be 
as  precious  in  the  eyes  of  bibliographers.*  But  the  engross- 
ing nature  of  his  occupation  rendered  the  theologian  not 
the  most  interesting  companion  for  a  solitary  female  ;  and 
his  grave,  stern,  and  absorbed  deportment,  which  seldom 
showed  any  interest  except  in  that  which  concerned  his 
religious  profession,  made  his  presence  rather  add  to  than 
diminish  the  gloom  which  hung  over  the  Castle  of  Avenel. 
To  superintend  the  tasks  of  numerous  female  domestics  was 
the  principal  part  of  the  lady's  daily  employment;  her 
epindle  and  distaff,  her  Bible,  and  a  solitary  walk  upon  the 
battlements  of  the  castle,  or  upon  the  causeway,  or  occa- 
sionally, but  more  seldom,  upon  the  banks  of  the  little  lake, 
consumed  the  rest  of  the  day.  But  so  great  was  the  inse- 
curity of  the  period  that,  when  she  ventured  to  extend  her 
walk  beyond  the  hamlet,  the  warder  on  the  watch-tower 
was  directed  to  keep  a  sharp  lookout  in  every  direction,  and 
four  or  five  men  held  themselves  in  readiness  to  mount  and 
sally  forth  from  the  castle  on  the  slightest  appearance  of 
alarm. 

Thus  stood  affairs  at  the  castle,  when,  after  an  absence  of 
several  weeks,  the  Knight  of  Avenel,  which  was  now  the 
title  most  frequently  given  to  Sir  Halbert  Glendinning,  was 
daily  expected  to  return  home.  Day  after  day,  however, 
passed  away,  and  he  returned  not.     Letters  in  those  days 

*  The  tracts  which  appeared  in  the  disputation  between  the 
Scottish  Reformer  and  Quentin  Kennedy,  Abbot  of  Crossraguel, 
are  among  the  scarcest  iu  Sgottish  bibliography.  See  M'Crie's  Xt/« 
0/  Knox,  p.  2Q& 


i  WAVEBLEY  NOVELS 

were  rarely  written,  and  the  knight  must  have  resorted  to  a 
secretary  to  express  his  intentions  in  that  manner  ;  besides, 
intercourse  of  all  kinds  was  precarious  and  unsafe,  and  no 
man  cared  to  give  any  public  intimation  of  the  time  and 
direction  of  a  journey,  since,  if  his  route  were  publicly 
known,  it  was  always  likely  he  might,  in  that  case  meet 
with  more  enemies  than  friends  upon  the  road.  The  precise 
day,  therefore,  of  Sir  Halbert's  return  was  not  fixed,  but 
that  which  his  lady's  fond  expectation  had  calculated  upon 
in  her  own  mind  had  long  since  passed,  and  hope  delayed 
began  to  make  the  heart  sick. 

It  was  upon  the  evening  of  a  sultry  summer's  day,  when 
the  sun  was  half -sunk  behind  the  distant  western  mountains 
of  Liddesdale,  that  the  lady  took  her  solitary  walk  on  the 
battlements  of  a  range  of  buildings,  which  formed  the  front 
of  the  castle,  where  a  flat  roof  of  flagstones  presented  a 
broad  and  convenient  promenade.  The  level  suriace  of  the 
lake,  undisturbed  except  by  the  occasional  dipping  of  a  teal- 
duck  or  coot,  was  gilded  with  the  beams  of  the  setting 
luminary,  and  reflected,  as  if  in  a  golden  mirror,  the  hills 
amongst  which  it  lay  embosomed.  The  scene,  otherwise  so 
lonely,  was  occasionally  enlivened  by  the  voices  of  the  chil- 
dren in  the  village,  which,  softened  by  distance,  reached 
the  ear  of  the  lady  in  her  solitary  walk,  or  by  the  distant 
call  of  the  herdsman,  as  he  guided  his  cattle  from  the  glen 
in  which  they  had  pastured  all  day,  to  place  them  in  greater 
security  for  the  night  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  village. 
The  deep  lowing  of  the  cows  seemed  to  demand  the  attend- 
ance of  the  milk-maidens,  who,  singing  shrilly  and  merrily, 
strolled  forth,  each  with  her  pail  on  her  head,  to  attend  to 
the  duty  of  the  evening.  The  Lady  of  Avenel  looked  and 
listened  ;  the  sounds  which  she  heard  reminded  her  of 
former  days,  when  her  most  important  employment,  as  well 
as  her  greatest  delight,  was  to  assist  Dame  Glendinning  and 
Tibb  Tacket  in  milking  the  cows  at  Glendearg.  The 
thought  was  fraught  with  melancholy. 

"  Why  was  I  not,"  she  said,  "  the  peasant  girl  which  in  all 
men's  eyes  I  seemed  to  be  !  Halbert  and  I  had  then  spent 
our  life  peacefully  in  his  native  glen,  undisturbed  by  the 
phantoms  either  of  fear  or  ambition.  His  greatest  pride 
had  then  been  to  show  the  fairest  herd  in  the  halidome  ;  his 

greatest  danger  to  repel  some  pilfering  snatcher  from  the 
order  ;  and  the  utmost  distance  which  would  have  divided 
us  would  have  been  the  chase  of  some  out-lying  deer.  But. 
ftlas !  what  avails  the  blood  which  Halbert  has  shed,  and 


THE  ABBOT  5 

the  dangers  which  he  encounters,  to  support  a  name  and 
rank,  dear  to  him  because  he  has  it  from  me,  but  which  we 
shall  never  transmit  to  our  posterity  ?  With  me  the  name 
of  Avenel  must  expire." 

She  sighed  as  these  reflections  arose,  and,  looking  towards 
the  shore  of  the  lake,  her  eye  was  attracted  by  a  group  of 
children  of  various  ages,  assembled  to  see  a  little  ship,  con- 
structed by  some  village  artist,  perform  its  first  voyage  on 
the  water.  It  was  launched  amid  the  shouts  of  tiny  voices 
and  the  clapping  of  little  hands,  and  shot  bravely  forth  on 
its  voyage  with  a  favoring  wind,  which  promised  to  carry  it 
to  the  other  side  of  the  lake.  Some  of  the  bigger  boys  ran 
round  to  receive  and  secure  it  on  the  farther  shore,  trying 
their  speed  against  each  other  as  they  sprang  like  young 
fawns  along  the  shingly  verge  of  the  lake.  The  rest,  for 
whom  such  a  journey  seemed  too  arduous,  remained  watch- 
ing the  motions  of  the  fairy  vessel  from  the  spot  where  it 
had  been  launched.  The  sight  of  their  sports  pressed  on 
the  mind  of  the  childless  Lady  of  Avenel. 

<«  Why  are  none  of  these  prattlers  mine  ?  "  she  continued, 
pursuing  the  tenor  of  her  melancholy  reflections.  *^  Their 
parents  can  scarce  find  them  the  coarsest  food  ;  and  I,  who 
could  nurse  them  in  plenty — I  am  doomed  never  to  hear  a 
child  call  me  mother  !  ^' 

The  thought  sunk  on  her  heart  with  a  bitterness  which 
resembled  envy,  so  deeply  is  the  desire  of  offspring  im- 
planted in  the  female  breast.  She  pressed  her  hands  to- 
gether as  if  she  were  wringing  them  in  the  extremity  of  her 
desolate  feeling,  as  one  whom  Heaven  had  written  childless. 
A  large  staghound  of  the  greyhound  species  approached  at 
this  moment,  and,  attracted  perhaps  by  the  gesture,  licked 
her  hands  and  pressed  his  large  head  against  them.  He 
obtained  the  desired  caress  in  return,  but  still  the  sad  im- 
pression remained. 

"  Wolf,"'  she  said,  as  if  the  animal  could  have  understood 
her  complaints,  "  thou  art  a  noble  and  beautiful  animal ; 
but,  alas  !  the  love  and  affection  that  I  long  to  bestow  is  of 
a  quality  higher  than  can  fall  to  thy  share,  though  I  love 
thee  much." 

And,  as  if  she  were  apologizing  to  Wolf  for  withholding 
from  him  any  part  of  her  regard,  she  caressed  his  proud 
head  and  crest,  while,  looking  in  her  eyes,  he  seemed  to  ask 
her  what  she  wanted,  or  what  he  could  do  to  show  his  at- 
tachment. At  this  moment  a  shriek  of  distress  was  heard 
on  the  shore,  from  the  playful  group  which  had  been  lately 


6  WAVE  RLE  Y  NOVELS 

SO  jovial.  The  lady  locked,  and  saw  the  cause  with  great 
agony. 

The  little  ship,  the  object  of  the  children's  delighted  at- 
tention, had  struck  among  some  tufts  of  the  plant  which 
bears  the  water-lily,  that  marked  a  shoal  in  the  lake  about 
an  arrow-flight  from  the  shore.  A  hardy  little  boy, who  had 
taken  the  lead  in  the  race  round  the  margin  of  the  lake,  did 
not  hesitate  a  moment  to  strip  off  his  '^  wylie-coat,"  plunge 
into  the  water,  and  swim  towards  the  object  of  their  com- 
mon solicitude.  The  first  movement  of  the  lady  was  to  call 
for  help  ;  but  she  observed  that  the  boy  swam  strongly  and 
fearlessly,  and  as  she  saw  that  one  or  two  villagers,  who  were 
distant  spectators  of  the  incident,  seemed  to  give  themselves 
no  uneasiness  on  his  account,  she  supposed  that  he  was  ac- 
customed to  the  exercise,  and  that  there  was  no  danger. 
But  whether,  in  swimming,  the  boy  had  struck  his  breast 
against  a  sunken  rock,  or  whether  he  was  suddenly  taken 
with  cramp,  or  whether  he  had  over-calculated  his  own 
strength  ,  it  so  happened  that,  when  he  had  disembarrassed 
the  little  plaything  from  the  flags  in  which  it  was  entangled 
and  sent  it  forward  on  its  course,  he  had  scarce  swam  a  few 
yards  in  his  way  to  the  shore,  when  he  raised  himself  sud- 
denly from  the  water  and  screamed  aloud,  clapping  his 
hands  at  the  same  time  with  an  expression  of  fear  and 
pain. 

The  Lady  of  Avenel,  instantly  taking  the  alarm,  called 
hastily  to  the  attendants  to  get  the  boat  ready.  But  this 
was  en  affair  of  some  time.  The  only  boat  permitted  to  be 
used  on  the  lake  was  moored  within  the  second  cut  which 
intersected  the  canal,  and  it  was  several  minutes  ere  it  could 
be  unmoored  and  got  under  way.  Meantime,  the  Lady  of 
Avenel,  with  agonizing  anxiety,  saw  that  the  efforts  which 
the  poor  boy  made  to  keep  himself  afloat  were  now  exchanged 
for  a  faint  struggling,  which  would  soon  have  been  over,but 
for  aid  equally  prompt  and  unhoped-for.  Wolf,  who,  like 
some  of  that  large  species  of  greyhound,  was  a  practised 
water-dog,  had  marked  the  object  of  her  anxiety,  and,  quit- 
ting his  mistress's  side,  had  sought  the  nearest  point  from 
which  he  could  with  safety  plunge  into  the  lake.  With  the 
wonderful  instinct  which  these  noble  animals  have  so  often 
displayed  in  the  like  circumstances,  he  swam  straight  to  the 
spot  where  his  assistance  was  so  much  wanted,  and  seizing 
the  child's  under-dress  in  his  mouth,  he  not  only  kept  him 
afloat,  but  towed  him  towards  the  causeway.  The  boat, 
having  put  off  with  a  couple  of  men,  met  the  dog  half-way, 


THE  ABBOT  7 

and  relieved  him  of  his  burden.  They  landed  on  the  cause- 
way, close  by  the  gate  of  the  castle,  with  their  yet  lifeless 
charge,  and  were  there  met  by  the  Lady  of  Avenel,  attended 
by  one  or  two  of  her  maidens,  eagerly  waiting  to  administer 
assistance  to  the  sufferer. 

He  was  borne  into  the  castle,  deposited  upon  a  bed,  and 
every  mode  of  recovery  resorted  to  which  the  knowledge  of 
the  times,  and  the  skill  of  Henry  Warden,  who  professed 
some  medical  science,  could  dictate.  For  some  time  it  was 
all  in  vain,  and  the  lady  watched  with  unspeakable  earnest- 
ness the  pallid  countenance  of  the  beautiful  child.  He 
seemed  about  ten  years  old.  His  dress  was  of  the  meanest 
sort ;  but  his  long  curled  hair,  and  the  noble  cast  of  his 
features,  partook  not  of  that  poverty  of  appearance.  The 
proudest  noble  in  Scotland  might  nave  been  yet  prouder 
could  he  have  called  that  child  his  heir.  While,  with 
breathless  anxiety,  the  Lady  of  Avenel  gazed  on  his  well- 
formed  and  expressive  features,  a  slight  shade  of  color  re- 
turned gradually  to  the  cheek  ;  suspended  animation  be- 
came restored  by  degrees,  the  child  sighed  deeply,  opened 
his  eyes,  which  to  the  human  countenance  produces  the 
effect  of  light  upon  the  natural  landscape,  stretched  his 
arms  toward  the  lady,  and  muttered  the  word  **  Mother" — 
that  epithet  of  all  others  which  is  dearest  to  the  female  ear. 

"God,  madam,"  said  the  preacher,  "has  restored  the 
child  to  your  wishes  ;  it  must  be  yours  so  to  bring  him  up 
that  he  may  not  one  day  wish  that  he  had  perished  in  his 
innocence.'' 

"  It  shall  be  my  charge,"  said  the  lady  ;  and  again  throw- 
ing her  arms  around  the  boy,  she  overwhelmed  him  with 
kisses  and  caresses,  so  much  was  she  agitated  by  the  terror 
arising  from  the  danger  in  which  he  had  been  just  placed, 
and  by  joy  at  his  unexpected  deliverance. 

"But  you  are  not  my  mother,"  said  the  boy,  recovering 
his  recollection,  and  endeavoring,  though  faintly,  to  escape 
from  the  caresses  of  the  Lady  of  Avenel — "  you  are  not  my 
mother.  Alas  !  I  have  no  mother — only  I  have  dreamed  that 
I  have  one." 

"  I  will  read  the  dream  for  you,  my  love,"  answered  the 
Lady  of  Avenel ;  **  and  I  will  be  myself  your  mother.  Surely 
God  has  heard  my  wishes,  and  in  his  own  marvelous  manner 
iiath  sent  me  an  object  on  which  my  affections  may  expand 
themselves."  She  looked  toward  Warden  as  she  spoke.  The 
preacher  hesitated  what  he  should  reply  to  a  burst  of  pas- 
sionate feeling  which,  perhaps,  seemed  to  him  more  entftus' 


£  wavi:blet  novels 

iastic  than  the  occasion  demanded.  In  the  mean  while,  the 
large  staghound,  Wolf,  which,  dripping  wet  as  he  was,  had 
followed  his  mistress  into  the  apartment,  and  had  sate  by  the 
bedside,  a  patient  and  quiet  spectator  of  all  the  means  used 
for  resuscitation  of  the  being  whom  he  had  preserved,  now 
became  impatient  of  remaining  any  longer  unnoticed,  and 
began  to,  whine  and  fawn  upon  the  lady  with  his  great  rough 
paws. 

*' Yes,"  she  said,  ''good  Wolf,  and  you  shall  be  remem- 
bered also  for  your  day's  work  ;  and  I  will  think  the  more 
of  you  for  having  preserved  the  life  of  a  creature  so  beauti- 
ful." 

But  Wolf  was  not  quite  satisfied  with  the  share  of  atten- 
tion which  he  thus  attracted  :  he  persisted  in  whining  and 
pawing  upon  his  mistress,  his  caresses  rendered  still  more 
troublesome  by  his  long  shaggy  hair  being  so  much  and 
thoroughly  wetted,  till  she  desired  one  of  the  domestics 
with  whom  he  was  familiar,  to  call  the  animal  out  of  the 
apartment.  Wolf  resisted  every  invitation  to  this  pur- 
pose, until  his  mistress  positively  commanded  him  to  be- 
gone in  an  angry  tone ;  when  turning  towards  the  bed  on 
which  the  boy  still  lay,  half-awake  to  sensation,  half- 
drowned  in  the  meanders  of  a  fluctuating  delirum,  he  ut- 
tered a  deep  and  savage  growl,  curled  up  his  nose  and  lips, 
showing  his  full  range  of  white  and  sharpened  teeth,  which 
might  have  matched  those  of  an  actual  wolf,  and  then,  turn- 
ing round,  sullenly  followed  the  domestic  out  of  the 
apartment. 

"  It  is  singular,"  said  the  lady,  addressing  Warden  ;  "  the 
animal  is  not  only  so  good-natured  to  all,  but  so  particularly 
fond  of  children.  What  can  ail  him  at  the  little  fellow 
whose  life  he  has  saved  ?  " 

"  Dogs,"  replied  the  preacher,  "are  but  too  like  the  hu- 
man race  in  their  foibles,  though  their  instinct  be  less  err- 
ing than  the  reason  of  poor  mortal  man  when  relying  upon  his 
own  unassisted  powers.  Jealousy,  my  good  lady,  is  a  pas- 
sion not  unknown  to  them,  and  they  often  evince  it,  not 
only  with  respect  to  the  preferences  which  they  see  given  by 
their  masters  to  individuals  of  their  own  species,  but  even 
when  their  rivals  are  children.  You  have  caressed  that 
child  much  and  eagerly,  and  the  dog  considers  himself  as  a 
discarded  favorite." 

"  It  is  a  strange  instinct,"  said  the  lady  ;  '*  and  from  the 
gravity  with  which  you  mention  it,  my  reverend  friend,  I 
would  almost  say  that  you  supposed  this  singular  jealousy  of 


THE  ABBOT  '^ 

my  favorite,  Wolf,  -was  not  only  well  founded  but  justifiable. 
But  perhaps  you  speak  in  jest  ?  " 

"  I  seldom  jest,"  answered  the  preacher;  *^life  was  not 
lent  to  us  to  be  expended  in  that  idle  mirth  which  resembles 
the  craclcling  of  thorns  under  the  pot.  I  would  only  have  you 
derive,  if  it  so  please  you,  this  lesson  from  what  I  have  said, 
that  the  best  of  our  feelings,  when  indulged  to  excess,  may 
give  pain  to  others.  There  is  but  one  in  which  we  may 
indulge  to  the  utmost  limit  of  vehemence  of  which  our 
bosom  is  capable,  secure  that  excess  cannot  exist  in  the 
greatest  intensity  to  which  it  can  be  excited  :  I  mean  the 
love  of  our  Maker." 

"  Surely,"  said  the  Lady  of  Avenel,  *^we  are  commanded 
by  the  same  authority  to  love  our  neighbor  ?  " 

**  Ay,  madam,"  said  Warden,  **  but  our  love  to  God  is  to 
be  unbounded  ;  we  are  to  love  Him  with  our  whole  heart, 
our  whole  soul,  and  our  whole  strength.  The  love  which  the 
precept  commands  us  to  bear  to  our  neighbor  has  affixed  to 
it  a  direct  limit  and  qualification  :  we  are  to  love  our  neigh- 
bor as  ourself ;  as  it  is  elsewhere  explained  by  the  great 
commandment,  that  we  must  do  unto  him  as  we  would  that 
he  should  do  unto  us.  Here  there  is  a  limit  and  a  bound 
even  to  the  most  praiseworthy  of  our  affections,  so  far  as 
they  are  turned  upon  sublunary  and  terrestrial  objects.  We 
are  to  render  to  our  neighbor,  whatever  be  his  rank  or 
degree,  that  corresponding  portion  of  affection  with  which 
we  could  rationally  expect  we  should  ourselves  be  regarded 
by  those  standing  in  the  same  relation  to  us.  Hence, 
neither  husband  nor  wife,  neither  son  nor  daughter,  neither 
friend  nor  relation,  are  lawfully  to  be  made  the  objects  of 
our  idolatry.  The  Lord  our  God  is  a  jealous  God,  and  will 
not  endure  that  we  bestow  on  the  creature  that  extremity 
of  devotion  which  He  who  made  us  demands  as  His  own 
share.  I  say  to  you,  lady,  that  even  in  the  fairest  and 
purest  and  most  honorable  feelings  of  our  nature  there  is 
that  original  taint  of  sin  which  ought  to  make  us  pause  and 
hesitate  ere  we  indulge  them  to  excess." 

**I  understand  not  this,  reverend  sir,"  said  the  lady; 
"  nor  do  I  guess  what  I  can  have  now  said  or  done  to  draw 
down  on  me  an  admonition  which  has  something  a  taste  of 
reproof." 

^' Lady,"  said  Warden,  *^I  crave  your  pardon  if  I  have 
urged  aught  beyond  the  limits  of  my  duty.  But  consider 
whether,  in  the  sacred  promise  to  be  not  only  a  protectress 
but  a  mother  to  this  poor  child,  your  purpose  may  meet  the 


10  WAVERLET  NOVELS 

wishes  of  the  noble  knight  your  husband.  The  fondness 
which  you  have  lavished  on  the  unfortunate,  and,  I  own, 
most  lovely,  child  has  met  something  like  a  reproof  in  the 
bearing  of  your  household  dog.  Displease  not  your  noble 
husband.  Men,  as  well  as  animals,  are  jealous  of  the  affec- 
tions of  those  they  love." 

"  This  is  too  much,  reverend  sir,''  said  the  Lady  of 
Avenel,  greatly  offended.  "  You  have  been  long  our  guest, 
and  have  received  from  the  Knight  of  Avenel  and  myself 
that  honor  and  regard  which  your  character  and  professior 
so  justly  demand.  But  I  am  yet  to  learn  that  we  have  at 
any  time  authorized  your  interference  in  our  family  arrange- 
ments, or  placed  you  as  a  judge  of  our  conduct  towards 
each  other.     I  pray  this  may  be  forborne  in  future." 

'^Lady,"  replied  the  preacher,  with  the  boldness  peculiar 
to  the  clergy  of  his  persuasion  at  that  time,  **  when  you 
weary  of  my  admonitions,  when  I  see  that  my  services  are 
no  longer  acceptable  to  you  and  the  noble  knight  your 
husband,  I  shall  know  that  my  Master  wills  me  no  longer  to 
abide  nere  ;  and,  praying  for  a  continuance  of  His  best  bless- 
ings on  your  family,  I  will  then,  were  the  season  the  depth 
of  winter,  and  the  hour  midnight,  walk  out  on  yonder 
waste,  and  travel  forth  through  these  wild  mountains,  as 
lonely  and  unaided,  though  far  more  helpless,  than  when  I 
first  met  your  husband  in  the  valley  of  Glendearg.  But 
while  I  remain  here,  I  will  not  see  you  err  from  the  true 
path,  no,  not  a  hair's-breadth,  without  making  the  old 
man's  voice  and  remonstrance  heard." 

"  Nay,  but,"  said  the  lady,  who  both  loved  and  respected 
the  good  man,  though  sometimes  a  little  offended  at  what 
she  conceived  to  be  an  exuberant  degree  of  zeal,  "  we  will 
not  part  this  way,  my  good  friend.  Women  are  quick  and 
hasty  in  their  feelings  ;  but,  believe  me,  my  wishes  and  my 
purposes  towards  this  child  are  such  as  both  my  husband 
and  you  will  approve  of." 

The  clergyman  bowed,  and  retreated  to  his  own  apart- 
ment. 


CHAPTER  II 

How  steadfastly  he  fix'd  his  eyes  on  me — 

His  dark  eyes  shining  through  forgotten  tears — 

Then  stretch'd  his  little  arms,  and  call'd  me  mother  I 

What  could  I  do?    1  took  the  bantling  home  ; 

I  could  not  tell  the  imp  he  had  no  mother. 

Count  Basil. 

When  Warden  had  left  the  apartment,  the  Lady  of  Avenel 
gave  way  to  the  feelings  of  tenderness  which  the  sight  of 
the  boy,  his  sudden  danger,  and  his  recent  escape  had 
inspired  ;  and  no  longer  awed  by  the  sternness,  as  she 
deemed  it,  of  the  preacher,  heaped  with  caresses  the  lovely 
and  interesting  child.  He  was  now  in  some  measure  re- 
covered from  the  conse(]|uences  of  his  accident,  and  received 
passively,  though  not  without  wonder,  the  tokens  of  kind- 
ness with  which  he  was  thus  loaded.  The  face  of  the  lady 
was  strange  to  him,  and  her  dress  different  and  far  more 
sumptuous  than  any  he  remembered.  But  the  boy  was 
naturally  of  an  undaunted  temper  ;  and  indeed  children  are 
generally  acute  physiognomists,  and  not  only  pleased  by  that 
which  is  beautiful  in  itself,  but  peculiarly  quick  in  dis- 
tinguishing and  replying  to  the  attentions  of  those  who 
really  love  them.  If  they  see  a  person  in  company,  though 
a  perfect  stranger,  who  is  by  nature  fond  of  children,  the 
little  imps  seem  to  discover  it  by  a  sort  of  freemasonry, 
while  the  awkward  attempts  of  those  who  make  advances 
to  them  for  the  purpose  of  recommending  themselves  to  the 
parents  usually  fail  in  attracting  their  reciprocal  attention 
The  little,  boy  therefore,  appeared  in  some  degree  sensible 
of  the  lady's  caresses,  and  it  was  with  difficulty  she  with- 
drew herself  from  his  pillow  to  afford  him  leisure  for 
necessary  repose. 

**  To  whom  belongs  our  little  rescued  varlet  ?  "  was  the 
first  question  which  the  Lady  of  Avenel  put  to  her  hand- 
maiden Lilias,  when  they  had  retired  to  the  hall. 

**To  an  old  woman  in  the  hamlet,"  said  Lilias,  "who  is 
even  now  come  so  far  as  the  porter's  lodge  to  inquire  con- 
cerning his  safety.  Is  it  your  pleasure  that  she  be  ad^ 
mitted?'' 

11 


12  WAVERLET  NOVELS 

'*  Is  it  my  pleasure  !  "  said  the  Lady  of  Avenel,  echoing 
the  question  with  a  strong  accent  of  displeasure  and  sur- 
prise ;  "  can  you  make  any  doubt  of  it  ?  AVhat  woman 
but  must  pity  the  agony  of  the  mother  whose  heart  is  throb- 
big  for  the  safety  of  a  child  so  lovely  ! " 

"  Nay,  but,  madam,"  said  Lilias,  **  this  woman  is  too  old 
to  be  the  mother  of  the  child  ;  I  rather  think  she  must  be 
his  grandmother,  or  some  more  distant  relation." 

"  Be  she  who  she  will,  Lilias,"  replied  the  lady,  "  she 
must  have  an  aching  heart  while  the  safety  of  a  creature  so 
lovely  is  uncertain.  Go  instantly  and  bring  her  hither. 
Besides,  I  would  willingly  learn  something  concerning  his 
birth." 

Lilias  left  the  hall,  and  presently  afterwards  returned, 
ushering  in  a  tall  female  very  poorly  dressed,  yet  with 
more  pretension  to  decency  and  cleanliness  than  was  usually 
combined  with  such  coarse  garments.  The  Lady  of  Avenel 
knew  her  figure  the  instant  she  presented  herself.  It  was 
the  fashion  of  the  family  that,  upon  every  Sabbath,  and  on 
two  evenings  in  the  week  besides,  Henry  Warden  preached 
or  lectured  in  the  chapel  at  the  castle.  The  extension  of 
the  Protestant  faith  was,  upon  principle,  as  well  as  in  good 
policy,  a  primary  object  with  the  Knight  of  Avenel.  The 
inhabitants  of  the  village  were  therefore  invited  to  attend 
upon  the  instructions  of  Henry  Warden,  and  many  of  them 
were  speedily  won  to  the  doctrine  which  their  master  and 
protector  approved.  These  sermons,  homilies,  and  lec- 
tures had  made  a  great  impression  on  the  mindof  the  Abbot 
Eustace,  or  Eustatius,  and  were  a  sufficient  spur  to  the 
severity  and  sharpness  of  his  controversy  with  his  old  fellow- 
collegiate  ;  and,  ere  Queen  Mary  was  dethroned,  and  while 
the  Catholics  still  had  considerable  authority  in  the  Border 
provinces,  he  more  than  once  threatened  to  levy  his  vassals, 
and  assail  and  level  with  the  earth  that  stronghold  of  heresy, 
the  Castle  of  Avenel.  But  notwithstanding  the  abbot's  im- 
potent resentment,  and  notwithstanding  also  the  disin- 
clination of  the  country  to  favor  the  new  religion,  Henry 
Warden  proceeded  without  remission  in  his  labors,  and  made 
weekly  converts  from  the  faith  of  Eome  to  that  of  the  Ee- 
formed  church.  Amongst  those  who  gave  most  earnest  and 
constant  attendance  on  his  ministry  was  the  aged  woman, 
whose  form,  tall,  and  otherwise  too  remarkable  to  be  for- 
gotten, the  lady  had  of  late  observed  frequently  as  being 
conspicuous  amongst  the  little  audience.  She  had  indeed 
more  than  once  desired  to  know  who  that  stately-looking 


THE  ABBOT  Id 

woman  was,  whose  appearance  was  so  mvicli  above  the  pov- 
erty of  her  vestments.  But  the  reply  had  always  been 
that  she  was  an  Englishwoman,  who  was  tarrying  for  a 
season  at  the  hamlet,  and  that  no  one  knew  more  con- 
cerning her.  She  now  asked  her  after  her  name  and 
birth. 

'*  Magdalen  Graeme  is  my  name,"  said  the  woman ;  "  I 
come  of  the  Graemes  of  Heathergill,  in  Xicol  Forest,  a  peo- 
ple of  ancient  blood." 

"  And  what  make  you,"  continued  the  lady,  "  so  far  dis- 
tant from  your  home  ?  " 

**  I  have  no  home,"  said  Magdalen  Graeme  :  '*  it  was  burned 
by  your  Border  riders  ;  my  husband  and  my  son  were  slain  ; 
there  is  not  a  drop's  blood  left  in  the  veins  of  any  one 
which  is  of  kin  to  mine." 

*'  That  is  no  uncommon  fate  in  these  wild  times,  and  in 
this  unsettled  land,"  said  the  lady;  ^Hhe  English  hands 
have  been  as  deeply  dyed  in  our  blood  as  ever  those  of 
Scotsmen  have  been  in  yours."  . 

*^You  have  right  to  say  it,  lady,"  answered  Magdalen 
Graeme  ;  **  for  men  tell  of  a  time  when  this  castle  was  not 
strong  enough  to  save  your  father's  life,  or  to  afford  your 
mother  and  her  infant  a  place  of  refuge.  And  why  ask  ye 
me,  then,  wherefore  I  dwell  not  in  mine  own  home,  and 
with  mine  own  people  ?  " 

*^  It  was  indeed  an  idle  question,"  answered  the  lady, 
**  where  misery  so  often  makes  wanderers ;  but  wherefore 
take  refuge  in  a  hostile  country  ?  " 

'^  My  neig  ibors  were  Popish  and  mass-mongers,"  said  the 
old  woman  ;  *Mt  has  pleased  Heaven  to  give  me  a  clearer 
sight  of  the  Gospel,  and  I  have  tarried  here  to  enjoy  the 
ministry  of  that  worthy  man  Henry  Warden,  who,  to  the 
praise  and  comfort  of  many,  teachetli  the  Evangel  in  truth 
and  in  sincerity." 

"  Are  you  poor  ?  "  again  demanded  the  Lady  of  Avenel. 

'*  You  hear  me  ask  alms  of  no  one,"  answered  the  English- 
woman. 

Here  there  was  a  pause.  The  manner  of  the  woman  was 
if  not  disrespectful,  at  least  much  less  than  gracious  ;  and 
she  appeared  to  give  no  encouragement  to  farther  communi- 
cation. The  Lady  of  Avenel  renewed  the  conversation  on  a 
different  topic. 

*' You  have  heard  of  the  danger  in  which  your  boy  has 
been  placed  ?  " 

"  1  have,  lady,  and  how  by  an  especial  providence  he  waj 


U  WAVERLST  NOVELS 

rescued  from  death.  May  Heaven  make  him  thankful,  and 
me ! " 

**  What  relation  do  you  hear  to  him  ?'* 

"  I  am  his  grandmother,  lady,  if  it  so  please  you  ;  the 
only  relation  he  hath  left  upon  earth  to  take  charge  of 
him/' 

**  The  burden  of  his  maintenance  must  necessarily  be 
grievous  to  you  in  your  deserted  situation  ?  "  pursued  the 

**  I  have  complained  of  it  to  no  one,"  said  Magdalen 
Graeme,  with  the  same  unmoved,  dry,  and  unconcerned  tone 
of  voice  in  which  she  had  answered  all  the  former  ques- 
tions. 

"  If,"  said  the  Lady  of  Avenel,  "  your  grandchild  could  be 
received  into  a  noble  family,  would  it  not  advantage  both 
him  and  you  ?  " 

"  Received  into  a  noble  family  ! "  said  the  old  woman, 
drawing  herself  up,  and  bending  her  brows  until  her  fore- 
head was  wrinkled  into  a  frown  of  unusual  severity  ;  "and 
for  what  purpose,  I  pray  you  ? — to  be  my  lady's  page,  or  my 
lord's  jack-man,  to  eat  broken  victuals,  and  contend  with 
other  menials  for  the  remnants  of  the  master's  meal  ? 
Would  you  have  him  to  fan  the  flies  from  my  lady's  face  while 
ehe  sleeps,  to  carry  her  train  while  she  walks,  to  hand  her 
trencher  when  she  feeds,  to  ride  before  her  on  horseback,  to 
walk  after  her  on  foot,  to  sing  when  she  lists,  and  to  be 
silent  when  she  bids  ? — a  very  weathercock,  which  though 
furnished  in  appearance  with  wings  and  plumage,  cannot 
soar  into  the  air — cannot  fly  from  the  spot  where  it  is 
perched,  but  receives  all  its  impulses,  and  performs  all  its 
revolutions,  obedient  to  the  changeful  breath  of  a  vain 
woman  ?  When  the  eagle  of  Helvellyn  perches  on  the  tower 
of  Lanercost,  and  turns  and  changes  his  place  to  show  how 
the  wind  sits,  Roland  Graeme  shall  be  what  you  would  make 
him." 

The  woman  spoke  with  a  rapidity  and  vehemence  which 
seemed  to  have  in  it  a  touch  of  insanity ;  and  a  sudden 
sense  of  the  danger  to  which  the  child  must  necessarily  be 
exposed  in  the  charge  of  such  a  keeper  increased  the  lady's 
desire  to  keep  him  in  the  castle,  if  possible. 

"  You  mistake  me,  dame,"  she  said,  addressing  the  old 
woman  in  a  soothing  manner  ;  **  I  do  not  wish  your  boy  to 
be  in  attendance  on  myself,  but  upon  the  good  knight,  my 
husband.  Were  he  himself  the  son  of  a  belted  earl,  he 
Dould  not  better  be  trained  to  arms,  and  all  that  befits  a 


THE  ABBOl  16 

gentleman,  than  by  the  instructions  and  discipline  of  Sii 
Halbert  Glendinning." 

"  Ay,"  answered  tne  Oid  woman,  in  the  same  style  of  bitter 
irony,  *'  I  know  the  wages  of  that  service — a  curse  when  the 
corselet  is  not  sufficiently  brightened,  a  blow  when  the  girth 
is  not  tightly  drawn  ;  to  be  beaten  because  the  hounds  are 
at  fault ;  to  be  reviled  because  the  foray  is  unsuccessful ;  to 
stain  his  hands  for  the  master's  bidding  in  the  blood  alike 
of  beast  and  of  man  ;  to  be  a  butcher  of  harmless  deer,  a 
murderer  and  defacer  of  God's  own  image,  not  at  his  own 
pleasure,  but  at  that  of  his  lord  ;  to  live  a  brawling  ruffian, 
and  a  common  stabber — exposed  to  heat,  to  cold,  to  want  of 
food,  to  all  the  privations  of  an  anchoret,  not  for  the  love 
of  God,  but  for  the  service  of  Satan  ;  to  die  by  the  gibbet, 
or  in  some  obscure  skirmish ;  to  sleep  out  his  brief  life  in 
carnal  security,  and  to  awake  in  the  eternal  fire  which  is 
never  quenched." 

'•  Nay,"  said  the  Lady  of  Avenel,  *'  but  to  such  unhallowed 
course  of  life  your  grandson  will  not  be  here  exposed.  My 
husband  is  just  and  kind  to  those  who  live  under  his  banner ; 
and  you  yourself  well  know  that  youth  have  here  a  strict 
as  well  as  a  good  preceptor  in  the  person  of  our  chaplain." 

The  old  woman  appeared  to  pause. 

"You  have  named,"  she  said,  *'the  only  circumstance 
which  can  move  me.  I  must  soon  onward,  the  vision  has 
said  it :  I  must  not  tarry  in  the  same  spot — I  must  on — I 
must  on,  it  is  my  weird.  Swear,  then,  that  you  will  protect 
the  boy  as  if  he  were  your  own,  until  I  return  hither  and 
claim  him,  and  I  will  consent  for  a  space  to  part  with  him. 
But  especially  swear,  he  shall  not  lack  the  instruction  of 
the  godly  man  who  hath  placed  the  Gospel  truth  high  above 
those  idolatrous  shavelings,  the  monks  and  friars." 

**Be  satisfied,  dame,"  said  the  Lady  of  Avenel;  ''the 
boy  shall  have  as  much  care  as  if  he  were  born  of  my  own 
blood.     Will  you  see  him  now  ?  " 

"  No,"  answered  the  old  woman,  sternly ;  '*  to  part  is 
enough.  I  go  forth  on  my  own  mission.  I  will  not  soften 
my  heart  by  useless  tears  and  wailings,  as  one  that  is  not 
called  to  a  duty." 

"  Will  you  not  accept  of  something  to  aid  you  in  your 
pilgrimage  ?  "said  the  Lady  of  Avenel,  putting  into  her  hand 
two  crowns  of  the  sun.  The  old  woman  flung  them  down 
on  the  table. 

'•Am  I  of  the  race  of  Cain,*'  she  said,  "proud  lady,  that 
you  offer  me  gold  in  exchange  for  my  own  flesh  and  blood  ?  ** 


16  WA  YEBLEY  NO VELS 

•* I  had  no  such  meaning/'  said  the  lady,  gently;  '*noT 
am  I  the  proud  woman  you  term  me.  Alas  !  my  own  for- 
tunes might  have  taught  me  humility,  even  had  it  not  been 
born  with  me." 

The  old  woman  seemed  somewhat  to  relax  her  tone  of 
severity. 

^^  You  are  of  gentle  blood,"  she  said,  ''else  we  had  not 
parleyed  thus  long  together.  You  are  of  gentle  blood,  and 
to  such,"  she  added,  drawing  up  her  tall  form  as  she  spoke, 
"  pride  is  as  graceful  as  is  the  plume  upon  the  bonnet.  But 
for  these  pieces  of  gold,  lady,  you  must  needs  resume  them. 
I  need  not  money.  I  am  well  provided  ;  and  I  may  not  care 
for  myself,  nor  think  how,  or  by  whom,  I  shall  be  sustained. 
Farewell,  and  keep  your  word.  Cause  your  gates  to  be 
opened  and  your  bridges  to  be  lowered.  I  will  set  forward 
this  very  night.  When  I  come  again  I  will  demand  from 
you  a  strict  account,  for  I  have  left  with  you  the  jewel  of 
my  life  !  Sleep  will  visit  me  but  in  snatches,  food  will  not 
refresh  me,  rest  will  not  restore  my  strength,  until  I  see 
Roland  Graeme.     Once  more,  farewell." 

''  Make  your  obeisance,  dame,"  said  Lilias  to  Magdalen 
Graeme,  as  she  retired — "  make  your  obeisance  to  her  lady- 
ship, and  thank  her  for  her  goodness,  as  is  but  fitting  and 
right." 

The  old  woman  turned  short  round  on  the  officious  wait- 
ing-maid. *'  Let  her  make  her  obeisance  to  me  then,  and  I 
will  return  it.  AVhy  should  I  bend  to  her  ? — is  it  because 
her  kirtle  is  of  silk,  and  mine  of  blue  lockeram  ?  Go  to, 
my  lady's  waiting-woman.  Know  that  the  rank  of  the  man 
rates  that  of  the  wife,  and  that  she  who  marries  a  churl's 
son,  were  she  a  king's  daughter,  is  but  a  peasant's  bride." 

Lilias  was  about  to  reply  in  great  indignation,  but  her  mis- 
tress imposed  silence  on  her,  and  commanded  that  the  old 
woman  should  be  safely  conducted  to  the  mainland. 

*'  Conduct  her  safe  !  "  exclaimed  the  incensed  waiting' 
woman,  while  Magdalen  Graeme  left  the  apartment ;  ''I  say, 
duck  her  in  the  loch,  and  then  we  will  see  whether  she  is 
witch  or  not,  as  everybody  in  the  village  of  Lochside  will 
say  and  swear.  I  marvel  your  ladyship  could  bear  so  long 
with  her  insolence." 

But  the  commands  of  the  lady  were  obeyed,  and  the  old 
dame  dismissed  from  the  castle,  was  committed  to  her  for- 
tune. She  kept  her  word,  and  did  not  long  abide  in  that 
place,  leaving  the  hamlet  on  the  very  night  succeeding  the 
interview,  and  wandering  no  one  asked  whither.     The  Lady 


THE  ABBOT  17 

of  Avenel  inquired  under  what  circumstances  she  had  ap- 
peared among  them,  but  could  only  learn  that  she  was  be- 
lieved to  be  the  widow  of  some  man  of  consequence  among 
the  Graemes  who  then  inhabited  the  Debateable  Land,  a 
name  given  to  a  certain  portion  of  territory  which  was  the 
frequent  subject  of  dispute  betwixt  Scotland  and  England ; 
that  she  had  suffered  great  wrong  in  some  of  the  frequent 
forays  by  which  that  unfortunate  district  was  wasted,  and 
had  been  driven  from  her  dwelling-place.  She  had  arrived 
in  the  hamlet  no  one  knew  for  what  purpose,  and  was  held 
by  some  to  be  a  witch,  by  others  a  zealous  Protestant,  and 
by  others  again  a  Catholic  devotee.  Her  language  was 
mysterious,  and  her  manners  repulsive  ;  and  all  that  could 
be  collected  from  her  conversation  seemed  to  imply  that 
she  was  under  the  influence  either  of  a  spell  or  of  a  vow — ■ 
there  was  no  saying  which,  since  she  talked  as  one  who  acted 
under  a  powerful  and  external  agency. 

Such  were  the  particulars  which  the  lady^s  inquiries  were 
able  to  collect  concerning  Magdalen  Graeme,  being  far  too 
meager  and  contradictory  to  authorize  any  satisfactory  deduc- 
tion. In  truth,  the  miseries  of  the  time,  and  the  various 
turns  of  fate  incidental  to  a  frontier  country,  were  per- 
petually chasing  from  their  habitations  those  who  had  nob 
the  means  of  defense  or  protection.  These  wanderers  in 
the  land  were  too  often  seen  to  excite  much  attention  or 
sympathy.  They  received  the  cold  relief  which  was  extorted 
by  general  feelings  of  humanity  ;  a  little  excited  in  some 
breasts,  and  perhaps  rather  chilled  in  others,  by  the  recollec- 
tion that  they  who  gave  the  charity  to-day  might  themselves 
want' it  to-morrow.  Magdalen  Graeme,  therefore,  came  and 
departed  like  a  shadow  from  the  neighborhood  of  Avenel 
Castle. 

The  boy  whom  Providence,  as  she  thought,  had  thus 
strangely  placed  under  her  care,  was  at  once  established  a 
favorite  with  the  lady  of  the  castle.  How  could  it  be  other- 
wise ?  He  became  the  object  of  those  affectionate  feelings 
which,  finding  formerly  no  object  on  which  to  expand  them- 
selves, had  increased  the  gloom  of  the  castle,  and  embittered 
the  solitude  of  its  mistress.  To  teach  him  reading  and  writ- 
ing as  far  as  her  skill  went,  to  attend  to  his  childish  com- 
forts, to  watch  his  boyish  sports,  became  the  lady^s  favorite 
amusement.  In  her  circumstances,  where  the  ear  only  heard 
the  lowing  of  the  cattle  from  the  distant  hills,  or  the  heavy 
step  of  the  warder  as  he  walked  upon  his  post,  or  the  half- 
envied  laugh  of  her  maiden  as  she  turned  her  wheel,  the  ap- 


18  WAVERLET  NOVE.  H 

pearance  of  the  blooming  and  beautiful  ooy  gave  an  interest 
which  can  hardly  be  conceived  by  those  who  live  amid  gayer 
or  busier  scenes.  Young  Roland  was  to  t]  e  Lady  of  Avenel 
what  the  flower  which  occupies  the  window  of  some  solitary 
captive  is  to  the  poor  wight  by  whom  it  is  nursed  and  cul- 
tivated— something  which  at  once  excited  and  repaid  her 
care  ;  and  in  giving  the  boy  her  affection,  she  felt,  as  it  were, 
grateful  to  him  for  releasing  her  from  the  state  of  dull 
apathy  in  which  she  had  usually  found  herself  during  the 
absence  of  Sir  Halbert  Glendinning. 

But  even  the  charms  of  this  blooming  favorite  were  un- 
able to  chase  the  recurring  apprehensions  which  arose  from 
her  husband's  procrastinated  return.  Soon  after  Roland 
Graeme  became  a  resident  at  the  castle,  a  groom,  despatched 
by  Sir  Halbert,  brought  tidings  that  business  of  importance 
still  delayed  the  knight  at  the  court  of  Holyrood.  The 
more  distant  period  which  the  messenger  had  assigned  for 
his  master's  arrival  at  length  glided  away,  summer  melted 
into  autumn,  and  autumn  was  about  to  give  place  to  winter, 
and  yet  he  came  not. 


CHAPTEB^  m 

thei  vt^^ning  tarvest-moon  shone  broad  and  bright. 
The  warder's  horn  was  heard  at  dead  of  night, 
And  while  the  folding  portals  wide  were  flung, 
With  trampling  hoofs  the  rocky  pavement  rung. 

Leyden. 

"  And  you,  too,  would  be  a  soldier,  Eoland  ?  "  said  the 
Lady  of  Avenel  to  her  young  charge,  while,  seated  on  a 
stone  chair  at  one  end  of  the  battlements,  she  saw  the  boy 
attempt  with  a  long  stick  to  mimic  the  motions  of  the 
warder  as  he  alternately  shouldered,  or  ported,  or  sloped 
pike. 

**  Yes,  lady,"  said  the  boy,  for  he  was  now  familiar,  and 
replied  to  her  questions  with  readiness  and  alacrity — ^*  a 
soldier  will  I  be  ;  for  there  ne'er  was  gentleman  but  who 
belted  him  with  brand." 

**  Thou  a  gentleman  !"  said  Lilias,  who,  as  usual,  was  iu 
attendance  ;  '^  such  a  gentleman  as  I  would  make  of  a  bean- 
cod  with  a  rusty  knife." 

**Nay,  chide  him  not,  Lilias,"  said  the  Lady  of  Avenel, 
"  for,  beshrew  me,  but  1  think  he  comes  of  gentle  blood ; 
see  how  it  musters  in  his  face  at  your  injurious  reproof." 

"Had  I  my  will,  madam,"  answered  Lilias,  ''a  good 
birchen  wand  should  make  his  color  muster  to  better  pur- 
pose still." 

"On  my  word,  Lilias,"  said  the  lady,  "one  would  think 
you  had  received  harm  from  the  poor  iDoy ;  or  is  he  so  far 
on  the  frosty  side  of  your  favor  because  he  enjoys  the  sunny 
side  of  mine  ?  " 

"  Over  Heaven's  forbode,  my  lady  !  "  answered  Lilias ;  "  I 
have  lived  too  long  with  gentles,  I  praise  my  star  for  it,  to 
fight  with  either  follies  or  fantasies,  whether  they  relate  to 
beast,  bird,  or  boy. " 

Lilias  was  a  favorite  in  her  own  class,  a  spoiled  domestic, 
and  often  accustomed  to  take  more  license  than  her  mistress 
was  at  all  times  willing  to  encourage.  But  what  did  not 
please  the  Lady  of  Avenel  she  did  not  choose  to  hear,  and 
thus  it  was  on  the  present  occasion.  She  resolved  to  look 
more  close  and  sharply  after  the  boy,  who  had  hitherto  been 

19 


20  WAVEBLEY  NOVELS 

committed  chiefly  to  the  management  of  Lilias.  He  must 
she  thought  be  born  of  gentle  blood  ;  it  were  shame  to  think 
otherwise  of  a  form  so  noble  and  features'so  fair  ;  the  very 
wildness  in  which  he  occasionally  indulged,  his  contempt  of 
danger  and  impatience  of  restraint,  had  in  them  something 
noble  :  assuredly  the  child  was  born  of  high  rank.  Such 
was  her  conclusion,  and  she  acted  upon  it  accordingly.  The 
domestics  around  her,  less  jealous  or  less  scrupulous  than 
Lilias,  acted  as  servants  usually  do,  following  the  bias,  and 
flattering  for  their  own  purposes,  the  humor  of  the  lady  ;  and 
the  boy  soon  took  on  him  those  airs  of  superiority  which 
the  sight  of  habitual  deference  seldom  fails  to  inspire.  It 
seemed,  in  truth,  as  if  to  command  were  his  natural  sphere, 
so  easily  did  he  use  himself  to  exact  and  receive  compliance 
with  his  humors.  The  chaplain,  indeed,  might  have  inter- 
posed to  check  the  air  of  assumption  which  Roland  Graeme 
so  readily  indulged,  and  most  probably  would  have  willingly 
rendered  him  that  favor  ;  but  the  necessity  of  adjusting 
with  his  brethren  some  disputed  points  of  church  disci- 
pline had  withdrawn  him  for  some  time  from  the  castle,  and 
detained  him  in  a  distant  part  of  the  kingdom. 

Matters  stood  thus  in  the  Castle  of  Avenel,  when  a  winded 
bugle  sent  its  shrill  and  prolonged  notes  from  the  shore  of 
the  lake,  and  was  replied  to  cheerily  by  the  signal  of  the 
warder.  The  Lady  of  Avenel  knew  the  sounds  of  her  hus- 
band, and  rushed  to  the  window  of  the  apartment  in  which 
she  was  sitting.  A  band  of  about  thirty  spearmen,  with  a 
pennon  displayed  before  them,  winded  along  the  indented 
shores  of  the  lake,  and  approached  the  causeway.  A  single 
horseman  rode  at  the  head  of  the  party,  his  bright  arms 
catching  a  glance  of  the  October  sun  as  he  moved  steadily 
along.  Even  at  that  distance,  the  lady  recognized  the  lofty 
plume,  bearing  the  mingled  colors  of  her  own  liveries  and 
those  ©f  Glendonwyne,  blended  with  the  holly-branch  ;  and 
the  firm  seat  and  dignified  demeanor  of  the  rider,  joined  to 
the  stately  motion  of  the  dark  brown  steed,  sufficiently  an- 
nounced Halbert  Glendinning. 

The  lady's  first  thought  was  that  of  rapturous  joy  at  her 
husband's  return  :  her  second  was  connected  with  a  fear 
which  had  sometimes  intruded  itself,  that  he  might  not  al- 
together approve  the  peculiar  distinction  with  which  she 
had  treated  her  orphan  ward.  In  this  fear  there  was  im- 
plied a  consciousness  that  the  favor  she  had  shown  him  was 
excessive ;  for  Halbert  Glendinning  was  at  least  as  gentle 
and  indulgent  as  he  was  firm  and  rational  in  the  intercourse 


TBE  ABBOT  21 

of  his  household  ;  and  to  her,  in  particular,  his  conduct  had 
ever  been  most  affectionately  tender. 

Yet  she  did  fear  that,  on  the  present  occasion,  her  con- 
duct might  incur  Sir  Halbert's  censure  ;  and  hastily  resolv- 
ing that  she  would  not  mention  the  anecdote  of  the  boy 
until  the  next  day,  she  ordered  him  to  be  withdrawn  from 
the  apartment  by  Lilias. 

''  1  will  not  go  with  Lilias,  madam,''  answered  the  spoiled 
child,  who  had  more  than  once  carried  his  point  by  per- 
severance, and  who,  like  his  betters,  delighted  in  the  ex-, 
ercise  of  such  authority—*^  I  will  not  go  to  Lilias's  gousty 
room;  I  will  stay  and  see  that  brave  warrior  who  comes 
riding  so  gallantly  along  the  drawbridge," 

^' You  must  not  stay,  Eoland,"  said  the  lady,  more  posi- 
tively than  she  usually  spoke  to  her  little  favorite. 

^'I  will,"  reiterated  the  boy,  who  had  already  felt  his  con- 
sequence, and  the  probable  chance  of  success. 

''You  will,  Eoland!"  answered  the  lady;  ^^  what  man- 
ner of  word  is  that  ?     I  tell  you,  you  must  go." 

^^  ^  Will,'  "  answered  the  forward  boy,  ''  is  a  word  for  a 
man,  and  '  must '  is  no  word  for  a  lady." 

''  You  are  saucy,  sirrah,"  said  the  lady.  ''Lilias,  take 
him  with  you  instantly."  .     -..i. 

"  I  always  thought,"  said  Lilias,  smiling,  as  she  seized  the 
reluctant  boy  by  the  arm,  'Hhat  my  young  master  must 
give  place  to  my  old  one." 

''And  you  too  are  malapert,  mistress,'  said  the  lady. 
"  Hath  the  moon  changed,  that  ye  all  of  you  thus  forget 
yourselves  ? "  ^  n 

Lilias  made  no  reply,  but  led  off  the  boy,  who  too  proud 
to  offer  unavailing  resistance,  darted  at  his  benefactress  a 
glance  which  intimated  plainly  how  willingly  he  would  have 
defied  her  authority  had  he  possessed  the  power  to  make 
good  his  point.  ,    ,i  . 

The  Lady  of  Avenel  was  vexed  to  find  how  much  this 
trifling  circumstance  had  discomposed  her  at  the  moment 
when  she  ought  naturally  to  have  been  entirely  engrossed 
by  her  husband's  return.  But  we  do  not  recover  composure 
by  the  mere  feeling  that  agitation  is  mistimed.  The  glow 
of  displeasure  had  not  left  the  lady's  cheek,  her  ruffled 
deportment  was  not  yet  entirely  composed,  when  her  hus- 
band, unhelmeted,  but  still  wearing  the  rest  of  his  arms, 
entered  the  apartment.  His  appearance  banished  the 
thoughts  of  everything  else  ;  she  rushed  to  him,  clasped  his 
iron-sheathed  frame  in  her  arms,  and  kissed  his  martial  and 


22  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

manly  face  with  an  affection  which,  -vas  at  once  evident  and 
sincere.  The  warrior  returned  her  embrace  and  her  caress 
with  the  same  fondness ;  for  the  time  which  had  passed 
since  their  union  had  diminished  its  romantic  ardor,  per- 
haps, hut  it  had  rather  increased  its  rational  tenderness,  and 
Sir  Halbert  Glendinning's  long  and  frequent  absences  from 
his  castle  had  prevented  affection  from  degenerating  by 
habit  into  indifference. 

When  the  first  eager  greetings  were  paid  and  received, 
the  lady  gazed  fondly  on  her  husband  s  face  as  she  re- 
marked— *'  You  are  altered,  Halbert :  you  have  ridden  hard 
and  far  to-day,  or  you  have  been  ill  ?  " 

**  I  have  been  well,  Mary,"  answered  the  knight — "pass- 
ing well  have  I  been  ;  and  a  long  ride  is  to  me,  thou  well 
knowest,  but  a  thing  of  constant  custom.  Those  who  are 
born  noble  may  slumber  out  their  lives  within  the  walls  of 
their  castles  and  manor-houses  ;  but  he  who  hath  achieved 
nobility  by  his  own  deeds  must  ever  be  in  the  saddle,  to 
show  that  he  merits  his  advancement." 

While  he  spoke  thus,  the  lady  gazed  fondly  on  him,  as  if 
endeavoring  to  read  his  inmost  soul  ;  for  the  tone  in  which 
he  spoke  was  that  of  melancholy  depression." 

Sir  Halbert  Glendinning  was  the  same,  yet  a  different 

Eerson  from  what  he  had  appeared  in  his  early  years.  The 
ery  freedom  of  the  aspiring  youth  had  given  place  to  the 
steady  and  stern  composure  of  the  approved  soldier  and 
skilful  politician.  There  were  deep  traces  of  care  on  those 
noble  features,  over  which  each  emotion  used  formerly  to 
pass  like  light  clouds  across  a  summer  sky.  That  sky  was 
now,  not  perhaps  clouded,  but  still  and  grave,  like  that  of  the 
sober  autumn  evening.  The  forehead  was  higher  and  more 
bare  than  in  early  youth,  and  the  locks  which  still  clustered 
thick  and  dark  on  the  warrior's  head  were  worn  away  at  the 
temples,  not  by  age,  but  by  the  constant  pressure  of  the 
steel  cap,  or  helmet.  His  beard,  according  to  the  fashion 
of  the  times,  grew  short  and  thick,  and  was  turned  into 
mustachois  on  the  upper  lip,  and  peaked  at  the  extremity. 
The  cheek,  weatherbeaten  and  embrowned,  had  lost  the 
glow  of  youth,  but  showed  the  vigorous  complexion  of 
active  and  confirmed  manhood.  Halbert  Glendinning  was, 
in  a  word,  a  knight  to  ride  at  a  king's  right  hand,  to  bear 
his  banner  in  war,  to  be  his  counselor  in  time  of  peace  ;  for 
his  looks  expressed  the  considerate  firmness  which  can 
resolve  wisely  and  dare  boldly.  Still,  over  these  noble  feat- 
ures there  now  spread  an  air  of  dejection,  of  which,  per- 


THE  ABBOT  23 

haps,  the  owner  was  not  conscious,  but  which  did  not  escape 
the  observation  of  his  anxious  and  affectionate  partner. 

**  Something  has  happened,  or  is  about  to  happen,"  said 
the  Lady  of  Avenel ;  '*this  sadness  sits  not  on  your  brow 
without  cause — misfortune,  national  or  particular  must 
needs  be  at  hand." 

"  There  is  nothing  new  that  I  wot  of,"  said  Halbert  Glen- 
dining  ;  "  but  there  is  little  of  evil  which  can  befall  a  king- 
dom that  may  not  be  apprehended  in  this  unhappy  and  di- 
vided realm." 

"Nay,  then,"  said  the  lady,  *'  I  see  there  has  really  been 
some  fatal  work  on  foot.  My  Lord  of  Murray  has  not  so 
long  detained  you  at  Holyrood,  save  that  he  wanted  your 
help  in  some  weighty  purpose." 

'*I  have  not  been  at  Holyrood,  Mary,"  answered  the 
knight ;  "I  have  been  several  weeks  abroad." 

"  Abroad  !  and  sent  me  no  word  ! "  replied  the  lady. 

**  What  would  the  knowledge  have  availed,  but  to  have 
rendered  you  unhappy,  my  love  ? "  replied  the  knight ; 
*'your  thoughts  would  have  converted  the  slightest  breeze 
that  curled  your  own  lake  into  a  tempest  raging  in  the  Ger- 
man Ocean." 

*' And  have  you  then  really  crossed  the  sea  ?"  said  the 
lady,  to  whom  the  very  idea  of  an  element  which  she  had 
never  seen  conveyed  notions  of  terror  and  of  wonder — "  really 
left  your  own  native  land  and  trodden  distant  shores,  where 
the  Scottish  tongue  is  unheard  and  unknown  ?  " 

"  Really,  and  really,"  said  the  knight,  taking  her  hand  in 
affectionate  playfulness,  "  I  have  done  this  marvelous  deed — 
have  rolled  on  the  ocean  for  three  days  and  three  nights, 
with  the  deep  green  waves  dashing  by  the  side  of  my  pillow, 
and  but  a  thin  plank  to  divide  me  from  it." 

"Indeed,  my  Halbert,"  said  the  lady,  "  that  was  a  tempt- 
ing of  Divine  Providence.  I  never  bade  you  unbuckle  the 
sword  from  your  side,  or  lay  the  lance  from  your  hand ;  I 
never  bade  you  sit  still  when  your  honor  called  you  to  rise 
and  ride  ;  but  are  not  blade  and  spear  dangers  enough  for 
one  man's  life,  and  why  would  you  trust  rough  winds  and 
raging  seas  ?  " 

"  We  have  in  Germany  and  in  the  Low  Countries,  as  they 
are  called,"  answered  Glendenning,  "  men  who  are  united 
with  us  in  faith,  and  with  whom  it  is  fitting  we  should  unite 
in  alliance.  To  some  of  these  I  was  despatched  on  busi- 
ness as  important  as  it  was  secret.  I  went  in  safety,  and  I 
returned  in  security  :   there  is  more  danger  to  a  man's 


24  WAVERLEF  NOVELS 

life  betwixt  this  and  Holyrood  than  in  all  the  seas  that  wash 
the  lowlands  of  Holland." 

"  And  the  country,  my  Halbert,  and  the  people,"  said  the 
lady,  **  are  they  like  our  kindly  Scots  ?  or  what  bearing  have 
they  to  strangers  ?  " 

*^They  are  a  people,  Mary,  strong  in  their  wealth,  which 
renders  all  other  nations  weak,  and  weak  in  those  arts  of  war 
by  which  other  nations  are  strong." 

''  I  do  not  understand  you,"  said  the  lady. 

"  The  Hollander  and  the  Fleming,  Mary,  pour  forth  their 
spirit  in  trade,  and  not  in  war  ;  their  wealth  purchases 
them  the  arms  of  foreign  soldiers,  by  whose  aid  they  defend 
it.  They  erect  dikes  on  the  sea-shore  to  protect  the  land 
which  they  have  won,  and  they  levy  regiments  of  the  stub- 
born Switzers  and  hardy  Germans  to  protect  the  treasures 
which  they  have  amassed.  And  thus  they  are  strong  in 
their  weakness  ;  for  the  very  wealth  which  tempts  their 
masters  to  destroy  them  arms  strangers  in  their  behalf." 

"  The  slothful  hinds  !  "  exclaimed  Mary,  thinking  and 
feeling  like  a  Scotswoman  of  the  period;  ^'have  they 
hands,  and  fight  not  for  the  land  which  bore  them  ?  They 
should  be  notched  off  at  the  elbow." 

'*  Nay,  that  were  but  hard  justice,"  answered  her  husband ; 
"  for  their  hands  serve  their  country,  though  not  in  battle, 
like  ours.  Look  at  these  barren  hills,  Mary,  and  at  that  deep 
winding  vale  by  which  the  cattle  are  even  now  returning 
from  their  scanty  browse.  The  hand  of  the  industrious 
Fleming  would  cover  these  mountains  with  wood,  and  raise 
corn  where  we  now  see  a  starved  and  scanty  sward  of  heath 
and  ling.  It  grieves  me,  Mary,  when  I  look  on  that  land, 
and  think  what  benefit  it  might  receive  from  such  men  as  I 
have  lately  seen — men  who  seek  not  the  idle  fame  derived 
from  dead  ancestors,  or  the  bloody  renown  won  in  modern 
broils,  but  tread  along  the  land  as  preservers  and  improvers, 
not  as  tyrants  and  destroyers." 

'^  These  amendments  would  here  be  but  a  vain  fancy,  my 
Halbert,"  answered  the  Lady  of  Avenel:  '^Hhe  trees  would 
be  burned  by  the  English  foeman  ere  they  ceased  to  be 
shrubs,  and  the  grain  that  you  raised  would  be  gathered  in 
by  the  first  neighbor  that  possessed  more  riders  than  follow 
your  train.  Why  should  you  repine  at  this  ?  The  fate 
that  made  you  Scotsman  by  birth,  gave  you  head,  and  heart, 
and  hand  to  uphold  the  name  as  it  must  needs  be  upheld." 

'' It  gave  me  no  name  to  uphold,"  said  Halbert,  pacing 
the 'floor  slowly  ;  '^  my  arm  has  been  foremost  in  every  strife. 


THE  ABBOT  25 

my  voice  has  been  heard  in  every  council,  nor  have  the 
wisest  rebuked  me.  The  crafty  Lethington,  the  deep  and 
dark  Morton,  have  held  secret  council  with  me,  and  Grange 
and  Lindesay  have  owned  that  in  the  field  I  dtid  the  devoir 
of  a  gallant  knight ;  but  let  the  emergence  be  passed  when 
they  need  my  head  and  hand,  and  they  only  know  me  as  son 
of  the  obscure  portioner  of  Glendearg." 

This  was  a  theme  which  the  lady  always  dreaded  ;  for  the 
rank  conferred  on  her  husband,  the  favor  in  which  he  was 
held  by  the  powerful  Earl  of  Murray,  and  the  high  talents 
by  which  he  vindicated  his  right  to  that  rank  and  that  favor, 
were  qualities  which  rather  increased  than  diminished  the 
envy  which  was  harbored  against  Sir  Halbert  Glendinning 
among  a  proud  aristocracy,  as  a  person  originally  of  inferior 
and  obscure  birth,  who  had  risen  to  his  present  eminence 
solely  by  his  personal  merit.  The  natural  firmness  of  his 
mind  did  not  enable  him  to  despise  the  ideal  advantages  of 
a  higher  pedigree,  which  were  held  in  such  universal  esteem 
by  all  with  whom  he  conversed  ;  and  so  open  are  the  noblest 
minds  to  Jealous  inconsistencies,  that  there  were  moments  in 
which  he  felt  mortified  that  his  lady  should  possess  those 
advantages  of  birth  and  high  descent  which  he  himself  did 
not  enjoy,  and  regretted  that  his  importance  as  the  proprietor 
of  Avenel  was  qualified  by  his  possessing  it  only  as  the 
husband  of  the  heiress.  He  was  not  so  unjust  as  to  permit 
any  unworthy  feelings  to  retain  permanent  possession  of  his 
mind,  but  yet  they  recurred  from  time  to  time,  and  did  not 
escape  his  lady's  anxious  observation. 

'*  Had  we  been  blessed  with  children,^'  she  was  wont  on 
such  occasions  to  say  to  herself — *'  had  our  blood  been  united 
in  a  son  who  might  have  joined  my  advantages  of  descent 
with  my  husband's  personal  worth,  these  painful  and  irksome 
reflections  had  not  disturbed  our  union  even  for  a  moment. 
But  the  existence  of  such  an  heir,  in  whom  our  affections, 
as  well  as  our  pretensions,  might  have  centered,  has  been 
denied  to  us.'' 

With  such  mutual  feelings,  it  cannot  be  wondered  that  it 
gave  the  lady  pain  to  hear  her  husband  verging  towards  this 
topic  of  mutual  discontent.  On  the  present,  as  on  other 
similar  occasions,  she  endeavored  to  divert  the  knight's 
thoughts  from  this  painful  channel. 

*^How  can  you,"  she  said,  *'  suffer  yourself  to  dwell  upon 
things  which  profit  nothing  ?  Have  you  indeed  no  name  to 
uphold  ?  You  the  good  and  the  brave,  the  wise  in  council 
and  the  strong  in  battle,  have  you  not  to  support  the  reputa- 


n  WA  VEBLEY  NOVELS 

tion  your  own  deeds  have  won — a  reputation  more  honorable 
than  mere  ancestry  can  supply  ?  Good  men  love  and  honor 
you,  the  wicked  fear  and  the  turbulent  obey  you  ;  and  is  it 
not  necessary  you  should  exert  yourself  to  ensure  the  endur- 
ance of  that  love,  that  honor,  that  wholesome  fear,  and  that 
necessary  obedience  ?'' 

As  she  thus  spoke,  the  eye  of  her  husband  caught  from 
hers  courage  and  comfort,  and  it  lightened  as  he  took  her 
hand  and  replied,  "  It  is  most  true,  my  Mary,  and  I  deserve 
thy  rebuke,  who  forget  what  I  am,  in  repining  because  I  am 
not  what  I  cannot  be.  I  am  now  what  the  most  famed  an- 
cestors of  those  I  envy  were,  the  mean  man  raised  into 
eminence  by  his  own  exertions  ;  and  sure  it  is  a  boast  as 
honorable  to  have  those  capacities  which  are  necessary  to  the 
foundation  of  a  family  as  to  be  descended  from  one  who  pos- 
sessed them  some  centuries  before.  The  Hay  of  Luncarty 
who  bequeathed  his  bloody  yoke  to  his  lineage,  the  *'  dark 
gray  man  ^'  who  first  founded  the  house  of  Douglas,  had  yet 
less  of  ancestry  to  boast  than  I  have.  For  thou  knowest, 
Mary,  that  my  name  derives  itself  from  a  line  of  ancient 
warriors,  although  my  immediate  forefathers  preferred  the 
humble  station  in  which  thou  didst  first  find  them  ;  and  war 
and  counsel  are  not  less  proper  to  the  house  of  Glendonwyne,* 
even  in  its  most  remote  descendants,  than  to  the  proudest  of 
their  baronage. '' 

He  strode  across  the  hall  as  he  spoke  ;  and  the  lady  smiled 
internally  to  observe  how  much  his  mind  dwelt  upon  the 
prerogatives  of  birth,  and  endeavored  to  establish  his  claims, 
however  remote,  to  a  share  in  them,  at  the  very  moment 
when  he  affected  to  hold  them  in  contempt.  It  will  easily 
be  guessed,  however,  that  she  permitted  no  symptom  to 
escape  her  that  could  show  she  was  sensible  of  the  weakness 
of  her  husband — a  perspicacity  which  perhaps  his  proud 
spirit  could  not  very  easily  have  brooked. 

As  he  returned  from  the  extremity  of  the  hall,  to  which 
he  had  stalked  while  in  the  act  of  vindicating  the  title  of  the 
house  of  Glendonwyne  in  its  most  remote  branches  to  the  full 
privileges  of  aristocracy,  *'  Where,''  he  said,  '^  is  Wolf  ?  I 
nave  not  seen  him  since  my  return,  and  he  was  usually  the 
first  to  welcome  my  home-coming.'' 

*'  Wolf,''  said  the  lady,  with  a  slight  degree  of  embar- 
rassment, for  which,  perhaps,  she  would  have  found  it  diffi- 
cult to  assign  any  reason  even  to  herself — '*  Wolf  is  chained 
np  for  the  present.     He  hath  been  surly  to  my  page.'* 

♦  See  Note  1. 


Roland,  go  kiss  the  hand  of  the  noble   Knight.' 


THE  ABBOT  tl 

"  Wolf  chained  up — and  Wolf  surly  to  your  page  ! "  an- 
swered Sir  Albert  Glendinning.  "  Wolf  never  was  surly  to 
any  one  ;  and  the  chain  will  either  break  his  spirit  or  render 
him  savage.     So  ho,  there — set  Wolf  free  directly." 

He  was  obeyed ;  and  the  huge  dog  rushed  into  the  hall, 
disturbing  by  his  unwieldy  and  boisterous  gambols  the  whole 
economy  of  reels,  rocks,  and  distaffs  with  which  the  maidens 
of  the  household  were  employed,  when  the  arrival  of  their 
lord  was  a  signal  to  them  to  withdraw,  and  extracting  from 
Lilias,  who  was  summoned  to  put  them  again  in  order,  the 
natural  observation,  ''That  the  laird's  pet  was  as  trouble- 
some as  the  lady's  page." 

'*  And  who  is  this  page,  Mary  ?  "  said  the  knight,  his  at- 
tention again  called  to  the  subject  by  the  observation  of  the 
waiting-woman — "  who  is  this  page,  whom  every  one  seems 
to  weigh  in  the  balance  with  my  old  friend  and  favorite. 
Wolf  ?  When  did  you  aspire  to  the  dignity  of  keeping  a  page, 
or  who  is  the  boy  ?  " 

*'  I  trust,  my  Halbert,"  said  the  lady,  not  without  a  blush, 
"you  will  not  think  your  wife  entitled  to  less  attendance 
than  other  ladies  of  her  quality." 

"Nay,  Dame  Mary,"  answered  the  knight,  "it  is  enough 
you  desire  such  an  attendant.  Yet  I  have  never  loved  to 
nurse  such  useless  menials.  A  lady's  page — it  may  well  suit 
the  proud  English  dames  to  have  a  slender  youth  to  bear 
their  trains  from  bower  to  hall,  fan  them  when  they  slumber, 
and  touch  the  lute  for  them  when  they  please  to  listen  ;  but 
our  Scottish  matrons  were  wont  to  be  above  such  vanities, 
and  our  Scottish  youth  ought  to  be  bred  to  the  spear  and  the 
stirrup." 

"  Nay,  but,  my  husband,"  said  the  lady,  "  Idid  but  jest 
when  I  called  this  boy  my  page  ;  he  is  in  sooth  a  little  or- 
phan whom  we  saved  from  perishing  in  the  lake,  and  whom 
I  have  since  kept  in  the  castle  out  of  charity.  Lilias,  bring 
little  Roland  hither." 

Roland  entered  accordingly,  and,  flying  to  the  lady's  side, 
took  hold  of  the  plaits  of  her  gown,  and  then  turned  round 
and  gazed  with  an  attention,  not  unmingled  with  fear,  upon 
the  stately  form  of  the  knight.  "  Roland,"  said  the  lady, 
"go  kiss  the  hand  of  the  noble  knight,  and  ask  him  to  be 
thy  protector."  But  Roland  obeyed  not,  and,  keeping  his 
station,  continued  to  gaze  fixedly  and  timidly  on  Sir  Halbert 
Glendinning.  "  Go  to  the  knight,  boy,"  said  the  lady ; 
"  what  dost  thou  fear,  child  ?    Go  kiss  Sir  Halbert's  hand." 

**  I  will  kiss  no  hand  save  yours,  lady,"  answered  the  boy. 


m  WAVERLEY  IroViiLB 

'*  Kay,  but  do  as  you  are  commanded,  child/'  replied  the 
lady.  '^  He  is  dashed  by  your  presence/'  she  said,  apolo- 
gizing to  her  husband  ;  ^'  but  is  he  not  a  handsome  boy  ?  " 

'^  And  so  is  Wolf,"  said  Sir  Halbert,  as  he  patted  his  huge 
four-footed  favorite,  *^a  handsome  dog;  but  he  has  this 
double  advantage  over  your  new  favorite,  that  he  does  what 
he  is  commanded,  and  hears  not  when  he  is  praised/' 

'^  Nay,  now  you  are  displeased  with  me,"  replied  the  lady  ; 
*^and  yet  why  should  you  be  so  ?  There  is  nothing  wrong 
in  relieving  the  distressed  orphan,  or  in  loving  that  which  is 
in  itself  lovely  and  deserving  of  affection.  But  you  have 
seen  Mr.  Warden  at  Edinburgh,  and  he  has  set  you  against 
the  poor  bo-y." 

''My  dear  Mary,"  answered  her  husband,  ''Mr.  Warden 
better  knows  his  place  than  to  presume  to  interfere  either  in 
your  affairs  or  in  mine.  I  neither  blame  your  relieving  this 
boy  nor  your  kindness  for  him.  But  I  think,  considering 
his  birth  and  prospects,  you  ought  not  to  treat  him  with 
injudicious  fondness,  which  can  only  end  in  rendering  him 
unfit  for  the  humble  situation  to  which  Heaven  has  designed 
him." 

"  Nay,  but,  my  Halbert,  do  but  look  at  the  boy,"  said  the 
lady,  "  and  see  whether  he  has  not  the  air  of  being  intended 
by  Heaven  for  something  nobler  than  a  mere  peasant.  May 
he  not  be  designed,  as  others  have  been,  to  rise  out  of  a  hum- 
ble situation  into  honor  and  eminence  ?  " 

Thus  far  had  she  proceeded,  when  the  consciousness  that 
she  was  treading  upon  delicate  ground  at  once  occurred  to 
her,  and  induced  her  to  take  the  most  natural  but  the  worst 
of  all  courses  on  such  occasions,  whether  in  conversation  or 
in  an  actual  bog,  namely,  that  of  stopping  suddenly  short 
in  the  illustration  which  she  had  commenced.  Her  brow  crim- 
soned, and  that  of  Sir  Halbert  Glendinning  was  slightly  over- 
cast. But  it  was  only  for  an  instant ;  for  he  was  incapable 
of  mistaking  his  lady's  meaning  or  supposing  that  she  meant 
intentional  disrespect  to  him. 

"Be  it  as  you  please,  my  love,"  he  replied  ;  **  I  owe  you 
too  much  to  contradict  you  in  aught  which  may  render  your 
solitary  mode  of  life  more  endurable.  Make  of  this  youth 
what  you  will,  and  you  have  my  full  authority  for  doing  so  ; 
but  remember  he  is  your  charge,  not  mine.  Remember  he 
hath  limbs  to  do  man's  service,  a  soul  and  a  tongue  to  worship 
God  ;  breed  him,  therefore,  to  be  true  to  his  country  and  to 
Heaven  ;  and  for  the  rest,  dispose  of  him  as  you  list.  It  is, 
and  shall  rest,  your  own  matter/' 


THE  ABBOT  29 

This  conversation  decided  the  fate  of  Eoland  Graeme,  who 
from  thenceforward  was  little  noticed  by  the  master  of  the 
mansion  of  Avenel,  but  indulged  and  favored  by  its  mis- 
tress. 

This  situation  led  to  many  important  consequences,  and, 
in  truth,  tended  to  bring  forth  the  character  of  the  youth 
in  all  its  broad  lights  and  deep  shadows.  As  the  knight 
himself  seemed  tacitly  to  disclaim  alike  interest  and  control 
over  the  immediate  favorite  of  his  lady,  young  Roland  was, 
by  circumstances,  exempted  from  the  strict  discipline  to 
which,  as  the  retainer  of  a  Scottish  man  of  rank,  he  would 
otherwise  have  been  subjected,  according  to  all  the  rigor 
of  the  age.  But  the  steward,  or  master  of  the  household — 
such  was  the  proud  title  assumed  by  the  head  domestic  of 
each  petty  baron — deemed  it  not  advisable  to  interfere  with 
the  favorite  of  the  lady,  and  especially  since  she  had  brought 
the  estate  into  the  present  family.  Master  Jasper  Wingate 
was  a  man  experienced,  as  he  often  boasted,  in  the  ways  of 
great  families,  and  knew  how  to  keep  the  steerage  even,  when 
wind  and  tide  chanced  to  be  in  contradiction. 

This  prudent  personage  winked  at  much,  and  avoided 
giving  opportunity  for  further  offense,  by  requesting  little 
of  Roland  Graeme  beyond  the  degree  of  attention  which  he 
was  himself  disposed  to  pay  ;  rightly  conjecturing  that, 
however  lowly  the  place  which  the  youth  might  hold  in  the 
favor  of  the  Knight  of  Avenel,  still  to  make  an  evil  report 
of  him  would  make  an  enemy  of  the  lady,  without  securing 
the  favor  of  her  husband.  With  these  prudential  considera- 
tions, and  doubtless  not  without  an  eye  to  his  own  ease  and 
convenience,  he  taught  the  boy  as  much,  and  only  as  much, 
as  he  chose  to  learn,  readily  admitting  whatever  apology  it 
pleased  his  pupil  to  allege  in  excuse  for  idleness  or  negli- 
gence. As  the  other  persons  in  the  castle  to  whom  such 
tasks  were  delegated  readily  imitated  the  prudential  conduct 
of  the  major-domo,  there  was  little  control  used  towards 
Roland  Graeme,  who,  of  course,  learned  no  more  than  what 
a  very  active  mind,  and  a  total  impatience  of  absolute  idle- 
ness, led  him  to  acquire  upon  his  own  account,  and  by  dint 
of  his  own  exertions.  The  latter  were  especially  earnest 
when  the  lady  herself  condescended  to  be  his  tutoress  or  to 
examine  his  progress. 

It  followed  also,  from  his  quality  as  my  lady's  favorite, 
that  Roland  was  viewed  with  no  peculiar  good-will  by  the 
followers  of  the  knight,  many  of  whom,  of  the  same  age, 
and  apparently  similar  origin,  with  the  fortunate  page,  were 


30  WA  VEELET  NOVELS 

Bubjected  to  severe  observance  of  the  ancient  and  rigorous 
discipline  of  a  feudal  retainer.  To  these,  Eoland  Graeme 
was,  of  course,  an  object  of  envy,  and,  in  consequence,  of 
dislike  and  detraction  ;  but  the  youth  possessed  qualities 
which  it  was  impossible  to  depreciate.  Pride  and  a  sense  of 
early  ambition  did  for  him  what  severity  and  constant  in- 
struction did  for  others.  In  truth,  the  youthful  Roland  dis- 
played that  early  flexibility  both  of  body  and  mind  which 
renders  exercise,  either  mental  or  bodily,  rather  matter  of 
sport  than  of  study ;  and  it  seemed  as  if  he  acquired 
accidentally,  and  by  starts,  those  accomplishments  which 
earnest  and  constant  instruction,  enforced  by  frequent  re- 
proof and  occasional  chastisement,  had  taught  to  others. 
Such  military  exercises,  such  lessons  of  the  period,  as  he 
found  it  agreeable  or  convenient  to  apply  to,  he  learned  so 
perfectly  as  to  confound  those  who  were  ignorant  how  often 
the  want  of  constant  application  is  compensated  by  vivacity 
of  talent  and  ardent  enthusiasm.  The  lads,  therefore,  who 
were  more  regularly  trained  to  arms,  to  horsemanship,  and 
to  other  necessary  exercises  of  the  period,  while  they  envied 
Roland  Graeme  the  indulgence  or  negligence  with  which  he 
seemed  to  be  treated,  had  little  reason  to  boast  of  their  own 
8uj)erior  acquirements  :  a  few  hours,  with  the  powerful  ex- 
ertion of  the  most  energetic  will,  seemed  to  do  for  him  more 
than  the  regular  instruction  of  weeks  could  accomplish  for 
others. 

Under  these  advantages,  if,  indeed,  they  were  to  be  termed 
such,  the  character  of  young  Roland  began  to  develop  itself. 
It  was  bold,  peremptory,  decisive,  and  overbearing  ;  gener- 
ous if  neither  withstood  nor  contradicted  ;  vehement  and 
Eassionate  if  censured  or  opposed.  He  seemed  to  consider 
imself  as  attached  to  no  one,  and  responsible  to  no  one, 
except  his  mistress  ;  and  even  over  her  mind  he  had  gradually 
acquired  that  species  of  ascendency  which  indulgence  is  so 
apt  to  occasion.  And  although  the  immediate  followers  and 
dependants  of  Sir  Halbert  Glendinning  saw  his  ascendency 
with  jealousy,  and  often  took  occasion  to  mortify  his  vanity, 
there  wanted  not  those  who  were  willing  to  acquire  the  favor 
of  the  Lady  of  Avenel  by  humoring  and  taking  part  with  the 
youth  whom  she  protected  ;  for  although  a  favorite,  as  the 
poet  assures  us,  has  no  friend,  he  seldom  fails  to  have  both 
followers  and  flatterers. 

The  partisans  of  Roland  Graeme  were  chiefly  to  be  found 
amongst  the  inhabitants  of  the  little  hamlet  on  the  shore  of 
the  laKe,     These  villagers,  who  were  sometimes  tempted  to 


THE  ABBOT  81 

compare  their  own  situation  with  that  of  the  immediate  and 
constant  followers  of  the  knight,  who  attended  him  on  his 
frequent  journeys  to  Edinburgh  and  elsewhere,  delighted  in 
considering  and  representing  themselves  as  more  properly  the 
subjects  of  the  Lady  of  Avenel  than  of  her  husband.  It  is 
true,  her  wisdom  and  affection  on  all  occasions  discounte- 
nanced the  distinction  which  was  here  implied  ;  but  the  villa- 
gers persisted  in  thinking  it  must  be  agreeable  to  her  to  enjoy 
their  peculiar  and  undivided  homage,  or  at  least  in  acting  as 
if  they  thought  so  ;  and  one  chief  mode  by  which  they  evinced 
their  sentiments  was  by  the  respect  they  paid  to  young  Roland 
Graeme,  the  favorite  attendant  of  the  descendant  of  their  an- 
cient lords.  This  was  a  mode  of  flattery  too  pleasing  to 
encounter  rebuke  or  censure  ;  and  the  opportunity  which  it 
afforded  the  youth  to  form,  as  it  were,  a  party  of  his  own 
W'thin  the  limits  of  the  ancient  barony  of  Avenel,  added  not 
a  little  to  the  audacity  and  decisive  tone  of  a  character  which 
was  by  nature  bold,  impetuous,  and  incontrollable. 

Of  the  two  members  of  the  household  who  had  manifested 
an  early  jealously  of  Roland  Grasme,  the  prejudices  of  Wolf 
were  easily  overcome  ;  and  in  process  of  time  the  noble  dog 
slept  with  Bran,  Luath,  and  the  celebrated  hounds  of  ancient 
days.  But  Mr.  Warden,  the  chaplain,  lived,  and  retained 
his  dislike  to  j^outh.  That  good  man,  single-minded  and 
benevolent  as  he  really  was,  entertained  rather  more  than  a 
reasonable  idea  of  the  respect  due  to  him  as  a  minister,  and 
exacted  from  the  inhabitants  of  the  castle  more  deference 
than  the  haughty  young  page,  proud  of  his  mistress's  favor, 
and  petulant  from  youth  and  situation,  was  at  all  times  will- 
ing to  pay.  His  bold  and  free  demeanor,  his  attachment  to 
rich  dress  and  decoration,  his  inaptitude  to  receive  instruction, 
and  his  hardening  himself  against  rebuke,  were  circumstances 
which  induced  the  good  old  man,  with  more  haste  than 
charity,  to  set  the  forward  page  down  as  a  vessel  of  wrath, 
and  to  presage  that  the  youth  nursed  that  pride  and  haughti- 
ness of  spirit  which  goes  before  ruin  and  destruction.  On 
the  other  hand,  Roland  evinced  at  times  a  marked  dislike, 
and  even  something  like  contempt,  of  the  chaplain.  Most 
of  the  attendants  and  followers  of  Sir  Halbert  Glendinning 
entertained  the  same  charitable  thoughts  as  the  reverend  Mr. 
Warden ;  but  while  Roland  was  favored  by  their  lady,  and 
endured  by  their  lord,  they  saw  no  policy  in  making  their 
opinions  public. 

Roland  Graeme  was  sufficiently  sensible  of  the  unpleasant 
situation  in  which  he  stood ;  but  in  the  haughtiness  of  his 


3^  WA  VERLEY  NO VEL8 

heart  he  retorted  npon  the  other  domestics  the  distant,  cold, 
and  sarcastic  manner  in  which  they  treated  him,  assumed  an 
air  of  superiority  which  compelled  the  most  obstinate  to  obedi- 
ence, and  had  the  satisfaction  at  least  to  be  dreaded,  if  he 
was  heartily  hated. 

The  chaplain's  marked  dislike  had  the  effect  of  recommend- 
ing him  to  the  attention  of  Sir  Halbert's  brother,  Edward, 
who  now,  under  the  conventional  appellation  of  Father  Am- 
brose, continued  to  be  one  of  the  few  monks  who,  with  the 
Abbot  Eustatius,  had,  notwithstanding  the  nearly  total 
downfall  of  their  faith  under  the  regency  of  Murray,  been 
still  permitted  to  linger  in  the  cloisters  at  Kennaquhair. 
Respect  to  Sir  Halbert  had  prevented  their  being  altogether 
driven  out  of  the  abbey,  though  their  order  was  now  in  a 
great  measure  suppressed,  and  they  were  interdicted  the 
public  exercise  of  their  ritual,  and  only  allowed  for  their 
support  a  small  pension  out  of  their  once  splendid  revenues. 
Father  Ambrose,  thus  situated,  was  an  occasional,  though 
very  rare,  visitant  at  the  Castle  of  Avenel,  and  was  at  such 
times  observed  to  pay  particular  attention  to  Roland  Graeme, 
who  seemed  to  return  it  with  more  depth  of  feeling  than  con- 
sisted with  his  usual  habits. 

Thus  situated,  years  glided  on,  during  which  the  knight 
of  Avenel  continued  to  act  a  frequent  and  important  part  in 
the  convulsions  of  his  distracted  country ;  while  young 
Graeme  anticipated,  both  in  wishes  and  personal  accomplish- 
ments, the  age  which  should  enable  him  to  emerge  from  the 
obscurity  of  his  present  situation. 


CHAPTER  IV 

Amid  their  cups  that  freely  flow'd, 

Their  revelry  and  mirth, 
A  youthful  lord  tax'd  Valentine 

With  base  and  doubtful  birth. 

Valentine  and  Orson, 

When"  Roland  GraBme  was  a  youth  about  seventeen  years 
of  age,  he  chanced  one  summer  morning  to  descend  to  the 
mew  in  which  Sir  Halbert  Glendinning  kept  his  hawks,  in 
order  to  superintend  the  training  of  an  eyas,  or  young  hawk, 
which  he  himself,  at  the  imminent  risk  of  neck  and  limbs, 
had  taken  from  a  celebrated  eyrie  in  the  neighborhood, 
called  Gledscraig.  As  he  was  by  no  means  satisfied  with 
the  attention  which  had  been  bestowed  on  his  favorite  bird, 
he  was  not  slack  in  testifying  his  displeasure  to  the  falconer's 
lad,  whose  duty  it  was  to  have  attended  upon  it. 

*'What,  ho  !  sir  knave,''  exclaimed  Roland,  "is  it  thus 
you  feed  the  eyas  with  unwashed  meat  as  if  you  were  gorg- 
ing the  foul  branch er  of  a  worthless  hoodie-crow  ?  By  the 
mass,  and  thou  hast  neglected  its  castings  also  for  these 
two  days  !  Think'st  thou  I  ventured  my  neck  to  bring  the 
bird  down  from  the  crag  that  thou  shouldst  spoil  her  by  thy 
neglect  ?  "  And  to  add  force  to  his  remonstrances,  he  con- 
ferred a  cuff  or  two  on  the  negligent  attendant  of  the  hawks, 
who,  shouting  rather  louder  than  was  necessary  under  all 
the  circumstances,  brought  the  master  falconer  to  his 
assistance. 

Adam  Woodcock,  the  falconer  of  Avenel,  was  an  English- 
man by  birth,  but  so  long  in  the  service  of  Glendinning 
that  he  had  lost  much  of  his  national  attachment  in  that 
which  he  had  formed  to  his  master.  He  was  a  favorite  in 
his  department,  jealous  and  conceited  of  his  skill,  as  mas- 
ters of  the  game  usually  are  ;  for  the  rest  of  his  character, 
he  was  a  Jester  and  a  parcel  poet  (qualities  which  by  no 
means  abated  his  natural  conceit),  a  jolly  fellow,  who,  though 
a  sound  Protestant,  loved  a  flagon  of  ale  better  than  a  long 
sermon,  a  stout  man  of  his  hands  when  need  required,  true 
to  his  master,  and  a  little  presuming  on  his  interest  with 
hinu 


34  WA  VEBLEY  NOVELS 

Adam  Woodcock,  such  as  we  have  described  him,  by  no 
means  relished  the  freedom  used  by  young  Graeme  in  chas- 
tising his  assistant.  "  Hey,  hey,  my  lady's  page,''  said  he, 
stepping  between  his  own  boy  and  Roland,  "  fair  and  softly, 
an  it  like  your  gilt  jacket — hands  off  is  fair  play — if  my  boy 
has  done  amiss,  I  can  beat  him  myself,  and  then  you  may 
keep  your  hands  soft." 

**  I  will  beat  him  and  thee  too,'*  answered  Roland,  with- 
out hesitation,  "  an  ye  look  not  better  after  your  business. 
See  how  the  bird  is  cast  away  between  you.  I  found  the 
careless  lurdane  feeding  her  with  unwashed  flesh,  and  she 
an  eyas."* 

**Goto,"  said  the  falconer,  ''thou  art  but  an  eyas  thy- 
self, child  Roland.  What  knowest  thou  of  feeding  ?  I 
say  that  the  eyas  should  have  her  meat  unwashed  until  she 
becomes  a  brancher  :  'twere  the  ready  way  to  give  her  the 
frounce,  to  wash  her  meat  sooner,  and  so  knows  every  one 
who  knows  a  gled  from  a  falcon." 

"  It  is  thine  own  laziness,  thou  false  English  blood,  that 
dost  nothing  but  drink  and  sleep,"  retorted  the  page,  ''  and 
leaves  that  lither  lad  to  do  the  work,  which  he  minds  as 
little  as  thou." 

"  And  am  I  so  idle  then,"  said  the  falconer,  "  that  have 
three  cast  of  hawks  to  look  after,  at  perch  and  mew,  and  to 
fly  them  in  the  field  to  boot  ? — and  is  my  lady's  page  so 
busy  a  man  that  he  must  take  me  up  short  ? — and  am  I  of 
false  English  blood  ?  I  marvel  what  blood  thou  art — neither 
Englander  nor  Scot — fish  nor  flesh — a  bastard  from  the 
Debateable  Land,  without  either  kith,  kin,  or  ally  ! 
Marry,  out  upon  thee,  foul  kite,  that  would  fain  be  a  tercel 
gentle  ! " 

The  reply  to  this  sarcasm  was  a  box  on  the  ear,  so  well 
applied  that  it  overthrew  the  falconer  into  the  cistern  in 
which  water  was  kept  for  the  benefit  of  the  hawks.  Up 
started  Adam  Woodcock,  his  wrath  nowise  appeased  by  the 
cold  immersion,  and  seizing  on  a  truncheon  which  stood  by, 
would  have  soon  requited  the  injury  he  had  received,  had 
not  Roland  laid  his  hand  on  his  poniard,  and  sworn  by  all 
that  was  sacred  that,  if  he  offered  a  stroke  towards  him,  he 
would  sheath  the  blade  in  his  bowels.  The  noise  was  now 
so  great  that  more  than  one  of  the  household  came  in,  and 
amongst  others  the  major-domo,  a  grave  personage,  already 

*  There  is  a  difference  amongst  authorities  how  long  the  neet* 
ling  hawk  should  be  fed  with  flesh  which  has  previously  been 
washed. 


THE  ABBOT  35 

mentioned,  whose  gold  chain  and  white  wand  intimated  his 
authority.  At  the  appearance  of  this  dignitary,  the  strife 
was  for  the  present  appeased.  He  embraced,  however,  so 
favorable  an  opportunity  to  read  Roland  Graeme  a  shrewd 
lecture  on  the  impropriety  of  his  deportment  to  his  fellow- 
menials,  and  to  assure  him  that,  should  he  communicate 
this  fray  to  his  master  (who,  though  now  on  one  of  his  fre- 
quent expeditions,  was  speedily  expected  to  return),  which 
but  for  respect  to  his  lady  he  would  most  certainly  do,  the 
residence  of  the  culprit  in  the  Castle  of  Avenel  would  be 
but  of  brief  duration.  **  But,  however,"  added  the  prudent 
master  of  the  household,  **  I  will  report  the  matter  first  to 
my  lady/' 

**  Very  just — very  right.  Master  Wingate,"  exclaimed 
several  voices  together  ;  "  my  lady  will  consider  if  daggers 
are  to  be  drawn  on  us  for  every  idle  word,  and  whether  we 
are  to  live  in  a  well-ordered  household,  where  there  is  the 
fear  of  God,  or  amongst  drawn  dirks  and  sharp  knives. '' 

The  object  of  this  general  resentment  darted  an  angry 
glance  around  him,  and  suppressing  with  difficulty  the  desire 
which  urged  him,  to  reply  in  furious  or  in  contemptuous 
language,  returned  his  dagger  into  the  scabbard,  looked 
disdainfully  around  upon  the  assembled  menials,  turned 
short  upon  his  heel,  and  pushing  aside  those  who  stood  be- 
twixt him  and  the  door,  left  the  apartment. 

"  This  will  be  no  tree  for  my  nest,"  said  the  falconer,  *'  if 
this  cock-sparrow  is  to  crow  over  us  as  he  seems  to  do." 

*'  He  struck  me  with  his  switch  yesterday,"  said  one  of 
the  grooms,  "  because  the  tail  of  his  worship's  gelding  was 
not  trimmed  altogether  so  as  suited  his  humor." 

"And  I  promise  you,"  said  the  laundress,  '*'my  young 
master  will  stick  nothing  to  call  an  honest  woman  'slut' 
and  *  quean'  if  there  be  but  a  speck  of  shoot  upon  his  band- 
collar.^' 

**  If  Master  Wingate  do  not  his  errand  to  my  lady,"  was 
the  general  result,  ''there  will  be  no  tarrying  in  the  same 
house  with  Roland  Graeme." 

The  master  of  the  household  heard  them  all  for  some  time, 
and  then,  motioning  for  universal  silence,  he  addressed  them 
with  all  the  dignity  of  Malvolio  himself. — "My  masters — 
not  forgetting  you,  my  mistresses — do  not  think  the  worse  ot 
me  that  I  proceed  with  as  much  care  as  haste  in  this  matter. 
Our  master  is  a  gallant  knight,  and  will  have  his  sway  at 
home  and  abroad,  in  wood  and  field,  in  hall  and  bower,  as 
the  gaying  is.     Our  lady,  my  benison  upom  her  !  is  also  a 


8ft  WAVEBLEY  NOVELS 

noble  person  of  long  descent,  and  rightful  heir  of  this  place 
and  barony,  and  she  also  loves  her  will ;  as  for  that  matter, 
show  me  the  woman  who  doth  not.  Now,  she  hath  favored, 
doth  favor,  and  will  favor  this  jackanapes,  for  what  good 
part  about  him  I  know  not,  save  that  as  one  noble  lady  will 
love  a  messan  dog,  and  another  a  screaming  popinjay,  and  a 
third  a  barbary  ape,  so  doth  it  please  our  noble  dame  to  set 
her  affections  upon  this  stray  elf  of  a  page,  for  nought  that 
[  can  think  of,  save  that  she  was  the  cause  of  his  being 
saved — the  more's  the  pity — from  drowning/^  And  here 
Master  Wingate  made  a  pause. 

"  I  would  have  been  his  caution  for  a  gray  groat,  against 
salt  water  or  fresh,'*  said  Roland's  adversary,  the  falconer ; 
"marry,  if  he  crack  not  a  rope  for  stabbing  or  for  snatch- 
ing, I  will  be  content  never  to  hood  hawk  again." 

'^  Peace,  Adam  Woodcock,"  said  Wingate,  waving  his  hand 
— ''  I  prithee,  peace,  man.  Now,  my  lady,  liking  this  sprin- 
gald,  as  aforesaid,  differs  therein  from  my  lord,  who  loves 
never  a  bone  in  his  skin.  Now,  is  it  for  me  to  stir  up  strife  be- 
twixt them,  and  put  as  'twere  my  finger  betwixt  the  bark  and 
the  tree,  on  account  of  a  pragmatical  youngster,  whom,  never- 
theless, I  would  willingly  see  whipped  forth  of  the  barony  ? 
Have  patience,  and  this  boil  will  break  without  our  med- 
dling. I  have  been  in  service  since  I  wore  a  beard  on  my 
chin,  till  now  that  that  beard  is  turned  gray,  and  I  have  sel- 
dom known  any  one  better  themselves  even  by  taking  the 
lady's  part  against  the  lord's  ;  but  never  one  who  did  not 
dirk  himself  if  he  took  the  lord's  against  the  lady's." 

*'  And  so,"  said  Lilias,  "  we  are  to  be  crowed  over,  e^^ery 
one  of  us,  men  and  women,  cock  and  hen,  by  this  little  up- 
start ?  I  will  try  titles  with  him  first,  I  promise  you.  I 
fancy.  Master  Wingate,  for  as  wise  as  you  look,  you  will  be 
pleased  to  tell  what  you  have  seen  to-day,  if  my  lady  com- 
mauds  you  ?" 

''  To  speak  the  truth  when  my  lady  commands  me,"  an- 
swered the  prudential  major-domo,  ''is  in  some  measure  my 
duty.  Mistress  Lilias  ;  always  providing  for  and  excepting 
those  cases  in  which  it  cannot  be  spoken  without  breeding 
mischief  and  inconvenience  to  myself  or  my  fellow-servants ; 
for  the  tongue  of  a  tale-bearer  breaketh  bones  as  well  as  a 
Jeddart  staff." 

**  But  this  imp  of  Satan  is  none  of  your  friends  or  fellow- 
servants,"  said  Lilias  ;  "  and  I  trust  you  mean  not  to  stand 
up  for  him  against  the  whole  family  besides  ?  " 

**  Credit  me,  Mrs,  Lilias,"  replied  the  senior,  "  should  I 


THS  ABBOT  87 

Bee  the  time  fitting,  I  would  with  right  good-will  give  him  a 
lick  with  the  rough  side  of  my  tongue/' 

"  Enough  said.  Master  Wingate,"  answered  Lilias  ;  **  then 
trust  me,  his  song  shall  soon  be  laid.  If  my  mistress  does 
not  ask  me  what  is  the  matter  below  stairs  before  she  be  ten 
minutes  of  time  older,  she  is  no  born  woman,  and  my  name 
is  not  Lilias  Bradbourne/' 

In  pursuance  of  her  plan.  Mistress  Lilias  failed  not  to  pre- 
sent herself  before  her  mistress  with  all  the  exterior  of  one 
who  is  possessed  of  an  important  secret — that  is,  she  had  the 
corners  of  her  mouth  turned  down,  her  eyes  raised  up,  her 
lips  pressed  as  fast  together  as  if  they  had  been  sewed  up,  to 
prevent  her  blabbing,  and  an  air  of  prim  mystical  importance 
diffused  over  her  whole  person  and  demeanor,  which  seemed 
to  intimate,  *'  I  know  something  which  I  am  resolved  not  to 
tell  you!" 

Lilias  had  rightly  read  her  mistress's  temper,  who,  wise 
and  good  as  she  was,  was  yet  a  daughter  of  grandame  Eve, 
and  could  not  witness  this  mysterious  bearing  on  the  part  of 
her  waiting- woman  without  longing  to  ascertain  the  secret 
cause.  For  a  space,  Mrs.  Lilias  was  obdurate  to  all  inquiries, 
sighed,  turned  her  eyes  up  higher  yet  to  Heaven,  hoped  for 
the  best,  but  had  nothing  particular  to  communicate.  All 
this,  as  was  most  natural  and  proper,  only  stimulated  the 
lady's  curiosity  ;  neither  was  her  importunity  to  be  parried 
with — "  Thank  God,  I  am  no  makebate — no  tale-bearer — 
thank  God,  I  never  envied  any  one's  favor,  or  was  anxious 
to  propale  their  misdemeanor — only,  thank  God,  there  has 
been  no  bloodshed  and  murder  in  the  house — that  is  all." 

"  Bloodshed  and  murder!"  exclaimed  the  lady,  ^^  what 
does  the  quean  mean  ?  If  you  speak  not  plain  out,  you  shall 
have  something  you  will  scarce  be  thankful  for." 

''  Nay,  my  lady,"  answered  Lilias,  eager  to  disburden  her 
mind,  or,  in  Chaucer's  phrase,  to  ''unbuckle  her  mail,"  ''if 
you  bid  me  speak  out  the  truth,  you  must  not  be  moved 
with  what  might  displease  you  :  Eoland  Graeme  has  dirked 
Adam  Woodcock — that  is  all." 

"  Good  Heaven  !"  said  the  lady,  turning  pale  as  ashes, 
"  is  the  man  slain  ?  " 

"  No,  madam,"  replied  Lilias,  "  but  slain  he  would  have 
been  if  there  had  not  been  ready  help  ;  but  maybe  it  is 
your  lady  ship's  pleasure  that  this  young  esquire  shall  pon- 
iard the  servants,  as  well  as  switch  and  baton  them  ?  " 

"  Go  to,  minion,"  said  the  lady,  "  you  are  saucy  ;  tell  the 
master  of  the  household  to  attend  me  instantly." 


m  WAvt:nLEr  NOVELS 

Lilias  hastened  to  seek  out  Mr.  Wiiigate,  and  hurry  him 
to  his  lady's  presence,  speaking  as  a  word  in  season  to  him  on 
the  way,  '*  I  have  set  the  stone  a-trowling,  look  that  you  do 
not  let  it  stand  still/' 

The  steward,  too  prudential  a  person  to  commit  himself 
otherwise,  answered  by  a  sly  look  and  a  nod  of  intelligence, 
and  presently  after  stood  in  the  presence  of  the  Lady  of 
Avenel,  with  a  look  of  great  respect  for  his  lady,  partly  real, 
partly  affected,  and  an  air  of  great  sagacity,  which  inferred 
no  ordinary  conceit  of  himself. 

"  How  is  this,  Wingate/'  said  the  lady,  **  and  what  rule 
do  you  keep  in  the  castle,  that  the  domestics  of  Sir  Halbert 
Glendinning  draw  the  dagger  on  each  other  as  in  a  cavern  of 
thieves  and  murderers  ?  Is  the  wounded  man  much  hurt  ? 
and  what — what  hath  become  of  the  unhappy  boy  ?  " 

**  There  is  no  one  wounded  as  yet,  madam,''  replied  he  of 
the  golden  chain  ;  "  it  passes  my  poor  skill  to  say  how  many 
may  be  wounded  before  Pasche,  if  some  rule  be  not  taken 
with  this  youth  ;  not  but  the  youth  is  a  fair  youth,"  he  added, 
correcting  himself,  "  and  able  at  his  exercise  ;  but  somewhat 
too  ready  with  the  ends  of  his  fingers,  the  butt  of  his  riding- 
switch,  and  the  point  of  his  dagger." 

*^  And  whose  fault  is  that,"  said  the  lady,  "but  yours,  who 
should  have  taught  him  better  discipline  than  to  brawl  or  to 
draw  his  dagger  ?  " 

*'  If  it  please  your  ladyship  so  to  impose  the  blame  on  me." 
answered  the  steward,  "  it  is  my  part,  doubtless,  to  bear  it ; 
only  I  submit  to  your  consideration  that,  unless  I  nailed  his 
weapon  to  the  scabbard,  I  could  no  more  keep  it  still  than  I 
could  fix  quicksilver,  which  defied  even  the  skill  of  Raymond 
Lullius." 

''  Tell  me  not  of  Raymond  Lullius,"  said  the  lady,  losing 
patience,  ^'  but  send  me  the  chaplain  hither.  You  grow  all 
of  you  too  wise  for  me  during  your  lord's  long  and  repeated 
absence.  I  would  to  God  his  affairs  would  permit  him  to 
remain  at  home  and  rule  his  own  household,  for  it  passes  my 
wit  and  skill  !  " 

'*  God  forbid,  my  lady  ! "  said  the  old  domestic,  "  that 
you  should  sincerely  think  what  you  are  now  pleased  to  say  : 
your  old  servants  might  well  hope  that,  after  so  many  years' 
duty,you  would  do  their  service  more  justice  than  to  distrust 
their  gray  hairs,  because  they  cannot  rule  the  peevish  humor 
of  a  green  head,  which  the  owner  carries,  it  may  be,  a  brace 
of  inches  higher  than  becomes  him." 

"  Leave  me,"  said  the  lady  ;  ''Sir  Halbert's  return  must 


THE  ABBOT  3» 

now  be  expected  daily,  and  he  will  look  into  these  matters 
himself — leave  me,  I  say,  Wingate,  without  saying  more 
of  it.  I  know  you  are  honest,  and  I  believe  the  boy  is  petu- 
lant ;  and  yet  I  think  it  is  my  favor  which  hath  set  all  of 
you  against  him/' 

The  steward  bowed  and  retired,  after  having  been  silenced 
in  a  second  attempt  to  explain  the  motives  on  which  he 
acted. 

The  chaplain  arrived  ;  but  neither  from  him  did  the  lady 
receive  much  comfort.  On  the  contrary,  she  found  him  dis- 
posed, in  plain  terms,  to  lay  to  the  door  of  her  indulgence 
all  the  disturbances  which  the  fiery  temper  of  Roland  Graeme 
had  already  occasioned,  or  might  hereafter  occasion,  in  the 
family.  *'l  would,''  he  said,  **  honored  lady,  that  you  had 
deigned  to  be  ruled  by  me  in  the  outset  of  this  matter,  sith 
it  is  easy  to  stem  evil  in  the  fountain,  but  hard  to  struggle 
against  it  in  the  stream.  You  honored  madam — a  word  which 
I  do  not  use  according  to  the  vain  forms  of  this  world,  but 
because  I  have  ever  loved  and  honored  you  as  an  honorable 
and  an  elect  lady — you,  I  say,  madam,  have  been  pleased, 
contrary  to  my  poor  but  earnest  counsel,  to  raise  this  boy 
from  his  station  into  one  approaching  to  your  own." 

'*  What  mean  you,  reverend  sir  ?"  said  the  lady.  *'  I  have 
made  this  youth  a  page  ;  is  there  aught  in  my  doing  so  that 
does  not  become  my  character  and  quality  ? 

**  I  dispute  not,  madam,"  said  the  pertinacious  preacher, 
**  your  benevolent  purpose  in  taking  charge  of  this  youth,  or 
your  title  to  give  him  this  idle  character  of  page,  if  such  was 
your  pleasure ;  though  what  thfe  education  of  a  boy  in  the 
train  of  a  female  can  tend  to,  save  to  ingraft  foppery  and 
effeminacy  on  conceit  and  arrogance,  it  passes  my  knowledge 
to  discover.  But  I  blame  you  more  directly  for  having  taken 
little  care  to  guard  him  against  the  perils  of  his  condition,  or 
to  tame  and  humble  a  spirit  naturally  haughty,  overbearing, 
and  impatient.  You  have  brought  into  your  bower  a  lion's 
cub  ;  delighted  with  the  beauty  of  his  fur,  and  the  grace  of 
his  gambols,  you  have  bound  him  with  no  fetters  befitting  the 
fierceness  of  his  disposition.  You  have  let  him  grow  up  as 
unawed  as  if  he  had  been  still  a  tenant  of  the  forest,  and  now 
you  are  surprised,  and  call  out  for  assistance,  when  he  begins 
to  ramp,  rend,  and  tear,  according  to  his  proper  nature." 

**  Mr.  Warden,"  said  the  lady,  considerably  offended,  "  yon 
are  my  husband's  ancient  friend,  and  I  believe  your  love  sin- 
cere to  him  and  to  his  household.  Yet  let  me  say,  that  when 
I  asked  you  for  counsel,  I  expected  not  this  asperity  of  rebuke. 


40  WAVERLET  NOVELS 

If  I  have  done  wrong  in  loving  this  poor  orphan  lad  more 
than  others  of  his  class,  I  scarce  think  the  error  merited  such 
severe  censure  ;  and  if  stricter  discipline  were  required  to 
keep  his  fiery  temper  in  order,  it  ought,  I  think,  to  be  con- 
sidered that  I  am  a  woman,  and  that,  if  I  have  erred  in  this 
matter,  it  becomes  a  friend's  part  rather  to  aid  than  to  re- 
buke me.  I  would  these  evils  were  taken  order  with  before 
my  lord's  return.  He  loves  not  domestic  discord  or  domestic 
brawls  ;  and  I  would  not  willingly  that  he  thought  such  could 
arise  from  one  whom  I  have  favored.  What  do  you  counsel 
me  to  do  ?  " 

''  Dismiss  this  youth  from  your  service,  madam,''  replied 
the  preacher. 

''You  cannot  bid  me  do  so/'  said  the  lady — ''you  cannot, 
as  a  Christian  and  a  man  of  humanity,  bid  me  turn  away  an 
unprotected  creature  against  whom  my  favor — my  injudicious 
favor,  if  you  will — has  reared  up  so  many  enemies." 

"  It  is  not  necessary  you  should  altogether  abandon  him, 
though  you  dismiss  him  to  another  service,  or  to  a  calling 
better  suiting  his  station  and  character,"  said  the  preacher  ; 
"  elsewhere  he  may  be  an  useful  and  profitable  member  of 
the  common-weal ;  here  he  is  but  a  makebate  and  a  stumbling- 
block  of  offense.  The  youth  has  snatches  of  sense  and  of  in- 
telligence, though  he  lacks  industry.  I  will  myself  give  him 
letters  commendatory  to  Olearius  Schinderhausen,  a  learned 
professor  at  the  famous  university  of  Leyden,  where  they  lack 
an  under-janitor ;  where,  besides  gratis  instruction,  if  God 
give  him  the  grace  to  seek  it,  he  will  enjoy  five  marks  by  the 
year,  and  the  professor's  cast-off  suit,  which  he  disparts  with 
biennially." 

"  This  will  never  do,  good  Mr.  Warden,"  said  the  lady, 
scarce  able  to  suppress  a  smile  ;  "  we  will  think  more  at  large 
upon  this  matter.  In  the  meanwhile,  I  trust  to  your  remon- 
strances with  this  wild  boy  and  with  the  family  for  restrain- 
ing these  violent  and  unseemly  jealousies  and  bursts  of 
passion  ;  and  I  entreat  you  to  press  on  him  and  them  their 
duty  in  this  respect  towards  God  and  towards  their  master." 

"You  shall  be  obeyed,  madam,"  said  Warden.  "  On  the 
next  Thursday  I  exhort  the  family,  and  will,  with  God's 
blessing,  so  wrestle  with  the  demon  of  wrath  and  violence 
which  hath  entered  into  my  little  flock  that  I  trust  to  hound 
the  wolf  out  of  the  fold,  as  if  he  were  chased  away  with  ban- 
dogs." 

This  was  the  part  of  the  conference  from  which  Mr. 
Warden  derived  the  greatest  pleasure.     The  pulpit  wus  at 


THE  ABBOT  41 

that  time  the  same  powerful  engine  for  affecting  popular 
feeling  which  the  press  has  since  become,  and  he  had  been 
no  unsuccessful  preacher,  as  we  have  already  seen.  It  fol- 
lowed as  a  natural  consequence  that  he  rather  over-estimated 
the  powers  of  his  own  oratory,  and,  like  some  of  his  brethren 
about  the  period,  was  glad  of  an  opportunity  to  handle  any 
matters  of  importance,  whether  public  and  private,  the  dis- 
cussion of  which  could  be  dragged  into  his  discourse.  In 
that  rude  age  the  delicacy  was  unknown  which  prescribed 
time  and  place  to  personal  exhortations  ;  and  as  the  court 
preacher  often  addressed  the  king  individually,  and  dictated 
to  him  the  conduct  he  ought  to  observe  in  matters  of  state, 
so  the  nobleman  himself,  or  any  of  his  retainers,  were 
in  the  chapel  of  the  feudal  castle,  often  incensed  or  ap- 
palled, as  the  case  might  be,  by  the  discussion  of  their 
private  faults  in  the  evening  exercise,  and  by  spiritual 
censures  directed  against  them  specifically,  personally,  and 
by  name. 

The  sermon  by  means  of  which  Henry  Warden  proposed 
to  restore  concord  and  good  .order  to  the  Castle  of  Avenel 
bore  for  text  the  well-known  words,  ''  He  who  striketh  with 
the  sword  shall  perish  by  the  sword,"  and  was  a  singular 
mixture  of  good  sense  and  powerful  oratory  with  pedantry 
and  bad  taste.  He  enlarged  a  good  deal  on  the  word 
"  striketh,"  which  he  assured  his  hearers  comprehended 
blows  given  with  the  point  as  well  as  with  the  edge,  and 
more  generally  shooting  with  hand-gun,  cross-bow  or  long- 
bow, thrusting  with  a  lance,  or  doing  anything  whatever  by 
which  death  might  be  occasioned  to  the  adversary.  In  the 
same  manner,  he, proved  satisfactorily  that  the  word  "  sword  " 
comprehended  all  descriptions,  whether  backsword  or  bas- 
ket-hilt, cut-and-thrust  or  rapier,  falchion  or  scimitar. 
"  But  if,"  he  continued,  with  still  greater  animation,  "  the 
text  includeth  in  its  anathema  those  who  strike  with  any  of 
those  weapons  which  man  hath  devised  for  the  exercise  of 
his  open  hostility,  still  more  doth  it  comprehend  such  as 
from  their  form  and  size  are  devised  rather  for  the  gratifi- 
cation of  privy  malice  by  treachery  than  for  the  destruction 
of  an  enemy  prepared  and  standing  upon  his  defense.  Such," 
he  proceeded,  looking  sternly  at  the  place  where  the  page 
was  seated  on  a  cushion  at  the  feet  of  his  mistress,  and 
wearing  in  his  crimson  belt  a  gay  dagger  with  a  gilded  hilt 
— "  such,  more  especially,  I  hold  to  be  those  implements  of 
death  which,  in  our  modern  and  fantastic  times,  are  worn 
not  only  by  thieves  and  cut-throats,  to  whom  they  most 


/-   i 


12  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

properly  belong,  but  even  by  those  who  attend  upon  women, 
and  wait  in  the  chambers  of  honorable  ladies.  Yes,  my 
friends,  every  species  of  this  unhappy  weapon,  framed  for 
all  evil  and  for  no  good,  is  comprehended  under  this  deadly 
denunciation  :  whether  it  be  a  stilet,  which  we  have  bor- 
rowed from  the  treacherous  Italian,  or  a  dirk,  which  is  borne 
by  the  savage  Highlandmen,  or  a  whinger,  which  is  carried 
by  our  own  Border  thieves  and  cut-throats,  or  a  dudgeon- 
dagger,  all  are  alike  engines  invented  by  the  devil  himself, 
for  ready  implements  of  deadly  wrath,  sudden  to  execute, 
and  difficult  to  be  parried.  Even  the  common  sword-and- 
buckler  brawler  despises  the  use  of  such  a  treacherous  and 
malignant  instrument,  which  is  therefore  fit  to  be  used,  not 
by  men  or  soldiers,  but  by  those  who,  trained  under  female 
discipline,  become  themselves  effeminate  hermaphrodites, 
having  female  spite  and  female  cowardice  added  to  the  in- 
firmities and  evil  passions  of  their  masculine  nature.'' 

The  effect  which  this  oration  produced  upon  the  assembled 
congregation  of  Avenel  cannot  very  easily  be  described.  The 
lady  seemed  at  once  embarrassed  and  offended  ;  the  menials 
could  hardly  contain,  under  an  affectation  of  deep  attention, 
the  joy  with  which  they  heard  the  chaplain  launch  his  thun- 
ders at  the  head  of  the  unpopular  favorite,  and  the  weapon 
which  they  considered  as  a  badge  of  affectation  and  finery. 
Mrs.  Lilias  crested  and  drew  up  her  head  with  all  the  deep- 
felt  pride  of  gratified  resentment ;  while  the  steward,  ob- 
serving a  strict  neutrality  of  aspect,  fixed  his  eyes  upon  an 
old  scutcheon  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  wall,  which  he 
seemed  to  examine  with  the  utmost  accuracy,  more  willing, 
perhaps,  to  incur  the  censure  of  being  inattentive  to  the 
sermon  than  that  of  seeming  to  listen  with  marked  approba- 
tion to  what  appeared  so  distasteful  to  his  mistress. 

The  unfortunate  subject  of  the  harangue,  whom  nature 
had  endowed  with  passions  which  had  hitherto  found  no 
effectual  restraint,  could  not  disguise  the  resentment  which 
he  felt  at  being  thus  directly  held  up  to  the  scorn,  as  well 
as  the  censure,  of  the  assembled  inhabitants  of  the  little 
world  in  which  he  lived.  His  brow  grew  red — his  lip  grew 
pale — he  set  his  teeth — he  clenched  his  hand,  and  then  with 
mechanical  readiness  grasped  the  weapon  of  which  the 
clergyman  had  given  so  hideous  a  character  ;  and  at  length, 
as  the  preacher  heightened  the  coloring  of  his  invective,  he 
felt  his  rage  become  so  ungovernable  that,  fearful  of  being 
hurried  into  some  deed  of  desperate  violence,  he  rose  up,  tra; 
rersed  the  chapel  with  hasty  steps,  and  left  the  congregation. 


THE  ABBOT  48 

The  preacher  was  surprised  into  a  sudden  pause,  while  the 
fiery  youth  shot  across  him  like  a  flash  of  lightning,  regard- 
ing him  as  he  passed,  as  if  he  had  wished  to  dart  from  his 
eyes  the  same  power  of  blighting  and  of  consuming.  '  But  no 
sooner  had  he  crossed  the  chapel,  and  shut  with  violence  be- 
hind him  the  door  of  the  vaulted  entrance  by  which  it  com- 
municated with  the  castle,  than  the  impropriety  of  his  con- 
duct supplied  Warden  with  one  of  those  happier  subjects  for 
eloquence,  of  which  he  knew  how  to  take  advantage  for 
making  a  suitable  impression  on  his  hearers.  He  paused  for 
an  instant,  and  then  pronounced,  in  slovi^  and  solemn  voice, 
the  deep  anathema  :  *'  He  hath  gone  out  from  us  because  he 
was  not  of  us  :  the  sick  man  hath  been  offended  at  the 
wholesome  bitter  of  the  medicine — the  wounded  patient  hath 
flinched  from  the  friendly  knife  of  the  surgeon — the  sheep 
hath  fled  from  the  sheepfold  and  delivered  himself  to  the 
wolf,  because  he  could  not  assume  the  quiet  and  humble 
conduct  demanded  of  us  by  the  great  Shepherd.  Ah  !  my 
brethren,  beware  of  wrath — beware  of  pride — beware  of  the 
deadly  and  destroying  sin  which  so  often  shows  itself  to  our 
frail  eyes  in  the  garments  of  light  !  What  is  our  earthly 
honor  ?  Pride,  and  pride  only.  What  our  earthly  gifts  and 
graces  ?  Pride  and  vanity.  Voyagers  speak  of  Indian  men 
who  deck  themselves  with  shells,  and  anoint  themselves  with 
pigments,  and  boast  of  their  attire  as  we  do  of  our  miserable 
carnal  advantages.  Pride  could  draw  down  the  morning- 
star  from  Heaven  even  to  the  verge  of  the  pit.  Pride  and 
gelf-opinion  kindled  the  flaming  sword  which  waves  us  off 
from  Paradise.  Pride  made  Adam  mortal,  and  a  weary 
wanderer  on  the  face  of  the  earth  which  he  had  else  been  at 
this  day  the  immortal  lord  of.  Pride  brought  amongst  us 
sin,  and  doubles  every  sin  it  has  brought.  It  is  the  outpost 
which  the  devil  and  the  flesh  most  stubbornly  maintain 
against  the  assaults  of  grace  ;  and  until  it  be  subdued,  and 
its  barriers  leveled  with  the  very  earth,  there  is  more  hope 
of  a  fool  than  of  the  sinner.  Eend  then,  from  your  bosoms 
this  accursed  shoot  of  the  fatal  apple  :  tear  it  up  by  the  roots, 
though  it  be  twisted  with  the  chords  of  your  life.  Profit  by 
the  example  of  the  miserable  sinner  that  has  passed  from  us, 
and  embrace  the  means  of  grace  while  it  is  called  to-day — ere 
your  conscience  is  seared  as  with  a  firebrand,  and  your  ears 
deafened  like  those  of  the  adder,  and  your  heart  hardened 
like  the  nether  millstone.  Up,  then,  and  be  doing  :  wrestle 
and  overcome ;  resist,  and  the  enemy  shall  flee  from  you. 
Watch  and  pray,  lest  ye  fall  into  temptation,  and  let  the 


/^ 


U  WA  VERLEY  NOVELS 

Btumbling  of  others  be  your  warning  and  your  example. 
Above  all,  rely  not  on  yourselves,  for  such  self-confidence  is 
even  the  worst  symptom  of  the  disorder  itself.  The  Pharisee 
perhaps  deemed  himself  humble  w^hile  he  stooped  in  the 
Temple,  and  thanked  God  that  he  was  not  as  other  men,  and 
even  as  the  publican.  But  while  his  knees  touched  the 
marble  pavement,  his  head  was  as  high  as  the  topmost  pin- 
nacle of  the  Temple.  Do  not  therefore  deceive  yourselves, 
and  offer  false  coin,  where  the  purest  you  can  present  is  but 
as  dross  :  think  not  that  such  will  pass  the  assay  of  Omnipo- 
tent Wisdom.  Yet  shrink  not  from  the  task  because,  as 
is  my  bounden  duty,  I  do  not  disguise  from  you  its  difficul- 
ties. Self-searching  can  do  much — meditation  can  do  much 
— grace  can  do  all."' 

And  he  concluded  with  a  touching  and  animating  exhor- 
tation to  his  hearers  to  seek  Divine  grace,  w^hich  is  perfected, 
in  human  weakness. 

The  audience  did  not  listen  to  this  address  without  being 
consideraoly  affected  ;  though  it  might  be  doubted  whether 
the  feelings  of  triumph  excited  by  the  disgraceful  retreat  of 
the  favorite  page  did  not  greatly  qualify  in  the  minds  of 
many  the  exhortations  of  the  preacher  to  charity  and  to 
humility.  And,  in  fact,  the  expression  of  their  countenances 
much  resembled  the  satisfied,  triumphant  air  of  a  set  of 
children,  who,  having  just  seen  a  companion  punished  for  a 
fault  in  which  they  had  no  share,  con  their  task  with  double 
glee,  both  because  they  themselves  are  out  of  the  scrape  and 
because  the  culprit  is  in  it. 

With  very  different  feelings  did  the  Lady  of  Avenel  seek 
her  own  apartment.  She  felt  angry  at  Warden  having  made 
a  domestic  matter,  in  which  she  took  a  personal  interest,  the 
subject  of  such  public  discussion.  But  this  she  knew  the 
good  man  claimed  as  a  branch  of  his  Christian  liberty  as  a 
preacher,  and  also  that  it  was  vindicated  by  the  universal 
custom  of  his  brethren.  But  the  self-willed  conduct  of  her 
protege  afforded  her  yet  deeper  concern.  That  he  had  broken 
through,  in  so  remarkable  a  degree,  not  only  the  respect  due 
to  her  presence,  but  that  which  was  paid  to  religious  admon- 
ition in  those  days  with  such  peculiar  reverence,  argued  a 
spirit  as  untameable  as  his  enemies  had  represented  him  to 
possess.  And  yet,  so  far  as  he  had  been  under  her  own  eye, 
she  had  seen  no  more  of  that  fiery  spirit  than  appeared  to 
her  to  become  his  years  and  his  vivacity.  This  opinion 
might  be  founded  in  some  degree  on  partiality  ;  in  some 
degree,  too,  it  might  be  owing  to  the  kindness  and  indul- 


THE  ABBOT  46 

gence  which  she  had  always  extended  to  him  ;  but  still  she 
thought  it  impossible  that  she  could  be  totally  mistaken  in 
the  estimate  she  had  formed  of  his  character.  The  extreme 
of  violence  is  scarce  consistent  with  a  course  of  continued 
hypocrisy  (although  Lilias  charitably  hinted  that  in  some  in- 
stances they  were  happily  united),  and  therefore  she  could 
not  exactly  trust  the  report  of  others  against  her  own  expe- 
rience and  observation.  The  thoughts  of  this  orphan  boy 
clung  to  her  heartstrings  with  a  fondness  for  which  she  her- 
self was  unable  to  account.  He  had  seemed  to  have  been 
sent  to  her  by  Heaven  to  fill  up  those  intervals  of  languor 
and  vacuity  which  deprived  her  of  much  enjoyment.  Per- 
haps he  was  not  less  dear  to  her  because  she  well  saw  that  he 
was  a  favorite  with  no  one  else,  and  because  she  felt  that  to 
give  him  up  was  to  afford  the  judgment  of  her  husband  and 
others  a  triumph  over  her  own — a  circumstance  not  quite 
indiff'erent  to  the  best  of  spouses  of  either  sex. 

In  short,  the  Lady  of  Avenel  formed  the  internal  resolu- 
tion that  she  would  not  desert  her  page  while  her  page  could 
be  rationally  protected  ;  and,  with  the  view  of  ascertaining 
how  far  this  might  be  done,  she  caused  him  to  be  summoned 
to  her  presence. 


CHAPTER  V 

In  the  wild  storm, 
The  seaman  hews  his  mast  down,  and  t}ie  merchant 
Heaves  to  the  billows  wares  he  once  deem'd  precious; 
So  prince  and  peer'  'mid  popular  contentions, 
Cast  off  their  favorites. 

Old  Play. 

It  was  some  time  ere  Roland  Graeme  appeared.  The  mes- 
senger (his  old  friend  Lilias)  had  at  first  attempted  to  open 
the  door  of  his  little  apartment,  with  the  charitable  purpose, 
doubtless,  of  enjoying  the  confusion,  and  marking  the  de- 
meanor, of  the  culprit.  But  an  oblong  bit  of  iron,  yclept  a 
bolt,  was  passed  across  the  door  on  the  inside,  and  prevented 
her  benign  intentions.  Lilias  knocked,  and  called  at  intervals, 
"  Roland — Roland  Graeme — Master  Roland  Graeme  (an  em- 
phasis on  the  word  '*  Master  ''),  will  you  be  pleased  to  undo 
the  door  ?  What  ails  you  ? — are  you  at  your  prayers  in 
private,  to  complete  the  devotion  which  you  left  unfinished 
in  public  ?  Surely  we  must  have  a  screened  seat  for  you  in 
the  chapel,  that  your  gentility  may  be  free  from  the  eyes  of 
common  folks ! "  Still  no  whisper  was  heard  in  reply. 
**  Well,  Master  Roland,"  said  the  waiting-maid,  "  I  must  tell 
my  mistress  that,  if  she  would  have  an  answer,  she  must 
either  come  herself  or  send  those  on  errand  to  you  who  can 
beat  the  door  down.^' 

*'  What  says  your  lady  ?  "  inquired  the  page  from  within. 

"  Marry,  open  the  door  and  you  shall  hear,'^  answered  the 
waiting-maid.  ^'  I  trow  it  becomes  my  lady's  message  to  be 
listened  to  face  to  face  ;  and  I  will  not,  for  your  idle  pleasure, 
whistle  it  through  a  keyhole.'' 

"  Your  mistress's  name,"  said  the  page,  opening  the  door, 
''  is  too  fair  a  cover  for  your  impertinence.  What  says  my 
lady  ? " 

'*  That  you  will  be  pleased  to  come  to  her  directly,  in  the 
withdrawing-room,"  answered  Lilias.  ''  I  presume  she  has 
some  directions  for  you  concerning  the  forms  to  be  observed 
in  leaving  chapel  in  future." 

*'  Say  to  my  lady  that  I  will  directly  wait  on  her,"  said 

46 


THE  ABBOT  47 

the  page  ;  and,  returning  into  his  own  apartment,  he  once 
more  locked  the  door  in  the  face  of  the  waiting-maid. 

"  Rare  courtesy  !  '*  muttered  Lilias  ;  and,  returning  to  her 
mistress,  acquainted  her  that  Roland  Graeme  would  wait  on 
her  when  it  suited  his  convenience. 

'*  What !  is  that  his  phrase  or  your  own  addition,  Lilias  ?  '* 
said  the  lady,  coolly. 

*'Nay,  madam,"  replied  the  attendant,  not  directly  an- 
swering the  question,  "  he  looked  as  if  he  could  have  said 
much  more  impertinent  things  than  that,  if  I  had  been 
willing  to  hear  them.  But  here  he  comes  to  answer  for 
himself.'' 

Roland  Graeme  entered  the  apartment  with  a  loftier  mien 
and  somewhat  a  higher  color  than  his  wont ;  there  was  em- 
barrassment in  his  manner,  but  it  was  neither  that  of  fear 
nor  of  penitence. 

*'  Young  man,''  said  the  lady,  *'  what  trow  you  am  I  to 
think  of  your  conduct  this  day  ?" 

"  If  it  has  offended  you,  madam,  I  am  deeply  grieved," 
said  the  youth. 

*' To  have  offended  me  alone,"  said  the  lady,  **  were  but 
little.  You  have  been  guilty  of  conduct  which  will  highly 
offend  your  master — of  violence  to  your  fellow-servants,  and 
of  disrespect  to  God  Himself,  in  the  person  of  His  ambas- 
sador." 

**  Permit  me  again,  to  reply,"  said  the  page,  ''  that,  if  I 
have  offended  my  only  mistress,  friend,  and  benefactress,  it 
includes  the  sum  of  my  guilt,  and  deserves  the  sum  of  my 
penitence.  Sir  Halbert  Glendinning  calls  me  not  servant, 
nor  do  I  call  him  master  :  he  is  not  entitled  to  blame  me  for 
chastising  an  insolent  groom  ;  nor  do  I  fear  the  wrath  of 
Heaven  for  treating  with  scorn  the  unauthorized  interference 
of  a  meddling  preacher." 

The  Lady  of  Avenel  had  before  this  seen  symptoms  in  her 
favorite  of  boyish  petulance  and  of  impatience  of  censure  or 
reproof.  But  his  present  demeanor  was  of  a  graver  and 
more  determined  character,  and  she  was  for  a  moment  at  a 
loss  how  she  should  treat  the  youth,  who  seemed  to  have  at 
once  assumed  the  character  not  only  of  a  man,  but  of  a  bold 
and  determined  one.  She  paused  an  instant,  and  then  as- 
suming the  dignity  which  was  natural  to  her,  she  said,  ''  Is 
it  to  me,  Roland,  that  you  hold  this  language  ?  Is  it  for  the 
purpose  of  making  me  repent  the  favor  I  have  shown  you 
that  you  declare  yourself  independent  both  of  an  earthly  and 
a  Heavenly  nj  aster  ?    Have  you  forgotten  what  you  were. 


48  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

and  to  what  the  loss  of  my  protection  would  speedily  again 
reduce  you  ?" 

"  Lady,"  said  the  page,  '^  I  have  forgot  nothing :  I  re- 
member but  too  much.  I  know  that,  but  for  you,  I  should 
have  perished  in  yon  blue  waves/'  pointing,  as  he  spoke,  to 
the  lake,  which  was  seen  through  the  window,  agitated  by 
the  western  wind.  '^  Your  goodness  has  gone  farther,  ma- 
dam :  you  have  protected  me  against  the  malice  of  others, 
and  against  my  own  folly.  You  are  free,  if  you  are  willing, 
to  abandon  the  orphan  you  have  reared.  You  have  left 
nothing  undone  by  him,  and  he  complains  of  nothing.  And 
yet,  lady,  do  not  think  I  have  been  ungrateful :  I  have  endured 
something  on  my  part,  which  I  would  have  borne  for  the 
sake  of  no  one  but  my  benefactress." 

*'  For  my  sake  !  "  said  the  lady  ;  "  and  what  is  it  that  I 
can  have  subjected  you  to  endure,  which  can  be  remembered 
with  other  feelings  than  those  of  thanks  and  gratitude  ?" 

''  You  are  too  just,  madam,  to  require  me  to  be  thankful 
for  the  cold  neglect  with  which  your  husband  has  uniformly 
treated  me — neglect  not  unmingled  with  fixed  aversion. 
You  are  too  just,  madam,  to  require  me  to  be  grateful  for 
the  constant  and  unceasing  marks  of  scorn  and  malevolence 
with  which  I  have  been  treated  by  others,  or  for  such  a 
homily  as  that  with  which  your  reverend  chaplain  has,  at 
my  expense,  this  very  dav  regaled  the  assembled  house- 
hold.'' 

"  Heard  mortal  ears  the  like  of  this  ! "  said  the  waiting- 
maid,  with  her  hands  expanded,  and  her  eyes  turned  up  to 
Heaven  ;  "  he  speaks  as  if  he  were  son  of  an  earl,  or  of  a 
belted  knight  the  least  penny  ! " 

The  page  glanced  on  her  a  look  of  supreme  contempt,  but 
vouchsafed  no  other  answer.  His  mistress,  who  began  to 
feel  herself  seriously  offended,  and  yet  sorry  for  the  youth's 
folly,  took  up  the  same  tone. 

^'Indeed,  Roland,  you  forget  yourself  so  strangely,"  said 
she,  ''  that  you  will  tempt  me  to  take  serious  measures  to 
lower  you  in  your  own  opinion  by  reducing  you  to  your 
proper  station  in  society." 

"  And  that,"  added  Lilias,  "  would  be  best  done  by  turn- 
ing him  out  the  same  beggar's  brat  that  your  ladyship  took 
him  in." 

"  Lilias  speaks  too  rudely,"  continued  the  lady,  ''  but  she 
has  spoken  the  truth,  young  man  ;  nor  do  I  think  I  ought 
to  spare  that  pride  which  hath  so  completely  turned  your 
head.     You  haye  been  tricked  up  with  fine  garments,  and 


THE  ABBOT  49' 

treated  like  the  son  of  a  gentleman,  until  you  have  forgot 
the  fountain  of  your  churlish  blood/' 

'^  Craving  your  pardon,  most  honorable  madam,  Liliae 
hath  not  spoken  truth,  nor  does  your  ladyship  know  aught 
of  my  descent  which  should  entitle  you  to  treat  it  with  such 
decided  scorn.  I  am  no  beggar's  brat :  my  grandmother 
begged  from  no  one,  here  nor  elsewhere  ;  she  would  have 
perished  sooner  on  the  bare  moor.  We  were  harried  out 
and  driven  from  our  home — a  chance  which  has  happed 
elsewhere,  and  to  others.  Avenel  Castle,  with  its  lake  and 
its  towers,  was  not  at  all  times  able  to  protect  its  inhabitantii 
from  want  and  desolation." 

'^  Hear  but  his  assurance  ! ''  said  Lilias  ;  "  he  upbraids  my 
lady  with  the  distresses  of  her  family  ! " 

**^It  had  indeed  been  a  theme  more  gratefully  spared," 
said  the  lady,  affected  nevertheless  with  the  allusion. 

"  It  was  necessary,  madam,  for  my  vindication,"  said  the 
page,  ''  or  I  had  not  even  hinted  at  a  word  that  might  give 
you  pain.  But  believe,  honored  lady,  I  am  of  no  churl's 
blood.  My  proper  descent  I  know  not  ;  but  my  only  rela- 
tion has  said,  and  my  heart  has  echoed  it  back  and  attested 
the  truth,  that  I  am  sprung  of  gentle  blood,  and  deserve 
gentle  usage." 

"  And  upon  an  assurance  so  vague  as  this,"  said  the  lady, 
'^do  you  propose  to  expect  all  the  regard,  all  the  privileges, 
befitting  high  rank  and  distinguished  birth,  and  become  a 
contender  for  concessions  which  are  only  due  to  the  noble  ? 
Go  to,  sir,  know  yourself,  or  the  master  of  the  household 
shall  make  you  know  you  are  liable  to  the  scourge  as  a  mal- 
apert boy.  You  have  tasted  too  little  the  discipline  fit  for 
your  age  and  station." 

*'  The  master  of  the  household  shall  taste  of  my  dagger 
ere  I  taste  of  his  discipline,"  said  the  page,  giving  way  to  his 
restrained  passion.  ^^Lady,  I  have  been  too  long  the  vassal 
of  a  pantoufle,  and  the  slave  of  a  silver  whistle.  You  must 
henceforth  find  some  other  to  answer  your  call ;  and  let  him 
be  of  birth  and  spirit  mean  enough  to  brook  the  scorn  of 
your  menials  and  to  call  a  church  vassal  his  master." 

''I  have  deserved  this  insult,"  said  the  lady,  coloring 
deeply,  "  for  so  long  enduring  and  fostering  your  petulance. 
Begone,  sir.  Leave  this  castle  to-night.  I  will  send  you 
the  means  of  subsistence  till  you  find  some  honest  mode  of 
support,  though  I  fear  your  imaginary  grandeur  will  be 
above  all  others  save  those  of  rapine  and  violence.  Begone, 
sir,  and  see  my  face  no  more," 
4 


fiO  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

The  page  threw  himself  at  her  feet  in  an  agony  of  sor- 
row.    **  My  dear  and  honored   mistress *'  he  said,  but 

was  unable  to  bring  out  another  syllable. 

**  Arise,  sir,'*  said  the  lady,  *'  and  let  go  my  mantle  : 
hypocrisy  is  a  poor  cloak  for  ingratitude." 

''I  am  incapable  of  either,  madam,"  said  the  page,  spring- 
ing up  with  the  hasty  start  of  passion  which  belonged  to  his 
rapid  and  impetuous  temper.  **  Think  not  I  meant  to  im- 
plore permission  to  reside  here  ;  it  has  been  long  my  deter- 
mination to  leave  Avenel,  and  I  will  never  forgive  myself 
for  having  permitted  you  to  say  the  word  *  begone'  ero  I 
said,  '  I  leave  you.'  1  did  but  kneel  to  ask  your  forgiveness 
for  an  ill-considered  word  used  in  the  height  of  displeasure, 
but  which  ill-became  my  mouth  as  addressed  to  you.  Other 
grace  1  asked  not ;  you  have  done  much  for  me,  but  I  re- 
peat, that  you  better  know  what  you  yourself  have  done 
than  what  I  have  suffered." 

**  Roland,"  said  the  lady,  somewhat  appeased,  and  relent- 
ing towards  her  favorite,  ''you  had  me  to  appeal  to  when 
you  were  aggrieved.  You  were  neither  called  upon  to  suf- 
fer wrong  nor  entitled  to  resent  it  when  you  were  under  my 
protection." 

'*  And  what,"  said  the  youth,  '*  if  I  sustained  wrong  from 
those  you  loved  and  favored,  was  I  to  disturb  your  peace 
with  idle  tale-bearings  and  eternal  complaints  ?  No,  madam  ; 
1  have  borne  my  own  burden  in  silence,  and  without  dis- 
turbing you  with  murmurs  ;  and  the  respect  which  you  ac- 
cuse me  of  wanting  furnishes  the  only  reason  why  I  have 
neither  appealed  to  you  nor  taken  vengeance  at  my  own 
hand  in  a  manner  far  more  effectual.  It  is  well,  however, 
that  we  part.  I  was  not  born  to  be  a  stipendiary,  favored 
by  his  mistress  until  ruined  by  the  calumnies  of  others. 
May  Heaven  multiply  its  choicest  blessings  on  your  honored 
head ;  and,  for  your  sake,  upon  all  that  are  dear  to 
you!" 

He  was  about  to  leave  the  apartment,  when  the  lady  called 
upon  him  to  return.  He  stood  still,  while  she  thus  addressed 
him  :  **  It  was  not  my  intention,  nor  would  it  be  just,  even 
in  the  height  of  my  displeasure,  to  dismiss  you  without  the 
means  of  support :  take  this  purse  of  gold." 

**  Forgive  me,  lady,"  said  the  boy,  ''and  let  me  go  hence 
with  the  consciousness  that  I  have  not  been  degraded  to  the 
point  of  accepting  alms.  If  my  poor  services  can  be  placed 
against  the  expense  of  my  apparel  and  my  maintenance,  I 
only  remain  debtor  to  you  for  my  life,  and  that  alone  is  n 


THE  ABBOT  61 

debt  which  I  can  never  repay  ;  put  up  then  that  purse,  and 
only  say  instead  that  you  do  not  part  from  me  in  anger." 

"  No,  not  in  anger,''  said  the  lady,  **  in  sorrow  rather  for 
your  wilfulness  ;  but  take  the  gold — ^you  cannot  but  need  it," 

**  May  God  evermore  bless  you  for  the  kind  tone  and  the 
kind  word,  but  the  gold  I  cannot  take.  I  am  able  of  body, 
and  do  not  lack  friends  so  wholly  as  you  may  think  ;  for  the 
time  may  come  that  I  may  yet  show  myself  more  thankful 
|-,han  by  mere  words."  He  threw  himself  on  his  knees,  kissed 
the  hand  which  she  did  not  withdraw,  and  then  hastily  left 
the  apartment. 

Lilias  for  a  moment  or  two  kept  her  eye  fixed  on  her 
mistress,  who  looked  so  unusually  pale  that  she  seemed  about 
to  faint ;  but  the  lady  instantly  recovered  herself ,  and  declin- 
ing the  assistance  which  her  attendant  offered  her,  walked 
to  her  own  apartment. 


^ 


CHAPTEE  VI 

Thou  hast  each  secret  of  the  household,  Francis. 
I  dare  be  sworn  thou  hast  been  in  the  buttery 
Steeping  thy  curious  humor  in  fat  ale 
And  in  the  butler's  tattle — ay,  or  chatting 
With  the  glib  waiting-woman  o'er  her  comfits — 
These  bear  the  key  to  each  domestic  mystery 

Old  Play 

Upon  the  morrow  succeeding  the  scene  we  have  described,  the 
disgraced  favorite  left  the  castle  ;  and.  at  breakfast-time  the 
cautious  old  steward  and  Mrs.  Lilias  sat  in  the  apartment  of 
the  latter  personage,  holding  grave  converse  on  the  important 
event  of  the  day,  sweetened  by  a  small  treat  of  comfits,  to 
which  the  providence  of  Mr.  Wingate  had  added  a  little  flask 
of  racy  canary. 

"He  is  gone  at  last,**  said  the  abigail,  sipping  her  glass  ; 
"  and  here  is  to  his  good  journey/' 

"Amen,**  answered  the  steward,  gravely;  "I  wish  the 
poor  deserted  lad  no  ill.** 

"  And  he  is  gone  like  a  wild  duck,  as  he  came,**  continued 
Mrs.  Lilias  ;  "no  lowering  of  drawbridges  or  pacing  along 
causeways  for  him.  My  master  has  pushed  off  in  the  boat 
which  they  call  the  *  Little  Herod  *  (more  shame  to  them 
for  giving  the  name  of  a  Christian  to  wood  and  iron),  and 
has  rowed  himself  by  himself  to  the  further  side  of  the  loch, 
and  off  and  away  with  himself,  and  left  all  his  finery  strewed 
about  his  room.  I  wonder  who  is  to  clean  his  trumpery  out 
after  him — though  the  things  are  worth  lifting  too.** 

"  Doubtless,  Mrs.  Lilias,**  answered  the  master  of  the  house- 
hold  ;  "in  the  which  case  I  am  free  to  think  they  will  not 
long  cumber  the  floor.** 

"  And  now  tell  me,  Mr.  Wingate,**  continued  the  damsel. 
*'  do  not  the  very  cockles  of  your  heart  rejoice  at  the  house 
being  rid  of  this  upstart  whelp,  that  flung  us  all  into 
shadow  ?  ** 

"  Why,  Mrs.  Lilias,**  replied  Wingate,  "  as  to  rejoicing — 
those  who  have  lived  as  long  in  great  families  as  has  been, 
my  lot  will  be  in  no  hurry  to  rejoice  at  anything.  And  for 
Roland  Graeme,  though  he  may  be  a  good  riddance  in  the 

62 


THE  ABBOT  53 

main,  yet  what  says  the  very  sooth  proverb,  '  Seldom  comes 
abetter/" 

''Seldom  comes  a  better,  indeed!"  echoed  Mrs.  Lilias. 
''  I  say,  never  can  come  a  worse,  or  one  half  so  bad.  He  might 
have  been  the  ruin  of  our  poor  dear  mietress  (here  she  used 
her  kerchief),  body  and  soul,  and  estate  too  ;  for  she  spent 
more  coin  on  his  apparel  than  on  any  four  servants  about 
the  house." 

''Mrs.  Lilias,"  said  the  sage  steward,  "I  do  opine  that  our 
mistress  requireth  not  this  pity  at  our  hands,  being  in  all 
respects  competent  to  take  care  of  her  own  body,  soul,  and 
estate  into  the  bargain." 

"  You  would  not  mayhap  have  said  so,"  answered  the 
waiting-woman,  "  had  you  seen  how  like  Lot's  wife  she  looked 
when  young  master  took  his  leave.  My  mistress  is  a  good 
lady,  and  a  virtuous,  and  a  well-doing  lady,  and  a  well- 
spoken  of — but  I  would  not  Sir  Halbert  had  seen  her  last 
evening  for  two  and  a  plack."  ^ 

"  Oh,  foy  !  foy  !  foy  !  "  reiterated  the  steward  ;  "  servants 
should  hear  and  see,  and  say  nothing.  Besides  that,  my  lady 
is  utterly  devoted  to  Sir  Halbert,  as  well  she  may,  being,  as 
he  is,  the  most  renowned  knight  in  these  parts." 

"  Well — well,"  said  the  abigail,  "  I  mean  no  more  harm  ; 
but  they  that  seek  least  renown  abroad  are  most  apt  to  find 
quiet  at  home,  that's  all ;  and  my  lady's  lonesome  situation 
is  to  be  considered,  that  made  her  fain  to  take  up  with  the 
first  beggar's  brat  that  a  dog  brought  her  out  of  the  loch." 

"And,  therefore,"  said  the  steward,  "I  say,  rejoice  not 
too  much  or  too  hastily,  Mrs.  Lilias  ;  for  if  your  lady  wished 
a  favorite  to  pass  away  the  time,  depend  upon  it,  the  time 
will  not  pass  lighter  now  that  he  is  gone.  So  she  will  have 
another  favorite  to  choose  for  herself,  and  be  assured,  if 
she  wishes  such  a  toy,  she  will  not  lack  one." 

"  And  where  should  she  choose  one,  but  among  her  own 
tried  and  faithful  servants,"  said  Mrs.  Lilias,  "  who  have 
broken  her  bread  and  drank  her  drink  for  so  many  years  ? 
I  have  known  many  a  lady  as  high  as  she  that  never  thought 
either  of  a  friend  or  favorite  beyond  their  own  waiting- 
woman — always  having  a  proper  respect,  at  the  same  time, 
for  their  old  and  faithful  master  of  the  household,  Mr. 
Wingate." 

"  Truly,  Mrs.  Lilias,"  replied  the  steward,  "  I  do  partly 
see  the  mark  at  which  you  shoot,  but  I  doubt  your  bolt  will 
fall  short.  Matters  being  with  our  lady  as  it  likes  you  to 
suppose  it  will  neither  be  your  crimped  pinners,  Mrs.  Lilias 


f 
54  WA  VERLET  NO  VEL  S 

— speaking  of  them  with  due  respect — nor  my  silver  hair  or 
golden  chain,  that  will  fill  up  the  void  which  Koland  Graeme 
must  needs  leave  in  our  lady's  leisure.  There  will  be  a  learned 
young  divine  with  some  new  doctrine  ;  a  learned  leech  with 
some  new  drug  ;  a  bold  cavalier,  who  will  not  be  refused  the 
favor  of  wearing  her  colors  at  a  running  at  the  ring ;  a 
cunning  harper  that  could  harp  the  heart  out  of  a  woman's 
breast,  as  they  say  Signor  David  Kizzio  did  to  our  poor 
Queen — these  are  the  sort  of  folk  who  supply  the  loss  of  a 
well-favored  favorite,  and  not  an  old  steward  or  a  middle- 
aged  waiting- woman.*' 

"  Well,*'  replied  Lilias,  "you  have  experience.  Master 
Wingate,  and  truly  I  would  my  master  would  leave  off  his 
pricking  hither  and  thither,  and  look  better  after  the  affairs 
of  his  household.  There  will  be  a  Papistrie  among  us  next, 
for  what  should  I  see  among  master's  clothes  but  a  string  of 
gold  beads  ?  I  promise  you,  aves  and  credos  both  !  I  seized 
on  them  like  a  falcon.'* 

'*  I  doubt  it  not, — I  doubt  it  not,"  said  the  steward,  sa- 
gaciously nodding  his  head  ;  ''  I  have  often  noticed  that  the 
boy  had  strange  observances  which  savored  of  Popery,  and 
that  he  was  very  jealous  to  conceal  them.  But  you  will  find 
the  Catholic  under  the  Presbyterian  cloak  as  often  as  the 
knave  under  the  friar's  hood — what  then  ?  we  are  all  mortal. 
Right  proper  beads  they  are,"  he  added,  looking  attentively 
at  them,  "and  may  weigh  four  ounces  of  fine  gold." 

*'  And  I  will  have  them  melted  down  presently,"  she  said, 
"before  they  be  the  misguiding  of  some  poor  blinded  soul." 

"  Very  cautious,  indeed,  Mrs.  Lilias,"  said  the  steward, 
nodding  his  head  in  assent. 

"  I  will  have  them  made,"  said  Mrs.  Lilias,  "  into  a  pair 
of  shoe-buckles ;  I  would  not  wear  the  Pope's  trinkets,  or 
whatever  has  once  borne  the  shape  of  them,  one  inch  above 
my  instep,  were  they  diamonds  instead  of  gold.  But  this  i? 
what  has  come  of  Father  Ambrose  coming  about  the  castle, 
as  demure  as  a  cat  that  is  about  to  steal  cream." 

"  Father  Ambrose  is  our  master's  brother,"  said  the 
steward,  gravely. 

"  Very  true.  Master  Wingate,"  replied  the  dame  ;  "  but  is 
that  a  good  reason  why  he  should  pervert  the  king's  liege 
subjects  to  Papistrie  ?  " 

"  Heaven  forbid,  Mrs.  Lilias,"  answered  the  sententious 
major-domo  ;  "  but  yet  there  are  worse  folk  than  the  Papists." 

"  I  wonder  where  they  are  to  be  found,"  said  the  waiting- 
woman,  with  some  asperity  ; "  but  I  believe.  Master  Wingate^ 


THE  ABBOT  55 

if  one  were  to  speak  to  you  about  the  devil  himselt,  you 
would  say  there  were  worse  people  than  Satan/' 

*' Assuredly  I  might  say  so/' replied  the  steward,  *' sup- 
posing that  1  saw  Satan  standing  at  my  elbow/' 

The  waiting- woman  started,  and  having  exclaimed,  '*  God 
bless  us  ! "  added,  "  I  wonder,  Mr.  Wingate,  you  can  take 
pleasure  in  frightening  one  thus/' 

' '  Nay,  Mrs.  Lilias,  I  had  no  such  purpose,"  was  the  reply  ; 
*'but  look  you  here — the  Papists  are  put  down  for  the  pres- 
ent, but  who  knows  how  long  this  word  '  present '  will 
last  ?  There  are  two  great  Popish  earls  in  the  north  of  Eng- 
land that  abominate  the  very  word  *  Reformation  : '  I  mean 
the  Northumberland  and  Westmoreland  earls,  men  of  power 
enough  to  shake  any  throne  in  Christendom.  Then,  though 
our  Scottish  King  be,  God  bless  him,  a  true  Protestant,  yet 
he  is  but  a  boy  ;  and  here  is  his  mother  that  was  our  Queen 
— I  trust  there  is  no  harm  to  say  God  bless  her  toO'  -and  she 
is  a  Catholic  ;  and  many  begin  to  think  she  has  had  but  hard 
measure,  such  as  the  Hamiltons  in  the  west,  and  some  of  our 
Border  clans  here,  and  the  Gordons  in  the  north,  who  are  all 
wishing  to  see  a  new  world  ;  and  if  such  a  new  world  should 
chance  to  come  up,  it  is  like  that  the  Queen  will  take  back 
her  own  crown,  and  that  the  mass  and  the  cross  will  come 
up,  and  then  down  go  pulpits,  Genava  gowns,  and  black  silk 
skull-caps." 

*'  And  have  you,  Mr.  Jasper  Wingate,  who  have  heard  the 
Word,  and  listened  unto  pure  and  precious  Mr.  Henry 
Warden — have  you,  I  say,  the  patience  to  speak,  or  but  to 
think,  of  Popery  coming  down  on  us  like  a  storm,  or  of  the 
woman  Mary  again  making  the  royal  seat  of  Scotland  a  throne 
of  abomination  ?  No  marvel  that  you  are  so  civil  to  the 
cowled  monk.  Father  Ambrose,  when  he  comes  hither  with 
his  downcast  eyes  that  he  never  raises  to  my  lady's  face,  and 
with  his  low  sweet-toned  voice,  and  his  henedicites,  and  his 
benisons  ;  and  who  so  ready  to  take  them  kindly  as  Mr. 
Wingate  ?  " 

'*  Mrs.  Lilias,"  replied  the  butler,  with  an  air  which  was 
intended  to  close  the  debate,  ''  there  are  reasons  for  all  things. 
If  I  received  Father  Ambrose  debonairly,  and  suffered  him 
to  steal  a  word  now  and  then  with  this  same  Roland  Graeme, 
it  was  not  that  I  cared  a  brass  boddle  for  his  benison  or 
malison  either,  but  only  because  I  respected  my  master's 
blood.  And  who  can  answer,  if  Mary  come  in  again,  whether 
he  may  not  be  as  stout  a  tree  to  lean  to  as  ever  his  brother 
hath  proved  to  us  ?    For  down  goes  the  Earl  of  Murray  whra 


56  WAVEBLEY  NOViLS^S 

the  Queen  comes  by  her  own  again  ;  and  good  is  his  luck  it 
he  can  keep  the  head  on  his  own  shoulders.  And  down  goea 
our  knight  with  the  Earl,  his  patron  ;  and  who  so  like  to 
mount  into  his  empty  saddle  as  this  same  Father  Ambrose  ? 
The  Pope  of  Eome  can  soon  dispense  with  his  vows,  and 
then  we  should  have  Sir  Edward  the  soldier,  instead  of  Am- 
brose the  priest/' 

Anger  and  astonishment  kept  Mrs.  Lilias  silent,  while  her 
old  friend,  in  his  self-complacent  manner,  was  making  knowu 
to  her  his  political  speculations.  At  length  her  resentment 
found  utterance  in  words  of  great  ire  and  scorn.  **  What, 
Master  Wingate  !  have  you  eaten  my  mistress's  bread,  to  say 
nothing  of  my  master's,  so  many  years,  that  you  could  live 
to  think  of  her  being  dispossessed  of  her  own  Castle  of 
Avenel  by  a  wretched  monk  who  is  not  a  drop's  blood  to  her 
in  the  way  of  relation  ?  I,  that  am  but  a  woman,  would  try 
first  whether  my  rock  or  his  cowl  were  the  better  metal. 
Shame  on  you.  Master  Wingate  !  If  I  had  not  held  you  as 
so  old  an  acquaintance,  this  should  have  gone  to  my  lady's 
ears,  though  I  had  been  called  pickthank  and  tale-pyet  for 
my  pains,  as  when  I  told  of  Roland  Gragme  shooting  the  wild 
swan." 

Master  Wingate  was  somewhat  dismayed  at  perceiving  that 
the  details  which  he  had  given  of  his  far-sighted  political 
views  had  produced  on  his  hearer  rather  suspicion  of  his 
fidelity  than  admiration  of  his  wisdom,  and  endeavored  as 
hastily  as  possible  to  apoligize  and  to  explain,  although  in- 
ternally extremely  offended  at  the  unreasonable  view,  as  he 
deemed  it.  which  it  had  pleased  Mistress  Lilias  Bradbourna 
to  take  of  his  expressions  ;  and  mentally  convinced  that  her 
disapprobation  of  his  sentiments  arose  solely  out  of  the  con- 
sideration that,  though  Father  Ambrose,  supposing  him  to 
become  the  master  of  the  castle,  would  certainly  require  the 
services  of  a  steward,  yet  those  of  a  waiting-woman  would, 
in  the  supposed  circumstances,  be  altogether  superfluous. 

After  this  explanation  had  been  received  as  explanations 
usually  are,  the  two  friends  separated  ;  Lilias  to  attend  the 
silver  whistle  which  called  her  to  her  mistress's  chamber, 
and  the  sapient  major-domo  to  the  duties  of  his  own  depart- 
ment. They  parted  with  less  than  their  usual  degree  of 
reverence  and  regard  ;  for  the  steward  felt  that  his  worldly 
wisdom  was  rebuked  by  the  more  disinterested  attachment  ot 
the  waiting-woman,  and  Mistress  Lilias  Bradbourne  was  com- 
pelled to  consider  her  old  friend  as  something  little  bette? 
than  a  time-saver.        ^ 


CHAPTER  Til 

When  I  hae  a  saxpence  under  my  thumb, 
Then  I  get  credit  in  ilka  town  ; 
But  when  I  am  poor,  they  bid  me  gae  by. 
O  poverty  parts  good  company  1 

Old  Song, 

While  the  departure  of  the  page  afforded  subject  for  the 
conversation  which  we  have  detailed  in  our  last  chapter,  the 
late  favorite  was  far  advanced  on  his  solitary  journey,  with- 
out well  knowing  what  was  its  object,  or  what  was  likely  to 
be  its  end.  He  had  rowed  the  skift*  in  which  he  left  the 
castle  to  the  side  of  the  lake  most  distant  from  the  village, 
with  the  desire  of  escaping  from  the  notice  of  the  inhabitants. 
His  pride  whispered  that  he  would  be,  in  his  discarded  state, 
only  the  subject  of  their  wonder  and  compassion  ;  and  his 
generosity  told  him  that  any  mark  of  sympathy  which  his 
situation  should  excite  might  be  unfavorably  reported  at  the 
castle.  A  trifling  incident  convinced  him  he  had  little  to 
fear  for  his  friends  on  the  latter  score.  He  was  met  by  a 
young  man  some  years  older  than  himself,  who  had  on  for- 
mer occasions  been  but  too  happy  to  be  permitted  to  share 
in  his  sports  in  the  subordinate  character  of  his  assistant. 
Ralph  Fisher  approached  to  greet  him  with  all  the  alacrity 
of  an  humble  friend. 

'^  What,  Master  Roland,  abroad  on  this  side,  and  without 
either  hawk  or  hound  ? '' 

"  Hawk  or  hound,"  said  Roland,  ''  I  will  never  perhaps 
halloo  to  again.  I  have  been  dismissed — that  is,  I  have  left 
the  castle." 

Ralph  was  surprised.  *'  What !  you  are  to  pass  into  the 
knight's  service,  and  take  the  black-jack  and  the  lance  ?" 

"  Indeed,"  replied  Roland  Graeme,  '^  I  am  not ;  I  am  now 
leaving  the  service  of  Avenel  forever." 

''And  whither  are  you  going  then?"  said  the  yonng 
peasant. 

'^Kay,  that  is  a  question  which  it  craves  time  to  answer  : 
I  have  that  matter  to  determine  yet,"  replied  the  disgraced 
favorite. 

**  Nay,  nay,'*  said  Ralph,  **  I  warrant  you  it  is  the  same  to 

W 


68  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

you  which  way  you  go  :  my  lady  would  not  dismiss  you  till 
she  had  put  some  lining  into  the  pouches  of  your  doublet/' 

'*  Sordid  slave  !"  said  Roland  Uraeme,  '^dost  thou  think  I 
would  have  accepted  a  boon  from  one  who  was  giving  me 
over  a  prey  to  detraction  and  to  ruin,  at  the  instigation  of  a 
canting  priest  and  a  meddling  serving- woman  ?  The  bread 
that  I  had  bought  with  such  an  alms  would  have  choked  me 
at  the  first  mouthful/' 

Ralph  looked  at  his  quondam  friend  with  an  air  of  wonder 
not  unmixed  with  contempt.  **  Well/'  he  said  at  length, 
**no  occasion  for  passion — each  man  knows  his  own  stomach 
best ;  but,  were  I  on  a  black  moor  at  this  time  of  day,  not 
knowing  whither  I  was  going,  I  should  be  glad  to  have  a 
broad  piece  or  two  in  my  pouch,  come  by  them  as  I  could. 
But  perhaps  you  will  go  with  me  to  my  father's — that  is,  for 
a  night,  for  to-morrow  we  expect  my  uncle  Menelaus  and  all 
his  folk  ;  but,  as  I  said,  for  one  night " 

The  cold-blooded  limitation  of  the  offered  shelter  to  one 
night  only,  and  that  tendered  most  unwillingly,  offended  the 
pride  of  the  discarded  favorite. 

**  I  would  rather  sleep  on  the  fresh  heather,  as  I  have  done 
many  a  night  on  less  occasion,"  said  Roland  Graeme,  *'  than 
in  the  smoky  garret  of  your  father,  that  smells  of  peat-smoke 
and  usquebaugh  like  a  Highlander's  plaid/' 

**  You  may  choose,  my  master,  if  you  are  so  nice,"  replied 
Ralph  Fisher  ;  *'  you  may  be  glad  to  smell  a  peat-fire,  and 
usquebaugh  too,  if  you  journey  long  in  tne  fashion  you  pro- 
pose. You  might  have  said  '  God-a-mercy  for  your  profler,' 
though  ;  it  is  not  every  one  will  put  themselves  in  the  way  of 
ill-will  by  harboring  a  discarded  serving-man/' 

"  Ralph,"  said  Roland  Graeme,  *'I  would  pray  you  to  re- 
member that  I  have  switched  you  before  now,  and  this  is  the 
same  riding- wand  which  you  have  tasted." 

Ralph,  who  was  a  thickset  clownish  figure,  arrived  at  his 
full  strength,  and  conscious  of  the  most  complete  personal 
superiority,  laughed  contemptuously  at  the  threats  of  the 
slight-made  stripling. 

*'  It  may  be  the  same  wand,"  he  said,  ''  but  not  the  same 
hand ;  and  that  is  as  good  rhyme  as  if  it  were  in  a  ballad. 
Look  you,  my  lady's  page  that  was,  when  your  switch  was 
up,  it  was  no  fear  of  you,  but  of  your  betters,  that  kept 
mine  down  ;  and  I  wot  not  what  hinders  me  from  clearing 
old  scores  with  this  hazel  rung,  and  showing  you  it  was  your 
lady's  livery-coat  which  I  spared,  and  not  your  flesh  »nd 
blood.  Master  Roland." 


THE  ABBOT  59 

In  the  midst  of  his  rage,  Roland  Graeme  was  lust  wise 
enough  to  see  that,  by  continuing  this  altercation,  ne  would 
subject  himself  to  very  rude  treatment  from  the  boor,  who 
was  so  much  older  and  stronger  than  himself;  and  while  his 
antagonist,  with  a  sort  of  jeering  laugh  of  defiance,  seemed 
to  provoke  the  contest,  he  felt  the  full  bitterness  of  his  own 
degraded  condition,  and  burst  into  a  passion  of  tears,  which 
he  in  vain  endeavored  to  conceal  with  both  his  hands. 

Even  the  rough  churl  was  moved  with  the  distress  of  his 
quondam  companion. 

"Nay,  Master  Roland,*'  he  said,  "  I  did  but  as  'twere  jest 
with  thee ;  I  would  not  harm  thee,  man,  were  it  but  for  old 
acquaintance  sake.  But  ever  look  to  a  man's  inches  ere  you 
talk  of  switching  ;  why,  thine  arm,  man,  is  but  like  a 
spindle  compared  to  mine.  But  hark,  I  hear  old  Adam 
Woodcock  hallooing  to  his  hawk.  Come  along,  man,  we 
will  have  a  merry  afternoon,  and  go  jollily  to  my  father's,  in 
spite  of  the  peat-smoke  and  usquebaugh  to  boot.  Maybe  we 
may  put  you  into  some  honest  way  of  winning  your  bread, 
though  it's  hard  to  come  by  in  these  broken  times." 

The  unfortunate  page  made  no  answer,  nor  did  he  with- 
draw his  hands  from  his  face,  and  Fisher  continued  in  what 
he  imagined  a  suitable  tone  of  comfort. 

"  Why,  man,  when  you  were  my  lady's  minion,  men  held 
you  proud,  and  some  thought  you  a  Papist,  and  I  wot  not 
what  ;  and  so,  now  that  you  have  no  one  to  bear  you  out, 
you  must  be  companionable  and  hearty,  and  wait  on  the 
minister's  examinations,  and  put  these  things  out  of  folks' 
heads  ;  and  if  he  says  you  are  in  fault,  you  must  jouk  your 
head  to  the  stream  ;  and  if  a  gentleman,  or  a  gentleman's 
gentleman,  gives  you  a  rough  word,  or  a  light  blow,  you 
must  only  say,  '  Thank  you  for  dusting  my  doublet,'  or  the 
like,  as  I  have  done  by  you.  But  hark  to  Woodcock's 
whistle  again.  Come,  and  I  will  teach  you  all  the  trick  on't 
as  we  go  on." 

"I  thank  you,"  said  Roland  Graeme,  endeavoring  to  as- 
sume an  air  of  indifference  and  of  superiority  ;  "  but  I  have 
another  path  before  me,  and  were  it  otherwise,  I  could  not 
tread  in  yours." 

*'  Very  true,  Master  Roland,"  replied  the  clown  ;  "  and 
every  man  knows  his  own  matters  best,  and  so  I  will  not 
keep  you  from  the  path,  as  you  say.  Give  us  a  grip  of  your 
hand,  man,  for  auld  lan^  syne.  What  !  not  clap  palms  ere 
we  part  ? — well,  so  be  it — a  wilful  man  will  have  his  way, 
and  so  farewell,  and  the  blessing  of  the  morning  to  you." 


BO  WA  VERLET  NOVELS 

*'  Good-morrow — good-morrow/'    said    Roland,    hastily ; 

and  the  clown  walked  lightly  off,  whistling  as  he  went,  and 

glad,  apparently,  to  be  rid  of  an  acquaintance  whose  claims 

might  be  troublesome,  and  who  had  no  longer  the  means  to 

_be  serviceable  to  him. 

Roland  Graeme  compelled  himself  to  walk  on  while  they 
were  within  sight  of  each  other,  that  his  former  intimate 
might  not  augur  any  vacillation  of  purpose,  or  uncertainty 
of  object,  from  his  remaining  on  the  same  spot  ;  but  the 
effort  was  a  painful  one.  He  seemed  stunned,  as  it  were 
and  giddy  ;  the  earth  on  which  he  stood  felt  as  if  unsound, 
and  quaking  under  his  feet  like  the  surface  of  a  bog ;  and  he 
had  once  or  twice  nearly  fallen,  though  the  path  he  trode 
was  of  firm  greensward.  He  kept  resolutely  moving  forward, 
in  spite  of  the  internal  agitation  to  which  these  symptoms 
belonged,  until  the  distant  form  of  his  acquaintance  disap- 
peared behind  the  slope  of  a  hill,  when  his  heart  failed  at 
once  ;  and,  sitting  down  on  the  turf,  remote  from  human 
ken,  he  gave  way  to  the  natural  expressions  of  wounded 
pride,  grief,  and  fear,  and  wept  with  unrestrained  profusion 
and  unqualified  bitterness. 

When  the  first  violent  paroxysm  of  his  feelings  had  sub- 
sided, the  deserted  and  friendless  youth  felt  that  mental 
relief  which  usually  follows  such  discharges  of  sorrow.  The 
tears  continued  to  chase  each  other  down  his  cheeks,  but 
they  were  no  longer  accompanied  by  the  same  sense  of  desola- 
tion :  an  afflicting  yet  milder  sentiment  was  awakened  in  his 
mind  by  the  recollection  of  his  benefactress,  of  the  unwearied 
kindness  which  had  attached  her  to  him,  in  spite  of  many 
acts  of  provoking  petulance,  now  recollected  as  offenses  of  a 
deep  dye,  which  had  protected  him  against  the  machinations 
of  others,  as  well  as  against  the  consequences  of  his  own 
folly,  and  would  have  continued  to  do  so,  had  not  the  excess 
of  his  presumption  compelled  her  to  withdraw  her  protec- 
tion. 

•'  Whatever  indignity  I  have  borne,"  he  said,  ''  has  been 
the  just  reward  of  my  own  ingratitude.  And  have  I  done 
vvell  to  accept  the  hospitality,  the  more  than  maternal  kind- 
ness, of  my  protectress,  yet  to  detain  from  her  the  knowledge 
of  my  religion  ?  But  she  shall  know  that  a  Catholic  has  as 
much  gratitude  as  a  Puritan  ;  that  I  have  been  thoughtless, 
but  not  wicked  ;  that  in  my  wildest  moments  I  have  loved, 
respected,  and  honored  her  ;  and  that  the  orphan  boy  might 
indeed  be  heedless,  but  was  never  ungrateful  I" 

He  turned,  as  these  thoughts  passed  through  his  mindp 


THE  ABBOT  61 

•nd  began  hastily  to  retread  his  footsteps  towards  the  castle. 
But  he  checked  the  first  eagerness  of  his  repentant  haste 
when  he  reflected  on  the  scorn  and  contempt  with  which  the 
family  were  likely  to  see  the  return  of  the  fugitive,  humbled, 
as  they  must  necessarily  suppose  him,  into  a  supplicant,  who 
requested  pardon  for  his  fault,  and  permission  to  return  to 
his  service.     He  slackened  his  pace,  but  he  stood  not  still. 

*'  I  care  not,"  he  resolutely  determined  ;  '^  let  them  wink, 
point,  nod,  sneer,  speak  of  the  conceit  which  is  humbled,  of 
the  pride  which  has  had  a  fall — I  care  not ;  it  is  a  penance 
due  to  my  folly,  and  I  will  endure  it  with  patience.  But 
if  she  also,  my  benefactress — if  she  also  should  think 
me  sordid  and  weak-spirited  enough  to  beg,  not  for  her 
pardon  alone,  but  for  a  renewal  of  the  advantages  which  I 
derived  from  her  favor — Jier  suspicion  of  my  meanness  I 
cannot — I  will  not  brook." 

He  stood  still,  and  his  pride,  rallying  with  constitutions! 
obstinacy  against  his  more  just  feeling,  urged  that  he  would 
incur  the  scorn  of  the  Lady  of  Avonel  rather  than  obtain  hei 
favor  by  following  the  course  which  the  first  ardor  of  hifr 
repentant  feelings  had  dictated  to  him. 

"  If  I  had  but  some  plausible  pretext,"  he  thought — 
*'  some  ostensible  reason  for  my  return,  some  excuse  to 
allege  which  might  show  I  came  not  as  a  degraded  supplicant 
or  a  discarded  menial,  I  might  go  thither  ;  but  as  I  am,  I 
cannot  :  my  heart  would  leap  from  its  place  and  burst." 

As  these  thoughts  swept  through  his  mind,  something 
passed  in  the  air  so  near  him  as  to  dazzle  his  eyes,  and 
almost  to  brush  the  plume  in  his  cap.  He  looked  up — it 
was  the  favorite  falcon  of  Sir  Halbert,  which,  flying  around 
his  head,  seemed  to  claim  his  attention,  as  that  of  a  well- 
known  friend.  Roland  extended  his  arm,  and  gave  the 
accustomed  whoop,  and  the  falcon  instantly  settled  on  his 
wrist,  and  began  to  prune  itself,  glancing  at  the  youth  from 
time  to  time  an  acute  and  brilliant  beam  of  its  hazel  eye, 
which  seemed  to  ask  why  he  caressed  it  not  with  his  usual 
fondness. 

"  Ah,  Diamond  !"  he  said,  as  if  the  bird  understood  him, 
"  thou  and  I  must  be  strangers  henceforward.  Many  a 
gallant  stoop  have  I  seen  thee  make,  and  many  a  brave  heron 
strike  down  ;  but  that  is  all  gone  and  over,  and  there  is  no 
hawking  more  for  me  ! " 

*'  And  why  not.  Master  Roland,"  said  Adam  Woodcock, 
the  falconer,  who  came  at  that  instant  from  behind  a  few 
alder  bushes  which  had  concealed  him  from  riew-^*'  why 


82  WAVERLET  NOVELS 

should  there  be  no  more -hawking  for  yon?  Why,  man, 
what  were  our  life  A^ithout  our  sports  ?  Thou  know'st  th« 
jolly  old  song — 

And  rather  would  Allan  in  dungeon  lie, 

Than  live  at  large  where  the  falcon  cannot  fly ; 

And  Allan  would  rather  lie  in  sexton's  pound, 

Than  live  where  he  foUow'd  not  the  merry  hawk  and  hound." 

The  voice  of  the  falconer  was  hearty  and  friendly,  and  the 
tone  in  which  he  half-sung,  half-recited  his  rude  ballad  im- 
plied honest  frankness  and  cordiality.  But  remembrance  oi 
their  quarrel,  and  its  consequences,  embarrassed  Eoland,  and 
prevented  his  reply.  The  falconer  saw  his  hesitation,  and 
guessed  the  cause. 

**  What  now,''  said  he,  *'  Master  Roland  ?  do  you,  who  are 
half  an  Englishman,  think  that  I,  who  am  a  whole  one, 
would  keep  up  anger  against  you,  and  you  in  distress  ; 
That  were  like  some  of  the  Scots — my  master's  reverence 
always  excepted — who  can  be  fair  and  false,  and  wait  their 
time,  and  keep  their  mind,  as  they  say,  to  themselves,  and 
touch  pot  and  flagon  with  you,  and  hunt  and  hawk  with  you, 
and,  after  all,  when  time  serves,  pay  off  some  old  feud  with 
the  point  of  the  dagger.  Canny  Yorkshire  has  no  memory 
for  such  old  sores.  Why,  man,  an  you  had  hit  me  a  rough 
blow,  maybe  1  would  rather  have  taken  it  from  you  than  a 
rough  word  from  another  ;  for  you  have  a  good  notion  ot 
falconry,  though  you  stand  up  for  washing  the  meat  for  the 
eyases.     So  give  us  your  hand,  man,  and  bear  no  malice." 

Roland,  though  ho  felt  his  proud  blood  rebel  at  the  famil- 
iarity of  honest  Adam's  address,  could  not  resist  its  down- 
right frankness.  Covering  his  face  with  the  one  hand,  he 
held  out  the  other  to  the  falconer,  and  returned  with  read- 
iness his  friendly  grasp. 

**  Why,  this  is  hearty  now,'*  said  Woodcock  ;  ''I  always 
said  you  had  a  kind  heart,  though  you  have  a  spice  of  the  devil 
in  your  disposition,  that  is  certain.  I  came  this  way  with  the 
falcon  on  purpose  to  find  you,  and  yon  half-bred  lubbard  told 
me  which  way  you  took  flight.  You  ever  thought  too  much 
of  that  kestril-kite.  Master  Roland,  and  he  knows  naught  of 
sport,  after  all,  but  what  he  caught  from  you.  I  saw  how 
it  had  been  betwixt  you,  and  I  sent  him  out  of  my  company 
with  a  wanion  ;  I  would  rather  have  a  rifler  on  my  perch 
than  a  false  knave  at  my  elbow.  And  now.  Master  Roland, 
tell  me  what  way  wing  ye  ?  " 

''  That  is  as  God  pleases,"  replied  the  page,  with  a  sigh 
which  he  could  not  suppress. 


ma  ABBOT  65 

'*  Nay,  man,  never  droop  a  feather  for  being  cast  off," 
Baid  the  falconer;  "who  knows  but  you  may  soar  the  better 
and  fairer  flight  for  all  this  yet  ?  Look  at  Diamond  there  ; 
'tis  a  noble  bird,  and  shows  gallantly  with  his  hood  and  bells 
and  jesses  ;  but  there  is  many  a  wild  falcon  in  Norway  that 
would  not  change  properties  with  him.  And  that  is  what  I 
would  say  of  you.  You  are  no  longer  my  lady's  page,  and 
you  will  not  clothe  so  fair,  or  feed  so  well,  or  sleep  so  soft, 
or  show  so  gallant.  What  of  all  that  ?  if  you  are  not  her 
page,  you  are  your  own  man,  and  may  go  where  you  will, 
without  minding  whoop  or  whistle.  The  worst  is  the  loss  of 
the  sport,  but  who  knows  what  you  may  come  to  ?  They 
say  that  Sir  Halbert  himself — I  speak  with  reverence — was 
once  glad  to  be  the  abbot's  forester,  and  now  he  has  hounds 
and  hawks  of  his  own,  and  Adam  Woodcock  for  a  falconer 
to  the  boot.'' 

"  You  are  right,  and  say  well,  Adam,"  answered  the  youth, 
the  blood  mantling  in  his  cheeks :  "  the  falcon  will  soar 
higher  without  his  bells  than  with  them,  though  the  bells  be 
made  of  silver." 

"  That  is  cheerily  spoken,"  replied  the  falconer  ;  "  and 
whither  now  ?  " 

"  I  thought  of  going  to  the  Abbey  of  Kennaquhair,"  an- 
swered Roland  Graeme,  ''to  ask  the  counsel  of  Father 
Ambrose." 

"  And  joy  go  with  you,"  said  the  falconer,  ''though  it  is 
likely  you  may  find  the  old  monks  in  some  sorrow  :  they  say 
the  commons  are  threatening  to  turn  them  out  of  their  cells, 
and  make  a  devil's  mass  of  it  in  the  old  church,  thinking 
they  have  forborne  that  sport  too  long  ;  and  troth  I  am  clear 
of  the  same  opinion." 

"  Then  will  Father  Ambrose  be  the  better  of  having  a 
friend  beside  him  ! "  said  the  page,  manfully. 

"Ay,  but,  my  young  fearnaught,"  replied  a  falconer, 
"  the  friend  will  scarce  be  the  better  of  being  beside  Father 
Ambrose  :  he  may  come  by  the  redder's  lick,  and  that  is  ever 
the  worst  of  the  battle." 

"  I  care  not  for  that,"  said  the  page  ;  "the  dread  of  a  lick 
should  not  hold  me  back ;  but  I  fear  I  may  bring  trouble 
between  the  brothers  by  visiting  Father  Ambrose.  I  will 
tarry  to-night  at  St.  Cuthbert's  cell,  where  the  old  priest 
will"  give  me  a  night's  shelter ;  and  I  will  send  to  Father 
Ambrose  to  ask  his  advice  before  I  go  down  to  the  convent." 

"By  Our  Lady,"  said  the  falconer,  "and  that  is  a  likely 
plan  I    And  now,"  he  continued,  changing  his  frankness  of 


64  WA  VEBLET  NOVELS 

manner  for  a  sort  of  awkward  embarrassment,  as  if  he  had 
somewhat  to  say  that  he  had  no  ready  means  to  bring  out — 
•'  and  now,  yon  wot  well  that  I  wear  a  pouch  for  my  hawks' 
meat,*  and  so  forth,  but  wot  ye  what  it  is  lined  with.  Master 
Roland?" 

''  With  leather,  to  be  sure,^'  replied  Eoland,  somewhat  sur- 
prised at  the  hesitation  with  which  Adam  Woodcock  asked 
a  question  apparently  so  simple. 

''  With  leather,  lad  ?"  said  Woodcock  ;  *'ay,  and  with  sil- 
ver to  the  boot  of  that.  See  here,"  he  said,  showing  a  secret 
slit  in  the  lining  of  his  bag  of  office — '^here  they  are,  thirty 
good  Harry  groats  as  ever  were  struck  in  bluff  old  HaFs  time, 
and  ton  of  them  are  right  heartily  at  your  service  ;  and  now 
the  murder  is  out." 

Roland's  first  idea  was  to  refuse  this  assistance ;  but  he 
recollected  the  vows  of  humility  which  he  had  just  taken 
upon  him,  and  it  occurred  that  this  was  the  opportunity  to 
put  his  new-formed  resolution  to  the  test.  Assuming  a 
strong  command  of  himself,  he  answered  Adam  Woodcock 
with  as  much  frankness  as  his  nature  permitted  him  to  wear, 
in  doing  what  was  so  contrary  to  his  inclinations,  that  he 
accepted  thankfully  of  his  kind  offer,  while  to  soothe  his 
own  reviving  pride,  he  could  not  help  adding,  ^'  He  hoped 
soon  to  requite  the  obligation." 

*'  That  as  you  list — that  as  you  list,  young  man,"  said  the 
falconer,  with  glee,  counting  out  and  delivering  to  his  young 
friend  the  supply  he  had  so  generously  offered,  and  then  add- 
ing with  great  cheerfulness — "  Now  you  may  go  through  the 
world  ;  for  he  that  can  back  a  horse,  wind  a  horn,  halloo  a 
greyhound,  fly  a  hawk,  and  play  at  sword  and  buckler,  with 
a  whole  pair  of  shoes,  a  green  jacket,  and  ten  lily-white 
groats  in  his  pouch,  may  bid  Father  Care  hang  himself  in 
his  own  jesses.     Farewell,  and  God  be  with  you  ! " 

So  saying,  and  as  if  desirous  to  avoid  the  thanks  of  hia 
companion,  he  turned  hastily  round,  and  left  Roland  Graeme 
to  pursue  his  journey  alone. 

♦  See  Bag  for  Hawks'  Meat.    Note  2. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

The  sacred  tapers'  lights  are  gone, 
Gray  moss  has  clad  the  altar  stone, 
The  holy  image  is  o'erthrown, 

The  bell  has  ceased  to  toll. 
The  long  ribb'd  aisles  are  burst  and  shrunk. 
The  holy  shrines  to  ruin  sunk, 
Departed  is  the  pious  monk, 

God's  blessing  on  his  soul ! 

Rediviva, 

The  cell  of  St.  Cuthbert,  as  it  was  called,  marked,  or 
was  supposed  to  mark,  one  of  those  resting-places  which 
that  venerable  saint  was  pleased  to  assign  to  his  monks, 
when  his  convent,  being  driven  from  Lindisfern  by  the 
Danes,  became  a  peripatetic  society  of  religionists,  and, 
bearing  their  patron's  body  on  their  shoulders,  transported 
him  from  place  to  place  through  Scotland  and  the  borders 
of  England,  until  he  was  pleased  at  length  to  spare  them  the 
pain  of  carrying  him  farther,  and  to  choose  his  ultimate 
place  of  rest  in  the  lordly  towers  of  Durham.  The  odor  of 
his  sanctity  remained  behind  him  at  each  place  where  he 
had  granted  the  monks  a  transient  respite  from  their  labors  ; 
and  proud  were  those  who  could  assign  as  his  temporary  rest- 
ing-place any  spot  within  their  vicinity.  There  were  few 
cells  more  celebrated  and  honored  than  that  of  St.  Cuthbert, 
to  which  Roland  Graeme  now  bent  his  way,  situated  consid- 
erably to  the  northwest  of  the  great  Abbey  of  Kennaquhair, 
on  which  it  was  dependent.  In  the  neighborhood  were 
some  of  those  recommendations  which  weighed  with  the  ex- 
perienced priesthood  of  Rome  in  choosing  their  sites  for 
places  of  religion. 

There  was  a  well,  possessed  of  some  medicinal  qualities, 
which,  of  course,  claimed  the  saint  for  its  guardian  and  pa- 
tron, and  occasionally  produced  some  advantage  to  the  re- 
cluse who  inhabited  his  cell,  since  none  could  reasonably 
expect  to  benefit  by  the  fountain  who  did  not  extend  their 
bounty  to  the  saint's  chaplain.  A  few  roods  of  fertile  land 
afforded  the  monk  his  plot  of  garden  ground ;  an  eminence  well 
clothed  with  trees  rose  behind  the  cell,  and  sheltered  it  from 

8ft 


36  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

the  nortli  and  the  east,  while  the  front,  opening  to  the 
southwest,  looked  up  a  wild  but  pleasant  valley,  down  vrhich 
wandered  a  lively  brook,  which  battled  with  every  stone  that 
interrupted  its  passage. 

The  cell  itself  was  rather  plainly  than  rudely  constructed 
— a  low  Gothic  building  with  two  small  apartments,  one  of 
which  served  the  priest  for  his  dwelling-place,  the  other  for 
his  chapel.  As  there  were  few  of  the  secular  clergy  who 
durst  venture  to  reside  so  near  the  Border,  the  assistance  of 
this  monk  in  spiritual  affairs  had  not  been  useless  to  the 
community  while  the  Catholic  religion  retained  the  ascend- 
ency, as  he  could  marry,  christen,  and  administer  the  other 
sacraments  of  the  Eoman  Church.  Of  late,  however,  as  the 
Protestant  doctrines  gained  ground,  he  had  found  it  con- 
venient to  live  in  close  retirement,  and  to  avoid,  as  much 
as  possible,  drawing  upon  himself  observation  or  animad- 
version. The  appearance  of  his  habitation,  however,  when 
Roland  Graeme  came  before  it  in  the  close  of  the  evening, 
plainly  showed  that  his  caution  had  been  finally  ineffectual. 

The  pager's  first  movement  was  to  knock  at  the  door,  when 
he  observed,  to  his  surprise,  that  it  was  open,  not  from 
being  left  unlatched,  but  because,  beat  off  its  upper  hinge, 
it  was  only  fastened  to  the  door-post  by  the  lower,  and 
could  therefore  no  longer  perform  its  functions.  Somewhat 
alarmed  at  this,  and  receiving  no  answer  when  he  knocked 
and  called,  Roland  began  to  look  more  at  leisure  upon  the 
exterior  of  the  little  dwelling,  before  he  ventured  to  enter 
it.  The  flowers,  which  had  been  trained  with  care 
against  the  walls,  seemed  to  have  been  recently  torn  down, 
and  trailed  their  dishonored  garlands  on  the  earth  ;  the 
latticed  window  was  broken  and  dashed  in.  The  garden, 
which  the  monk  had  maintained  by  his  constant  labor  in 
the  highest  order  and  beauty,  bore  marks  of  having  been 
lately  trod  down  and  destroyed  by  the  hoofs  of  animals  and 
the  feet  of  men. 

The  sainted  spring  had  not  escaped.  It  was  wont  to  rise 
beneath  a  canopy  of  ribbed  arches,  with  which  the  devotion 
of  elder  times  had  secured  and  protected  its  healing  waters. 
These  arches  were  now  almost  entirely  demolished,  and  the 
stones  of  which  they  were  built  were  tumbled  into  the  well, 
as  if  for  the  purpose  of  choking  up  and  destroying  the 
fountain,  which,  as  it  had  shared  in  other  days  the  honor  of 
the  saint,  was,  in  the  present,  doomed  to  partake  his  un- 
popularity. Part  of  the  roof  had  been  pulled  down  from 
the  house  itself,  and  an  attempt  had  been  made  with  crowi 


THE  ABBOT  67 

and  levers  upon  one  of  the  angles,  by  which  several 
large  corner-stones  had  been  forced  out  of  their  place  ;  but 
the  solidity  of  ancient  masonwork  had  proved  too  great  for 
the  time  or  patience  of  the  assailants,  and  they  had  re- 
linquished their  task  of  destruction.  Such  dilapidated 
buildings,  after  the  lapse  of  years,  during  which  nature  has 
gradually  covered  the  effects  of  violence  with  creeping  plants 
and  with  weather-stains,  exhibit,  amid  their  decay,  a  mel- 
ancholy beauty.  But  when  the  visible  effects  of  violence  ap 
pear  raw  and  recent  there  is  no  feeling  to  mitigate  the  sense 
of  devastation  with  which  they  impress  the  spectators  ;  and 
such  was  now  the  scene  on  which  the  youthful  page  gazed, 
with  the  painful  feelings  it  was  qualified  to  excite. 

When  his  first  momentary  surprise  was  over,  Eoland  Graeme 
was  at  no  loss  to  conjecture  the  cause  of  these  ravages.  The 
destruction  of  the  Popish  edifices  did  not  take  place  at  once 
throughout  Scotland,  but  at  different  times,  and  according 
to  the  spirit  which  actuated  the  Reformed  clergy,  some  of 
whom  instigated  their  hearers  to  these  acts  of  demolition, 
and  others,  with  better  taste  and  feelings,  endeavored  to 
protect  the  ancient  shrines,  while  they  desired  to  see  them 
purified  from  the  objects  which  had  attracted  idolatrous  de- 
votion. From  time  to  time,  therefore,  the  populace  of  the 
Scottish  towns  and  villages,  when  instigated  either  by  their 
own  feelings  of  abhorrence  for  Popish  superstition  or  by 
the  doctrines  of  the  more  zealous  preachers,  resumed  the 
work  of  destruction,  and  exercised  it  upon  some  sequestered 
church,  chapel,  or  cell,  which  had  escaped  the  first  burst  of 
their  indignation  against  the  religion  of  Rome.  In  many 
places,  the  vices  of  the  Catholic  clergy,  arising  out  of  the 
wealth  and  the  corruption  of  that  tremendous  hierarchy,  fur- 
nished too  good  an  apology  for  wreaking  vengeance  upon  the 
splendid  edifices  which  they  inhabited ;  and  of  this  an  old 
Scottish  historian  gives  a  remarkable  instance. 

"  Why  mourn  ye,'^  said  an  aged  matron,  seeing  the  dis- 
content of  some  of  the  citizens  while  a  stately  convent  was 
burnt  by  the  multitude — ^'  why  mourn  ye  for  its  destruction  ? 
If  you  knew  half  the  flagitious  wickedness  which  had  been 
perpetrated  within  that  house,  you  would  rather  bless  the 
Bivine  judgment  which  permits  not  even  the  senseless  walls 
that  screened  such  profligacy  any  longer  to  cumber  Christian 
ground  ! " 

But  although,  in  many  instances,  the  destruction  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  buildings  might  be,  in  the  matron's  way  of 
judging,  an  act  of  justice,  and  in  others  an  act  of  policy. 


68  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

there  is  no  doubt  that  the  humor  of  demolishing  rnonu* 
ments  of  ancient  piety  and  munificence,  and  that  in  a 
poor  country  like  Scotland,  where  there  was  no  chance  ol 
their  being  replaced,  was  both  useless,  mischievous,  and 
barbarous. 

In  the  presence  instance,  the  unpretending  and  quiet  se- 
clusion of  the  monk  of  Sfc  Cuthbert's  had  hitherto  saved  him 
from  the  general  wreck  ;  but  it  would  seem  ruin  had  now  at 
length  reached  him.  Anxious  to  discover  if  he  had  at  least 
escaped  personal  harm,  Koland  Grasme  entered  the  half -ruined 
cell. 

The  interior  of  the  building  was  in  a  state  which  fully 
Tustified  the  opinion  he  had  formed  from  its  external  injuries. 
The  few  rude  utensils  of  the  solitary's  hut  were  broken  down, 
and  lay  scattered  on  the  floor,  where  it  seemed  as  if  a  fire  had 
been  made  with  some  of  the  fragments  to  destroy  the  rest  of 
his  property,  and  to  consume,  in  particular,  the  rude  old 
image  of  St.  Cuthbert,  in  its  episcopal  habit,  which  lay  on 
the  hearth,  like  Dagon  of  yore,  shattered  with  the  ax  and 
scorched  with  the  flames,  but  only  partially  destroyed.  In 
the  little  apartment  which  served  as  a  chapel,  the  kltar  was 
overthrown,  and  the  four  huge  stones  of  which  it  had  been 
once  composed  lay  scattered  around  the  floor.  The  larga 
stone  crucifix  which  occupied  the  niche  behind  the  altar, 
and  fronted  the  supplicant  while  he  paid  his  devotion  there, 
had  been  pulled  down,  and  dashed  by  its  own  weight  into 
three  fragments.  There  were  marks  of  sledge-hammers  on 
each  of  these;  yet  the  image  had  been  saved  from  utter 
demolition  by  the  size  and  strength  of  the  remaining  frag- 
ments, which,  though  much  injured,  retained  enough  of 
the  original  sculpture  to  show  what  it  had  been  intended  to 
represent.* 

Koland  Graeme,  secretlj  nursed  in  the  tenets  of  Rome,  saw 
with  horror  the  profanation  of  the  most  sacred  emblem,  ac- 
cording to  his  creed,  of  our  holy  religion. 

*'  It  is  the  badge  of  our  redemption,''  he  said,  ''  which  the 
felons  have  dared  to  violate ;  would  to  God  my  weak  strength 
were  able  to  replace  it — my  humble  reverence  to  atone  for 
the  sacrilege  ! " 

He  stooped  to  the  task  he  first  meditated,  and  with  a  sud- 
den, and  to  himself  almost  an  incredible,  exertion  of  power 
he  lifted  up  the  one  extremity  of  the  lower  shaft  of  the  cross, 
and  rested  it  upon  the  edge  of  the  large  stone  which  served 
for  its  pedestal.  Encouraged  by  this  success,  he  applied  hia 
*  See  CeU  of  St.  Cuthbert.    Note  3.  55,^ 


THE  ABBOT  69 

force  to  the  otlier  extremity,  and,  to  his  own  astonishment, 
succeeded  so  far  as  to  erect  the  lower  end  of  the  limb  into 
the  socket,  out  of  which  it  had  been  forced,  and  to  place 
this  fragment  of  the  image  upright. 

While  he  was  employed  in  this  labor,  or  rather  at  the 
very  moment  when  he  had  accomplished  the  elevation  of  the 
fragment,  a  voice,  in  thrilling  and  well-known  accents,  spoke 
behind  him  these  words  :  ''  Well  done,  thou  good  and  faith- 
ful servant !  Thus  would  I  again  meet  the  child  of  my  love 
— the  hope  of  my  aged  eyes." 

Roland  turned  round  in  astonishment,  and  the  tall  com- 
manding form  of  Magdalen  G-raeme  stood  beside  him.  She 
was  arrayed  in  a  sort  of  loose  habit,  in  form  like  that  worn 
by  penitents  in  Catholic  countries,  but  black  in  color,  and 
approaching  as  near  to  a  pilgrim's  cloak  as  it  was  safe  to  wear 
in  a  country  where  the  suspicion  of  Catholic  devotion  in 
many  places  endangered  the  safety  of  those  who  were  sus- 
pected of  attachment  io  the  ancient  faith,  Roland  Graeme 
threw  himself  at  her  feet.  She  raised  and  embraced  him, 
with  affection  indeed,  but  not  unmixed  with  gravity  which 
amounted  almost  to  sternness. 

''  Thou  has  kept  well,''  she  said,  "  the  bird  in  thy  bosom.* 
As  a  boy,  as  a  youth,  thou  hast  held  fast  thy  faith  amongst 
heretics  :  thou  hast  kept  thy  secret  and  mine  own  amongst 
thine  enemies.  I  wept  when  I  parted  from  you — I,  who 
seldom  weep,  then  shed  tears,  less  for  thy  death  than  for  thy 
spiritual  danger.  I  dared  not  even  see  thee  to  bid  thee  a 
last  farewell;  my  grief — my  swelling  grief  had  betrayed  me 
to  these  heretics.  But  thou  hast  been  faithful ;  down — down 
.on  thy  knees  before  the  holy  sign,  which  evil  men  injure  and 
blaspheme — down  and  praise  saints  and  angels  for  the  grace 
they  have  done  thee,  in  preserving  thee  from  the  leprous 
plague  which  cleaves  to  the  house  in  which  thou  wert  nur- 
tured!" 

"  If,  my  mother— so  I  must  ever  call  you,"  replied  Grasme 
— ''if  I  am  returned  such  as  thou  wouldst  wish  me,  thou 
must  thank  the  care  of  the  pious  Father  Ambrose,  whose 
instructions  confirmed  your  early  precepts,  and  taught  me 
at  once  to  be  faithful  and  to  be  silent." 

''  Be  he  blessed  for  it ! "  said  she—''  blessed  in  the  cell  and 
in  the  field,  in  the  pulpit  and  at  the  altar  !  The  saints  rain 
blessings  on  him  !     They  are  just,  and  employ  his  pious  care 

*  An  expression  used  by  Sir  Ralph  Percy,  slain  in  the  battle  of 
Hedgely  Moor  in  1464,  when  dying,  to  express  his  having  preserved 
unstained  his  fidelity  to  the  house  of  Lancaster. 


70  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

to  counteract  the  evils  which  his  detested  brother  works 
against  the  realm  and  the  church.  But  he  knew  not  of  thy 
lineage?''  ^ 

"  I  could  not  myself  tell  him  that/'  answered  Roland.  "  I 
knew  but  darkly  from  your  words  that  Sir  Halbert  Glendin- 
ning  holds  mine  inheritance,  and  that  I  am  of  blood  as  noble 
as  runs  in  the  veins  of  any  Scottish  baron  ;  these  are  things 
not  to  be  forgotten,  but  for  the  explanation  I  must  now  look 
to  you." 

*'  And  when  time  suits  thou  shalt  not  ask  for  it  in  vain. 
But  men  say,  my  son,  that  thou  art  bold  and  sudden  ;  and 
those  who  bear  such  tempers  are  not  lightly  to  be  trusted  with 
«rhat  will  strongly  move  them." 

*'  Say  rather,  my  mother,"  returned  Roland  Graeme,  "  that 
I  am  laggard  and  cold-blooded  ;  what  patience  or  endurance 
can  you  require  of  which  he  is  not  capable  who  for  years  has 
heard  his  religion  ridiculed  and  insulted^  yet  failed  to  plunge 
his  dagger  into  the  blasphemer's  bosom  ! " 

"  Be  contented,  my  child,"  replied  Magdalen  Graeme ; 
**  the  time  which  then  and  even  now  demands  patience,  will 
soon  ripen  to  that  of  effort  and  action  ;  great  events  are  on 
the  wing,  and  thou — thou  shalt  have  thy  share  in  advancing 
them.  Thou  hast  relinquished  the  service  of  the  Lady  of 
Avenel  ?  " 

'*  I  have  been  dismissed  from  it,  my  mother — I  have  lived 
to  be  dismissed,  as  if  I  were  the  meanest  of  the  train." 

"  It  is  the  better,  my  child,"  replied  she  ;  *'  thy  mind  will 
be  the  more  hardened  to  undertake  that  which  must  be  per- 
formed.'^ 

'*  Let  it  be  nothing,  then,  against  the  Lady  of  Avenel," 
said  the  page,  *'  as  thy  look  and  words  seem  to  imply.  I  have 
eaten  her  bread — I  have  experienced  her  favor  ;  I  will  neither 
injure  nor  betray  her." 

''Of  that  hereafter,  my  son,"  said  she  ;  ''but  learn  this, 
that  it  is  not  for  thee  to  capitulate  in  thy  duty,  and  to  say 
this  will  I  do,  and  that  will  I  leave  undone.  No,  Roland  1 
God  and  man  will  no  longer  abide  the  wickedness  of  this 
generation.  Seest  thou  these  fragments — knowest  thou  what 
thejr  represent  ? — and  canst  thou  think  it  is  for  thee  to  make 
distinctions  amongst  a  race  so  accursed  by  Heaven  that  they 
renounce,  violate,  blaspheme,  and  destroy  whatsoever  we  are 
commanded  to  believe  in,  whatsoever  we  are  commanded  to 
reverence  ?" 

As  she  spoke,  she  bent  her  head  towards  the  broken  image, 
with  a  countenance  in  which  strong  resentment  and  zeal  wer« 


THE  ABBOT  71 

mingled  with  an  expression  of  ecstatic  devotion  ;  she  raised 
her  left  hand  aloft  as  in  the  act  of  making  a  vow,  and  thus 
proceeded  :  '^  Bear  witness  for  me,  blessed  symbol  of  our  sal- 
vation— bear  witness,  holy  saint,  within  whose  violated  temple 
we  stand,  that  as  it  is  not  for  vengeance  of  my  own  that  my 
hate  pursues  these  people,  so  neither,  for  any  favor  or  earthly 
aifection  towards  any  amongst  them,  will  I  withdraw  my 
hand  from  the  plow,  when  it  shall  pass  through  the  devoted 
furrow  !  Bear  witness,  holy  saint,  once  thyself  a  wanderer 
and  a  fugitive  as  we  are  now — bear  witness,  Mother  of  Mercy, 
Queen  of  Heaven — bear  witness,  saints  and  angels  ! " 

In  this  high  strain  of  enthusiasm  she  stood,  raising  her  eyes 
through  the  fractured  roof  of  the  vault  to  the  stars  wliich  now 
began  to  twinkle  through  the  pale  twilight,  while  the  long 
gray  tresses  which  hung  down  over  her  shoulders  waved  in 
the  night-breeze,  which  the  chasm  and  fractured  windows 
admitted  freely. 

Roland  Gi'aeme  was  too  much  awed  by  early  habits,  as  well 
as  by  the  mysterious  import  of  her  words,  to  ask  for  further 
explanation  of  the  purpose  she  obscurely  hinted  at.  Nor  did 
she  farther  press  him  on  the  subject ;  for,  having  concluded 
her  prayer  or  obtestation,  by  clasping  her  hands  together  with 
solemnity,  and  then  signing  herself  with  the  cross,  she  again 
addressed  her  grandson,  in  a  tone  more  adapted  to  the  ordi- 
nary business  of  life. 

"  Thou  must  hence,"  she  said,  '*  Eoland — thou  must  hence, 
but  not  till  morning.  And  now,  how  wilt  thou  shift  for  thy 
night's  quarters  ?  Thou  hast  been  more  softly  bred  than 
when  we  were  companions  in  the  misty  hills  of  Cumberland 
and  Liddesdale.'* 

*'I  have  at  least  preserved,  my  good  mother,  the  habits 
which  I  then  learned — can  lie  hard,  feed  sparingly,  and  think 
it  no  hardship.  Since  I  was  a  wanderer  with  thee  on  the 
hills,  1  have  been  a  hunter,  and  fisher,  and  fowler,  and  each 
of  these  is  accustomed  to  sleep  freely  in  a  worse  sheltei*  than 
sacrilege  has  left  us  here." 

''  Than  sacrilege  has  left  us  here  !  **  said  the  matron,  re- 
peating his  words,  and  pausing  on  them.  *'  Most  true,  my 
son  ;  and  God's  faithful  children  are  now  worst  sheltered  when 
they  lodge  in  God's  own  house  and  the  demesne  of  His  blessed 
saints.  We  shall  sleep  cold  here  under  tbe  night-wind,  which 
whistles  through  the  breaches  that  heresy  has  made.  They 
shall  lie  warmer  who  made  them — ay,  and  through  a  long 
hereafter ! ' 

Notwithstanding  the  wild  and  singular  expression  of  this 


T2  WA VEBLEY  NOVELS 

female,  she  appeared  to  retain  towards  Roland  Graeme,  in  a 
strong  degree,  that  affectionate  and  sedulous  love  which  women 
bear  to  their  nurslings,  and  the  children  dependent  on  their 
care.  It  seemed  as  if  she  would  not  permit  him  to  do  aught 
for  himself  which  in  former  days  her  attention  had  been 
used  to  do  for  him,  and  that  she  considered  the  tall  stripling 
before  her  as  being  equally  dependent  on  her  careful  atten- 
tion  as  when  he  was  the  orphan  child  who  had  owed  all  to  her 
affectionate  solicitude 

*'  What  hast  thou  to  eat  now  ?  "  she  said,  as,  leaving  the 
chapel,  they  went  into  the  deserted  habitation  of  the  priest ; 
*'  or  what  means  of  kindling  a  fire,  to  defend  thee  from  thia 
raw  and  inclement  air  ?  Poor  child  !  thou  hast  made  slight 
provision  for  a  long  journey  ;  nor  hast  thou  skill  to  help 
thyself  by  wit  when  means  are  scanty.  But  Our  Lady  has 
placed  by  thy  side  one  to  whom  want,  in  all  its  forms,  is  as 
familiar  as  plenty  and  splendor  have  formerly  been.  And 
with  want,  Koland,  come  the  arts  of  which  she  is  the  in- 
ventor.'' 

With  an  active  and  officious  diligence,  which  strangely 
contrasted  with  her  late  abstracted  and  high  tone  of  Catholic 
devotion,  she  set  about  her  domestic  arrangements  for  the 
evening.  A  pouch,  which  was  hidden  under  her  garment, 
produced  a  flint  and  steel,  and  from  the  scattered  fragments 
around  (those  pertaining  to  the  image  of  St.  Cuthbert 
scrupulously  excepted)  she  obtained  splinters  sufficient  to 
raise  a  sparkling  and  cheerful  fire  on  the  hearth  of  the  de- 
serted cell. 

*'  And  now,"  she  said,  ''  for  needful  food." 

"  Think  not  of  it,  mother,"  said  Roland,  '^  unless  you 
yourself  feel  hunger.  It  is  a  little  thing  for  me  to  endure  a 
night's  abstinence,  and  a  small  atonement  for  the  necessary 
transgression  of  the  rules  of  the  church  upon  which  I  was 
compelled  during  my  stay  in  the  castle." 

*'  Hunger  for  myself  !"  answered  the  matron.  ''Know, 
youth,  that  a  mother  knows  not  hunger  till  that  of  her  child 
is  satisfied."  And  with  affectionate  inconsistency,  totally 
different  from  her  usual  manner,  she  added,  ''  Roland,  you 
must  not  fast ;  you  have  dispensation  ;  you  are  young,  and 
to  youth  food  and  sleep  are  necessaries  not  to  be  dispensed 
with.  Husband  your  strength,  my  child  ;  your  sovereign, 
your  religion,  your  country  require  it.  Let  age  macerate 
by  fast  and  vigil  a  body  which  can  only  suffer  ;  let  youth,  in 
these  active  times,  nourish  the  limbs  and  the  strength  which 
action  requires." 


THE  ABBOT  18 

While  she  thus  spoke,  the  scrip,  which  had  produced  the 
means  of  striking  fire,  furnished  provisions  for  a  meal ;  of 
which  she  herself  scarce  partook,  but  anxiously  watched  her 
charge,  taking  a  pleasure,  resembling  that  of  an  epicure,  in 
each  morsel  which  he  swallowed,  with  a  youthful  appetite 
which  abstinence  had  rendered  unusually  sharp.  Roland 
readily  obeyed  her  recommendations,  and  ate  the  food  which 
she  so  affectionately  and  earnestly  placed  before  him.  But 
she  shook  her  head  when  invited  by  him  in  return  to  par- 
take of  the  refreshment  her  own  cares  had  furnished  ;  and 
when  his  solicitude  became  more  pressing,  she  refused  him 
in  a  loftier  tone  of  rejection. 

"  Young  man,''  she  said,  ^'  you  know  not  to  whom,  or  of 
what,  you  speak.  They  to  whom  Heaven  declares  its  pur- 
pose must  merit  its  communication  by  mortifying  the  senses  ; 
they  have  that  within  which  requires  not  the  superfluity  of 
earthly  nutriment,  which  is  necessary  to  those  who  are  with- 
out the  sphere  of  the  Vision.  To  them  the  watch  spent  in 
prayer  is  a  refreshing  slumber,  and  the  sense  of  doing  the 
will  of  Heaven  is  a  richer  banquet  than  the  tables  of  mon- 
archs  can  spread  before  them  !  But  do  thou  sleep  soft,  my 
son,"  she  said,  relapsing  from  the  tone  of  fanaticism  into 
that  of  maternal  affection  and  tenderness — ''  do  thou  sleep 
sound  while  life  is  but  young  with  thee,  and  the  cares  of  the 
day  can  be  drowned  in  the  slumbers  of  the  evening.  Dif- 
ferent is  thy  duty  and  mine,  and  as  different  the  means  by 
which  we  must  qualify  and  strengthen  ourselves  to  perform 
it.  From  thee  is  demanded  strength  of  body — from  me 
strength  of  soul.'' 

When  she  thus  spoke,  she  prepared  with  ready  address  a 
pallet-couch,  composed  partly  of  the  dried  leaves  which  had 
once  furnished  a  bed  to  the  solitary,  and  the  guests  who  oc- 
casionally received  his  hospitality,  and  which,  neglected  by 
the  destroyers  of  his  humble  cell,  had  remained  little  dis- 
turbed in  the  corner  allotted  for  them.  To  these  her  care 
added  some  of  the  vestures  which  lay  torn  and  scattered  on 
the  floor.  With  a  zealous  hand  she  selected  all  such  as  ap- 
peared to  have  made  any  part  of  the  sacerdotal  vestments, 
laying  them  aside  as  sacred  from  ordiifary  purposes,  and 
with  the  rest  she  made,  with  dexterous  promptness,  such  a 
bed  as  a  weary  man  might  willingly  stretch  himself  on  ;  and 
during  the  time  she  was  preparing  it,  rejected,  even  with 
acrimony,  any  attempt  which  the  youth  made  to  assist  her, 
or  any  entreaty  which  he  urged  that  she  should  accept  of 
the  place  of  rest  for  her  own  use.     "  Sleep  thou,"  said  she, 


74  WA  VERLEY  NO  VEL8 

"Roland  Graeme — sleep  tliou — the  persecuted,  the  disin« 
herited  orphan — the  son  of  an  ill-fated  mother — sleep  thou  ! 
1  go  to  pray  in  the  chapel  beside  thee/' 

The  manner  was  too  enthusiastically  earnest,  too  obsti- 
nately firm,  to  permit  Roland  Graeme  to  dispute  her  will 
any  farther.  Yet  he  felt  some  shame  in  giving  way  to  it. 
It  seemed  as  it  she  had  forgotten  the  years  that  had  passed 
away  since  their  parting  ;  and  expected  to  meet,  in  the  tall, 
indulged,  and  wilful  youth  whom  she  had  recovered,  the 
passive  obedience  of  the  child  whom  she  had  left  in  the 
Castle  of  Avenel.  This  did  not  fail  to  hurt  her  grandson's 
characteristic  and  constitutional  pride.  He  obeyed,  indeed, 
awed  into  submission  by  the  sudden  recurrence  of  former 
subordination,  and  hy  feelings  of  affection  and  gratitude. 
Still,  however,  he  felt  the  yoke. 

"Have  I  relinquished  the  hawk  and  the  hound,''  he  said, 
*'  to  become  the  pupil  of  her  pleasure,  as  if  I  were  still  a 
child  ?  I,  whom  even  my  envious  mates  allowed  to  be 
superior  in  those  exercises  which  they  took  most  pains  to 
acquire,  and  which  came  to  me  naturally,  as  it  a  knowledge 
of  them  had  been  my  birthright  ?  This  may  not,  and  must 
not  be.  I  will  be  no  reclaimed  sparrow-hawk,  who  is  carried 
hooded  on  a  woman's  wrist,  and  has  his  quarry  only  shown 
to  him  when  his  eyes  are  uncovered  for  his  flight.  I  will 
know  her  purpose  ere  it  is  proposed  to  me  to  aid  it." 

These  and  other  thoughts  streamed  through  the  mind  of 
Eoland  Graeme  ;  and,  although  wearied  with  the  fatigues  of 
the  day,  it  was  long  ere  he  could  compose  himself  to  reat. 


CHAPTER  IX 

Kneel  with  me — swear  it — 'tis  not  in  words  I  trust. 
Save  when  they're  fenced  with  an  appeal  to  Heaven. 

Old  Play, 

After  passing  the  night  in  that  sound  sleep  for  which  agita- 
tion and  fatigue  had  prepared  him,  Roland  wt,s  awakened  by 
the  fresh  morning  air,  and  by  the  beams  of  the  rising  sun. 
His  first  feeling  was  that  of  surprise  ;  for,  instead  of  looking 
forth  from  a  turret  window  on  the  waters  of  the  lake  of 
Avenel,  which  was  the  prospect  his  former  apartment 
afforded,  an  unlatticed  aperture  gave  him  the  view  of  the 
demolished  garden  of  the  banished  anchorite.  He  sate  up 
on  his  couch  of  leaves,  and  arranged  in  his  memory,  not 
without  wonder,  the  singular  events  of  the  preceding  day, 
which  appeared  the  more  surprising  the  more  he  considered 
them.  He  had  lost  the  protectress  of  his  youth,  and,  in  the 
same  day,  he  had  recovered  the  guide  and  guardian  of  his 
childhood.  The  former  deprivation  he  felt  ought  to  be 
matter  of  unceasing  regret,  and  it  seemed  as  if  the  latter 
could  hardly  be  the  subject  of  unmixed  self-congratulation. 
He  remembered  this  person,  who  had  stood  to  him  in  the 
relation  of  a  mother,  as  equally  affectionate  in  her  attention 
and  absolute  in  her  authority.  A  singular  mixture  of  love 
and  fear  attended  upon  his  early  remembrances  as  they  were 
connected  with  her  ;  and  the,  fear  that  she  might  desire  to 
resume  the  same  absolute  control  over  his  motions — a 
fear  which  her  conduct  of  yesterday  did  not  tend  much  to 
dissipate — weighed  heavily  against  the  joy  of  this  second 
meeting. 

**  She  cannot  mean,'*  said  his  rising  pride,  "to  lead  and 
direct  me  as  a  pupil,  when  I  am  at  the  age  of  judging  of  my 
own  actioi^  ? — this  she  cannot  mean,  or  meaning  it,  will  feel 
herself  strangely  deceived. '^ 

A  sense  of  gratitude  towards  the  person  against  whom  his 
heart  thus  rebelled  checked  this  course  of  feeling.  He  re- 
sisted the  thoughts  which  involuntarily  arose  in  his  mind, 
as  he  would  have  resisted  an  actual  instigation  of  the  foul 
fiend  ;  and  to  aid  him  iu  his  struggle,  he  felt  for  bis  beads. 

7I» 


76  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

But,  in  his  hasty  departure  from  the  Castle  of  Avenel,  he 
had  forgotten  and  left  them  behind  him. 

*'This  is  yet  worse,"  he  said  ;  ''  but  two  things  I  learned 
of  her  under  the  most  deadly  charge  of  secrecy — to  tell  my 
beads,  and  to  conceal  that  I  did  so  ;  and  I  have  kept  my 
word  till  now  ;  and  when  she  shall  ask  me  for  the  rosary,  I 
must  say  I  have  forgotten  it  !  Do  I  deserve  she  should  be- 
lieve me  when  I  say  I  have  kept  the  secret  of  my  faith,  when 
I  set  so  light  by  its  symbol  ?  " 

He  paced  the  floor  in  anxious  agitation.  In  fact,  his  at- 
tachment  to  his  faith  was  of  a  nature  very  different  from 
that  which  animated  the  enthusiastic  matron,  but  which, 
notwithstanding,  it  would  have  been  his  last  thought  to  re- 
linquish. 

The  early  charges  impressed  on  him  by  his  grandmother 
had  been  instilled  into  a  mind  and  memory  of  a  character 
peculiarly  tenacious.  Child  as  he  was,  he  was  proud  of  the 
confidence  reposed  in  his  discretion,  and  resolved  to  show  that 
it  had  not  been  rashly  entrusted  to  him.  At  the  same  time, 
his  resolution  was  no  more  than  that  of  a  child,  and  must, 
necessarily,  have  gradually  faded  away  under  the  operation 
both  of  precept  and  example,  during  his  residence  at  the 
Castle  of  Avenel,  but  for  the  exhortations  of  Father  Am- 
brose, who,  in  his  late  estate,  had  been  called  Edward  Glen- 
i^ inning.  This  zealous  monk  had  been  apprised,  by  an 
unsigned  letter  placed  in  his  hand  by  a  pilgrim,  that  a  child 
educated  in  the  Catholic  faith  was  now  in  the  Castle  of  Ave- 
nel, perilously  situated  (so  was  the  scroll  expressed)  as  ever 
the  three  children  who  were  cast  into  the  fiery  furnace  of 
persecution.  The  letter  threw  upon  Father  Ambrose  the 
fault  should  this  solitary  lamb,  unwillingly  left  within  the 
demesnes  of  the  prowling  wolf,  become  his  final  prey.  There 
needed  no  farther  exhortation  to  the  monk  than  the  idea  that 
a  soul  might  be  endangered,  and  that  a  Catholic  might  be- 
come an  apostate  ;  and  he  made  his  visits  more  frequent  than 
usual  to  the  Castle  of  Avenel,  lest,  through  want  of  the  pri- 
vate encouragement  and  instruction  which  he  always  found 
some  opportunity  of  dispensing,  the  church  should  lose  a 
proselyte,  and,  according  to  the  Eomish  creed,  the  devil 
acquire  a  soul. 

Still  these  interviews  were  rare  ;  and  though  they  encour- 
aged the  solitary  boy  to  keep  his  secret  and  hold  fast  his 
religion,  they  were  neither  frequent  nor  long  enough  to  in- 
spire him  with  anything  beyond  a  blind  attachment  to  the 
observances  which  the  priest  recommended.     He  adhered  to 


TBE  ABBOT  11 

the  forms  of  his  religion,  rather  because  he  felt  it  would  be 
dishonorable  to  change  that  of  his  fathers  than  from  any 
rational  conviction  or  sincere  belief  of  its  mysterious  doc- 
trines. It  was  a  principal  part  of  the  distinction  which,  in 
his  own  opinion,  singled  him  out  from  those  with  whom  he 
lived,  and  gave  him  an  additional,  though  an  internal  and 
concealed,  reason  for  contemning  those  of  the  household 
who  showed  an  undisguised  dislike  of  him,  and  for  harden- 
ing himself  against  the  instructions  of  the  chaplain,  Henry 
Warden. 

"  The  fanatic  preacher,"  he  thought  within  himself,  dur- 
ing some  one  of  the  chaplain's  frequent  discourses  against 
the  Church  of  Rome,  '^  he  little  knows  whose  ears  are  re- 
ceiving his  profane  doctrine,  and  with  what  contempt  and 
abhorrence  they  hear  his  blasphemies  against  the  holy  re- 
ligion by  which  kings  have  been  crowned  and  for  which 
martyrs  have  died  ! " 

But  in  such  proud  feelings  of  defiance  of  heresy,  as  it  was 
termed,  and  of  its  professors,  which  associated  the  Catholic 
religion  with  a  sense  of  generous  independence,  and  that  of 
the  Protestants  with  the  subjugation  of  his  mind  and  temper 
to  the  direction  of  Mr.  Warden,  began  and  ended  the  faith 
of  Roland  Graeme,  who,  independently  of  the  pride  of 
singularity,  sought  not  to  understand,  and  had  no  one  to 
expound  to  him,  the  peculiarities  of  the  tenets  which  he 
professed.  His  regret,  therefore,  at  missing  the  rosary 
which  had  been  conveyed  to  him  through  the  hands  of 
Father  Ambrose  was  rather  the  shame  of  a  soldier  who  has 
dropped  his  cockade,  or  badge  of  service,  than  that  of  a 
zealous  votary  who  had  forgotten  a  visible  symbol  of  his 
religion. 

His  thoughts  on  the  subject,  however,  were  mortifying, 
and  the  more  so  from  apprehension  that  his  negligence  must 
reach  the  ears  of  his  relative.  He  felt  it  could  be  no  one 
but  her  who  had  secretly  transmitted  these  beads  to  Father 
Ambrose  for  his  use,  and  that  his  carelessness  was  but  an 
indifferent  requital  of  her  kindness. 

''  Nor  will  she  omit  to  ask  me  about  them,''  said  he  to 
himself  ;  "for  hers  is  a  zeal  which  age  cannot  quell ;  and  if 
she  has  not  quitted  her  wont,  my  answer  will  not  fail  to 
incense  her." 

While  he  thus  communed  with  himself,  Magdalen  Graeme 
entered  the  apartment.  **  The  blessing  of  the  morning  on 
your  youthful  head,  my  son,"  she  said,  with  a  solemnity  of 
expression  which  thrilled  the  youth  to  the  heart,  so  sad  and 


78  WAVIJRLET  NOVELS 

earnest  did  the  benediction  flow  from  her  lips,  in  a  tone 
where  devotion  was  blended  with  affection.  "  And  thou 
hast  started  thus  early  from  thy  couch  to  catch  the  first 
breath  of  the  dawn  ?  But  it  is  not  well,  my  Eoland.  En- 
joy slumber  while  thou  canst  ;  the  time  is  not  far  behind 
when  the  waking  eye  must  be  thy  portion  as  well  as  mine/' 

She  uttered  these  words  with  an  affectionate  and  anxious 
tone,  which  showed  that,  devotional  as  were  the  habitual 
exercises  of  her  mind,  the  thoughts  of  her  nursling  yet  bound 
her  to  earth  with  the  cords  of  human  affection  and  passion. 

But  she  abode  not  long  in  a  mood  which  she  probably  re- 
garded as  a  momentary  dereliction  of  her  imaginary  high 
calling.  **  Come,"  she  said,  '*  youth,  up  and  be  doing.  It  is 
time  that  we  leave  this  place." 

**  And  whither  do  we  go  ?  "  said  the  young  man  ;  "  or  what 
is  the  object  of  our  journey  ?" 

The  matron  stepped  back,  and  gazed  on  him  with  surprise, 
not  unmingled  with  displeasure. 

**  To  what  purpose  such  a  question  ?  "  she  said  ;  **  is  it  not 
enough  that  I  lead  the  way  ?  Hast  thou  lived  with  heretics 
till  thou  hast  learned  to  instal  the  vanity  of  thine  own  private 
judgment  in  the  place  of  due  honor  and  obedience  ?" 

^'  The  time,"  thought  Roland  Graeme  within  himself,  '^  is 
already  come  when  I  must  establish  my  freedom  or  be  a  will- 
ing thrall  forever.     I  feel  that  I  must   speedily  look  to  it." 

She  instantly  fulfilled  his  foreboding,  by  recurring  to  the 
theme  by  which  her  thoughts  seemed  most  constantly  en- 
grossed, although,  when  she  pleased,  no  one  could  so  perfectly 
disguise  her  religion. 

**  Thy  beads,  my  son — hast  thou  told  thy  beads  ?  " 

Roland  Graeme  colored  high ;  he  felt  the  storm  was  ap- 
proaching, but  scorned  to  avert  it  by  a  falsehood. 

*'I  have  forgotten  my  rosary,"  he  said,  "  at  the  Castle  of 
Avenel." 

"  Forgotten  thy  rosary  ! "  she  exclaimed  ;  ''  false  both  to 
religion  and  to  natural  duty,  hast  thou  lost  what  was  sent  so 
far,  and  at  such  a  risk,  a  token  of  the  truest  affection,  that 
should  have  been,  every  bead  of  it,  as  dear  to  thee  as  thine 
eyeballs  ?" 

*'I  am  grieved  it  should  have  so  chanced,  mother,"  replied 
the  youth,  ''  and  much  did  I  value  the  token,  as  coming  from 
you.  For  what  remains,  I  trust  to  win  gold  enough,  when 
I  push  my  way  in  the  world  ;  and  till  then  beads  of  black 
oak,  or  a  rosary  of  nuts,  must  serve  the  turn." 

**  Hear  him  ! "  said  his  grandmother ;  "  young  as  he  is,  he 


THE  ABBOT  td 

hath  learned  already  the  lessons  of  the  devirs  school !  The 
rosary  consecrated  by  the  Holy  Father  himself,  and  sanctified 
by  his  blessings,  is  but  a  few  knobs  of  gold,  whose  value  may 
be  replaced  by  the  wages  of  his  profane  labor,  and  whose 
virtue  may  be  supplied  by  a  string  of  hazel  nuts  !  This  is 
heresy.  Sir  Henry  Warden,  the  wolf  who  ravages  the  flock 
of  the  Shepherd,  hath  taught  thee  to  speak  and  to  think." 

**  Mother,"  said  Roland  Graeme,  "  I  am  no  heretic  :  I  be- 
lieve and  I  pray  according  to  the  rules  of  our  church.  Thif 
misfortune  I  regret,  but  I  cannot  amend  it." 

*' Thou  canst  repent  it,  though,"  replied  his  spiritua, 
directress — *'  repent  it  in  dust  and  ashes,  atone  for  it  by  fa-st- 
ing, prayer,  and  penance,  instead  of  looking  on  me  with  a 
countenance  as  light  as  if  thou  hadst  lost  but  a  button  fi'om 
thy  cap." 

'*  Mother,"  said  Roland,  ^'  be  appeased  ;  I  will  remember 
my  fault  in  the  next  confession  which  I  have  space  and  oppor- 
tunity to  make,  and  will  do  whatever  the  priest  may  require 
of  me  in  atonement.  For  the  heaviest  fault  I  can  do  no  more. 
But,  mother,"  he  added,  after  a  moment's  pause,  "  let  me 
not  incur  your  farther  displeasure,  if  I  ask  whither  our 
journey  is  bound,  and  what  is  its  object.  I  am  no  longer  a 
child,  but  a  man,  and  at  my  own  disposal,  with  down  upon 
my  chin  and  a  sword  by  my  side  ;  I  will  go  to  the  end  of  the 
world  with  you  to  do  your  pleasure,  but  I  owe  it  to  myself  to 
inquire  the  purpose  and  direction  of  our  travels." 

*^You  owe  it  to  yourself,  ungrateful  boy!"  replied  his 
relative,  passion  rapidly  supplying  the  color  which  age  had 
long  chased  from  her  features.  **  To  yourself  you  owe  noth- 
ing— you  can  owe  nothing  ;  to  me  you  owe  everything — your 
life  when  an  infant — your  support  when  a  child — the  means 
of  instruction  and  the  hopes  of  honor  ;  and,  sooner  than  thou 
shouldst  abandon  the  noble  cause  to  which  I  have  devoted 
thee,  would  I  see  thee  lie  a  corpse  at  my  feet !" 

Roland  was  alarmed  at  the  vehement  agitation  with  which 
she  spoke,  and  which  threatened  to  overpower  her  aged  frame  ; 
and  he  hastened  to  reply — ''  I  forget  nothing  of  what  I  owe 
to  you,  my  dearest  mother ;  show  me  how  my  blood  can 
testify  my  gratitude,  and  you  shall  judge  if  I  spare  it.  But 
blindfold  obedience  has  in  it  as  little  merit  as  reason." 

^'  Saints  and  angels  !"  replied  Magdalen,  ''  and  do  I  hear 
these  words  from  the  child  of  my  hopes,  the  nursling  by 
■whose  bed  I  have  kneeled,  and  for  whose  weal  I  have  wearied 
every  saint  in  Heaven  with  prayers  ?  Roland,  by  obedience 
only  canst  thou  show  thy  affection  and  thy  gratitude.     What 


80  fVAVERLEY  NOVELS 

avails  it  that  you  might  perchance  adopt  the  course  I  propose 
to  thee,  were  it  to  be  fully  explained  ?  Thou  wouldst  not 
then  follow  my  command,  but  thine  own  judgment ;  thou 
wouldst  not  do  the  will  of  Heaven,  communicated  through 
thy  best  friend,  to  whom  thy  owest  thine  all ;  but  thou 
wouldst  observe  the  blinded  dictates  of  thine  own  imperfect 
reason.  Hear  me,  Roland  !  a  lot  calls  thee — solicits  thee — ■ 
demands  thee — the  proudest  to  which  man  can  be  destined, 
and  it  uses  the  voice  of  thine  earliest — thy  best — thine  only 
friend.  Wilt  thou  resist  it  ?  Then  go  thy  way — leave  me 
here ;  my  hopes  on  earth  are  gone  and  withered.  I  will 
kneel  me  down  before  yonder  profaned  altar,  and  when  the 
raging  heretics  return,  they  shall  dye  it  with  the  blood  of  a 
martyr  ! " 

*'  But,  my  dearest  mother,''  said  Roland  Graeme,  whose 
early  recollections  of  her  violence  were  formidably  renewed 
by  these  wild  expressions  of  reckless  passion,  "■  I  will  not 
forsake  you — I  will  abide  with  you  :  worlds  shall  not  force 
me  from  your  side.  I  will  protect — I  will  defend  you  ;  I 
will  live  with  you,  and  die  for  you  ! '' 

*'  One  word,  my  son,  were  worth  all  these  ;  say  only,  '  I 
will  obey  you.'" 

**  Doubt  it  not,  mother,"  replied  the  youth,  "  I  will,  and 
that  with  all  my  heart ;  only " 

**  Nay,  I  receive  no  qualifications  of  thy  promise,"  said 
Magdalen  Graeme,  catching  at  the  word,  "the  obedience 
which  I  require  is  absolute  ;  and  a  blessing  on  thee,  thou 
darling  memory  of  my  beloved  child,  that  thou  hast  power 
to  make  a  promise  so  hard  to  human  pride  !  Trust  me  well, 
that  in  the  design  in  which  thou  dost  embark  thou  hast  for 
thy  partners  the  mighty  and  the  valiant,  t  le  power  of  the 
church,  and  the  pride  of  the  noble.  Succeed  or  fail,  live  or 
die,  thy  name  shall  be  among  those  with  whom  success  or 
failure  is  alike  glorious,  death  or  life  alike  desirable.  For- 
ward then — forward  I  life  is  short,  and  our  plan  is  laborious. 
Angels,  saints,  and  the  whole  blessed  host  of  Heaven  have 
their  eyes  even  now  on  this  barren  and  blighted  land  of 
Scotland.  What  say  I  ?  On  Scotland  ?  Their  eye  is  on  W5, 
Roland — on  the  frail  woman,  on  the  inexperienced  youth, 
who,  amidst  the  ruins  which  sacrilege  hath  made  in  the  holy 
place,  devote  themselves  to  God's  cause,  and  that  of  their 
lawful  sovereign.  Amen,  so  be  it !  The  blessed  eyes  of 
saints  and  martyrs,  which  see  our  resolve,  shall  witness  the 
execution  ;  or  their  ears,  which  hear  our  vow,  shall  hear  our 
death-groan  drawn  in  the  sacred  cause  I " 


THE  ABBOT  81 

While  thus  speaking,  she  held  Ronald  Graeme  firmly 
with  one  hand,  while  she  pointed  upward  with  the  other,  to 
leave  him,  as  it  were,  no  means  of  protest  against  the  ob- 
testation to  which  he  was  thus  made  a  party.  When  she 
had  finished  her  appeal  to  Heaven,  she  left  him  no  leisure 
for  farther  hesitation,  or  for  asking  any  explanation  of  her 
purpose  ;  but,  passing  with  the  same  ready  transition  as 
lormerly  to  the  solicitous  attentions  of  an  anxious  parent, 
overwhelmed  him  with  questions  concerning  his  residence  in 
the  Castle  of  Avenel,  and  the  qualities  and  accomplishments 
he  had  acquired. 

"  It  is  well,'*  she  said,  when  she  had  exhausted  her  in- 
quiries :  *'my  gay  goss-hawk*  hath  been  well  trained,  and 
will  soar  high  ;  but  those  who  bred  him  will  have  cause  to 
fear  as  well  as  to  wonder  at  his  flight.  Let  us  now,"  she 
said,  "  to  our  morning  meal,  and  care  not  though  it  be  a 
scanty  one.  A  few  hours'  walk  will  bring  us  to  more 
friendly  quarters." 

They  broke  their  fast  accordingly  on  such  fragments  as 
remained  of  their  yesterday's  provision,  and  immediately  set 
out  on  their  farther  journey.  Magdalen  Graeme  led  the  way, 
with  a  firm  and  active  step  much  beyond  her  years,  and 
Roland  Graeme  followed,  pensive  and  anxious,  and  far  from 
satisfied  with  the  state  of  dependence  to  which  he  seemed 
again  to  be  reduced. 

"Am  I  forever,"  he  said  to  himself,  ''to  be  devoured 
with  the  desire  of  independence  and  free  agency,  and  yet  to 
be  forever  led  on  by  circumstances  to  follow  the  will  of 
others?" 

♦See  Note  4, 


CHAPTER  X 

She  dwelt  unnoticed  and  alone, 

Beside  the  springs  of  Dove — 
A  maid  whom  there  was  none  to  praise, 

And  very  few  to  love. 

Wordsworth. 

Ik  the  conrse  of  their  journey  the  travelers  spoke  little  id 
each  other.  Magdalen  Graeme  chanted,  from  time  to  time, 
in  a  low  voice,  a  part  of  some  one  of  those  beautiful  old 
Latin  hymns  which  belong  to  the  Catholic  service,  muttered 
an  ave  or  a  credo,  and  so  passed  on,  lost  in  devotional  con- 
templation. The  meditations  of  her  grandson  were  more 
bent  on  mundane  matters  ;  and  many  a  time,  as  a  moorfowl 
arose  from  the  heath  and  shot  along  the  moor,  uttering  his 
bold  crow  of  defiance,  he  thought  of  the  jolly  Adam  Wood- 
cock and  his  trusty  gross-hawk  ;  or,  as  they  passed  a  thicket 
where  the  low  trees  and  bushes  were  intermingled  with  tall 
fern,  furze,  and  broom,  so  as  to  form  a  thick  and  intricate 
cover,  his  dreams  were  of  a  roebuck  and  a  brace  of  gaze- 
hounds.  But  frequently  his  mind  returned  to  the  benevolent 
and  kind  mistress  whom  he  had  left  behind  him  offended 
justly,  and  unreconciled  by  any  effort  of  his. 

**  My  step  would  be  lighter,^'  he  thought,  "  and  so  would 
my  heart,  could  I  but  have  returned  to  see  her  for  one  in- 
stant, and  to  say,  '  Lady,  the  orphan  boy  was  wild,  but  not 
ungrateful  I '  *' 

Traveling  in  these  divers  moods,  about  the  hour  of  noon 
they  reached  a  small  straggling  village,  in  which,  as  usual, 
were  seen  one  or  two  of  those  predominating  towers,  or  ;peel- 
houses,  which,  for  reasons  of  defense  elsewhere  detailed. 
Were  at  that  time  to  be  found  in  every  Border  hamlet.  A 
brook  flowed  beside  the  village,  and  watered  the  valley  in 
which  it  stood.  There  was  also  a  mansion  at  the  end  of  the 
village  and  a  little  way  separated  from  it,  much  dilapidated 
and  in  very  bad  order,  but  appearing  to  have  been  the  abode 
of  persons  of  some  consideration.  The  situation  was  agree- 
able, being  an  angle  formed  by  the  stream,  bearing  three  or 
jEour  large  sycamore-trees,  which  were  in  full  leaf,  and  served 


The  ABMOf  88 

to  relieve  the  dark  appearance  of  the  mansion,  which  was 
built  of  a  deep-red  stone.  The  house  itself  was  a  large  one, 
but  was  now  obviously  too  big  for  the  inmates ;  several 
windows  were  built  up,  especially  those  which  opened  from 
the  lower  story  ;  others  were  blockaded  in  a  less  substantial 
manner.  The  court  before  the  door,  which  had  once  been 
defended  with  a  species  of  low  outer  wall,  now  ruinous,  was 
paved,  but  the  stones  were  completely  covered  with  long 
gray  nettles,  thistles,  and  other  weeds,  which,  shooting  up 
betwixt  the  flags,  had  displaced  many  of  them  from  their 
level.  Even  matters  demanding  more  peremptory  attention 
had  been  left  neglected,  in  a  manner  which  argued  sloth  or 
poverty  in  the  extreme.  The  stream,  undermining  a  part 
of  the  bank  near  an  angle  of  the  ruinous  wall,  had  brought 
it  down,  with  a  corner  turret,  the  ruins  of  which  lay  in  the 
bed  of  the  river.  The  current,  interrupted  by  the  ruins 
which  it  had  overthrown,  and  turned  yet  nearer  to  the  site 
of  the  tower,  had  greatly  enlarged  the  breach  it  had  made, 
aud  was  in  the  process  of  undermining  the  ground  on  which 
the  house  itself  stood,  unless  it  were  speedily  protected  by 
sufficient  bulwarks. 

All  this  attracted  Roland  Grasme's  observation,  as  they 
approached  the  dwelling  by  a  winding  path,  which  gave 
them,  at  intervals,  a  view  of  it  from  different  points. 

*'If  we  go  to  yonder  house,''  he  said  to  his  [grand-] 
mother,  *'  I  trust  it  is  but  for  a  short  visit.  It  Iooks  as  if 
two  rainy  days  from  the  northwest  would  send  the  whole 
into  the  brook.'* 

"  You  see  but  with  the  eyes  of  the  body,"  said  the  old 
woman  ;  "  God  will  defend  His  own,  though  it  be  forsaken 
and  despised  of  men.  Better  to  dwell  on  the  sand,  under 
His  law,  than  fly  to  the  rock  of  human  trust." 

As  she  thus  spoke,  they  entered  the  court  before  the  old 
mansion,  and  Roland  could  observe  that  the  front  of  it  had 
formerly  been  considerably  ornamented  with  carved  work, 
in  the  same  dark-colored  freestone  of  which  it  was  built. 
But  all  these  ornaments  had  been  broken  down  and  destroyed, 
and  only  the  shattered  vestiges  of  niches  and  entablatures 
now  strewed  the  place  which  they  had  once  occupied.  The 
larger  entrance  in  front  was  walled  up,  but  a  little  footpath, 
which,  from  its  appearance,  seemed  to  be  rarely  trodden,  led 
to  a  small  wicket,  defended  by  a  door  well  clenched  with 
iron-headed  nails,  at  which  Magdalen  Graeme  knocked  three 
times,  pausing  betwixt  each  knock,  until  she  heard  an  an- 
swering tap  from  within.     At  the  last  knock,  the  wicket  was 


84  WAVJERLEY  NOVELS 

opened  by  a  pale  thin  female,  who  said,  *  Benedicti  gut 
veniunt  in  nomine  Domi?ii.'  They  entered,  and  the  portress 
hastily  shut  behind  them  the  wicket,  and  made  fast  the 
massive  fastenings  by  which  it  was  secured. 

The  female  led  the  way  through  a  narrow  entrance,  into  a 
vestibule  of  some  extent,  paved  with  stone,  and  having 
benches  of  the  same  solid  material  ranged  around.    At  the  up- 

Eer  end  was  an  oriel  window,  but  some  of  the  intervals  formed 
y  the  stone  shafts  and  mullions  were  blocked  up,  so  that 
the  apartment  was  very  gloomy. 

Here  they  stopped,  and  the  mistress  of  the  mansion,  for 
Buch  she  was,  embraced  Magdalen  Graeme,  and  greeting  her 
by  the  title  of  sister,  kissed  her,  with  much  solemnity,  on 
either  side  of  the  face. 

"The  blessing  of  Our  Lady  be  upon  you,  my  sister,"  were 
her  next  words  ;  and  they  left  no  doubt  upon  Eoland's  mind 
respecting  the  religion  of  their  hostess,  even  if  he  could  have 
suspected  his  venerable  and  zealous  guide  of  resting  elsewhere 
than  in  the  habitation  of  an  orthodox  Catholic.  They  spoke 
together  a  few  words  in  private,  during  which  he  had  leisure 
to  remark  more  particularly  the  appearance  of  his  grand- 
mother's friend. 

Her  age  might  be  betwixt  fifty  and  sixty  ;  her  looks  had  a 
mixture  of  melancholy  and  unhappiness  that  bordered  on  dis- 
content, and  obscured  the  remains  of  beauty  which  age  had 
still  left  on  her  features.  Her  dress  was  of  the  plainest  and 
most  ordinary  description,  of  a  dark  color,  and,  like  Mag- 
dalen Graeme's,  something  approaching  to  a  religious  habit. 
Strict  neatness  and  cleanliness  of  person  seemed  to  intimate 
that,  if  poor,  she  was  not  reduced  to  squalid  or  heart-broken 
distress,  and  that  she  was  still  sufficiently  attached  to  life  to  re- 
tain a  taste  for  its  decencies,  if  not  its  elegancies.  Her  manner, 
as  well  as  her  features  and  appearance,  argued  an  original  con- 
dition and  education  far  above  the  meanness  of  her  present  ap- 
pearance. In  short,  the  whole  figure  was  such  as  to  excite  the 
idea,  "  That  female  must  have  had  a  history  worth  knowing." 
While  Roland  Graeme  was  making  this  very  reflection,  the 
whispers  of  the  two  females  ceased,  and  the  mistress  of  the 
mansion,  approaching  him,  looked  on  his  face  and  person 
with  much  attention,  and,  as  it  seemed,  some  interest. 

"This,  then,''  she  said,  addressing  his  relative,  ''is  the 
child  of  thine  unhappy  daughter,  Sister  Magdalen  ;  and  him, 
the  only  shoot  from  your  ancient  tree,  you  are  willing  to 
devote  to  the  good  cause  ?" 

*'  Yee,  by  the  rood,"  answered  Magdalen  Graeme,  in  her 


THE  ABBOT  85 

QBual  tone  of  resolved  determination,  ''  to  the  good  cause  I 
devote  him,  flesh  and  fell,  sinew  and  limb,  body  and  soul  !  * 

*'  Thou  art  a  happy  woman.  Sister  Magdalen,'^  answered 
her  companion,  "  that,  lifted  so  high  above  human  affection 
und  human  feeling,  thou  c^anst  bind  such  a  victim  to  the 
"horns  of  the  altar.  Had  I  been  called  to  make  such  sacrifice 
— to  plunge  a  youth  so  young  and  fair  into  the  plots  and 
bloodthirsty  dealings  of  the  time,  not  the  patriarch  Abraham, 
when  he  led  Isaac  up  the  mountain,  would  have  rendered 
more  melancholy  obedience/^ 

She  then  continued  to  look  at  Eoland  with  a  mournful  as- 
pect of  compassion,  until  the  intentness  of  her  gaze  occa- 
sioned his  color  to  rise,  and  he  was  about  to  move  out  of  its 
influence,  when  he  was  stopped  by  his  grandmother  with  one 
hand,  while  with  the  other  she  divided  the  hair  upon  his  fore- 
head, which  was  now  crimson  with  bashfulness,  while  she  add- 
ed, with  a  mixture  of  proud  affection  and  firm  resolution — 
*'  Ay,  look  at  him  well,  my  sister,  for  on  a  fairer  face  thine  eye 
never  rested.  I  too,  when  first  I  saw  him,  after  along  sepa- 
ration, felt  as  the  worldly  feel,  and  was  half  shaken  in  my 
purpose.  But  no  wind  can  tear  a  leaf  from  the  withered 
tree  which  has  long  been  stripped  of  its  foliage,  and  no  mere 
human  casualty  can  awaken  the  mortal  feelings  which  have 
long  slept  in  the  calm  of  devotion.^^ 

While  the  old  woman  thus  spoke,  her  manner  gave  the  lie 
to  her  assertions,  for  the  tears  rose  to  her  eyes  while  she 
added,  ' '  But  the  fairer  and  the  more  spotless  the  victim,  is 
it  not,  my  sister,  the  more  worthy  of  acceptance?^'  She 
seemed  glad  to  escape  from  the  sensations  which  agitated 
her,  and  instantly  added,  '*  He  will  escape,  my  sister  :  there 
will  be  a  ram  caught  in  the  thicket,  and  the  hand  of 
our  revolted  brethren  shall  not  be  on  the  youthful  Joseph. 
Heaven  can  defend  its  own  rights,  even  by  means  of  babes 
and  sucklings,  of  women  and  beardless  boys.'' 

*'  Heaven  hath  left  us,"  said  the  other  female  :  ''  for  our 
«ins  and  our  father's  the  succors  of  the  blessed  saints  have 
abandoned  this  accursed  land.  We  may  win  the  crown  of 
martyrdom,  but  not  that  of  earthly  triumph.  One,  too,  whose 
prudence  was  at  this  deep  crisis  so  indispensable,  has  been 
called  to  a  better  world.     The  Abbot  Eustatius  is  no  more." 

"  May  his  soul  have  mercy  !  "  said  Magdalen  Graeme, 
*'  and  may  Heaven,  too,  have  mercy  upon  us,  who  linger  be- 
hind in  this  bloody  land  !  His  loss  is  indeed  a  perilous  blow 
to  our  enterprise  ;  for  who  remains  behind  possessing  hia 
far-fetched  experience,  his  self-devoted  zeal,  his   consum* 


^  WA  VERLEY  NO  VEL8 

mate  wisdom,  and  his  undaunted  courage  !  He  hath  fallen 
with  the  church's  standard  in  his  hand,  but  God  will  raise 
up  another  to  lift  the  blessed  banner.  Whom  have  the  chap- 
ter elected  in  his  room  ?  " 

"It  is  rumored  no  one  of  the  few  remaining  brethren 
dare  accept  the  office.  The  heretics  have  sworn  that  they 
will  permit  no  future  election,  and  will  heavily  punish  any 
attempt  to  create  a  new  abbot  of  St.  Mary's.  Conjuraver- 
unt  inter  se  principes,  dicentes,  Projiciamus  laqueos  ejus." 

"  Quousque,  Domine?"  ejaculated  Magdalen.  'This, 
my  sister,  were  indeed  a  perilous  and  fatal  breach  in  our 
band  ;  but  I  am  firm  in  my  belief  that  another  will  arise  in 
the  place  of  him  so  untimely  removed.  Where  is  thy 
daughter  Catherine  ?  " 

"In  the  parlor,"  answered  the  matron,  "but "     She 

looked  at  Koland  Graeme,  and  muttered  something  in  the 
ear  of  her  friend. 

"Fear  it  not,"  answered  Magdalen  Graeme,  "it  is  both 
lawful  and  necessary  ;  fear  nothing  from  him  :  I  would  he 
were  as  well  grounded  in  the  faith  by  which  alone  comes 
safety  as  he  is  free  from  thought,  deed,  or  speech  of  villainy. 
Therein  is  the  heretics'  discipline  to  be  commended,  my  sis- 
ter, that  they  train  up  their  youth  in  strong  morality,  and 
choke  up  every  inlet  to  youthful  folly." 

"  It  is  but  a  cleansing  of  the  outside  of  the  cup,"  answered 
her  friend — "a whitening  of  the  sepulcher  ;  but  he  shall  see 
Catherine,  since  you,  sister,  judge  it  safe  and  meet.  Follow 
us,  youth,"  she  added,  and  led  the  way  from  the  apart- 
ment with  her  friend.  These  were  the  only  words  which  the 
matron  had  addressed  to  Roland  Graeme,  who  obeyed  them  in 
silence.  As  they  paced  through  several  winding  passages  and 
waste  apartments  with  a  very  slow  step,  the  young  page  had 
leisure  to  make  some  reflection  on  his  situation — reflections 
of  a  nature  which  his  ardent  temper  considered  as  specially 
disagreeable.  It  seemed  he  had  now  got  two  mistresses,  or 
tutoresses  instead  of  one,  both  elderly  women,  and  both,  it 
would  seem,  in  league  to  direct  his  motions  according  to  their 
own  pleasure,  and  for  the  accomplishment  of  plans  to  which  he 
was  no  party.  This,  he  thought  was  too  much ;  arguing, 
reasonably  enough,  that  whatever  right  his  grandmother 
and  benefactress  had  to  guide  his  motions,  she  was  neither 
entitled  to  transfer  her  authority  or  to  divide  it  with  another, 
who  seemed  to  assume,  without  ceremony,  the  same  tone  of 
absolute  command  over  him. 

"  But  it  shall  not  long  continue  thus,"  thought  Roland ; 


THE  ABBOT  &t 

"  I  will  not  be  all  my  life  the  slave  of  a  woman's  whistle,  to 
go  when  she  bids,  and  come  when  she  calls.  No,  by  St. 
Andrew  !  the  hand  that  can  hold  the  lance  is  above  the  con- 
trol of  the  distaff.  I  will  leave  them  the  slipped  collar  in  their 
hands  on  the  first  opportunity,  and  let  them  execute  their 
own  devices  by  their  own  proper  force.  It  may  save  them 
both  from  peril,  for  I  guess  what  they  meditate  is  not  likely 
to  prove  either  safe  or  easy  :  the  Earl  of  Murray,  and  his 
heresy  are,  too  well  rooted  to  be  grubbed  up  by  two  old 
women." 

As  he  thus  resolved,  they  entered  a  low  room,  in  which  a 
third  female  was  seated.  This  apartment  was  the  first  he 
had  observed  in  the  mansion  which  was  furnished  with  move- 
able seats,  and  with  a  wooden  table,  over  which  was  laid 
a  piece  of  tapestry.  A  carpet  was  spread  on  the  floor,  there 
was  a  grate  in  the  chimney,  and,  in  brief,  the  apartment  had 
the  air  of  being  habitable  and  inhabited. 

But  Roland's  eyes  found  better  employment  than  to  make 
observations  on  the  accommodations  of  the  chamber ;  for 
this  second  female  inhabitant  of  the  mansion  seemed  some- 
thing very  different  from  anything  he  had  yet  seen  there. 
At  his  first  entry  she  had  greeted  with  a  silent  and  low  ob- 
eisance the  two  aged  matrons,  then  glancing  her  eyes  to- 
wards Roland,  she  adjusted  a  veil  which  hung  back  over  her 
shoulders  so  as  to  bring  it  over  her  face — an  operation  which 
she  performed  with  much  modesty,  but  without  either  af- 
fected haste  or  embarrassed  timidity. 

During  this  maneuver,  Roland  had  time  to  observe  that 
the  face  was  that  of  a  girl  apparently  not  much  past  sixteen, 
and  that  the  eyes  were  at  once  soft  and  brilliant.  To  these 
very  favorable  observations  was  added  the  certainty  that  the 
fair  object  to  whom  they  referred  possessed  an  excellent  shape 
bordering  perhaps  on  emhonpoint,  and  therefore  rather  that 
of  a  Hebe  than  of  a  sylph,  but  beautifully  formed,  and  shown 
to  great  advantage  by  the  close  jacket  and  petticoat  which 
she  wore  after  a  foreign  fashion,  the  last  not  quite  long  enough 
absolutely  to  conceal  a  very  pretty  foot,  which  rested  on  a 
bar  of  the  table  at  which  she  sate  ;  her  round  arms  and  taper 
fingers  very  busily  employed  in  repairing  the  piece  of  tapes- 
try which  was  spread  on  it,  which  exhibited  several  deplor- 
able fissures,  enough  to  demand  the  utmost  skill  of  the  most 
expert  seamstress. 

It  is  to  be  remarked,  that  it  was  by  stolen  glances  that 
Roland  Graeme  contrived  to  ascertain  these  interesting  par^ 
ticulars  ;  and  he  thought  he  could  once  or  twice,  notwitK- 


88  WAVERLET  NOVELS 

standing  the  texture  of  the  veil,  detect  the  damsel  in  the  act 
of  taking  similar  cognizance  of  his  own  person.  The  ma- 
trons in  the  meanwhile  continued  their  separate  conversation, 
eyeing  from  time  to  time  the  young  people,  in  a  manner 
which  left  Roland  in  no  doubt  that  they  were  the  subject  of 
their  conversation.  At  length  he  distinctly  heard  Magdalen 
GraBme  say  these  words — *'  Nay,  my  sister,  we  must  give 
them  opportunity  to  speak  together,  and  to  become  ac- 
quainted ;  they  must  be  personally  known  to  each  other,  or 
now  shall  they  be  able  to  execute  what  they  are  entrusted 
with?'' 

It  seemed  as  if  the  matron,  not  fully  satisfied  with  her 
friend's  reasoning,  continued  to  offer  some  objections ;  but 
they  were  borne  down  by  her  more  dictatorial  friend. 

"  It  must  be  so,"  she  said,  ^'  my  dear  sister  ;  let  us  there- 
fore go  forth  on  the  balcony  to  finish  our  conversation. 
And  do  you,"  she  added,  addressing  Eoland  and  the  girl, 
**  become  acquainted  with  each  other." 

With  this  she  stepped  up  to  the  young  woman,  and  rais- 
ing her  veil,  discovered  features  which,  whatever  might  be 
their  ordinary  complexion,  were  now  covered  with  a  uni- 
versal blush. 

"  Licitum  sit,"  said  Magdalen,  looking  at  the  other 
matron. 

*'  Vix  licitum/'  replied  the  other,  with  reluctant  and 
hesitating  acquiescence  ;  and  again  adjusting  the  veil  of  the 
blushing  girl,  she  dropped  it  so  as  to  shade,  though  not  to 
conceal,  her  countenance,  and  whispered  to  her,  in  a  tone 
loud  enough  for  the  page  to  hear,  **  Remember,  Catherine, 
who  thou  art,  and  for  what  destined." 

The  matron  then  retreated  with  Magdalen  Graeme  through 
one  of  the  casements  of  the  apartment,  that  opened  on  a 
large  broad  balcony,  which,  with  its  ponderous  balustrade, 
had  once  run  along  the  whole  south  front  of  the  building 
which  faced  the  brook,  and  formed  a  pleasant  and  com- 
modious walk  in  the  open  air.  It  was  now  in  some  places 
deprived  of  the  balustrade,  in  others  broken  and  narrowed  ; 
but,  ruinous  as  it  was,  could  still  be  used  as  a  pleasant  prom- 
enade. Here  then  walked  the  two  ancient  dames,  busied 
in  their  private  conversation  ;  yet  not  so  much  so  but  that 
Roland  could  observe  the  matrons,  as  their  thin  forms  dark- 
ened the  casement  in  passing  or  repassing  before  it  dart  a 
glance  into  the  apartment,  to  see  how  matters  were  going 
on  there. 


CHAPTER  XI 

Life  hath  its  May,  and  it  is  mirthful  then : 

The  woods  are  vocal,  and  the  flowers  all  odor  : 

Its  very  blast  has  mirth  in't — and  the  maidens, 

The  while  they  don  their  cloaks  to  skreen  their  kirtles, 

Laugh  at  the  rain  that  wets  them. 

Old  Play. 

Cathekine  was  at  the  happy  age  of  innocence  and  buoy- 
ancy of  spirit  when,  after  the  first  moment  of  embarrassment 
was  over,  a  situation  of  awkwardness  like  that  in  which  she 
was  suddenly  left  to  make  acquaintance  with  a  handsome 
youth,  not  even  known  to  her  by  name,  struck  her,  in  spite 
of  herself,  in  a  ludicrous  point  of  view.  She  bent  her  beau- 
tiful eyes  upon  the  work  with  which  she  was  busied,  and 
with  infinite  gravity  sate  out  the  two  first  turns  of  the  ma- 
trons upon  the  balcony ;  but  then  glancing  her  deep  blue 
eyes  a  little  towards  Roland,  and  observing  the  embar- 
rassment under  which  he  labored,  now  shifting  on  his 
chair,  and  now  dangling  his  cap,  the  whole  man  evincing 
that  he  was  perfectly  at  a  loss  how  to  open  the  conversation, 
she  could  keep  her  composure  no  longer,  but,  after  a  vain 
struggle,  broke  out  into  a  sincere,  though  a  very  involun- 
tary, fit  of  laughing,  so  richly  accompanied  by  the  laughter 
of  her  merry  eyes,  which  actually  glanced  through  the  tears 
which  the  effort  filled  them  with,  and  by  the  waving  of  her 
rich  tresses,  that  the  goddess  of  smiles  herself  never  looked 
more  lovely  than  Catherine  at  that  moment.  A  court  page 
would  not  have  left  her  long  alone  in  her  mirth  ;  but  Roland 
was  country-bred,  and,  besides,  having  some  jealousy,  as 
well  as  bashfulness,  he  took  it  into  his  head  that  he  was 
himself  the  object  of  her  inextinguishable  laughter.  His 
endeavors  to  sympathize  with  Catherine,  therefore,  could 
carry  him  no  farther  than  a  forced  giggle,  which  had  more 
of  displeasure  than  of  mirth  in  it,  and  which  so  much  en- 
hanced that  of  the  girl  that  it  seemed  to  render  it  impossible 
for  her  ever  to  bring  her  laughter  to  an  end,  with  whatever 
anxious  pains  she  labored  to  do  so.  For  every  one  has  felt 
that  when  a  paroxysm  of  laughter  has  seized  him,  at  a  mis* 


90  WA  VEBLET  NO  VEL8 

becoming  time  and  place,  the  efforts  which  he  makes  to  sup- 
press it,  nay,  the  very  sense  of  the  impropriety  of  giving 
way  to  it,  tend  only  to  augment  and  prolong  the  irresistible 
impulse. 

It  was  undoubtedly  lucky  for  Catherine,  as  well  as  for 
Koland,  that  the  latter  did  not  share  in  the  excessive  mirth 
of  the  former.  For  seated  as  she  was,  with  her  back  to  the 
casement,  Catherine  could  easily  escape  the  observation  of 
the  two  matrons  during  the  course  of  their  promenade  ; 
whereas  Graeme  was  so  placed,  with  his  side  to  the  window, 
that  his  mirth,  had  he  shared  that  of  his  companion,  would 
have  been  instantly  visible,  and  could  not  have  failed  to 
give  offense  to  the  personages  in  question.  He  sate,  how- 
ever, with  some  impatience,  until  Catherine  had  exhausted 
either  her  power  or  her  desire  of  laughing,  and  was  return- 
ing with  good  grace  to  the  exercise  of  her  needle,  and  then 
he  observed  with  some  dryness,  that  '*  There  seemed  no  great 
occasion  to  recommend  to  them  to  improve  their  acquaint- 
ance, as  it  seemed  that  they  were  already  tolerably  familiar. '' 

Catherine  had  an  extreme  desire  to  set  off  upon  a  fresh 
score,  but  she  repressed  it  strongly,  and  fixing  her  eyes  on 
her  work,  replied  by  asking  his  pardon,  and  promising  to 
avoid  future  offense. 

Roland  had  sense  enough  to  feel  that  an  air  of  offended 
dignity  was  very  much  misplaced,  and  that  it  was  with  a 
very  different  bearing  he  ought  to  meet  the  deep  blue  eyes 
which  had  borne  such  a  hearty  burden  in  the  laughing  scene. 
He  tried,  therefore,  to  extricate  himself  as  well  as  he  could 
from  his  blunder,  by  assuming  a  tone  of  corresponding 
gaiety,  and  requesting  to  know  of  the  nymph,  *'  How  it  was, 
her  pleasure  that  they  should  proceed  in  improving  the  ac- 
quaintance which  had  commenced  so  merrily.^' 

"  That,''  she  said,  ''  you  must  yourself  discover  ;  perhaps  I 
have  gone  a  step  too  far  in  opening  our  interview/* 

*'  Suppose,^'  said  Roland  Graeme,  '^  we  should  begin  as  in  a 
tale-book,  by  asking  each  other's  names  and  histories." 

*'It  is  right  well  imagined,"  said  Catherine,  ''and  shows 
an  argute  judgment.  Do  you  begin,  and  I  will  listen,  and  only 
put  in  a  question  or  two  at  the  dark  parts  of  the  story. 
Come,  unfold  theu  your  name  and  history,  my  new  acquain- 
tance." 

**  I  am  called  Roland  Graeme,  and  that  tall  old  woman  ii 
my  grandmother." 

"  And  your  tutoress  ?    Good.     Who  are  your  parents  ?  " 

"  They  are  both  dead,"  replied  Roland. 


THE  ABBOT  01 

''  Ay,  bnt  who  were  they  ?  You  had  parents,  I  pre- 
sume P' 

*'I  suppose  so/'  said  Roland,  **butl  have  never  been 
able  to  learn  much  of  their  history.  My  father  was  a  Scot- 
tish knight,  who  died  gallantly  in  his  stirrups  ;  my  mother 
was  a  Graeme  of  Heathergill  in  the  Debateable  Land  ;  most 
of  her  family  were  killed  when  the  Debateable  country  was 
burned  by  the  Lord  Maxwell  and  Herries  of  Oaerlave- 
rock/'  ^ 

''  Is  it  long  ago  ?  '*  said  the  damsel. 

"  Before  I  was  born,"  answered  the  page. 

''  That  must  be  a  great  while  since,*^  said  she,  shaking  her 
head  gravely  ;  ''  look  you,  I  cannot  weep  for  them." 

*^  It  needs  not,"  said  the  youth,  ''  they  fell  with  honor." 

**  So  much  for  your  lineage,  fair  sir,"  replied  his  compan- 
ion, '*  of  whom  I  like  the  living  specimen  (a  glance  at  the 
casement)  far  less  than  those  that  are  dead.  Your  much 
honored  grandmother  looks  as  if  she  could  make  one  weep 
in  sad  earnest.  And  now,  fair  sir,  for  your  own  person  ;  if 
you  tell  not  the  tale  faster,  it  will  be  cut  short  in  the  mid- 
dle :  Mother  Bridget  pauses  longer  and  longer  every  time 
she  passes  the  window,  and  with  her  there  is  as  little  mirth 
as  in  the  grave  of  your  ancestors." 

"  My  tale  is  soon  told.  I  was  introduced  into  the  Castle 
of  Avenel  to  be  page  to  the  lady  of  the  mansion." 

"  She  is  a  strict  Huguenot,  is  she  not  ?  "  said  the  maiden. 

"  As  strict  as  Calvin  himself.  But  my  grandmother  can 
play  the  Puritan  when  it  suits  her  purpose,  and  she  had 
some  plan  of  her  own  for  quartering  me  in  the  castle  ;  it 
would  have  failed,  however,  after  we  had  remained  several 
weeks  at  the  hamlet,  but  for  an  unexpected  master  of  cere- 
monies  " 

''  And  who  was  that  ?"  said  the  girl. 

"A  large  black  dog,  Wolf  by  name,  who  brought  me  into 
the  castle  one  day  in  his  mouth  like  a  hurt  wild  duck,  and 
presented  me  to  the  lady." 

"  A  most  respectable  introduction,  truly,"  said  Catherine^ 
*'  and  what  might  you  learn  at  this  same  castle  ?  I  love 
dearly  to  know  what  my  acquaintances  can  do  at  need." 

"  To  fly  a  hawk,  halloo  to  a  hound,  back  a  horse,  and 
wield  lance,  bow,  and  brand." 

'*  And  to  boast  of  all  this  when  you  have  learned  it,"  said 
Catherine,  '^  which,  in  France  at  least,  is  the  surest  accom- 
plishment of  a  page.  But  proceed,  fair  sir  ;  how  came  your 
Huguenot  lord  and  your  no  less  Huguenot  lady  to  receiY« 


OS  ^TAVERLEY  NOVELS 

and  keep  in  the  family  so  perilous  a  person  as  a  Catholio 
page?'' 

*^  Because  they  knew  not  that  part  of  my  history,  which 
from  infancy  I  had  been  taught  to  keep  secret ;  and  because 
my  grand-dame's  former  zealous  attendance  on  their  heretic 
chaplain  had  laid  all  this  suspicion  to  sleep,  most  fair  Cali- 
polls,"  said  the  page,  and  in  so  saying  he  edged  his  chair 
towards  the  seat  of  the  fair  querist. 

"  Nay,  but  keep  your  distance,  most  gallant  sir,''  answered 
the  blue-eyed  maiden,  "  for,  unless  I  greatly  mistake,  these 
reverend  ladies  will  soon  interrupt  our  amicable  conference 
if  the  acquaintance  they  recommend  shall  seem  to  proceed 
beyond  a  certain  point ;  so,  fair  sir,  be  pleased  to  abide  by 
your  station,  and  reply  to  my  questions.  By  what  achieve- 
ments did  you  prove  the  qualities  of  a  page,  which  you  had 
thus  happily  acquired  ?  " 

Roland,  who  began  to  enter  into  the  tone  and  spirit  of  the 
damsel's  conversation,  replied  to  her  with  becoming  spirit. 

^'In  no  feat,  fair  gentlewoman,  was  I  found  inexpert,' 
wherein  there  was  mischief  implied.  I  shot  swans,  hunted 
cats,  frightened  serving- women,  chased  the  deer,  and  robbed 
the  orchard.  I  say  nothing  of  tormenting  the  chaplain  in 
various  ways,  for  that  was  my  duty  as  a  good  Catholic." 

^*Now,  as  I  am  a  gentlewoman,"  said  Catherine,  ^'  I  think 
these  heretics  have  done  Catholic  penance  in  entertaining  so 
all-accomplished  a  serving-man!  And  what,  fair  sir, 
might  have  been  the  unhappy  event  which  deprived  them  of 
an  inmate  altogether  so  estimable  ?  " 

"  Truly,  fair  gentlewoman,"  answered  the  youth,  ''your 
real  proverb  says  that  the  longest  lane  will  have  a  turning, 
and  mine  was  more — it  was,  in  fine,  a  turning  off." 

"Good  I"  said  the  merry  young  maiden,  "it  is  an  apt 
play  on  the  word.  And  what  occasion  was  taken  for  so  im- 
portant a  catastrophe  ?  Nay,  start  not  for  my  learning,  I 
do  know  the  schools — in  plain  phrase,  why  were  you  sent 
from  service  ?  " 

The  page  shrugged  his  shoulders  while  he  replied,  "  A 
short  tale  is  soon  told,  and  a  short  horse  soon  curried.  I 
made  the  falconer's  boy  taste  of  my  switch  ;  the  falconer 
threatened  to  make  me  brook  his  cudgel.  He  is  a  kindly 
clown  as  well  as  a  stout,  and  I  would  rather  have  been  cud- 
gelled by  him  than  any  man  in  Christendom  to  choose  ;  but 
I  knew  not  his  qualities  at  that  time,  so  I  threatened  to' 
make  him  brook  the  stab,  and  my  lady  made  me  brook  the 
*  Begone^;  so  adieu  to  the  page's  office  and  the  fair  Castle 


THE  ABBOT  93 

of  Avenel.  I  had  not  traveled  far  before  I  met  my  venera- 
ble parent.  And  so  tell  your  tale,  fair  gentlewoman,  for 
mine  is  done." 

"A  happy  grandmother,"  said  the  maiden,  "  who  had  the 
luck  to  find  the  stray  page  just  when  his  mistress  had  slipped 
his  leash,  and  a  most  lucky  page  that  has  jumped  at  once 
from  a  page  to  an  old  lady^s  gentleman-usher  ! " 

"All  this  is  nothing  of  your  history,"  answered  Eoland 
Graeme,  who  began  to  be  much  interested  in  the  congenial 
vivacity  of  this  facetious  young  gentlewoman — "  tale  for  tale 
is  fellow- travelers'  justice." 

'*  Wait  till  we  are  fellow- travelers,  then,"  replied  Cath- 
erine. 

''Nay,  you  escape  me  not  so,"  said  the  page;  ''if  you 
deal  not  justly  by  me,  I  will  call  out  to  Dame  Bridget,  or 
whatever  your  dame  be  called,  and  proclaim  you  for  a 
cheat." 

"  You  shall  not  need,"  answered  the  maiden.  "  My  his- 
tory is  the  counterpart  of  your  own  ;  the  same  words  might 
almost  serve,  change  but  dress  and  name.  I  am  called  Cath- 
erine Seyton,  and  I  also  am  an  orphan. '^ 

"  Have  your  parents  been  long  dead  ?" 

"That  is  the  only  question,"  said  she,  throwing  down  her 
fine  eyes  with  a  sudden  expression  of  sorrow — "that  is  the 
only  question  I  cannot  laugh  at." 

'  'And  Dame  Bridget  is  your  grandmother  ?  " 

The  sudden  cloud' passed  away  like  that  which  crosses  foi 
an  instant  the  summer  sun,  and  she  answered,  with  her  usual 
lively  expression,  '^  Worse  by  twenty  degrees — Dame  Bridget 
is  my  maiden  aunt." 

"  Over  God's  forbode  ! "  said  Eoland.  "Alas  !  that  you 
have  such  a  tale  to  tell !     And  what  horror  comes  next  ?  " 

"  Your  own  history,  exactly.  I  was  taken  upon  trial  for 
service " 

"And  turned  off  for  pinching  the  duenna,  or  affronting  my 
lady's  waiting-woman  ?  " 

"  Nay,  our  history  varies  there,"  said  the  damsel.  "  Our 
mistress  broke  up  house,  or  had  her  house  broke  up,  which 
is  the  same  thing,  and  I  am  a  free  woman  of  the  forest." 

"And  I  am  as  glad  of  it  as  if  any  one  had  lined  my  doub- 
let with  cloth  of  gold,"  said  the  youth. 

"  I  thank  you  for  your  mirth,"  said  she,  "  but  the  matter 
is  not  likely  to  concern  you." 

"Nay,  but  go  on,"  said  the  page,  "for  you  will  be  pres- 
ently interrupted  ;  the  two  good  dames  have  been  soaring 


M  WAVERLET  NOVELS 

yonder  on  the  balcony,  like  two  old  hooded  crows,  and  their 
croak  grows  hoarser  as  night  comes  on ;  they  will  wing  to 
roost  presently.  This  mistress  of  yours,  fair  gentlewoman, 
who  was  she,  in  God's  name  ?'* 

*'  0,  she  has  a  fair  name  in  the  world,"  replied  Catherine 
Seyton.  ''Few  ladies  kept  a  fairer  house,  or  held  more 
gentlewomen  in  her  household  ;  my  aunt  Bridget  was  one  of 
her  housekeepers.  We  never  saw  our  mistress's  blessed  face, 
to  be  sure,  but  we  heard  enough  of  her ;  were  up  early 
and  down  late,  and  were  kept  to  long  prayers  and  light 
food." 

"  Out  upon  the  penurious  old  beldam  ! "  said  the  page. 

"  For  Heaven's  sake,  blaspheme  not ! "  said  the  girl,  with 
an  expression  of  fear.  *'  God  pardon  us  both  !  I  mean  no 
harm.  I  speak  of  our  blessed  St.  Catherine  of  Sienna ! — 
may  God  forgive  me  that  I  spoke  so  lightly,  and  made  you 
do  a  great  sin  and  a  great  blasphemy !  This  was  her 
nunnery,  in  which  there  were  twelve  nuns  and  an  abbess.  My 
aunt  was  the  abbess,  till  the  heretics  turned  all  adrift." 

"And  where  are  your  companions  ?"  asked  the  youth. 

"  With  the  last  year's  snow,"  answered  the  maiden — *'  east, 
north,  south,  and  west :  some  to  France,  some  to  Flanders, 
some,  I  fear,  into  the  world  and  its  pleasures.  We  have 
got  permission  to  remain,  or  rather  our  remaining  has  been 
connived  at,  for  my  aunt  has  great  relations  among  the 
Kerrs,  and  they  have  threatened  a  death-feud  if  any  one 
touches  us  ;  and  bow  and  spear  are  the  best  warrants  in  these 
times." 

**  Nay,  then,  you  sit  under  a  sure  shadow,"  said  the  youth  ; 
"  and  I  suppose  you  wept  yourself  blind  when  St.  Catherine 
broke  up  housekeeping  before  you  had  taken  arles  in  her 
service  ?  " 

"  Hush  !  for  Heaven's  sake,"  said  the  damsel,  crossing  her- 
self, ''  no  more  of  that  !  But  I  have  not  quite  cried  my  eyes 
out,"  said  she,  turning  them  upon  him,  and  instantly  again 
bending  them  upon  her  work.  It  was  one  of  those  glancea 
which  would  require  the  threefold  plate  of  brass  around  the 
heart,  more  than  it  is  needed  by  the  mariners  of  whom  Horace 
recommends  it.  Our  youthful  page  had  no  defense  whatever 
to  offer. 

''  What  say  you,  Catherine,"  he  said,  "  if  we  two,  thus 
strangely  turned  out  of  service  at  the  same  time,  shouM  give 
our  two  most  venerable  duennas  the  torch  to  hold,  whi.Ie  we 
walk  a  merry  measure  with  each  other  over  the  floor  of  ibis 
weary  world?'* 


THE  ABBOT  96 

**A  goodly  proposal,  truly,"  said  Catherine,  ''and  worthy 
the  madcap  brain  of  a  discarded  page!  And  what  shifts 
does  your  worship  propose  we  should  live  by  ?— -by  singing 
ballads,  cutting  purses,  or  swaggering  on  the  highway  ?  for 
there,  I  think,  you  will  find  your  most  productive  ex- 
chequer/' 

*' Choose,  you  proud  peat!''  said  the  page,  drawing  off 
in  huge  disdain  at  the  calm  and  unembarrassed  ridicule  with 
which  his  wild  proposal  was  received.  And  as  he  spoke  the 
words,  the  casement  was  again  darkened  by  the  forms  of  the 
matrons  ;  it  opened,  and  admitted  Magdalen  Graeme  and  the 
mother  abbess,  so  we  must  now  style  her,  into  the  apartment 


CHAPTER  XII 

Nay,  hear  me,  brother ;  I  am  elder,  wiser, 
And  holier  than  thou.    And  age,  and  wisdom, 
And  holiness,  have  peremptory  claims, 
And  will  be  listen'd  to. 

Old  Play, 

When  the  matrons  re-entered,  and  put  an  end  to  the  con- 
versation which  we  have  detailed  in  the  last  chapter.  Dame 
Magdalen  Graeme  thus  addressed  her  grandson  and  his  pretty 
companion  :  '^Have  you  spoke  together,  my  children.  Have 
you  become  known  to  each  other  as  fellow-travelers  on  the 
same  dark  and  dubious  road,  whom  chance  hath  brought  to- 
gether, and  who  study  to  learn  the  tempers  and  dispositions 
of  those  by  whom  their  perils  are  to  be  shared  ?  " 

It  was  seldom  the  light-hearted  Catherine  could  suppress 
a  jest,  so  that  she  often  spoke  when  she  would  have  acted 
more  wisely  in  holding  her  peace. 

*'  Your  grandson  admires  the  journey  which  you  propose 
so  very  greatly  that  he  was  even  now  preparing  for  setting 
out  upon  it  instantly. '' 

"  This  is  to  be  too  forward,  Roland,"  said  the  dame,  ad- 
dressing him,  *'  as  yesterday  you  were  over  slack ;  the  just 
mean  lies  in  obedience,  which  both  waits  for  the  signal  to 
start  and  obeys  it  when  given.  But  once  again,  my  children, 
have  you  so  perused  each  other's  countenances  that,  when 
you  meet,  in  whatever  disguise  the  times  may  impose  upon 
you,  you  may  recognize  each  in  the  other  the  secret  agent  of 
the  mighty  work  in  which  you  are  to  be  leagued  ?  Look  at 
each  other,  know  each  line  and  lineament  of  each  other's 
countenance.  Learn  to  distinguish  by  the  step,  by  the  sound 
of  the  voice,  by  the  motion  of  the  hand,  by  the  glance  of  the 
eye,  the  partner  whom  Heaven  hath  sent  to  aid  in  working 
its  will.  Wilt  thou  know  that  maiden,  whensoever  or  where- 
soever you  shall  again  meet  her,  my  Roland  Graeme  ? '' 

As  readily  as  truly  did  Roland  answer  in  the  affirmative. 

*' And  thou,  my  daughter,  wilt  thou  again  remember  the 
features  of  this  youth  ? '' 

"  Truly,  mother,"  replied  Catherine  Seyton,  ''  I  have  not 
Been  so  many  men  of  late  that  I  should  immediately  forget 

9d 


THE  ABBOT  07 

your  grandson,  though  I  mark  not  much  about  him  that  is 
deserving  of  special  remembrance/' 

**  Join  hands,  then,  my  children,,"  said  Magdalen  Graeme  ; 
but,  in  saying  so,  was  interrupted  by  her  companion,  whose 
conventual  prejudices  had  been  gradually  giving  her  more 
and  more  uneasiness,  and  who  could  remain  acquiescent  no 
longer. 

"  Nay,  my  good  sister,  you  forget, '^  said  she  to  Magdalen, 
*^  Catherine  is  the  betrothed  bride  of  Heaven  ;  these  intima- 
cies cannot  be." 

"  It  is  in  the  cause  of  Heaven  that  I  command  them  to 
embrace,"  said  Magdalen,  with  the  full  force  of  her  power- 
ful voice  ;  *'  the  end,  sister,  sanctifies  the  means  we  must 
use." 

*'  They  call  me  lady  abbess,  or  mother  at  the  least,  who 
address  me,"  said  Dame  Bridget,  drawing  herself  up,  as  if 
offended  at  her  friend's  authoritative  manner  ;  "  the  Lady 
of  Heathergill  forgets  that  she  speaks  to  the  abbess  of  St. 
Catherine." 

"  When  I  was  what  you  call  me,"  Stiid  Magdalen,  '*you 
indeed  were  the  abbess  of  St.  Catherine  ;  but  both  names 
are  now  gone,  with  all  the  rank  that  the  world  and  that  the 
church  gave  to  them  ;  and  we  are  now,  to  the  eye  of  human 
judgment,  two  poor,  despised,  oppressed  women,  dragging 
our  dishonored  old  age  to  a  humble  grave.  But  what  are 
we  in  the  eye  of  Heaven  ?  Ministers,  sent  forth  to  work 
His  will,  in  whose  weakness  the  strength  of  the  church  shall 
be  manifested,  before  whom  shall  be  humbled  the  wisdom 
of  Murray  and  the  dark  strength  of  Morton.  And  to  such 
wouldst  thou  apply  the  narrow  rules  of  thy  cloistered  seclu- 
sion ?  or  hast  thou  forgotten  the  order  which  I  showed  thee 
from  thy  superior,  subjecting  thee  to  me  in  these  matters  ?" 

"  On  thy  head,  then,  be  the  scandal  and  the  sin,"  said  the 
abbess,  sullenly. 

*'  On  mine  be  they  both,"  said  Magdalen.  "  I  say,  em- 
brace each  other,  my  children." 

But  Catherine,  aware,  perhaps,  how  the  dispute  was  likely 
to  terminate,  had  escaped  from  the  apartment,  and  so  dis- 
appointed the  grandson  at  least  as  much  as  the  old  matron. 

''  She  is  gone,"  said  the  abbess,  '*  to  provide  some  little 
refreshment.  But  it  will  have  little  savor  to  those  who 
dwell  in  the  world  ;  for  I,  at  least,  cannot  dispense  with  the 
rules  to  which  I  am  vowed,  because  it  is  the  will  of  wicked 
men  to  break  down  the  sanctuary  in  which  they  wont  to  be 
observed." 


98  WA  VERLEY  NOVEL S 

''  It  is  well,  my  sister,"  replied  Magdalen,  **  to  pay  each 
even  the  smallest  tithes  of  mint  and  cummin  which  the 
church  demands,  and  I  blame  not  thy  scrupulous  observance 
of  the  rules  of  thine  order.  But  they  were  established  by 
the  church,  and  for  the  church's  benefit ;  and  reason  it  is 
that  they  should  give  way  when  the  salvation  of  the  church 
herself  is  at  stake/' 

The  abbess  made  no  reply. 

One  more  acquainted  with  human  nature  than  the  inex- 
perienced page  might  have  found  amusement  in  comparing 
the  different  kinds  of  fanaticism  which  these  two  females 
exhibited.  The  abbess,  timid,  narrow-minded,  and  discon- 
tended,  clung  to  ancient  usages  and  pretensions  which  were 
ended  by  the  Reformation,  and  was  in  adversity,  as  she  had 
been  in  prosperity,  scrupulous,  weak-spirited,  and  bigoted  ; 
while  the  fiery  and  more  lofty  spirit  of  her  companion  sug- 
gested a  wider  field  of  effort,  and  would  not  be  limited  by 
ordinary  rules  in  the  extraordinary  schemes  which  were  sug- 
gested by  her  bold  and  irregular  imagination.  But  Roland 
Graeme,  instead  of  tracing  these  peculiarities  of  character  in 
the  two  old  dames,  only  waited  with  great  anxiety  for  the 
return  of  Catherine,  expecting  probably  that  the  proposal  of 
the  fraternal  embrace  would  be  renewed,  as  his  grandmothei 
seemed  disposed  to  carry  matters  with  a  high  hand. 

His  expectations,  or  hopes,  if  we  may  call  them  so,  were, 
however,  disappointed  ;  for,  when  Catherine  re-entered  on 
the  summons  of  the  abbess,  and  placed  on  the  table  an 
earthen  pitcher  of  water,  and  four  wooden  platters,  with 
cups  of  the  same  materials,  the  Dame  of  Heathergill,  satis- 
fied with  the  arbitrary  mode  in  which  she  had  borne  down 
the  opposition  of  the  abbess,  pursued  her  victory  no  farther 
— a  moderation  for  which  her  grandson,  in  his  heart,  returned 
her  but  slender  thanks. 

In  the  mean  while,  Catherine  continued  to  place  upon  the 
table  the  slender  preparations  for  the  meal  of  a  recluse,  which 
consisted  almost  entirely  of  colewort,  boiled,  and  served  up 
in  a  wooden  platter,  having  no  better  seasoning  than  a  little 
salt,  and  no  better  accompaniment  than  some  coarse  barley- 
bread  in  very  moderate  quantity.  The  water-pitcher  al- 
ready mentioned  furnished  the  only  beverage.  After  a  Latin 
grace,  delivered  by  the  abbess,  the  guests  sat  down  to  their 
spare  entertainment.  The  simplicity  of  the  fare  appeared 
to  produce  no  distaste  in  the  females,  who  ate  of  it  moder- 
ately, but  with  the  usual  appearance  of  appetite.  But  Roland 
Graeme  had  been  used  to  better  cheer.     Sir  Halbert  Glendin- 


THE  ABBOT  99 

mng,  who  affected  even  an  unusual  degree  of  nobleness  in 
his  housekeeping,  maintained  it  in  a  style  of  genial  hospi- 
tality which  rivaled  that  of  the  northern  barons  of  England. 
He  might  think,  perhaps,  that  by  doing  so  he  acted  yet  more 
completely  the  part  for  which  he  was  born — that  of  a  great 
baron  and  a  leader.  Two  bullocks  and  six  sheep  weekly 
were  the  allowance  when  the  baron  was  at  home,  and  the 
number  was  not  greatly  diminished  during  his  absence.  A 
boll  of  malt  was  weekly  brewed  into  ale,  which  was  used  by 
the  household  at  discretion.  Bread  was  baked  in  proportion 
for  the  consumption  of  his  domestics  and  retainers  ;  and  in 
this  scene  of  plenty  had  Roland  Graeme  now  lived  for  several 
years.  It  formed  a  bad  introduction  to  lukewarm  greens 
and  spring  water ;  and  probably  his  countenance  indicated 
some  sense  of  the  difference,  for  the  abbess  observed,  ^'  It 
would  seem,  my  son,  that  the  tables  of  the  heretic  baron, 
whom  you  have  so  long  followed,  are  more  daintily  furnished 
than  those  of  the  suffering  daughters  of  the  church  ;  and 
yet,  not  upon  the  most  solemn  nights  of  festival,  when  the 
nuns  were  permitted  to  eat  their  portion  at  mine  own  table, 
did  I  consider  the  cates  which  were  then  served  up  as  half 
so  delicious  as  these  vegetables  and  this  water,  on  which  I 
prefer  to  feed,  rather  than  do  aught  which  may  derogate 
from  the  strictness  of  my  vow.  It  shall  never  be  said  that 
the  mistress  of  this  house  made  it  a  house  of  feasting  when 
days  of  darkness  and  of  affliction  were  hanging  over  the  Holy 
Church,  of  which  I  am  an  unworthy  member.^* 

''Well  hast  thou  said,  my  sister,'^  replied  Magdalen 
Graeme  ;  "  but  now  it  is  not  only  time  to  suffer  in  the  good 
cause,  but  to  act  in  it.  And  since  our  pilgrim's  meal  is 
finished,  let  us  go  apart  to  prepare  for  our  journey  of  to- 
morrow, and  to  advise  on  the  manner  in  which  these  children 
shall  be  employed,  and  what  measures  we  can  adopt  to  supply 
their  thoughtlessness  and  lack  of  discretion.^' 

Notwithstanding  his  indifferent  cheer,  the  heart  of  Roland 
Graeme  bounded  high  at  this  proposal,  which  he  doubted  not 
would  lead  to  another  tete-d-tete  betwixt  him  and  the  pretty 
novice.  But  he  was  mistaken.  Catherine,  it  would  seem, 
had  no  mind  so  far  to  indulge  him  ;  for,  moved  either  by 
delicacy  or  caprice,  or  some  of  those  indescribable  shades  be- 
twixt the  one  or  the  other  with  which  women  love  to  tease, 
and  at  the  same  time  to  captivate,  the  ruder  sex,  she  re- 
minded the  abbess  that  it  was  necessary  she  should  retire  for 
an  hour  before  vespers  ;  and,  receiving  the  ready  and  ap- 
proving nod  of  her  superior,  she  arose  to  withdraw.     But, 


100  WAVXRLST  N0VSL8 

before  leaving  the  apartment,  she  made  obeisance  to  th« 
matrons,  bending  herself  till  her  hands  touched  her  knees, 
and  then  made  a  lesser  reverence  to  Eoland,  which  consisted 
in  a  slight  bend  of  the  body  and  gentle  depression  of  the 
head.  This  she  performed  very  demurely  ;  but  the  party  on 
whom  the  salutation  was  conferred  thought  he  could  discern 
in  her  manner  an  arch  and  mischievous  exultation  over  his 
secret  disappointment.  "  The  devil  take  the  saucy  girl,^^  he 
thought  in  his  heart,  though  the  presence  of  the  abbess  should 
have  repressed  all  such  profane  imaginations,  *'  she  is  as  hard- 
hearted as  the  laughing  hyaena  that  the  story-books  tell  of  ; 
she  has  a  mind  that  I  shall  not  forget  her  this  night  at  least/' 

The  matrons  now  retired  also,  giving  the  page  to  under- 
stand that  he  was  on  no  account  to  stir  from  the  convent,  or 
to  show  himself  at  the  windows,  the  abbess  assigning  as  a 
reason  the  readiness  with  which  the  rude  heretics  caught  at 
every  occasion  of  scandalizing  the  religious  orders. 

'*  This  is  worse  than  the  rigor  of  Mr.  Henry  Warden  him- 
self,'' said  the  page,  when  he  was  left  alone;  "for,  to  do 
him  justice,  however  strict  in  requiring  the  most  rigid  at- 
tention during  the  time  of  his  homilies,  he  left  us  to  the 
freedom  of  our  own  wills  afterwards  ;  ay,  and  would  take  a 
share  in  our  pastimes,  too,  if  he  thought  them  entirely  inno- 
cent. But  these  old  women  are  utterly  wrapt  up  in  gloom, 
mystery,  and  self-denial.  Well,  then,  if  I  must  neither  stij 
out  of  the  gate  nor  look  out  at  window,  I  will  at  least  se6 
what  the  inside  of  the  house  contains  that  may  help  to  pass 
away  one's  time  ;  peradventure  I  may  light  on  that  blue- 
eyed  laugher  in  some  corner  or  other." 

Going,  therefore,  out  of  the  chamber  by  the  entrance  op- 
posite to  that  through  which  the  two  matrons  had  departed 
(for  it  may  be  readily  supposed  that  he  had  no  desire  to  in- 
trude on  their  privacy),  he  wandered  from  one  chamber  ta 
another,  through  the  deserted  edifice,  seeking  with  boyish 
eagerness  some  source  of  interest  or  amusement.  Here  he 
passed  through  a  long  gallery,  opening  on  either  hand  into 
the  little  cells  of  the  nuns,  all  deserted,  and  deprived  of  the 
few  trifling  articles  of  furniture  which  the  rules  of  the  order 
admitted. 

''  The  birds  are  flown,"  thought  the  page  ;  *'but  whether 
they  will  find  themselves  worse  off  in  the  open  air  than  in 
these  damp  narrow  cages,  I  leave  my  lady  abbess  and  my 
venerable  relative  to  settle  betwixt  them.  I  think  the  wild 
voung  lark  whom  they  have  lefr  behind  them  would  like 
best  to  sing  under  God's  free  eky.** 


THE  ABBOT  .  101 

A  winding  stair,  strait  and  narrow,  as  if  to  remind  the 
nuns  of  their  duties  of  fast  and  maceration,  led  down  to  a 
lower  suite  of  apartments,  which  occupied  the  ground  story 
of  the  house.  These  rooms  were  even  more  ruinous  than 
those  which  he  had  left  ;  for,  having  encountered  the  first 
fury  of  the  assailants  by  whom  the  nunnery  had  been 
wasted,  the  windows  had  been  dashed  in,  the  doors  broken 
down,  and  even  the  partitions  betwixt  the  apartments  in 
some  places  destroyed.  As  he  thus  stalked  from  desolation 
to  desolation,  and  began  to  think  of  returning  from  so  unin- 
teresting a  research  to  the  chamber  which  he  had  left,  he 
was  surprised  to  hear  the  low  of  a  cow  very  close  to  him. 
The  sound  was  so  unexpected  at  the  time  and  place  that 
Eoland  Graeme  started  as  if  it  had  been  the  voice  of  a  lion, 
and  laid  his  hand  on  his  dagger,  while  at  the  same  moment 
the  light  and  lovely  form  of  Catherine  Seyton  presented  itself 
at  the  door  of  the  apartment  from  which  the  sound  had  issued. 

*'  Good  even  to  you,  valiant  champion  !  ^'  said  she  ;  '*  since 
the  days  of  Guy  of  Warwick,  never  was  one  more  worthy  to 
encounter  a  dun  cow.'' 

*^  Gow  !  '*  said  Roland  Graeme,  "  by  my  faith,  I  thought  it 
had  been  the  devil  that  roared  so  near  me.  Who  ever  heard 
of  a  convent  containing  a  cow-house  ?  " 

'^  Cow  and  calf  may  come  hither  now,"  answered  Cather- 
ine, "for  we  have  no  means  to  keep  out  either.  But  I 
advise  you,  kind  sir,  to  return  to  the  place  from  whence  you 
came.'* 

"  Not  till  I  see  your  charge,  fair  sister,''  answered  Ronald, 
and  made  his  way  into  the  apartment,  in  spite  of  the  half- 
serious,  half-laughing  remonstrances  of  the  girl. 

The  poor  solitary  cow,  now  the  only  severe  recluse  within 
the  nunnery,  was  quartered  in  a  spacious  chamber,  which 
had  once  been  the  refectory  of  the  convent.  The  roof  was 
graced  with  groined  arches,  and  the  wall  with  niches,  from 
which  the  images  had  been  pulled  down.  These  remnants 
of  architectural  ornaments  were  strangely  contrasted  with 
the  rude  crib  constructed  for  the  cow  in  one  corner  of  the 
apartment,  and  the  stack  of  fodder  which  was  piled  beside 
it  for  her  food.  * 

"  By  my  faith,"  said  the  page,  "  Crombie  is  more  lordly 
lodged  than  any  one  here  ! " 

''  You  had  best  remain  with  her,"  said  Catherine,  "and 
supply  by  your  filial  attentions  the  offspring  she  has  had  tht 
ill-luck  to  lose." 

•S«e  Nunnery  of  St.  Bridget.    Not«  6. 


102  WA VEHL^^  NOVELS 

*'I  will  remain,  at  least,  to  help  you  to  prepare  her  nigh  t'l 
lair,  pretty  Catherine,^'  said  Eonald,  seizing  upon  a  pitchfork. 

*'  By  no  means/'  said  Catherine ;  ''  for,  besides  that  you 
know  not  in  the  least  how  to  do  her  that  service,  you  will 
bring  a  chiding  my  way,  and  I  get  enough  of  that  in  the 
regular  course  of  things." 

"What!  for  accepting  my  assistance?"  said  the  page — 
"  for  accepting  my  assistance,  who  am  to  be  your  confeder- 
ate in  some  deep  matter  of  import  ?  That  were  altogether 
unreasonable ;  and,  now  I  think  on  it,  tell  me,  if  you  can, 
what  is  this  mighty  emprise  to  which  I  am  destined  ?  " 

"  Robbing  a  bird's  nest,  I  should  suppose,"  said  Cather- 
ine, "  considering  the  champion  whom  they  have  selected." 

"  By  my  faith,"  said  the  youth,  **  and  he  that  has 
taken  a  falcon's  nest  in  the  scaurs  of  Polmoodie  has  done 
something  to  brag  of,  my  fair  sister.  But  that  is  all  over 
now  :  a  murrain  on  the  nest,  and  the  eyases  and  their  food, 
washed  or  unwashed,  for  it  was  all  anon  of  cramming  these 
worthless  kites  that  I  was  sent  upon  my  present  travels. 
Save  that  I  have  met  with  you,  pretty  sister,  I  conld  eat  my 
dagger-hilt  for  vexation  at  my  own  folly.  But,  as  we  are  to 
be  fellow-travelers " 

*'  Fellow-laborers,  not  fellow-travelers,"  answered  the 
girl ;  "  for  to  your  comfort  be  it  known,  that  the  lady 
abbess  and  I  set  out  earlier  than  you  and  your  respected 
relative  to-morrow,  and  that  I  partly  endure  your  company 
at  present  because  it  may  be  long  ere  we  meet  again." 

*'  By  St.  Andrew,  but  it  shall  not,  though,"  answered 
Roland;  "I  will  not  hunt  at  all  unless  we  are  to  hunt  in 
couples." 

**  I  suspect,  in  that  and  in  other  points,  we  must  do  as  we 
are  bid,"  replied  the  young  lady.  "  But  hark  !  I  hear  my 
aunt's  voice." 

The  old  lady  entered  in  good  earnest,  and  darted  a  severe 
glance  at  her  niece,  while  Roland  had  the  ready  wit  to  busy 
himself  about  the  halter  of  the  cow. 

"  The  young  gentleman,"  said  Catherine,  gravely,  "  is 
helping  me  to  tie  the  cow  up  faster  to  her  stake,  for  I  find 
that  last  night,  when  she  put  her  head  out  of  window  and 
lowed,  she  alarmed  the  whole  village  ;  and  we  shall  be  sus- 
pected of  sorcery  among  the  heretics  if  they  do  not  discover 
the  cause  of  the  apparition,  or  lose  our  cow  if  they  do." 

"  Relieve  yourself  of  that  fear,"  said  the  abbess,  somewhat 
ironically  ;  *'  the  person  to  whom  she  is  now  sold  comeg  tof 
the  animal  presently." 


THE  ABBOT  lOd 

"  Good  night,  then,  my  poor  companion/'  said  Catherine, 
patting  the  animal's  shoulders  ;  "  I  hope  thou  hast  fallen  into 
kind  hands,  for  my  happiest  hours  of  late  have  been  spent  in 
tending  thee.     I  would  I  had  been  born  to  no  better  task  ! " 

*'  Now,  out  upon  thee,  mean-spirited  wench  ! "  said  the 
abbess  ;  "is  that  a  speech  worthy  of  the  name  of  Seyton,  or 
of  the  mouth  of  a  sister  of  this  house,  treading  the  path  of 
election  ;  and  to  be  spoken  before  a  stranger  youth,  too  ! 
Go  to  my  oratory,  minion  ;  there  read  your  Hours  till  I  come 
thither,  when  I  will  read  you  such  a  lecture  as  shall  make 
you  prize  the  blessings  which  you  possess/' 

Catherine  was  about  to  withdraw  in  silence,  casting  a  half- 
Borrowful,  half-comic  glance  at  Roland  Graeme,  which  seemed 
to  say,  "  You  see  to  what  your  untimely  visit  has  exposed 
me,"  when,  suddenly  changing  her  mind,  she  came  forward 
to  the  page,  and  extended  her  hand  as  she  bid  him  good 
evening.  Their  palms  had  pressed  each  other  ere  the  aston- 
ished matron  could  interfere,  and  Catherine  had  time  to 
say,  '*  Forgive  me,  mother  ;  it  is  long  since  we  have  seen  a 
face  that  looked  with  kindness  on  us.  Since  these  disorders 
have  broken  up  our  peaceful  retreat  all  has  been  gloom  and 
malignity.  I  bid  this  youth  kindly  farewell,  because  he  has 
come  hither  in  kindness,  and  because  the  odds  are  great  that 
we  may  never  again  meet  in  this  world.  I  guess  better  than 
he  that  the  schemes  on  which  you  are  rushing  are  too  mighty 
for  your  management,  and  that  you  are  now  setting  the  stone 
a-rolling  which  must  surely  crush  you  in  its  descent.  I  bid 
farewell,'*  she  added,  *'  to  my  fellow-victim  ! '' 

This  was  spoken  with  a  tone  of  deep  and  serious  feeling, 
altogether  different  from  the  usual  levity  of  Catherine's  man- 
ner, and  plainly  showed  that,  beneath  the  giddiness  of  ex- 
treme youth  and  total  inexperience,  there  lurked  in  her  bosom 
a  deeper  power  of  sense  and  feeling  than  her  conduct  had 
hitherto  expressed. 

The  abbess  remained  a  moment  silent  after  she  had  left  the 
room.  The  proposed  rebuke  died  on  her  tongue,  and  she  ap- 
peared struck  with  the  deep  and  foreboding  tone  in  which 
ner  niece  had  spoken  her  good  even.  She  led  the  way  in 
silence  to  the  apartment  which  they  had  formerly  occupied, 
and  where  there  was  prepared  a  small  refection,  as  the  abbess 
termed  it,  consisting  of  milk  and  barley-bread.  Magdalen 
Graeme,  summoned  to  take  share  in  this  collation,  appeared 
from  an  adjoining  apartment ;  but  Catherine  was  seen  no 
more.  There  was  little  said  during  the  hasty  meal,  and 
»ft§r  it  was  finished  Roland  Graeme  was  dismissed  to  the 


104  WA  VERLEY  NO  VELS 

nearest  cell,  where  some  preparations  had  been  made  for  his 
repose. 

The  strange  circumstances  in  which  he  found  himself  had 
their  usual  effect  in  preventing  slumber  from  hastily  descend- 
ing on  him,  and  he  could  distinctly  hear,  by  a  low  but  earnest 
murmuring  in  the  apartment  which  he  had  left,  that  the 
matrons  continued  in  deep  consultation  to  a  late  hour.  As 
they  separated,  he  heard  the  abbess  distinctly  express  herself 
thus  :  ''  In  a  word,  my  sister,  1  venerate  your  character  and 
the  authority  with  which  my  superiors  have  invested  you  ; 
yet  it  seems  to  me  that,  ere  entering  on  this  perilous  course, 
we  should  consult  some  of  the  fathers  of  the  church.^' 

''  And  how  and  where  are  we  to  find  a  faithful  bishop  or 
abbot  at  whom  to  ask  counsel  ?  The  faithful  Eustatius  is  no 
more  :  he  is  withdrawn  from  a  world  of  evil,  and  from  the 
tyranny  of  heretics.  May  Heaven  and  Our  Lady  assoilzie 
him  of  his  sins,  and  abridge  the  penance  of  his  mortal  in- 
firmities !  Where  shall  we  find  another  with  whom  to  take 
counsel  ?  " 

**  Heaven  will  provide  for  the  church,^'  said  the  abbess  ; 
*'and  the  faithful  fathers  who  yet  are  suffered  to  remain  in 
the  house  of  Kennaquhair  will  proceed  to  elect  an  abbot. 
They  will  not  suffer  the  staff  to  fall  down,  or  the  miter  to  be 
unfilled,  for  the  threats  of  heresy.'' 

'*  That  will  I  learn  to-morrow,'*  said  Magdalen  Graeme  : 
'*  yet  who  now  takes  the  office  of  an  hour,  save  to  partake 
with  the  spoilers  in  their  work  of  plunder  ?  To-morrow  will 
tell  us  if  one  of  the  thousand  saints  who  are  sprung  from  the 
house  of  St.  Mary's  continues  to  look  down  on  it  in  its  misery. 
Farewell,  my  sister,  we  meet  at  Edinburgh." 

*'  Benedicite  !  "  answered  the  abbess,  and  they  parted. 

''To  Kennaquhair  and  to  Edinburgh  we  bend  our  way," 
thought  Roland  Graeme.  "  That  information  have  I  pur- 
chased by  a  sleepless  hour :  it  suits  well  with  my  purpose. 
At  Kennaquhair  I  shall  see  Father  Ambrose  ;  at  Edinburgh 
I  shall  find  the  means  of  shaping  my  own  course  through  this 
bustling  world,  without  burdening  my  affectionate  relation  *, 
at  Edinburgh,  too,  I  shall  see  again  the  witching  novice,  with 
her  blue  eyes  and  her  provoking  smile."  He  fell  asleep,  and 
it  was  to  dream  of  Catherine  SeytoiL 


CHAPTER  XIII 

What,  Dagon  up  again  !  I  thought  we  had  hurrd  him 
Down  on  the  threshold  never  more  to  rise. 
Bring  wedge  and  ax  ;  and,  neighbors,  lend  your  hands, 
And  rive  the  idol  into  winter  fagots  I 

Athelstane,  or  the  Converted  Dane, 

Roland  Gr^^me  slept  long  and  sound,  and  the  snn  waa 
high  over  the  horizon  when  the  voice  of  his  companion  sum- 
moned him  to  resume  their  pilgrimage  ;  and  when,  hastily 
arranging  his  dress,  he  went  to  attend  her  call,  the  enthu- 
siastic matron  stood  already  at  the  threshold,  prepared  for 
her  journey.  There  was  in  all  the  deportment  of  this  remark- 
able woman  a  promptitude  of  execution,  and  a  sternness  of 
perseverance,  founded  on  the  fanaticism  which  she  nursed 
so  deeply,  a^d  which  seemed  to  absorb  all  the  ordinary  pur- 
poses and  feelings  of  mortality.  One  only  human  affection 
gleamed  through  her  enthusiastic  energies,  like  the  broken 
glimpses  of  the  sun  through  the  rising  clouds  of  a  storm.  It 
was  her  maternal  fondness  for  her  grandson — a  fondness 
carried  almost  to  the  verge  of  dotage  in  circumstances  where 
the  Catholic  religion  was  not  concerned,  but  which  gave 
way  instantly  when  it  chanced  either  to  thwart  or  come  in 
contact  with  the  more  settled  purpose  of  her  soul,  and  the 
more  devoted  duty  of  her  life.  Her  life  she  would  willingly 
have  laid  down  to  save  the  earthly  object  of  her  affection  ; 
but  that  object  itself  she  was  ready  to  hazard,  and  would 
have  been  willing  to  sacrifice,  could  the  restoration  of  the 
Church  of  Rome  have  been  purchased  with  his  blood.  Her 
discourse  by  the  way,  excepting  on  the  few  occasions  in  which 
her  extreme  love  of  her  grandson  found  opportunity  to  dis- 
play itself  in  anxiety  for  his  health  and  accommodation, 
turned  entirely  on  the  duty  of  raising  up  the  fallen  honors 
of  the  church,  and  replacing  a  Catholic  sovereign  on  the 
throne.  There  were  times  at  which  she  hinted,  though  very 
obscurely  and  distantly,  that  she  herself  was  foredoomed  by 
Heaven  to  perform  a  part  in  this  important  task  ;  and  that 
she  had  more  than  mere  human  warranty  for  the  zeal  with 
which  she  engaged  in  it.  But  on  this  subject  she  expressed 
herself  in  such  general  language  that  it  was  not  easy  to 

106 


106  WAVERLET  NOVELS 

decide  whether  she  made  any  actual  pretensions  to  a  direct 
and  supernatural  call,  like  the  celebrated  Elizabeth  Barton, 
commonly  called  the  N  un  of  Kent ;  *  or  whether  she  only 
dwelt  upon  the  general  duty  which  was  incumbent  on  all 
Catholics  of  the  time,  and  the  pressure  of  which  she  felt  in 
an  extraordinary  degree. 

Yet,  though  Magdalen  Graeme  gave  no  direct  intimation 
of  her  pretensions  to  be  considered  as  something  beyond  the 
ordinary  class  of  mortals,  the  demeanor  of  one  or  two  per- 
sons amongst  the  travelers  whom  they  occasionally  met,  as 
they  entered  the  more  fertile  and  populous  part  of  the 
valley,  seemed  to  indicate  their  belief  in  her  superior 
attributes.  It  is  true  that  two  clowns,  who  drove  before 
them  a  herd  of  cattle  ;  one  or  two  village  wenches,  who  seemed 
bound  for  some  merry-making ;  a  strolling  soldier,  in  a 
rusted  morion  ;  and  a  wandering  student,  as  his  threadbare 
black  cloak  and  his  satchel  of  books  proclaimed  him,  passed 
our  travelers  without  observation,  or  with  a  look  of  con- 
tempt ;  and,  moreover,  that  two  or  three  children,  attracted 
by  the  appearance  of  a  dress  so  nearly  resembling  that  of  a 
pilgrim,  joined  in  hooting  and  calling,  '*  Out  upon  the  old 
mass-monger  !  "  But  one  or  two,  who  nourished  in  their  bo- 
soms respect  for  the  downfallen  hierarchy,  casting  first  a 
timorous  glance  around,  to  see  that  no  one  observed  them, 
hastily  crossed  themselves,  bent  their  knee  to  Sister  Mag- 
dalen, by  which  name  they  saluted  her,  kissed  her  hand,  or 
even  the  hem  of  her  dalmatique,  received  with  humility  the 
henedicite  with  which  she  repaid  their  obeisance  ;  and  then, 
starting  up,  and  again  looking  timidly  round  to  see  that 
they  had  been  unobserved,  hastily  resumed  their  journey. 
Even  while  within  sight  of  persons  of  the  prevailing  faith, 
there  were  individuals  bold  enough,  by  folding  their  arms  and 
bending  their  head,  to  give  distant  ^.jd  silent  intimation 
that  they  recognized  Sister  Magdalen,  and  honored  alike  her 
person  and  her  purpose. 

She  failed  not  to  notice  to  her  grandson  these  marks  of 
honor  and  respect  which  from  time  to  time  she  received. 
**  You  see,'*  she  said,  "  my  son,  that  the  enemies  have  been 
unable  altogether  to  suppress  the  good  spirit,  or  to  root  out 
the  true  seed.  Amid  heretics  and  schismatics,  spoilers  of 
the  churches  lands,  and  scoffers  at  sacraments,  there  is  left  a 
remnant.** 

"  It  is  true,  my  mother,**  said  Roland  Graeme  ;  *'  but  me- 
thinks  they  are  of  a  quality  which  can  help  us  but  little, 

*  See  Note  6. 


THE  ABBOT  101 

See  you  not  all  those  who  wear  steel  at  their  side,  and  hear 
marks  of  better  quality,  ruffle  past  us  as  they  would  pass  the 
meanest  beggars  ?  for  those  who  give  us  any  marks  of  sym- 
pathy are  the  poorest  of  the  poor,  and  most  outcast  of  the 
needy,  who  have  neither  bread  to  share  with  us,  nor  swords 
to  defend  us,  nor  skill  to  use  them  if  they  had.  That  poor 
wretch  that  last  kneeled  to  you  with  such  deep  devotion,  and 
who  seemed  emaciated  by  the  touch  of  some  wasting  disease 
within,  and  the  grasp  of  poverty  without — that  pale,  shiver- 
ing, miserable  caitiff,  how  can  he  aid  the  great  schemes  you 
meditate  V 

*'Much,  my  son,'*  said  the  matron,  with  more  mildness 
than  the  page  perhaps  expected.  *'  When  that  pious  son  of 
the  church  returns  from  the  shrine  of  St.  Ringan,  whither 
he  now  travels  by  my  counsel,  and  by  the  aid  of  good  Catho- 
lics— when  he  returns  healed  of  his  wasting  malady,  high  in 
health  and  strong  in  limb,  will  not  the  glory  of  his  faithful- 
ness, and  its  miraculous  reward,  speak  louder  in  the  ears  of 
this  besotted  people  of  Scotland  than  the  din  which  is  weekly 
made  in  a  thousand  heretical  pulpits  ?  " 

"  Ay,  but,  mother,  I  fear  the  saint's  hand  is  out.  It  is 
long  since  we  have  heard  of  a  miracle  performed  at  St. 
Ringan's.'' 

The  matron  made  a  dead  pause,  and,  with  a  voice  tremulous 
with  emotion,  asked,  '*  Art  thou  so  unhappy  as  to  doubt  the 
power  of  the  blessed  saint  ?  " 

''  Nay,  mother,''  the  youth  hastened  to  reply,  **  I  believe 
as  the  Holy  Church  commands,  and  doubt  not  St.  Ringan's 
power  of  healing  ;  but,  be  it  said  with  reverence,  he  hath 
not  of  late  showed  the  inclination." 

*'  And  has  this  land  deserved  it  ?  "  said  the  Catholic  ma- 
tron, advancing  hastily  while  she  spoke,  until  she  attained 
the  summit  of  a  rising  ground,  over  which  the  path  led,  and 
then  standing  again  still.  *^  Here,"  she  said,  '*  stood  the 
cross,  the  limits  of  the  halidome  of  St.  Mary's — here,  on  this 
eminence,  from  which  the  eye  of  the  holy  pilgrim  might  first 
catch  a  view  of  that  ancient  monastery,  the  light  of  the  land, 
the  abode  of  saints,  and  the  grave  of  monarchs.  Where  is 
now  that  emblem  of  our  faith  ?  It  lies  on  the  earth  a  shape- 
less block,  from  which  the  broken  fragments  have  been  car- 
ried off,  for  the  meanest  uses,  till  now  no  semblance  of  its 
original  form  remains.  Look  towards  the  east,  my  son, 
where  the  sun  was  wont  to  glitter  on  stately  spires,  from 
which  crosses  and  bells  have  now  been  hurled,  as  if  the  land 
had  been  invaded  once  more  by  barbarous  heathens — look  ftt 


108  WA  VERLEY  NOVELS 

yonder  battlements,  of  which  we  can,  even  at  this  distance, 
descry  the  partial   demolition  ;    and  ask  if  this  land  can  ex- 

Eect  from  the  blessed  saints,  whose  shrines  and  whose  images 
ave  been  profaned,  any  other  miracles  but  those  of  venge- 
ance ?  How  long,^'  she  exclaimed,  looking  upward — **  how 
long  shall  it  be  delayed  ?  "  She  paused,  and  then  resumed 
with  enthusiastic  rapidity,  **  Yes,  my  son,  all  on  earth  is  but 
for  a  period  :  joy  and  grief,  triumph  and  desolation,  sncceed 
each  other  like  cloud  and  sunshine  ;  the  vineyard  shall  not 
be  forever  trodden  down,  the  gaps  shall  be  amended,  and  the 
fruitful  branches  once  more  dressed  and  trimmed.  Even 
this  day — ay,  even  this  hour,  I  trust  to  hear  news  of  impor 
tance.  Dally  not — let  us  on  ;  time  is  brief,  and  judgmenc 
is  certain/' 

She  resumed  the  path  which  led  to  the  abbey — a  path 
which,  in  ancient  times,  was  carefully  marked  out  by  posts 
and  rails,  to  assist  the  pilgrim  in  his  journey  ;  these  were 
now  torn  up  and  destroyed.  An  half-hour^s  walk  placed 
them  in  front  of  the  once  splendid  monastery,  which,  al- 
though the  church  was  as  yet  entire,  had  not  escaped  the 
fury  of  the  times.  The  long  range  of  cells  and  of  apart- 
ments for  the  use  of  the  brethren,  which  occupied  two  sides 
of  the  great  square,  were  almost  entirely  ruinous,  the  in- 
terior having  been  consumed  by  fire,  which  only  the  massive 
architecture  of  the  outward  walls  had  enabled  them  to  resist, 
The  abbot's  house,  which  formed  the  third  side  of  the  square, 
was,  though  injured,  still  inhabited,  and  afforded  refuge  to 
the  few  brethren  who  yet,  rather  by  connivance  than  by 
actual  authority,  were  permitted  to  remain  at  Kennaquhair. 
Their  stately  offices,  their  pleasant  gardens,  the  magnificent 
cloisters  constructed  for  their  recreation,  were  all  dilapidated 
and  ruinous  ;  and  some  of  the  building  materials  had  ap- 
parently been  put  into  requisition  by  persons  in  the  village 
and  in  the  vicinity,  who,  formerly  vassals  of  the  monastery, 
had  not  hesitated  to  appropriate  to  themselves  a  part  of  the 
spoils.  Eoland  saw  fragments  of  Gothic  pillars,  richly 
carved,  occupying  the  place  of  door-posts  to  the  meanest 
huts  ;  and  here  and  there  a  mutilated  statue,  inverted  or 
laid  on  its  side,  made  the  door-post  or  threshold  of  a  wretched 
cow-house.  The  church  itself  was  less  injured  than  the 
other  buildings  of  the  monastery.  But  the  images  which 
had  been  placed  in  the  numerous  niches  of  its  columns  and 
buttresses,  having  all  fallen  under  the  charge  of  idolatry,  to 
which  the  superstitious  devotion  of  the  Papists  had  justly 
exposed  them,  had  been  broken  and  thrown  down,  without 


THE  ABBOT  lOfi 

much  regard  to  the  preservation  of  the  rich  and  airy  cano- 
pies and  pedestals  on  which  they  were  placed  ;  nor,  if  the 
devastation  had  stopped  short  at  this  point,  could  we  have 
considered  the  preservation  of  these  monuments  of  antiquity 
as  an  object  to  be  put  in  the  balance  with  the  introduction 
of  the  Eeformed  worship. 

Our  pilgrims  saw  the  demolition  of  these  sacred  and  vener- 
able representations  of  saints  and  angels — for  as  sacred  and 
venerable-  they  had  been  taught  to  consider  them — with  very 
different  feelings.  The  antiquary  may  be  permitted  to  regret 
the  necessity  of  the  action,  but  to  Magdalen  Graeme  it  seemed 
a  deed  of  impiety,  deserving  the  instant  vengeance  of  Heaven 
— a  sentiment  in  which  her  relative  joined  for  the  moment 
as  cordially  as  herself.  Neither,  however,  gave  vent  to  their 
feelings  in  words,  and  uplifted  hands  and  eyes  formed  their 
only  mode  of  expressing  them.  The  page  was  about  to  ap- 
proach the  great  eastern  gate  of  the  church,  but  was  pre- 
vented by  his  guide.  ^'  That  gate,""  she  said,  ^'  has  long 
been  blockaded,  that  the  heretical  rabble  may  not  know 
there  still  exist  among  the  brethren  of  St.  Mary^s  men  who 
dare  worship  where  their  predecessors  prayed  while  alive, 
and  were  interred  when  dead  ;  follow  me  this  way,  my 
son.'* 

Roland  Graeme  followed  accordingly  ;  and  Magdalen,  cast- 
ing a  hasty  glance  to  see  whether  they  were  observed  (for 
she  had  learned  caution  from  the  danger  of  the  times),  com- 
manded her  grandson  to  knock  at  a  little  wicket  which  she 
pointed  out  to  him.  "  But  knock  gently,"  she  added,  with 
a  motion  expressive  of  caution.  After  a  little  space,  during 
which  no  answer  was  returned,  she  signed  to  Roland  to  repeat 
his  summons  for  admission  ;  and  the  door  at  length  par- 
tially opening,  discovered  a  glimpse  of  the  thin  and  timid 
porter,  by  whom  the  duty  was  performed,  skulking  from  the 
observation  of  those  who  stood  without,  but  endeavoring  at 
the  same  time  to  gain  a  sight  of  them  without  being  himself . 
seen.  How  different  from  the  proud  consciousness  of  dignity 
with  which  the  porter  of  ancient  days  offered  his  important 
brow  and  his  goodly  person  to  the  pilgrims  who  repaired  to 
Kennaquhair  T  His  solemn  "  Intrate,  met  filii"  was  ex- 
changed for  a  tremulous  '^  You  cannot  enter  now  :  the 
brethren  are  in  their  chambers."  But  when  Magdalen 
Graeme  asked,  in  an  under  tone  of  voice,  '*  Hast  thou  for- 
gotten me,  my  brother  ?  "  he  changed  his  apologetic  refusal 
to  "  Enter,  my  honored  sister — enter  speedily,  for  evil  eyea 
are  upon  us/' 


110  WA  VERLEY  NOVELS 

They  entered  accordingly,  and  having  waited  until  the 
porter  had,  with  jealous  haste,  barred  and  bolted  the  wicket 
were  conducted  by  him  through  several  dark  and  winding 
passages.  As  they  walked  slowly  on,  he  spoke  to  the  ma- 
tron in  a  subdued  voice,  as  if  he  feared  to  trust  the  very  walls 
with  the  avowal  which  he  communicated. 

*'Our  fathers  are  assembled  in  the  chapter-house,  worthy 
sister — yes,  in  the  chapter-house — for  the  election  of  an 
abbot.  Ah,  henedicite  !  there  must  be  no  ringing  of  bells — 
no  high  mass — no  opening  of  the  great  gates  now,  that  the 
people  might  see  and  venerate  their  spiritual  father  !  Our 
fathers  must  hide  themselves  rather  like  robbers  who  choose 
a  leader  than  godly  priests  who  elect  a  mitered  abbot." 

"  Regard  not  that,  my  brother,"  answered  Magdalen 
Graeme  ;  "  the  first  successors  of  St.  Peter  himself  were  elect- 
ed, not  in  sunshine,  but  in  tempest ;  not  in  the  halls  of  the 
Vatican,  but  in  the  subterranean  vaults  and  dungeons  of 
heathen  Rome  ;  they  were  not  gratulated  with  shouts  and 
salvos  of  cannon-shot  and  of  musketry,  and  the  display  of 
artificial  fire — no,  my  brother,  but  by  the  hoarse  summons 
of  lictors  and  praetors,  who  came  to  drag  the  fathers  of  the 
church  to  martyrdom.  From  such  adversity  was  the  church 
once  raised,  and  by  such  will  it  now  be  purified.  And  mark 
me,  brother  !  not  in  the  proudest  days  of  the  mitered  r^bbey 
was  a  superior  ever  chosen  whom  his  office  shall  so  much 
honor  as  he  shall  be  honored  who  now  takes  it  upon  him  in 
these  days  of  tribulation.  On  whom,  my  brother,  will  the 
choice  fall?" 

**  On  whom  can  it  fall — or,  alas  !  who  would  dare  to  re- 
ply to  the  call — save  the  worthy  pu  pil  of  the  sainted  Eusta- 
tius,  the  good  and  valiant  Father  Ambrose  ?" 

*'I  know  it,"  said  Magdalen  ;  '^my  heart  told  me,  long 
ere  your  lips  had  uttered  his  name.  Stand  forth,  courageous 
champion,  and  man  the  fatal  breach  !  Rise,  bold  and  ex- 
perienced pilot,  and  seize  the  helm  while  the  tempest  rages  ! 
Turn  back  the  battle,  brave  raiser  of  the  fallen  standard  ! 
Wield  crook  and  sling,  noble  shepherd  of  a  scattered 
flock." 

*'  I  pray  you,  hush,  my  sister  I ''  said  the  porter,  opening 
a  door  which  led  into  the  great  church,  *'  the  brethren  will 
be  presently  here  to  celebrate  their  election  with  a  solemn 
mass  ;  I  must  marshal  them  the  way  to  the  high  altar  :  all 
the  offices  of  this  venerable  house  have  now  devolved  oq 
one  poor  decrepit  old  man." 

He  left  the  church,  and  Magdalen  and  Roland  remained 


THE  ABBOT  111 

ftlone  in  that  great  vaulted  space,  whose  style  of  rich  yet 
chaste  architecture  referred  its  origin  to  the  early  part  of  the 
14th  century,  the  best  period  of  Gothic  building.  But  the 
niches  were  stripped  of  their  images  in  the  inside  as  well  as 
the  outside  of  the  church  ;  and  in  the  pell-mell  havoc  the 
tombs  of  warriors  and  of  princes  had  been  included  in  the 
demolition  of  the  idolatrous  shrines.  Lances  and  swords 
of  antique  size,  which  had  hung  over  the  tombs  of  mighty  war- 
riors of  former  days,  lay  now  strewn  among  relics  with 
which  the  devotion  of  pilgrims  had  graced  those  of  their 
peculiar  saints  ;  and  the  fragments  of  the  knights  and  dames, 
which  had  once  lain  recumbent,  or  kneeled  in  an  attitude  of 
devotion,  where  their  mortal  relics  were  reposed,  were  min- 
gled with  those  of  the  saints  and  angels  of  the  Gothic  chisel 
which  the  hand  of  violence  had  sent  headlong  from  their 
stations. 

The  most  fatal  symptom  of  the  whole  appeared  to  be  that, 
though  this  violence  had  now  been  committed  for  many 
months,  the  fathers  had  lost  so  totally  all  heart  and  resolu- 
tion that  they  had  not  adventured  even  upon  clearing  away 
the  rubbish,  or  restoring  the  church  to  some  decent  degree 
of  order.  This  might  have  been  done  without  much  labor. 
But  terror  had  overpowered  the  scanty  remains  of  a  body 
once  so  powerful,  and,  sensible  they  were  only  suffered  to 
remain  in  this  ancient  seat  by  connivance  and  from  com- 
passion, they  did  not  venture  upon  taking  any  step  which 
might  be  construed  into  an  assertion  of  their  ancient  rights, 
contenting  themselves  with  the  secret  and  obscure  exercise 
of  their  religious  ceremonial,  in  as  unostentatious  a  manner 
as  was  possible. 

Two  or  three  of  the  more  aged  brethren  had  sunk  under 
the  pressure  of  the  times,  and  the  ruins  had  been  partly 
cleared  away  to  permit  their  interment.  One  stone  had 
been  laid  over  Father  Nicolas,  which  recorded  of  him  in 
special  that  he  had  taken  the  vows  during  the  incumbency 
of  Abbot  Ingelram,  the  period  to  which  his  memory  so  fre- 
quently recurred.  Another  flagstone,  yet  more  recently  de- 
posited, covered  the  body  of  Philip  the  sacristan,  eminent 
for  his  aquatic  excursion  with  the  phantom  of  Avenel  ;  and 
a  third,  the  most  recent  of  all,  bore  the  outline  of  a  miter, 
and  the  words  Hicjacet  Eustatius  Ahhas  ;  for  no  one  dared 
to  add  a  word  of  commendation  in  favor  of  his  learning  an^ 
strenuous  zeal  for  the  Roman  Catholic  faith. 

Magdalen  Graeme  looked  at  and  perused  the  brief  records 
of  these  monuments  successively,  and  paused  over  that  of 


112  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

Father  Eustace,  '^  In  a  good  hour  for  thyself/*  she  said, 
**  but  oh  !  in  an  evil  hour  for  the  church,  wert  thou  called 
from  us.  Let  thy  spirit  be  with  us,  holy  man  ;  encourage 
thy  successor  to  tread  in  thy  footsteps  ;  give  him  thy  bold 
and  inventive  capacity,  thy  zeal,  and  thy  discretion  ;  even 
thy  piety  exceeds  not  his/*  As  she  spoke,  a  side  door,  which 
closed  a  passage  from  the  abbot's  house  into  the  church,  was 
thrown  open,  that  the  fathers  might  enter  the  choir,  and 
conduct  to  the  high  altar  the  superior  whom  they  had 
elected. 

In  former  times,  this  was  one  of  the  most  splendid  of  the 
many  pageants  which  the  hierarchy  of  Eome  had  devised  to 
attract  the  veneration  of  the  faithful.  The  period  during 
which  the  abbacy  remained  vacant  was  a  state  of  mourning, 
or,  as  their  emblematical  phrase  expressed  it,  of  widowhood 
— a  melancholy  term,  which  was  changed  into  rejoicing  and 
triumph  when  a  new  superior  was  chosen.  When  the  fold- 
ing doors  were  on  such  solemn  occasions  thrown  open,  and 
the  new  abbot  appeared  on  the  threshold  in  full-blown 
dignity,,  with  ring  and  miter,  and  dalmatique  and  crosier, 
his  hoary  standard-bearers  and  his  juvenile  dispensers  of 
incense-preceding  him,  and  the  venerable  train  of  monks 
behind  him,  with  all  besides  which  could  announce  the 
supreme  authority  to  which  he  was  now  raised,  his  appear- 
ance was  a  signal  for  the  magnificent  Jiihilate  to  rise  from 
the  organ  and  music-loft,  and  to  be  joined  by  the  corre- 
sponding bursts  of  Alleluiah  from  the  whole  assembled  con- 
gregation. Now  all  was  changed.  In  the  midst  of  rubbish 
and  desolation,  seven  or  eight  old  men,  bent  and  shaken,  as 
much  by  grief  and  fear  as  by  age,  shrouded  hastily  in  the 
proscribed  dress  of  their  order,  wandered  like  a  procession 
of  specters  from  the  door  which  had  been  thrown  open,  up 
through  the  encumbered  passage  to  the  high  altar,  there  to 
install  their  elected  superior  a  chiof  of  ruins.  It  was  like  a 
band  of  bewildered  travelers  choosing  a  chief  in  the  wilder- 
ness of  Arabia  ;  or  a  shipwrecked  crew  electing  a  captain 
upon  the  barren  island  on  which  fate  has  thrown  them. 

They  who,  in  peaceful  times,  are  most  ambitious  of 
authority  among  others,  shrink  from  the  competition  at  such 
eventful  periods,  when  neither  ease  nor  parade  attend  the 
possession  of  it,  and  when  it  gives  only  a  painful  pre- 
eminence both  in  danger  and  in  labor,  and  exposes  the  ill- 
fated  chieftain  to  the  murmurs  of  his  discontented  associates^ 
as  well  as  to  the  first  assault  of  the  common  enemy.  But 
he  on  whom  the  offices  of  the  Abbot  of  St.  Mary's  was  now 


THE  ABBOT  111 

conferred  had  a  mind  fitted  for  the  situation  to  which  he 
was  called.  Bold  and  enthusiastic,  yet  generous  and  for- 
giving ;  wise  and  skilful,  yet  zealous  and  prompt,  he  wanted 
but  a  better  cause  than  the  support  of  a  decaying  supersti- 
tion to  have  raised  him  to  the  rank  of  a  truly  great  man. 
But  as  the  end  crowns  the  work,  it  also  forms  the  rule  by 
which  it  must  be  ultimately  judged  ;  and  those  who,  with 
sincerity  and  generosity,  fight  and  fall  in  an  evil  cause, 
posterity  can  only  compassionate  as  victims  of  a  generous 
but  fatal  error.  Amongst  these  we  must  rank  Ambrosius, 
the  last  abbot  of  Kennaquhair,  whose  designs  must  be  cx)n- 
demned,  as  their  success  would  have  riveted  on  Scotland  the 
chains  of  antiquated  superstition  and  spiritual  tyranny  ;  but 
whose  talents  commanded  respect,  and  whose  virtues,  even 
from  the  enemies  of  his  faith,  extorted  esteem. 

The  bearing  of  the  new  abbot  served  of  itself  to  dignify 
a  ceremonial  which  was  deprived  of  all  other  attributes  of 
grandeur.  Conscious  of  the  peril  in  which  they  stood,  and 
recalling,  doubtless,  the  better  days  they  had  seen,  there 
hung  over  his  brethren  an  appearance  of  mingled  terror,  and 
grief,  and  shame,  which  induced  them  to  hurry  over  the 
office  in  which  they  were  engaged,  as  something  at  once 
degrading  and  dangerous. 

But  not  so  Father  Ambrose.  His  features,  indeed,  ex- 
pressed a  deep  melancholy,  as  he  walked  up  the  center  aisle, 
amid  the  ruin  of  things  which  he  considered  as  holy,  but 
his  brow  was  undejected,  and  his  step  firm  and  solemn.  He 
seemed  to  think  that  the  dominion  which  he  was  about  to 
receive  depended  in  no  sort  upon  the  external  circumstances 
under  which  it  was  conferred  ;  and  if  a  mind  so  firm  was 
accessible  to  sorrow  or  fear,  it  was  not  on  his  own  account, 
but  on  that  of  the  church  to  which  he  had  devoted  himself. 

At  length  he  stood  on  the  broken  steps  of  the  high  altar, 
barefooted,  as  was  the  rule,  and  holding  in  his  hand  his 
pastoral  staif,  for  the  gemmed  ring  and  jeweled  miter  had 
become  secular  spoils.  No  obedient  vassals  came,  man  after 
man,  to  make  their  homage  and  to  offer  the  tribute  which 
should  provide  their  spiritual  superior  with  palfrey  and 
trappings.  No  bishop  assisted  at  the  solemnity,  to  receive 
into  the  higher  ranks  of  the  church  nobility  a  dignitary 
whose  voice  in  the  legislature  was  as  potential  as  his  own. 
With  hasty  and  maimed  rites,  the  few  remaining  brethren 
stepped  forward  alternately  to  give  their  new  abbot  the  kisa 
of  peace,  in  token  of  fraternal  affection  and  spiritual  homage. 
Mass  was  then  hastily  performed,  but  in  such  precipitation 


114  WAVERLET  N0VEL8 

as  if  it  had  been  hurried  over  rather  to  satisfy  the  scruples 
of  a  few  youths.,  who  were  impatient  to  set  out  on  a  hunting 
party,*  than  as  if  it  made  the  most  solemn  part  of  a  solemn 
ordination.  The  officiating  priest  faltered  as  he  spoke  the 
service,  and  often  looked  around,  as  if  he  expected  to  be 
interrupted  in  the  midst  of  his  office  ;  and  the  brethren 
listened  as  to  that  which,  short  as  it  was,  they  wished  yet 
more  abridged. 

These  symptoms  of  alarm  increased  as  the  ceremony  pro- 
ceeded, and,  as  it  seemed,  were  not  caused  by  mere  appre- 
hension alone  ;  for,  amid  the  pauses  of  the  hymn,  there  were 
heard  without  sounds  of  a  very  different  sort,  beginning 
faintly  and  at  a  distance,  but  at  length  approaching  close 
to  the  exterior  of  the  church,  and  stunning  with  dissonant 
clamor  those  engaged  in  the  service.  The  winding  of  horns, 
blown  with  no  regard  to  harmony  or  concert  ;  the  jangling 
of  bells,  the  thumping  of  drums,  the  squeaking  of  bagpipes, 
and  the  clash  of  cymbals  ;  the  shouts  of  a  multitude,  now 
as  in  laughter,  now  as  in  anger  ;  the  shrill  tones  of  female 
voices,  and  of  those  of  children,  mingling  with  the  deeper 
clamors  of  men,  formed  a  Babel  of  sounds,  which  first 
drowned,  ai^id  then  awed  into  utter  silence,  the  official  hymns 
of  the  convent.  The  cause  and  result  of  this  extraordinary 
interruption  will  be  explained  in  the  next  chapter. 

*See  Hunting  Mass.    Note  7. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

Not  the  wild  billow,  when  it  breaks  its  barrier. 
Not  the  wild  wind,  escaping  from  its  cavern, 
Not  the  wild  fiend,  that  mingles  both  together, 
And  pours  their  rage  upon  the  ripening  harvest. 
Can  match  the  wild  freaks  of  this  mirthful  meeting-^ 
Comic,  yet  fearful ;  droll,  and  yet  destructive. 

The  Csnspiracff, 

The  monks  ceased  their  song,  which,  like  that  of  the  chor- 
isters in  the  legend  of  the  Witch  of  Berkley,  died  away  in  a 
quaver  of  consternation  ;  and  like  a  flock  of  chickens  dis- 
turbed by  the  presence  of  the  kite,  they  at  first  made  a 
movement  to  disperse  and  fly  in  different  directions,  and 
then,  with  despair  rather  than  hope,  huddled  themselves 
around  their  new  abbot  ;  who,  retaining  the  lofty  and  un- 
dismayed look  which  had  dignified  him  through  the  whole 
ceremony,  stood  on  the  higher  step  of  the  altar,  as  if 
desirous  to  be  the  most  conspicuous  mark  on  which  danger 
might  discharge  itself,  and  to  save  his  companions  by  his 
self-devotion,  since  he  could  afford  them  no  other  protec- 
tion. 

Involuntarily,  as  it  were,  Magdalen  Graeme  and  the  page 
stepped  from  the  station  which  hitherto  they  had  occupied 
unnoticed,  and  approached  to  the  altar,  as  desirous  of  shar- 
ing the  fate  which  approached  the  monks,  whatever  that 
might  be.  Both  bowed  reverently  low  to  the  abbot ;  and 
while  Magdalen  seemed  about  to  speak,  the  youth,  looking 
towards  the  main  entrance,  at  which  the  noise  now  roared 
most  loudly,  and  which  was  at  the  same  time  assailed  with 
much  knocking,  laid  his  hand  upon   his  dagger. 

The  abbot  motioned  to  both  to  forbear.  *' Peace,  my 
sister,"  he  said,  in  a  low  tone,  but  which,  being  in  a  dif- 
ferent key  from  the  tumultuary  sounds  without,  could  be 
distinctly  heard  even  amidst  the  tumult — ^'  peace,"  he  said, 
'*my  sister;  let  the  new  superior  of  St.  Mary's  himself  re- 
ceive and  reply  to  the  grateful  acclamations  of  the  vassals 
who  come  to  celebrate  his  installation.  And  thou,  my  son 
forbear,  I  charge  thee,  to  touch  thy  earthly  weapon:  if  it  ig 

116 


lia  )VAVEBLET  NOVELS 

the  pleasure  of  onr  protectress  that  her  shrine  be  this  day 
desecrated  by  deeds  of  violence,  and  polluted  by  blood -shed- 
ding, let  it  not,  I  charge  thee,  happen  through  the  deed  of 
a  Catholic  son  of  the  church/' 

The  noise  and  knocking  at  the  outer  gate  became  now 
every  moment  louder,  and  voices  were  heard  impatiently  de- 
manding admittance.  The  abbot,  with  dignity,  and  with  a 
step  which  even  the  emergency  of  danger  rendered  neither 
faltering  nor  precipitate,  moved  towards  the  portal,  and  de- 
manded to  know,  in  a  tone  of  authority,  who  it  was  that  dis- 
turbed their  worship,  and  what  they  desired/' 

There  was  a  moment's  silence,  and  then  a  loud  laugh  from 
tvithout.  At  length  a  voice  replied,  '*  We  desire  entrance 
into  the  church  ;  and  when  the  door  is  opened  you  will  soon 
see  who  we  are." 

*^  By  whose  authority  do  you  require  entrance  ?"  said  tha 
father. 

"  By  authority  of  the  right  reverend  Lord  Abbot  of  Un- 
reason," *  replied  the  voice  from  without ;  and,  from  the 
laugh  which  followed,  it  seemed  as  if  there  was  something 
highly  ludicrous  crouched  under  this  reply. 

**  I  know  not,  and  seek  not  to  know,  your  meaning,"  re- 
plied the  abbot,  "  since  it  is  probably  a  rude  one.  But  be- 
gone, in  the  name  of  God,  and  leave  His  servants  in  peace. 
I  speak  this  as  having  lawful  authority  to  command  here." 

"  Open  the  door,"  said  another  rude  voice,  **and  we  will 
try  titles  with  you,  sir  monk,  and  show  you  a  superior  we 
must  all  obey." 

*'  Break  open  the  doors  if  he  dallies  any  longer,"  said  a 
third,  '"  and  down  with  the  carrion  monks  who  would  bar  us 
of  our  privilege  !  A  general  shout  followed.  Ay,  ay,  our 
privilege  ! — our  privilege  !  Down  with  the  doors,  and  with 
the  lurdane  monks  if  they  make  opposition  ! " 

The  knocking  was  now  exchanged  for  blows  with  great 
hammers,  to  which  the  doors,  strong  as  they  were,  must  soon 
have  given  way.  But  the  abbot,  who  saw  resistance  would 
be  vain,  and  who  did  not  wish  to  incense  the  assailants  by  an 
attempt  at  offering  it,  besought  silence  earnestly,  and  with 
difficulty  obtained  a  hearing.  ^'  My  children,"  said  he,  '*"  I 
will  save  you  from  committing  a  great  sin.  The  porter  will 
presently  undo  the  gate — he  is  gone  to  fetch  the  keys  ;  mean- 
time I  pray  you  to  consider  with  yourselves  if  you  are  in  a 
state  of  mind  to  cross  the  holy  threshold." 

**  Tilly  valley  for  your  Papistry  !  "  was  answered  from  with- 

»  See  Note  8. 


fiiliiwmiiniii'fii'iiiiiii!fl,ni"i'P: 
1       1 


**  The  appearance  of  the   crowd   v\as  grotesque  in   the  extreme.''' 


THE  ABBOT  117 

out ;  *'  we  are  in  the  mood  of  the  monks  when  they  arfl 
merriest,  and  that  is  when  they  sup  beef-brewis  for  lenten- 
kail.  So,  if  your  porter  hath  not  the  gout,  let  him  come 
Bpeedily,  or  we  heave  away  readily.     Said  I  well,  comrades  ?  " 

'*  Bravely  said,  and  it  shall  be  as  bravely  done,"  said  the 
multitude ;  and  had  not  the  keys  arrived  at  that  moment, 
and  the  porter  in  hasty  terror  performed  his  office,  throwing 
open  the  great  door,  the  populace  would  have  saved  him  the 
trouble.  The  instant  he  had  done  so,  the  affrighted  janitor 
fled,  like  one  who  has  drawn  the  bolts  of  a  flood-gate,  and 
expects  to  be  overwhelmed  by  the  rushing  inundation.  The 
monks,  with  one  consent,  had  withdrawn  themselves  behind 
the  abbot,  who  alone  kept  his  station,  about  three  yards 
from  the  entrance,  showing  no  signs  of  fear  or  perturbation. 
His  brethren,  partly  encouraged  by  his  devotion,  partly 
ashamed  to  desert  him,  and  partly  animated  by  a  sense  of 
daty,  remained  huddled  close  together  at  the  back  of  their 
superior.  There  was  a  loud  laugh  and  huzza  when  the  doors 
were  opened  ;  but,  contrary  to  what  might  have  been  ex- 
pected, no  crowd  of  enraged  assailants  rushed  into  the  church. 
On  the  contrary,  there  was  a  cry  of  '^  A  halt ! — a  halt  !  to 
order,  my  masters  !  and  let  the  two  reverend  fathers  greet 
each  other,  as  beseems  them." 

The  appearance  of  the  crowd  who  were  thus  called  to 
order  was  grotesque  in  the  extreme.  It  was  composed  of  men, 
women,  and  children,  ludicrously  disguised  in  various  habits, 
and  presenting  groups  equally  diversified  and  grotesque. 
Here  one  fellow  with  a  horse's  head  painted  before  him,  and 
a  tail  behind,  and  the  whole  covered  with  a  long  foot-cloth, 
which  was  supposed  to  hide  the  body  of  the  animal,  ambled, 
caracoled,  pranced,  and  plunged,  as  he  performed  the  cele- 
brated part  of  the  hobby-horse,*  so  often  alluded  to  in  our 
ancient  drama,  and  which  still  flourishes  on  the  stage  in  the 
battle  that  concludes  Bayes's  tragedy.  To  rival  the  address 
and  agility  displayed  by  this  character,  another  personage 
advanced,  in  the  more  formidable  character  of  a  huge  dragon, 
with  gilded  wings,  open  jaws,  and  a  scarlet  tongue,  cloven 
at  the  end,  which  made  various  efforts  to  overtake  and  de- 
vour a  lad,  dressed  as  the  lovely  Sabaea,  daughter  of  the  King 
of  Egypt,  who  fled  before  him  ;  while  a  martial  St.  George, 
grotesquely  armed  with  a  goblet  for  a  helmet  and  a  spit  for 
a  lance,  ever  and  anon  interfered,  and  compelled  the  mon- 
ster to  relinquish  his  prey.  A  bear,  a  wolf,  and  one  or  two 
other  wild  animals,  played  their  parts  with  the  discretion  of 

»  See  Note  0. 


118  WAVEBLET  NOVELS 

Snug  the  joiner  ;  for  the  decided  preference  which  they  gave 
to  the  use  of  their  hind  legs  was  sufficient,  without  any 
formal  annunciation,  to  assure  the  most  timorous  spectators 
that  they  had  to  do  with  habitual  bipeds.  There  was  a  group 
of  outlaws,  with  Robin  Hood  and  Little  John  at  their  head  * 
— the  best  representation  exhibited  at  the  time  ;  and  no 
great  wonder,  since  most  of  the  actors  were,  by  profession, 
the  banished  men  and  thieves  whom  they  presented.  Othei 
masqueraders  there  were,  of  a  less  marked  description.  Men 
were  disguised  as  women,  and  women  as  men  ;  children  wore 
the  dress  of  aged  people,  and  tottered  with  crutch-sticks  in 
their  hands,  furred  gowns  on  their  little  backs,  and  caps  on 
their  round  heads  ;  while  grandsires  assumed  the  infantine 
tone  as  well  as  the  dress  of  children.  Besides  these,  many 
had  their  faces  painted,  and  wore  their  shirts  over  the  rest 
of  their  dress ;  while  colored  pasteboard  and  ribbons  fur- 
nished out  decorations  for  others.  Those  who  wanted  all 
these  properties,  blacked  their  faces,  and  turned  their 
jackets  inside  out ;  and  thus  the  transmutation  of  the  whole 
assembly  into  a  set  of  mad  grotesque  mummers  was  at  once 
completed. 

The  pause  which  the  masqueraders  made,  waiting  appar- 
ently for  some  person  of  the  highest  authority  amongst 
them,  gave  those  within  the  abbey  church  full  time  to  ob- 
serve all  these  absurdities.  They  were  at  no  loss  to  compre- 
hend their  purpose  and  meaning. 

Few  readers  can  be  ignorant  that,  at  an  early  period,  and 
during  the  plenitude  of  her  power,  the  Church  of  Rome  not 
only  connived  at,  but  even  encouraged,  such  saturnalian 
licenses  as  the  inhabitants  of  Kennaquhair  and  the  neighbor- 
hood had  now  in  hand,  and  that  the  vulgar,  on  such  occa- 
sions, were  not  only  permitted  but  encouraged,  by  a  number 
of  gambols,  sometimes  puerile  and  ludicrous,  sometimes 
immoral  and  profane,  to  indemnify  themselves  for  the 
T)rivations  and  penances  imposed  on  them  at  other  seasons. 
But,  of  all  other  topics  for  burlesque  and  ridicule,  the  rites  and 
ceremonial  of  the  church  itself  were  most  frequently  resorted 
to  ;  and,  strange  to  say,  with  the  approbation  of  the  clergy 
themselves. 

While  the  hierarchy  flourished  in  full  glory,  they  do  not 
appear  to  have  dreaded  the  consequences  of  suffering  the 
people  to  become  so  irreverently  familiar  with  things  sacred  : 
they  then  imagined  the  laity  to  be  much  in  the  condition  of 
A  laborer's  horse,  which  does  not  submit  to  the  bridle  and 
♦  See  Note  10. 


THE  ABBOT  119 

the  whip  with  greater  reluctance  because,  at  rare  interrals, 
he  is  allowed  to  frolic  at  large  in  his  pasture,  and  fling  out 
his  heels  in  clumsy  gambols  at  the  master  who  usually  drives 
him.  But,  when  times  changed — when  doubt  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  doctrine,  and  hatred  of  their  priesthood,  had 
possessed  the  Eeformed  party — the  clergy  discovered,  too 
late,  that  no  small  inconvenience  arose  from  the  established 
practise  of  games  and  merry-makings,  in  which  they  them- 
selves, and  all  they  held  most  sacred,  were  made  the  subject 
of  ridicule.  It  then  became  obvious  to  duller  politicians 
than  the  Romish  churchmen,  that  the  same  actions  have  a 
very  different  tendency  when  done  in  the  spirit  of  sarcastic 
insolence  and  hatred,  than  when  acted  merely  in  exuberance 
of  rude  and  uncontrollable  spirits.  They,  therefore,  though 
of  the  latest,  endeavored,  where  they  had  any  remaining  in- 
fluence, to  discourage  the  renewal  of  these  indecorous  festiv- 
ities. In  this  particular,  the  Catholic  clergy  were  joined 
by  most  of  the  Reformed  preachers,  who  were  more  shocked 
at  the  profanity  and  immorality  of  many  of  these  exhibitions 
than  disposed  to  profit  by  the  ridiculous  light  in  which  they 
placed  the  Church  of  Rome  and  her  observances.  But  it  was 
long  ere  these  scandalous  and  immoral  sports  could  be  abro- 
gated :  the  rude  multitude  continued  attached  to  their 
favorite  pastimes  ;  and,  both  in  England  and  Scotland,  the 
miter  of  the  Catholic,  the  rocket  of  the  Reformed  bishop, 
and  the  cloak  and  band  of  the  Calvinistic  divine,  were,  in 
turn,  compelled  to  give  place  to  those  jocular  personages,  the 
Pope  of  Fools,  the  Boy  Bishop,  and  the  Abbot  of  Unreason.* 
It  was  the  latter  personage  who  now,  in  full  costume,  made 
his  approach  to  the  great  door  of  the  church  of  St.  Mary's, 
accoutered  in  such  a  manner  as  to  form  a  caricature,  or  prac- 
tical parody,  on  the  costume  and  attendants  of  the  real 
superior,  whom  he  came  to  beard  on  the  very  day  of  his  in- 
stallation, in  the  presence  of  his  clergy,  and  in  the  chancel 
of  his  church.  The  mock  dignitary  was  a  stout-made, 
under-sized  fellow,  whose  thick  squab  form  had  been  ren- 
dered grotesque  by  a  supplemental  paunch,  well  stuffed. 
He  wore  a  miter  of  leather,  with  the  front  like  a  grenadier's 
cap,  adorned  with  mock  embroidery  and  trinkets  of  tin. 
This  surmounted  a  visage  the  nose  of  which  was  the  most 
prominent  feature,  being  of  unusual  size,  and  at  least  as 
richly  gemmed  as  his  head-gear.  His  robe  was  of  buckram, 
and  his  cope  of  canvas,  curiously  painted,  and  cut  into  open 

*  From  the  interesting  novel  entitled  Anastasius.  it  seems  th« 
tame  burlesque  ceremonies  were  practised  in  the  Greek  Church. 


120  WA  VEBLEY  NO VEL8 

work.  On  one  shoulder  was  fixed  the  painted  figure  of  an 
owl ;  and  he  bore  in  the  right  hand  his  pastoral  staff,  and  in 
the  left  a  small  mirror  having  a  handle  to  it,  thus  resembnng 
a  celebrated  jester,  whose  adventures,  translated  into  Eng- 
lish, were  whilom  extremely  popular,  and  which  may  still 
be  procured  in  black  letter  for  about  one  sterling  pound  per 
leaf. 

The  attendants  of  this  mock  dignitary  had  their  proper 
dresses  and  equipage,  bearing  the  same  burlesque  resemblance 
to  the  officers  of  the  convent  which  their  leader  did  to  the 
superior.  They  followed  their  leader  in  regular  procession, 
and  the  motley  characters,  which  had  waited  his  arrival,  now 
crowded  into  the  church  in  his  train,  shouting  as  they  came 
— *'  A  hall — a  hall  !  for  the  venerable  Father  Howleglas,  the 
learned  Monk  of  Misrule,  and  the  Eight  Reverend  Abbot  of 
Unreason  I " 

The  discordant  minstrelsy  of  every  kind  renewed  its  din  : 
the  boys  shrieked  and  howled,  and  the  men  laughed  and 
hallooed,  and  the  women  giggled  and  screamed,  and  the 
beasts  roared,  and  the  dragon  walloped  and  hissed,  and  the 
hobby-horse  neighed,  pranced,  and  capered,  and  the  rest 
frisked  and  frolicked,  clashing  their  hobnailed  shoes  against 
the  pavement,  till  it  sparkled  with  the  marks  of  their  ener- 
getic caprioles. 

It  was,  in  fine,  a  scene  of  ridiculous  confusion,  that  deaf- 
ened the  ear,  made  the  eyes  giddy,  and  must  have  altogether 
stunned  any  indifferent  spectator  ;  the  monks,  whom  personal 
apprehension  and  a  consciousness  that  much  of  the  popular 
enjoyment  arose  from  the  ridicule  being  directed  against 
them,  were,  moreover,  little  comforted  by  the  reflection  that, 
bold  in  their  disguise,  the  mummers  who  whooped  and 
capered  around  them  might,  on  slight  provocation,  turn  their 
jest  into  earnest,  or  at  least  proceed  to  those  practical  pleas- 
antries which  at  all  times  arise  so  naturally  out  of  the  frol- 
icsome and  mischievous  disposition  of  the  populace.  They 
looked  to  their  abbot  amid  the  tumult,  with  such  looks  as 
landsmen  cast  upon  the  pilot  when  the  storm  is  at  the  high- 
est— looks  which  express  that  they  are  devoid  of  all  hope 
arising  from  their  own  exertions,  and  not  very  confident  in 
any  success  likely  to  attend  those  of  their  Palinurus. 

The  abbot  himself  seemed  at  a  stand  ;  he  felt  no  fear,  but 
he  was  sensible  of  the  danger  of  expressing  his  rising  indig- 
nation, which  he  was  scarcely  able  to  suppress.  He  made  a 
gesture  with  his  hand  as  if  commanding  silence,  which  was 
at  first  only  replied  to  by  redoubled  shouts,  and  peals  of  wild 


TB  a  ABBOT  121 

langhter.  "When,  however,  the  same  motion,  and  as  nearly 
in  the  same  manner,  had  been  made  by  Hpwleglas,  it  was 
immediately  obeyed  by  his  riotous  companions,  who  ex- 
pected fresh  food  for  mirth  in  the  conversation  betwixt  the 
real  and  mock  abbot,  having  no  small  confidence  in  the  vul- 
gar wit  and  impudence  of  their  leader.  Accordingly,  they 
began  to  shout,  "  To  it,  fathers — to  it  ! "  ''  Fight  monk, 
fight  madcap  :  abbot  against  abbot  is  fair  play,  and  so  is 
reason  against  unreason,  and  malice  against  monkery  !  " 

"Silence,  my  mates  !''■'  said  Howleglas  ;  ''cannot  two 
learned  fathers  of  the  church  hold  communing  together,  but 
you  must  come  here  with  your  beer-garden  whoop  and  halloo, 
as  if  you  were  hounding  forth  a  mastiff  upon  a  mad  bull  ? 
I  say,  silence  !  and  let  this  learned  father  and  me  confer 
touching  matters  affecting  our  mutual  state  and  authority/^ 

*'  My  children "  said  Father  Ambrose. 

*' J/?/ children  too — and  happy  children  they  are  !^'  said 
his  burlesque  counterpart ; ''  many  a  wise  child  knows  not  its 
own  father,  and  it  is  well  they  have  two  to  choose  betwixt." 

''  If  thou  hast  aught  in  thee,  save  scoffing  and  ribaldry," 
said  the  real  abbot,  '^  permit  me,  for  thine  own  souFs  sake, 
to  speak  ^  '^>w  words  to  these  misguided  men." 

**  Aughi  a  me  but  scoffiing,  say'st  tliou  ?"  retorted  the 
Abbot  of  Ui  reason  ;  *'  why,  reverend  brother,  I  ha^ve  all  that 
becomes  mine  office  at  this  time  a-day  :  I  have  beef,  ale,  and 
brandy-wine,  with  other  condiments  not  worth  mentioning  ; 
and  for  speaking,  man — why,  speak  away,  and  we  will  have 
turn  about,  like  honest  fellows. 

During  this  discussion  the  wrath  of  Magdalen  Gragmehad 
risen  to  the  uttermost ;  she  approached  the  abbot,  and,  plac- 
ing herself  by  his  side,  said  in  a  low  and  yet  distinct  tone — 
'*  Wake  and  arouse  thee,  father  ;  the  sword  of  St.  Peter  is  in 
thy  hand — strike  and  avenge  St.  Peter's  patrimony  !  Bind 
them  in  the  chains,  which,  being  riveted  by  the  church  on 
earth,  are  riveted  in  Heaven " 

'*  Peace,  sister  !"  said  the  abbot ;  'Het  not  their  madness 
destroy  our  discretion — I  pray  thee,  peace,  and  let  me  do 
mine  office.  It  is  the  first,  peradventure  it  may  be  the  last, 
time  I  shall  be  called  on  to  discharge  it." 

*'Nay,  my  holy  brother  !"  said  Howleglas,  '^  I  rede  you, 
take  the  holy  sister's  advice  :  never  throve  convent  without 
woman's  counsel." 

''Peace,  vain  manl"  said  the  abbot;  "and  you,  my 
brethren *' 

**Nay,  nay  V*  said  the  Abbot  of  Unreason,  "no  speaking 


122  WA  VEBLEY  NO  VEL8 

to  the  lay  people  until  you  have  conferred  with  your  brother 
of  the  cowl.  1  swear  by  bell,  book,  and  candle  that  not  one 
of  my  congregation  shall  listen  to  one  word  you  have  to  say ; 
80  you  had  as  well  address  yourself  to  me  who  will." 

To  escape  a  conference  so  ludicrous,  the  abbot  again  at- 
tempted an  appeal  to  what  respectful  feelings  might  yet 
remain  amongst  the  inhabitants  of  the  halidome,  once  so 
devoted  to  their  spiritual  superiors.  Alas  !  the  Abbot  of 
Unreason  had  only  to  flourish  his  mock  crosier,  and  the 
whooping,  the  hallooing,  and  the  dancing  were  renewed  with 
a  vehemence  which  would  have  defied  the  lungs  of  Stentor. 

'*  And  now,  my  mates,''  said  the  Abbot  of  Unreason, 
"  once  again  dight  your  gabs  and  be  hushed  ;  let  us  see  if 
the  cock  of  Kennaquhair  will  fight  or  flee  the  pit.'' 

There  was  again  a  dead  silence  of  expectation,  of  which 
Father  Ambrose  availed  himself  to  address  his  antagonist, 
seeing  plainly  that  he  could  gain  an  audience  on  no  other 
terms.  "  Wretched  man  ! "  said  he,  "hast  thou  no  better 
employment  for  thy  carnal  wit  than  to  employ  it  in  leading 
these  blind  and  helpless  creatures  into  the  pit  of  utter 
darkness  ?  " 

"  Truly,  my  brother,"  replied  Howleglas,  ''  I  can  see 
little  difference  betwixt  your  employment  and  mine,  save 
that  you  make  a  sermon  of  a  jest  and  I  make  a  jest  of  a 
sermon." 

"  Unhappy  being,"  said  the  abbot,  "  who  hast  no  better  sub- 
ject of  pleasantry  than  that  which  should  make  thee  tremble, 
no  sounder  jest  than  thine  own  sins,  and  no  better  objects 
for  laughter  than  those  who  can  absolve  thee  from  the  guilt 
of  them  ! " 

'"Verily,  my  reverend  brother,"  said  the  mock  abbot, 
"  what  you  say  might  be  true,  if,  in  laughing  at  hypocrites, 
I  meant  to  laugh  at  religion.  0,  it  is  a  precious  thing  to 
wear  a  long  dress,  with  a  girdle  and  a  cowl  :  we  become  a 
holy  pillar  of  Mother  Church,  and  a  boy  must  not  play  at  ball 
against  the  walls  for  fear  of  breaking  a  painted  window  !  " 

"And  will  you,  my  friends,"  said  the  abbot,  looking 
round  and  speaking  with  a  vehemence  which  secured  him  a 
tranquil  audience  for  some  time — "  will  you  suffer  aprofane 
buffoon,  within  the  very  church  of  God,  to  insult  His  min- 
isters ?  Many  of  you — all  of  you,  perhaps — have  lived 
under  my  holy  predecessors,  who  were  called  upon  to  rule 
in  this  church  where  I  am  called  upon  to  suffer.  If  you 
have  worldly  goods,  they  are  their  gift  ;  and,  when  you 
loomed  not  to  accept  better  gifts — the  mercy  and  forgive- 


THE  ABBOT  128 

Iiess  of  the  chnrch — were  they  not  ever  at  your  command  ? 
' — did  we  not  pray  while  you  were  jovial,  wake  while  you 
slept  ?" 

*' Some  of  the  good  wives  of  the  halidome  were  wont  to 
gay  80,"  said  the  Abbot  of  Unreason  ;  but  his  jest  met  in 
this  instance  but  slight  applause,  and  Father  Ambrose, 
having  gained  a  moment's  attention,  hastened  to  improve  it. 

"What  \"  said  he  ;  ''and  is  this  grateful — is  it  seemly — 
is  it  honest — to  assail  with  scorn  a  few  old  men,  from  whose 
predecessors  you  hold  all,  and  whose  only  wish  is  to  die  in 
peace  among  these  fragments  of  what  was  once  the  light  of 
the  land,  and  whose  daily  prayer  is,  that  they  may  be  re- 
moved ere  that  hour  comes  when  the  last  spark  shall  be 
extinguished,  and  the  land  left  in  the  darkness  which  it  has 
chosen  rather  than  light  ?  We  have  not  turned  against  you 
the  edge  of  the  spiritual  sword,  to  revenge  our  temporal  per- 
secution ;  the  tempest  of  your  wrath  hath  despoiled  us  of 
land,  and  deprived  us  almost  of  our  daily  food,  but  we  have 
not  repaid  it  with  the  thunders  of  excommunication  ;  we 
only  pray  your  leave  to  live  and  die  within  the  church  which 
is  our  own,  invoking  God,  Our  Lady,  and  the  holy  saints  tc 
pardon  your  sins,  and  our  own,  undisturbed  by  scurril 
buffoonery  and  blasphemy/' 

This  speech,  so  different  in  tone  and  termination  from 
that  which  the  crowd  had  expected,  produced  an  effect  upon 
their  feelings  unfavorable  to  the  prosecution  of  their  frolic. 
The  morrice-dancers  stood  still,  the  hobby-horse  surceased 
his  capering,  pipe  and  tabor  were  mute,  and  "silence,  like 
a  heavy  cloud,''  seemed  to  descend  on  the  late  noisy  rabble. 
Several  of  the  beasts  were  obviously  moved  to  compunction  : 
the  bear  could  not  restrain  his  sobs,  and  a  huge  fox  was 
observed  to  wipe  his  eyes  with  his  tail.  But  in  especial  the 
dragon,  lately  so  formidably  rampant,  now  relaxed  the  terror 
of  his  claws,  uncoiled  his  tremendous  rings,  and  grumbled 
out  of  his  fiery  throat  in  a  repentant  tone,  "  By  the  mass,  I 
thought  no  harm  in  exercising  our  old  pastime,  but  an  I  had 
thought  the  good  father  would  have  taken  it  so  to  heart  I 
would  as  soon  have  played  your  devil  as  your  dragon." 

In  this  momentary  pause,  the  abbot  stood  amongst  the 
miscellaneous  and  grotesque  forms  by  which  he  was  sur- 
rounded, triumphant  as  St.  Anthony,  in  Callot's  Tempta- 
tions ;  but  Howleglas  would  not  so  resign  his  purpose. 

"  And  how  now,  my  masters  ! "  said  he  ;  "  is  this  fair  play 
or  no  ?  Have  you  not  chosen  me  Abbot  of  Unreason,  and 
is  it  lawful  for  any  of  you  to  listen  to  common-sense  to-day  ? 


124  WAVBRLEY  NOVELS 

Was  I  not  formally  elected  by  you  in  solemn  chapter,  held 
in  Luckie  Martin's  change-house,  and  will  you  now  desert 
me,  and  give  up  your  old  pastime  and  privilege  ?  Play  out 
the  play  ;  and  he  that  speaks  the  next  word  of  sense  or  reason, 
or  bids  us  think  or  consider,  or  the  like  of  that,  which 
befits  not  the  day,  I  will  have  him  solemnly  ducked  in  the 
mill-dam  ! " 

The  rabble,  mutable  as  usual,  huzzaed,  the  pipe  and  tabor 
struck  up,  the  hobby-horse  pranced,  the  beasts  roared,  and 
even  the  repentant  dragon  began  again  to  coil  up  his  spires 
and  prepare  himself  for  fresh  gambols.  But  the  abbot  might 
have  still  overcome,  by  his  eloquence  and  his  entreaties,  the 
malicious  designs  of  the  revelers,  had  not  Dame  Magdalen 
Graeme  given  loose  to  the  indignation  which  she  had  long 
suppressed. 

'' Scoff ers,''  she  said,  ''and  men  of  Belial — blasphemous 
heretics  and  truculent  tyrants '' 

''  Your  patience,  my  sister,  I  entreat  and  I  command  you  i  '* 
said  the  abbot ;  *^  let  me  do  my  duty  :  disturb  me  not  in  mine 
office.'' 

But  Dame  Magdalen  continued  to  thunder  forth  her  threats 
in  the  name  of  popes  and  councils,  and  in  the  name  of  every 
saint  from  St.  Michael  downward. 

'*  My  comrades  !  "  said  the  Abbot  of  Unreason,  "  this  good 
dame  hath  not  spoke  a  single  word  of  reason,  and  therein  may 
esteem  herself  free  from  the  law.  But  what  she  spoke  was 
meant  for  reason,  and,  therefore,  unless  she  confesses  and 
i  avouches  all  which  she  has  said  to  be  nonsense,  it  shall  pass 

I  for  such,  so  far  as  to  incur  the    penalty  of   our   statutes. 

Wherefore,  holy  dame,  pilgrim,  or  abbess,  or  whatever  thou 
art,  be  mute  with  thy  mummery  or  beware  the  mill-dam. 
We  will  have  neither  spiritual  nor  temporal  scolds  in  our 
diocese  of  Unreason  ! '' 

As  he  spoke  thus,  he  extended  his  hand  towards  the  old 
woman,  while  his  followers  shouted,  "  A  doom — a  doom  ! " 
and  prepared  to  second  his  purpose,  when  lo  !  it  was  sud- 
denly frustrated.  Eoland  Graeme  had  witnessed  with  in- 
dignation the  insults  offered  to  his  old  spiritual  perceptor, 
but  yet  had  wit  enough  to  reflect  he  could  render  him  no 
assistance,  but  might  well,  by  ineffective  interference,  make 
matters  worse.  But  when  he  saw  his  aged  relative  in  danger 
of  personal  violence,  he  gave  way  to  the  natural  impetuosity 
of  his  temper,  and,  stepping  forward,  struck  his  poniard 
into  the  body  of  the  Abbot  of  Unreason,  whom  the  blow 
instantly  prostrated  on  the  pavement. 


CHAPTER  XV 

As  when  in  tumults  rise  the  ignoble  crowd, 
Mad  are  their  motions,  and  their  tongues  are  loud, 
And  stones  and  brands  in  rattling  furies  fly, 
And  all  the  rustic  arms  which  fury  can  supply — 
Then  if  some  grave  and  pious  man  appear, 
They  hush  their  noise,  and  lend  a  listening  ear. 

Dryden's  Virgil. 

A  DREADFUL  shout  of  vengeance  was  raised  by  the  revelers, 
whose  sport  was  thus  so  fearfully  interrupted  ;  but,  for  an  in- 
stant, the  want  of  weapons  amongst  the  multitude,  as  well 
as  the  inflamed  features  and  brandished  poniard  of  Roland 
Graeme,  kept  them  at  bay,  while  the  abbot,  horror-struck  at 
the  violence,  implored,  with  uplifted  hands,  pardon  for 
bloodshed  committed  within  the  sanctuary.  Magdalene 
Graeme  alone  expressed  triumph  in  the  blow  her  descendant 
had  dealt  to  the  scoffer,  mixed,  however,  with  a  wild  and 
anxious  expression  of  terror  for  her  grandson^s  safety.  *'  Let 
him  perish,^'  she  said,  '^  in  his  blasphemy — let  him  die  on 
the  holy  pavement  which  he  has  insulted  ! " 

But  the  rage  of  the  multitude,  the  grief  of  the  abbot,  the 
exultation  of  the  enthusiastic  Magdalen,  were  all  mistimed 
and  unnecessary.  Howleglas,  mortally  wounded  as  he  was 
supposed  to  be,  sprung  alertly  up  from  the  floor,  calling 
aloud,  *'  A  miracle — a  miracle,  my  masters  !  as  brave  a  mira- 
cle as  ever  was  wrought  in  the  kirk  of  Kennaquhair.  And  I 
charge  you,  my  masters,  as  your  lawfully  chosen  abbot,  that 
you  touch  no  one  without  my  command.  You,  wolf  and 
bear,  will  guard  this  pragmatic  youth,  but  without  hurting 
him.  And  you  reverend  brother,  will,  with  your  comrades, 
withdraw  to  your  cells  ;  for  our  conference  has  ended 
like  all  conferences,  leaving  each  of  his  own  mind,  as  before  ; 
and  if  we  fight,  both  you,  and  your  brethren,  and  the  kirk, 
will  have  the  worst  on*t.  Wherefore,  pack  up  your  pipes 
and  begone. '' 

Tlie  hubbub  was  beginning  again  to  awaken,  but  still 
Father  Ambrose  hesitated,  as  uncertain  to  what  path  his 
duty  called  him,  whether  to  face  out  the  present  storm  or  to 
reserve  himself  for  a  better  moment.     His  brother  of  Unrea' 

125 


12«  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

son  observed  his  difficulty,  and  said,  in  a  tone  more  natural 
and  less  affected  than  that  with  which  he  had  hitherto  sus- 
tained his  character.  **  We  came  hither,  my  good  sir,  mora 
in  mirth  than  in  mischief  :  our  bark  is  worse  than  our  bite  : 
and,  especially,  we  mean  you  no  personal  harm  ;  wherefore, 
draw  off  while  the  play  is  good  ;  for  it  is  ill  whistling  for  a 
hawk  when  she  is  once  on  the  soar,  and  worse  to  snatch  the 
quarry  from  the  ban-dog.  Let  these  fellows  once  begin  their 
brawl^  and  it  will  be  too  much  for  madness  itself,  let  alone 
the  Abbot  of  Unreason,  to  bring  them  back  to  the  lure/' 

The  brethren  crowded  around  Father  Ambrosius,  and  joined 
in  urging  him  to  give  place  to  the  torrent.  The  present 
revel  was,  they  said,  an  ancient  custom  which  his  predeces- 
sors had  permitted,  and  old  Father  Nicolas  himself  had 
played  the  dragon  in  the  days  of  the  Abbot  Ingelram. 

**  And  we  now  reap  the  fruit  of  the  seed  which  they  have 
so  unadvisedly  sown,''  said  Ambrosius  :  ''  they  taught  men 
to  make  a  mock  of  what  is  holy,  what  wonder  that  the  de- 
scendants of  scoffers  become  robbers  and  plunderers  ?  But 
be  it  as  you  list,  my  brethren — move  towards  the  dortour. 
And  you,  dame,  I  command  you,  by  the  authority  which  I 
have  over  you,  and  by  your  respect  for  that  youth's  safety, 
that  you  go  with  us  without  farther  speech.  Yet,  stay — 
what  are  your  intentions  towards  that  youth  whom  you  de- 
tain prisoner  ?  Wot  ye,"  he  continued,  addressing  Howleg- 
las  in  a  stern  tone  of  voice,  '*  that  he  bears  the  livery  of  the 
house  of  Avenel  ?  They  who  fear  not  the  anger  of  Heaven 
may  at  least  dread  the  wrath  of  man." 

*'  Cumber  not  yourself  concerning  him,"  answered  How- 
leglas,  ''  we  know  right  well  who  and  what  he  is." 

"  Let  me  pray,"  said  the  abbot,  in  a  tone  of  entreaty, 
"•that  you  do  him  no  wrong  for  the  rash  deed  which  he 
attempted  in  his  imprudent  zeal." 

**  I  say,  trouble  not  yourself  about  it,  father,"  answered 
Howlegias  ;  *'but  move  off  with  your  train,  male  and  female, 
or  I  will  not  undertake  to  save  yonder  she-saint  from  the 
ducking-stool.  And  as  for  bearing  of  malice,  my  stomach 
has  no  room  for  it ;  it  is,"  he  added,  clapping  his  hand  on 
his  portly  belly,  "  too  well  bumbasted  out  with  straw  and 
buckram ;  gramercy  to  them  both — they  kept  out  that 
madcap's  dagger  as  well  as  a  Milan  corslet  could  have 
done." 

In  fact,  the  home-driven  poniard  of  Eoland  Graeme  had 
lighted  upon  the  stuffing  of  the  fictitious  paunch,  which  the 
Abbot  of  Unreason  wore  as  a  part  of  his  charaQteristic  dresg. 


THE  ABBOT  127 

and  it  was  only  the  force  of  the  blow  which  had  prostrated 
that  reverend  person  on  the  ground  for  a  moment. 

Satisfied  in  some  degree  by  this  man's  assurance,  and  com- 
pelled to  give  way  to  superior  force,  the  Abbot  Ambrosius 
retired  from  the  church  at  the  head  of  the  monks,  and  left 
the  court  free  for  the  revelers  to  work  their  will.  But  wild 
and  wilful  as  these  rioters  were,  they  accompanied  the  retreat 
of  the  religionists  with  none  of  those  shouts  of  contempt  and 
derision  with  which  they  had  at  first  hailed  them.  The 
abbot's  discourse  had  affected  some  of  them  with  remorse, 
others  with  shame,  and  all  with  a  transient  degree  of  respect. 
They  remained  silent  until  the  last  monk  had  disappeared 
through  the  side-door  which  communicated  with  their  dwell- 
ing-place, and  even  then  it  cost  some  exhortations  on  the  part 
of  Howleglas,  some  caprioles  of  the  hobby-horse,  and  some 
wallops  of  the  dragon,  to  rouse  once  more  the  rebuked  spirit 
of  revelry. 

**  And  how  now,  my  masters  ?**  said  the  Abbot  of  Unrea- 
8on  ;  ''and  wherefore  look  on  me  with  such  blank  Jack-a-Lent 
visages  ?  Will  you  lose  your  old  pastime  for  an  old  wife's 
tale  of  saints  and  purgatory  ?  Why,  I  thought  you  would 
have  made  all  split  long  since.  Come,  strike  up,  tabor  and 
harp — strike  up,  fiddle  and  rebeck  ;  dance  and  be  merry  to- 
day, and  let  care  come  to-morrow  !  Bear  and  wolf,  look  to 
your  prisoner  ;  prance  hobby  ;  hiss  dragon,  and  halloo,  boys  ; 
we  grow  older  every  moment  we  stand  idle,  and  life  is  too 
short  to  be  spent  in  playing  mumchanee.'* 

This  pithy  exhortation  was  attended  with  the  effect  desired. 
They  fumigated  the  church  with  burnt  wood  and  feathers 
instead  of  incense,  put  foul  water  into  the  holy-water  basins, 
and  celebrated  a  parody  on  the  church  service,  the  mock 
abbot  officiating  at  the  altar  ;  they  sang  ludicrous  and  inde- 
cent parodies  to  the  tunes  of  church  hymns  ;  they  violated 
whatever  vestments  or  vessels  belonging  to  the  abbey  they 
could  lay  their  hands  upon  ;  and,  playing  every  freak  which 
the  whim  of  the  moment  could  suggest  to  their  wild  caprice, 
at  length  they  fell  to  more  lasting  deeds  of  demolition,  pulled 
down  and  destroyed  some  carved  woodwork,  dashed  out  the 
painted  windows  which  had  escaped  former  violence,  and,  in 
their  rigorous  search  after  sculpture  dedicated  to  idolatory, 
began  to  destroy  what  ornaments  yet  remained  entire  upon 
the  tombs  and  around  the  cornices  of  the  pillars. 

The  spirit  of  demolition,  like  other  tastes,  increases  by  in- 
dulgence :  from  these  lighter  attempts  at  mischief,  the  more 
tnmultnous  part  of  the  meeting  began  to  meditate  destmo- 


12tt  WAVEBLET  NOVELS. 

tion  on  a  more  extended  scale.  "  Let  us  heave  it  down  al- 
together, the  old  crowds  nest/'  became  a  general  cry  among 
among  them  ;  'Mt  has  served  the  Pope  and  his  rooks  too 
long  ;  and  up  they  struck  a  ballad  which  was  then  popular 
among  the  lower  classes  : 

•'  The  Paip,  that  pagan  full  of  pride, 
Hath  blinded  us  owei  lang, 
For  where  the  blind  the  blind  doth  lead. 
No  marvel  baith  gae  wrang. 
Like  prince  and  king, 
He  led  the  ring 
Of  all  iniquity. 
Sing  hay  trix,  trim-go-trix, 
Under  the  greenwood  tree. 

The  bishop  rich,  he  could  not  preach 

For  sporting  with  the  lasses ; 
The  silly  friar  behoved  to  fleech 
For  awmous  as  he  passes  ; 
The  curate  his  creed 
He  could  not  read — 

Shame  fa'  the  company  I 
Sing  hay  trix,  trim-go-trix, 
Under  the  greenwood  tree.*'* 

Thundering  out  this  chorus  of  a  notable  hunting  song, 
which  had  been  pressed  into  the  service  of  some  polemical 
poet,  the 'followers  of  the  Abbot  of  Unreason  were  turning 
every  moment  more  tumultuous,  and  getting  beyond  the  man- 
agement of  even  that  reverend  prelate  himself,  when  a 
knight  in  full  armor,  followed  by  two  or  three  men-at-arms, 
entered  the  church  and  in  a  stern  voice  commanded  them  to 
forbear  their  riotous  mummery. 

His  visor  was  up,  but,  if  it  had  been  lowered,  the  cogniz- 
ance of  the  holly-branch  sufficiently  distinguished  Sir  Hal- 
bert  Glendinning,  who,  on  his  homeward  road,  was  passing 
through  the  village  of  Kennaquhair ;  and,  moved  perhaps 
by  anxiety  for  his  brother's  safety,  had  come  directly  to  the 
church  on  hearing  of  the  uproar. 

"  What  is  the  meaning  of  this,"  he  said,  ''  my  masters  ? 
Are  ye  Christian  men,  and  the  king's  subjects,  and  yet  waste 
and  destroy  church  and  chancel  like  so  many  heathens  ?  '* 

All  stood  silent,  though  doubtless  there  were  several  dis- 
appointed and  surprised  at  receiving  chiding  instead  oi 
thanks  from  so  zealous  a  Protestant. 

The  dragon,  indeed,  did  at  length  take  upon  him  to  be 

'•  "  '  ♦  See  •*  The  Paip,  that  Pagan."    Note  11. 


TBE  ABBOT  120 

spokesman,  and  growled  from  the  depth  of  his  painted  maw, 
that  they  did  hut  sweep  Popery  out  of  the  church  with  the 
besom  of  destruction. 

"  What  !  my  friends/'  replied  Sir  Halbert  Glendinning, 
"think  you  this  mumming  and  masquing  has  not  more  of 
Popery  in  it  than  have  these  stone  walls  ?  Take  the  leprosy 
out  of  your  flesh  before  you  speak  of  purifying  stone  walls  : 
abate  your  insolent  license,  which  leads  but  to  idle  vanity 
and  sinful  excess  ;  and  know,  that  what  you  now  practise  is 
one  of  the  profane  and  unseemly  sports  introduced  by  the 
priests  of  Kome  themselves,  to  mislead  and  to  brutify  the 
souls  which  fell  into  their  net." 

*^  Marry  come  up — are  you  there  with  your  bears  ?''  mut- 
tered the  dragon,  with  a  draconic  sullenness  which  was  in 
good  keeping  with  his  character  ;  "  we  had  as  good  have  been 
Romans  still,  if  we  are  to  have  no  freedom  in  our  pas- 
times ! " 

'*  Dost  thou  reply  to  me  so  ?  '*  said  Sir  Halbert  Glendin- 
ning ;  '*  or  is  there  any  pastime  in  groveling  on  the  ground 
there  like  a  gigantic  kail-worm  ?  Get  outof  thy  painted  case, 
or,  by  my  knighthood,  I  will  treat  you  like  the  beast  and 
reptile  you  have  made  yourself." 

*'  Beast  and  reptile  ! "  retorted  the  oifended  dragon  ;  ''  set- 
ting aside  your  knighthood,  I  hold  myself  as  well  a  born  man 
as  thyself." 

The  knight  made  no  answer  in  words,  but  bestowed  two 
such  blows  with  the  butt  of  his  lance  on  the  petulant  dragon, 
that,  had  not  the  hoops  which  constituted  the  ribs  of  the 
machine  been  pretty  strong,  they  would  hardly  have  saved 
those  of  the  actor  from  being  broken.  In  all  haste  the  mas- 
quer crept  out  of  his  disguise,  unwilling  to  abide  a  third 
buffet  from  the  lance  of  the  enraged  knight.  And  when  the 
ex-dragon  stood  on  the  floor  of  the  church,  he  presented  to 
Halbert  Glendinning  the  well-known  countenance  of  Dan  of 
the  Howlethirst,  an  ancient  comrade  of  his  own,  ere  fate  had 
raised  him  so  high  above  the  rank  to  which  he  was  born. 
The  clown  looked  sulkily  upon  the  knight,  as  if  to  upbraid 
him  for  his  violence  towards  an  old  acquaintance,  and  Glen- 
dinning's  own  good-nature  reproached  him  for  the  violence 
he  had  acted  upon  him. 

'^  I  did  wrong  to  strike  thee,  Dan,"  he  said  ;  ''  but  in  truth 
I  knew  thee  not:  thou  wert  ever  a  mad  fellow.  Come  to 
Avenel  Castle,  and  we  shall  see  how  my  hawks  fly." 

''  And  if  we  show  him  not  falcons  that  will  mount  a8 
merrily  as  rockets,"  said  the  abbot  of  Unreason,  '*  I  would 
9 


180  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

your  honor  laid  as  hard  on  my  bones  as  you  did  on  his  eyen 
now." 

'*  How  now,  sir  knave/'  said  the  knight,  **  and  what  has 
brought  you  hither  V* 

The  abbot,  hastily  ridding  himself  of  the  false  nose  which 
mystified  his  physiognomy,  and  the  supplementary  belly 
which  made  up  his  disguise,  stood  before  his  master  in  his 
real  character  of  Adam  Woodcock,  the  falconer  of  Avenel. 

"  How,  varlet !  "  said  the  knight ;  "  hast  thou  dared  to 
come  here,  and  disturb  the  very  house  my  brother  was 
dwelling  in  ?  " 

'*  And  it  was  even  for  that  reason,  craving  your  honor's 

Eardon,  that  I  came  hither  ;  for  I  heard  the  country  was  to 
e  up  to  choose  an  Abbot  of  Unreason,  and  '  Sure,'  thought 
I.  '  I  that  can  sing,  dance,  leap  backwards  over  a  broad- 
8Word,'and  am  as  good  a  fool  as  ever  sought  promotion,  have 
all  chance  of  carrying  the  office  ;  and  if  I  gain  my  election, 
I  may  stand  his  honor's  brother  in  some  stead,  supposing 
things  fall  roughly  out  at  the  kirk  of  St.  Mary's.'" 

''  Thou  art  but  a  cogging  knave,"  said  Sir  Halbert,  "  and 
well  I  wot  that  love  of  ale  and  brandy,  besides  the  humor  of 
riot  and  frolic,  would  draw  thee  a  mile,  when  love  of  my 
house  would  not  bring  thee  a  yard.  But,  go  to — carry  thy 
roisterers  elsewhere — to  the  alehouse  if  they  list,  and  there 
are  crowns  to  pay  your  charges  ;  make  out  the  day's  madness 
without  doing  more  mischief,  and  be  wise  men  to-morrow  ; 
and  hereafter  learn  to  serve  a  good  cause  better  than  by  act- 
ing like  buffoons  or  ruffians." 

Obedient  to  his  master's  mandate,  the  falconer  was  collect- 
ing his  discouraged  followers,  and  whispering  into  their  ears 
— ^^  Away,  away — tace  \^  Latin  for  a  candle.  Never  mind 
the  good  knight's  Puritanism — we  will  play  the  frolic  out 
over  a  stand  of  double  ale  in  Dame  Martin  the  brewster's 
barn-yard.  Draw  off,  harp  and  tabor,  bagpipe  and  drum, 
num  till  you  are  out  of  the  churchyard,  then  let  the  welkin 
ring  again ;  move  on,  wolf  and  bear — keep  the  hind  legs  till 
you  cross  the  kirk-stile,  and  then  show  yourselves  beasts  of 
mettle  ;  what  devil  sent  him  hereto  spoil  our  holiday  !  But 
anger  him  not,  my  hearts  ;  his  lance  is  no  goose-feather,  as 
Dan's  ribs  can  tell." 

*'  By  my  soul,"  said  Dan,  *'  had  it  been  another  than  my 
ancient  comrade,  I  would  have  made  my  father's  old  fox  fly 
about  his  ears  ! " 

''  Hush  ! — hush  !  man,"  replied  Adam  Woodcock,  "not  a 
word  that  way,  as  you  value  the  safety  of  your  bones  ;  what, 


THE  ABBOT  131 

man  !  we  must  take  a  clink  as  it  passes,  so  it  is  not  bestowed 
in  downright  ill-will/' 

"  But  I  will  take  no  such  thing/'  said  Dan  of  the  Howlet- 
hirst,  sullenly  resisting  the  efforts  of  Woodcock,  who  was 
dragging  him  out  of  the  church  ;  when,  the  quick  military 
eye  of  Sir  Halbert  Glendinning  detecting  Roland  Graeme  be- 
twixt his  two  guards,  the  knight  exclaimed,  "  So  ho  !  falconer 
— Woodcock — knave,  hast  thou  brought  my  lady's  page  in 
mine  own  livery  to  assist  at  this  hopeful  revel  of  thine,  with 
your  wolves  and  bears  ?  Since  you  were  at  such  mummings, 
you  might,  if  you  would,  have  at  least  saved  the  credit  of  my 
household  by  dressing  him  up  as  a  jackanapes.  Bring  him 
hither,  fellows ! '' 

Adam  Woodcock  was  too  honest  and  downright  to  permit 
blame  to  light  upon  the  youth  when  it  was  undeserved.  *'  I 
swear,"  he  said,  "  by  St.  Martin  of  Bullions '' 

"And  what  hast  thou  to  do  with  St.  Martin  ?'' 

*'  Nay,  little  enough,  sir,  unless  when  he  sends  such  rainy 
days  that  we  cannot  fly  a  hawk  ;  but  I  say  to  your  worshipful 
knighthood  that,  as  I  am  a  true  man " 

''  As  you  are  a  false  varlet,  had  been  the  better  obtesta- 
tion." 

"  Nay,  if  your  knighthood  allows  me  not  to  speak,"  said 
Adam,  **  I  can  hold  my  tongue ;  but  the  boy  came  not  hither 
by  my  bidding,  for  all  that." 

*'  But  to  gratify  his  own  malapert  pleasure,  I  warrant  me," 
Baid  Sir  Halbert  Glendinning.  "  Come  hither,  young 
gpringald,  and  tell  me  whether  you  have  your  mistress's 
license  to  be  so  far  absent  from  the  castle,  or  to  dishonor  my 
livery  by  mingling  in  such  a  May-game  ?  " 

'*  Sir  Halbert  Glendinning,"  answered  Roland  Grasme, 
with  steadiness,  "  I  have  obtained  the  permission,  or  rather 
the  commands,  of  your  lady  to  dispose  of  my  time  hereafter 
according  to  my  own  pleasure.  I  have  been  a  most  unwill- 
ing spectator  of  this  May-game,  since  it  is  your  pleasure  so 
to  call  it ;  and  I  only  wear  your  livery  until  I  can  obtain 
clothes  which  bear  no  such  badge  of  servitude." 

**  How  am  I  to  understand  this,  young  man  ?  "  said  Sir 
Halbert  Glendinning  ;  ''  speak  plainly,  for  I  am  no  reader 
of  riddles.  That  my  lady  favored  thee,  I  know.  What  hast 
thou  done  to  disoblige  her,  and  occasion  thy  dismissal  ?  " 

''Nothing  to  speak  of,"  said  Adam  Woodcock,  answering 
for  the  boy  ;  ''  a  foolish  quarrel  with  me,  which  was  more 
foolishly  told  over  again  to  my  honored  lady,  cost  the  poor  boy 
his  place.     For  my  part,  I  will  say  freely  that  I  was  wrong 


1^  WAY  EBLEY  NOVELS 

from  beginning  to  end,  except  about  the  washing  of  the  eyas'a 
meat.     There  I  stand  to  it  that  I  was  right/' 

With  that,  the  good-natured  falconer  repeated  to  his 
master  the  whole  history  of  the  squabble  which  had  brought 
Roland  Grseme  into  disgrace  with  his  mistress,  but  in  a  man- 
ner so  favorable  for  the  page  that  Sir  Halbert  could  not  but 
suspect  his  generous  motive/' 

*  *  Thon  art  a  good-natured  fellow/'  he  said,  '^  Adam  Wood- 
cock/' 

"  As  ever  had  falcon  upon  fist,"  said  Adam  ;  *'  and,  for 
that  matter,  so  is  Master  Roland ;  but,  being  half  a  gentle- 
man by  his  office,  his  blood  is  soon  up,  and  so  is  mine/' 

"Well,"  said  Sir  Halbert,  "  be  it  as  it  will,  my  lady  has 
acted  hastily,  for  this  was  no  great  matter  of  offense  to  dis- 
card the  lad  whom  she  had  trained  up  for  years  ;  but  he,  I 
doubt  not,  made  it  worse  by  his  prating  ;  it  jumps  well  with 
a  purpose,  however,  which  I  had  in  my  mind.  Draw  off 
these  people.  Woodcock ;  and  you,  Roland  Graeme,  attend 
me." 

The  page  followed  him  in  silence  into  the  abbot's  house, 
where,  stepping  into  the  first  apartment  which  he  found  open, 
he  commanded  one  of  his  attendants  to  let  his  brother.  Master 
Edward  Glendinning,  know  that  he  desired  to  speak  with 
him.  The  men-at-arms  went  gladly  off  to  join  their  comrade, 
Adam  Woodcock,  and  the  jolly  crew  whom  he  had  assembled 
at  Dame  Martin's,  the  hostler's  wife,  and  the  page  and  knight 
were  left  alone  in  the  apartment.  Sir  Halbert  Glendinning 
paced  the  floor  for  a  moment  in  silence,  and  then  thus  ad- 
dressed his  attendant : 

"  Thou  mayest  have  remarked,  stripling,  that  I  have  but 
seldom  distinguished  thee  by  much  notice — I  see  thy  color 
rises,  but  do  not  speak  till  thou  hearest  me  out.  I  say,  I 
have  never  much  distinguished  thee,  not  because  I  did  not 
see  that  in  thee  which  I  might  well  have  praised,  but  because 
I  saw  something  blamable,  which  such  praises  might  have 
made  worse.  Thy  mistress,  dealing  accordiri g  to  her  pleasu re 
in  her  own  household,  as  no  one  hath  better  reason  or  title, 
had  picked  thee  from  the  rest,  and  treated  thee  more  like  a 
relation  than  a  domestic  ;  and  if  thou  didst  show  some  vanity 
and  petulance  under  such  distinction,  it  were  injustice  not 
to  say  that  thou  hast  profited  both  in  thy  exercises  and  in  thy 
breeding,  and  hast  shown  many  sparkles  of  a  gentle  and 
manly  spirit.  Moreover,  it  were  ungenerous,  having  bred 
thee  up  freakish  and  fiery,  to  dismiss  thee  to  want  or  wanrler- 
ing  for  showing  that  very  peevishness  and  impatience  of  dis- 


TBE  ABBOT  183 

eipline  which  arose  from  thy  too  delicate  nurture.  There- 
fore, and  for  the  credit  of  my  own  household,  I  am  deter- 
mined to  retain  thee  in  my  train,  until  i  can  honorably  dis- 
pose of  thee  elsewhere,  with  a  fair  prospect  of  thy  going 
through  the  world  with  credit  to  the  house  that  brought  thee 
up/' 

If  there  was  something  in  Sir  Halbert  Glendinning's  speech 
"which  flattered  Roland^s  pride,  there  was  also  much  that, 
according  to  his  mode  of  thinking,  was  an  alloy  to  the  com- 
pliment. And  yet  his  conscience  instantly  told  him  that  he 
ought  to  accept,  with  grateful  deference,  the  offer  which 
was  made  him  by  the  husband  of  his  kind  protectress  ;  and 
his  prudence,  however  slender,  could  not  but  admit  he  should 
enter  the  world  under  very  different  auspices  as  a  retainer 
of  Sir  Halbert  Glendinning,  so  famed  for  wisdom,  courage, 
and  influence,  from  those  under  which  he  might  partake  the 
wanderings,  and  become  an  agent  in  the  visionary  schemes 
— for  such  they  appeared  to  him — of  Magdalen,  his  relative. 
Still,  a  strong  reluctance  to  re-enter  a  service  from  which 
he  had  been  dismissed  with  contempt  almost  counterbalanced 
these  considerations. 

Sir  Halbert  looked  on  the  youth  with  surprise,  and  re- 
sumed :  '^  You  seem  to  hesitate,  young  man.  Are  your  own 
prospects  so  inviting  that  you  should  pause  ere  you  accept 
those  which  I  offer  to  you  ?  or  must  I  remind  you  that, 
although  you  have  offended  your  benefactress,  even  to  the 
point  of  her  dismissing  you,  yet  I  am  convinced,  the  knowl- 
edge that  you  have  gone  unguided  on  your  own  wild  way, 
into  a  world  so  disturbed  as  ours  of  Scotland,  cannot,  in  the 
upshot,  but  give  her  sorrow  and  pain ;  from  which  it  is,  in 
gratitude,  your  duty  to  preserve  her,  no  less  than  it  is  in 
common  wisdom  your  duty  to  accept  my  offered  protection, 
for  your  own  sake,  where  body  and  soul  are  alike  endangered 
should  you  refuse  it.'' 

Roland  Graeme  replied  in  a  respectful  tone,  but  at  the 
same  time  with  some  spirit,  **  I  am  not  ungrateful  for  such 
countenance  as  has  been  afforded  me  by  the  Lord  of  Avenel, 
and  I  am  glad  to  learn,  for  the  first  time,  that  I  have  not 
had  the  misfortune  to  be  utterly  beneath  his  observation,  as 
I  had  thought.  And  it  is  only  needful  to  show  me  how  I 
can  testify  my  duty  and  my  gratitude  towards  my  early  and 
constant  benefactress  with  my  life's  hazard,  and  I  will  gladly 
; peril  it."     He  stopped. 

"  These  are  but  words,  young  man,"  answered  Glendin- 
ning ;  '^  large  protestations  are  often  used  to  supply  the  place 


X34  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

of  effectual  service.  I  know  nothing  in  which  the  peril  of 
your  life  can  serve  the  Lady  of  Avenel  ;  I  can  only  say,  she 
will  be  pleased  to  learn  you  have  adopted  some  course  which 
may  ensure  the  safety  of  your  person  and  the  weal  of 
your  soul.  What  ails  you,  that  you  accept  not  that  safety 
when  it  is  offered  you  ?  " 

**  My  only  relative  who  is  alive/'  answered  Eoland — '*  at 
least  the  only  relative  whom  I  have  ever  seen,  has  rejoined 
me  since  1  was  dismissed  from  the  Castle  of  Avenel,  and  1 
must  consult  with  her  whether  I  can  adopt  the  line  to  which 
you  now  call  me,  or  whether  her  increasing  infirmities,  or 
the  authority  which  she  is  entitled  to  exercise  over  me,  may 
not  require  me  to  abide  with  her.'' 

**  Where  is  this  relation  ?  "  said  Sir  Halbert  Glendinning. 

**  In  this  house,"  answered  the  page. 

"  Go,  then,  and  seek  her  out,"  said  the  Knight  of  Avenel  ; 
**  more  than  meet  it  is  that  thou  shouldst  have  her  approba- 
tion, yet  worse  than  foolish  would  she  show  herself  in 
denying  it." 

Roland  left  the  apartment  to  seek  for  his  grandmother, 
and  as  he  retreated  the  abbot  entered. 

The  two  brothers  met  as  brothers  who  love  each  othei 
fondly,  yet  meet  rarely  together.  Such  indeed  was  the  case. 
Their  mutual  affection  attached  them  to  each  other  ;  but  in 
every  pursuit,  habit,  or  sentiment  connected  with  the 
discords  of  the  times  the  friend  and  counselor  of  Murray 
stood  opposed  to  the  Roman  Catholic  priest ;  nor,  indeed, 
could  they  have  held  very  much  society  together  without 
giving  cause  of  offense  and  suspicion  to  their  confederates 
on  each  side.  After  a  close  embrace  on  the  part  of  both, 
and  a  welcome  on  that  of  the  abbot.  Sir  Halbert  Glendin- 
ning expressed  his  satisfaction  that  he  had  come  in  time  to 
appease  the  riot  raised  by  Howleglas  and  his  tumultuous 
followers. 

"  And  yet,"  he  said,  "  when  I  look  on  your  garments, 
brother  Edward,  I  cannot  help  thinking  there  still  remains 
an  Abbot  of  Unreason  within  the  bounds  of  the  monastery." 

''  And  wherefore  carp  at  my  garments,  brother  Halbert  ?" 
said  the  abbot,  "it  is  the  spiritual  armor  of  my  calling, 
and,  as  such,  beseems  me  as  well  as  breastplate  and  baldrio 
become  your  own  bosom," 

*'  Ay,  but  there  were  small  wisdom,  methinks,  in  putting 
on  armor  where  we  have  no  power  to  fight  :  it  is  but- a 
dangerous  temerity  to  defy  the  foe  whom  we  cannot  resist." 

"  For  that,  my  brother,  no  one  can  answer,"  said  the 


TEE  ABBOT  135 

abbot,  "  nntil  tbe  battle  be  fought ;  and,  were  it  even  as 
you  say,  methinks  a  brave  man,  though  desperate  of  victory, 
would  rather  desire  to  fight  and  fall  than  to  resign  sword 
and  shield  on  some  mean  and  dishonorable  composition  with 
his  insulting  antagonist.  But  let  us  not,  dear  Halbert,  make 
discord  of  a  theme  on  which  we  cannot  agree,  but  rather 
stay  and  partake,  though  a  heretic,  of  my  admission  feast. 
You  need  not  fear,  my  brother,  that  your  zeal  for  restoring 
the  primitive  discipline  of  the  church  will  on  this  occasion, 
be  offended  with  the  rich  profusion  of  a  conventual  banquet. 
The  days  of  our  old  friend  Abbot  Boniface  are  over  ;  and 
the  superior  of  St.  Mary's  has  neither  forests  nor  fishin<^s, 
woods  nor  pastures,  nor  cornfields  ;  neither  flocks  nor  herds, 
bucks  nor  wild-fowl,  granaries  of  wheat  nor  storehouses  of  oil 
and  wine,  of  ale  and  of  mead.  The  refectioner's  office  is 
ended  ;  and  such  a  meal  as  a  hermit  in  romance  can  offer  to 
a  wandering  knight  is  all  we  have  to  set  before  you.  But, 
if  you  will  share  it  with  us,  we  shall  eat  it  with  a  cheerful 
heart,  and  thank  you,  my  brother,  for  your  timely  protec- 
tion against  these  rude  scoffers.'' 

"  My  dearest  Edward,'*  said  the  knight,  "  it  grieves  me 
deeply  I  cannot  abide  with  you  ;  but  it  would  sound  ill  for 
us  both  were  one  of  the  Reformed  congregation  to  sit  down 
at  your  admission  feast ;  and,  if  I  can  ever  have  the  satis- 
faction of  affording  you  effectual  protection,  it  will  be  much 
owing  to  my  remaining  unsuspected  of  countenancing  or 
approving  your  religious  rites  and  ceremonies.  It  will 
demand  whatever  consideration  I  can  acquire  among  my 
own  friends  to  shelter  the  bold  man  who,  contrary  to  law 
and  the  edicts  of  parliament,  has  dared  to  take  up  the  office 
of  abbot  of  St.  Mary's." 

*'  Trouble  not  yourself  with  the  task,  my  brother,"  replied 
Father  Ambrosius.  "  I  would  lay  down  my  dearest  blood 
to  know  that  you  defended  the  church  for  the  church's  sake  ; 
but,  while  you  remain  unhappily  her  enemy,  I  would  not 
that  you  endangered  your  own  safety,  or  diminished  your 
own  comfort,  for  the  sake  of  my  individual  protection.  But 
who  comes  hither  to  disturb  the  few  minutes  of  fraternal 
communication  which  our  evil  fate  allows  us  ?" 

"  The  door  of  the  apartment  opened  as  the  abbot  spoke, 
and  Dame  Magdalen  entered. 

*'  Who  is  this  woman  ?"  said  Sir  Halbert  Glendinning, 
somewhat  sternly,  "  and  what  does  she  want  ?  " 

*'  That  you  know  me  not,"  said  the  matron,  ''signifies 
Uttle ;  I  come  by  your  own  order,  to  give  my  free  consent 


136  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

that  the  stripling,  Roland  Graeme,  return  to  your  service ; 
and,  having  said  so,  I  cumber  you  no  longer  with  my 
presence.  Peace  be  with  you  !  "  She  turned  to  go  away, 
but  was  stopped  by  the  inquiries  of  Sir  Halbert  Glendin- 
ning. 

*'  Who  are  you  ? — what  are  you  ? — and  why  do  you  not 
jiwait  to  make  me  answer  ?  " 

''  I  was,"  she  replied,  "  while  yet  I  belonged  to  the  world, 
a  matron  of  no  vulgar  name  ;  now  I  am  Magdalen,  a  poor 
pilgrimer,  for  the  sake  of  Holy  Kirk." 

''  Yea,"  said  Sir  Halbert,  "  art  thou  a  Catholic  ?  I 
thought  my  dame  said  that  Roland  Graeme  came  of  Reformed 
kin." 

"  His  father,"  said  the  matron,  ''  was  a  heretic,  or  rather 
one  regarded  neither  orthodoxy  nor  heresy — neither  the 
temple  of  the  church  or  of  antichrist.  I,  too — for  the  sins 
of  the  times  make  sinners — have  seemed  to  conform  to  your 
unhallowed  rites  ;  but  I  had  my  dispensation  and  my  absolu- 
tion." .,       . 

'*  You  see,  brother,"  said  Sir  Halbert,  with  a  smile  of 
meaning  towards  the  abbot,  *'  that  we  accuse  you  not  alto- 
gether without  grounds  of  mental  equivocation." 

*'  My  brother,  you  do  us  injustice,"  replied  the  abbot; 
"  this  woman,  as  her  bearing  may  of  itself  warrant  you,  is 
not  in  her  perfect  mind.  Thanks,  I  must  needs  say,  to  the 
persecution  of  your  marauding  barons  and  of  your  latitudina* 
rian  clergy."  ^      „  „ 

"  I  will  not  dispute  the  point,"  said  Sir  Halbert  ;  ''  the 
evils  of  the  time  are  unhappily  so  numerous  that  both 
churches  may  divide  them  and  have  enow  to  spare."  So 
saying,  he  leaned  from  the  window  of  the  apartment  and 
winded  his  bugle. 

''  Why  do  you  sound  your  horn,  my  brother  ?  ^^  said  the 
abbot ;  ''  we  have  spent  but  few  minutes  together." 

''Alas!"  said  the  elder  brother,  ''and  even  these  few 
have  been  sullied  by  disagreement.  I  sound  to  horse,  my 
brother,  the  rather  that,  to  avert  the  consequences  of  this 
day's  rashness  on  your  part  requires  hasty  efforts  on  mine. 
Dame,  you  will  oblige  me  by  letting  your  young  relative 
know  that  we  mount  instantly.  I  intend  not  that  he  shall 
return  to  Avenel  with  me ;  it  would  lead  to  new  quarrels 
betwixt  him  and  my  household  ;  at  least,  to  taunts  which 
his  proud  heart  could  ill  brook,  and  my  wish  is  to  do  him 
kindness.  He  shall,  therefore,  go  forward  to  Edinburgh 
with  one  of  my  retinue,  whom  I  shall  send  back  to  say  whai 


THE  ABBOT  137 

has  chanced  here.  You  seem  rejoiced  at  this  ?  "  he  added, 
fixing  his  eyes  keenly  on  Magdalen  Graeme,  who  returned 
his  gaze  with  calm  indifference. 

"  I  would  rather,''  she  said,  ''  that  Koland,  a  poor  and 
friendless  orphan,  were  the  jest  of  the  world  at  large  than 
of  the  menials  at  Avenel/' 

^' Fear  not,  dame,  he  shall  be  scorned  by  neither,"  an- 
swered the  knight. 

^'  It  may  be,"  she  replied — '^  it  may  well  be  ;  but  I  will 
trust  more  to  his  own  bearing  than  to  your  countenance.'^ 
She  left  the  room  as  she  spoke. 

The  knight  looked  after  her  as  she  departed,  but  turned 
instantly  to  his  brother,  and  expressing,  in  the  rnost  affection- 
ate terms,  his  wishes  for  his  welfare  and  happiness,  craved 
his  leave  to  depart.  **  My  knaves,"  he  said,  ''are  too  busy 
at  the  ale-stand  to  leave  their  revelry  for  the  empty  breath 
of  a  bugle-horn." 

'^  You  have  freed  them  from  higher  restraint,  Halbert," 
answered  the  abbot,  ''and  therein  taught  them  to  rebel 
against  your  own." 

''  Fear  not  that,  Edward,"  exclaimed  Halbert,  who  never 
gave  his  brother  his  monastic  name  of  Ambrosius  ;  "  none 
obey  the  command  of  real  duty  so  well  as  those  who  are  free 
from  the  observance  of  slavish  bondage." 

He  was  turning  to  depart,  wlien  the  abbot  said,  "  Let  us 
not  yet  part,  my  brother ;  here  comes  some  light  refresh- 
ment. Leave  not  the  house  which  I  must  now  call  mine, 
till  force  expel  me  from  it,  until  you  have  at  least  broken 
bread  with  me." 

The  poor  lay  brother,  the  same  who  acted  as  porter,  now 
entered  the  apartment,  bearing  some  simple  refreshment 
and  a  flask  of  wine.  "He  had  found  it,"  he  said  with 
officious  humility,  ''  by  rummaging  through  every  nook  of 
the  cellar." 

The  knight  filled  a  small  silver  cup,  and,  quaffing  it  off, 
asked  his  brother  to  pledge  him,  observing,  the  wine  was 
Bacharac,  of  the  first  vintage,  and  great  age. 

"  Ay,"  said  the  poor  lay  brother,  "  it  came  out  of  the 
nook  which  old  Brother  Nicolas — may  his  soul  be  happy  I — 
was  wont  to  call  Abbot  Ingelram's  corner ;  and  Abbot  In- 
gelram  was  bred  at  the  convent  of  Wiirtzburg,  which  I 
understand  to  be  near  where  that  choice  wine  grows." 

"  True,  my  reverend  sir,"  said  Sir  Halbert  ;  "  and  there- 
fore I  entreat  my  brother,  and  you  to  pledge  me  in  a  cup  of 
this  orthodox  vintage." 


138  \VA  VERLEY  NO  VEL8 

The  thin  old  porter  looked  with  a  wishful  glance  towards 
the  abbot.  "  Do  veniam/'  said  his  superior  ;  and  the  old 
man  seized,  with  a  trembling  hand,  a  beverage  to  which  he 
had  been  long  unaccustomed,  drained  the  cup  with  pro- 
tracted delight,  as  if  dwelling  on  the  flavor  and  perfume, 
and  set  it  down  with  a  melancholy  smile  and  shake  of  the 
head,  as  if  bidding  adieu  in  future  to  such  delicious  pota- 
tions. The  brothers  smiled.  But  when  Sir  Halbert 
motioned  to  the  abbot  to  take  up  his  cup  and  do  him  reason, 
the  abbot,  in  turn,  shook  his  head,  and  replied,  "  This  is  no 
day  for  the  abbot  of  St.  Mary's  to  eat  the  fat  and  drink  the 
sweet.  In  water  from  Our  Lady's  well,"  he  added,  filling  a 
cup  with  the  limpid  element,  *'  I  wish  you,  my  brother,  all 
happiness,  and,  above  all,  a  true  sight  of  your  spiritual 
errors/' 

"  And  to  you,  my  beloved  Edward,'*  replied  Glendinning, 
*'  I  wish  the  free  exercise  of  your  own  free  reason,  and  the 
discharge  of  more  important  duties  than  are  connected  with 
the  idle  name  which  you  have  so  rashly  assumed." 

The  brothers  parted  with  deep  regret  ;  and  yet  each,  con- 
fident in  his  opinion,  felt  somewhat  relieved  by  the  absence 
of  one  whom  he  respected  so  much,  and  with  whom  he  could 
agree  so  little. 

Soon  afterwards  the  sound  of  the  Knight  of  Avenel's 
trumpets  was  heard,  and  the  abbot  went  to  the  top  of  a 
tower,  from  whose  dismantled  battlements  he  could  soon  see 
the  horsemen  ascending  the  rising  ground  in  the  direction 
of  the  drawbridge.  As  he  gazed,  Magdalen  Graeme  came  to 
his  side. 

*'  Thou  art  come,'*  he  said,  '*  to  catch  the  last  glimpse  of 
thy  grandson,  my  sister.  Yonder  he  wends,  under  the 
charge  of  the  best  knight  in  Scotland,  his  faith  ever 
excepted.'^ 

^'Thou  canst  bear  witness,  my  father,  that  it  was  no  wish 
either  of  mine  or  of  Roland's,"  replied  the  matron,  **  which 
induced  the  Knight  of  Avenel,  as  he  is  called,  again  to  en- 
tertain my  grandson  in  his  household.  Heaven,  which  con- 
founds the  wise  with  their  own  wisdom,  and  the  wicked  with 
their  own  policy,  hath  placed  him  where,  for  the  service  of 
the  church,  I  would  most  wish  him  to  be." 

"  I  know  not  what  you  mean,  my  sister,"  said  the  abbot. 

*'  Reverend  father,  replied  Magdalen,  '*  hast  thou  never 
heard  that  there  are  spirits  powerful  to  rend  the  walls  of  a 
castle  asunder  when  once  admitted,  which  yet  cannot  enter 
the  house  unless  they  are  invited,  nay,  dragged   over  tho 


THE  ABBOT  13» 

threshold  ?  *  Twice  hath  Koland  Graeme  been  thns  drawn 
into  the  household  of  Avenel  by  those  who  now  hold  the 
title.     Let  them  look  to  the  issue/' 

So  saying,  she  left  the  turret ;  and  the  abbot,  after  paus- 
ing a  moment  on  her  words,  which  he  imputed  to  the  unset- 
tled state  of  her  mind,  followed  down  the  winding  stair  to 
celebrate  his  admission  to  his  high  office  by  fast  and  prayer, 
instead  of  reveling  and  thanksgiving. 

*See  Inability  of  Evil  Sprits  to  enter  a  House  uninvited.    Note  Vi 


CHAPTER  XVI 

Youth  I  thou  wear'st  to  manhood  now. 

Darker  lip  and  darker  brow, 

Statelier  step,  more  pensive  mien, 

In  thy  face  and  gait  are  seen  : 

Thou  must  now  brook  midnight  watches. 

Take  thy  food  and  sport  by  snatches  1 

For  the  gambol  and  the  jest, 

Thou  wert  wont  to  love  the  best, 

Graver  follies  must  thou  follow, 

But  as  senseless,  false,  and  hollow. 

Life^  a  Po&n. 

Young  Roland  Graeme  now  trotted  gaily  forward  in  the  train 
of  Sir  Halbert  Glendinning.  He  was  relieved  from  his  most 
galling  apprehension — the  encounter  of  the  scorn  and  taunt 
which  might  possibly  hail  his  immediate  return  to  the  Castle 
of  Avenel.  '^  There  will  be  a  change  ere  they  see  me  again/' 
he  thought  to  himself  ;  "  I  shall  wear  the  coat  of  plate,  in- 
stead of  the  green  jerkin,  and  the  steel  morion  for  the  bon- 
net and  feather.  They  will  be  bold  that  may  venture  to 
break  a  gibe  on  the  man-at-arms  for  the  follies  of  the  page  ; 
and  I  trust  that,  ere  we  return,  I  shall  have  done  something 
more  worthy  of  note  than  hallooing  a  hound  after  a  deer,  or 
scrambling  a  crag  for  a  kite's  nest.''  He  could  not,  indeed, 
help  marveling  that  his  grandmother,  with  all  her  religious 
prejudices  leaning,  it  would  seem,  to  the  other  side,  had 
consented  so  readily  to  his  re-entering  the  service  of  the 
house  of  Avenel ;  and  yet  more  at  the  mysterious  joy  with 
which  she  took  leave  of  him  at  the  abbey. 

"  Heaven,"  said  the  dame,  as  she  kissed  her  young  rela- 
tion, and  bade  him  farewell,  *'  works  its  own  work,  even  by 
the  hands  of  those  of  our  enemies  who  think  themselves  the 
strongest  and  the  wisest.  Thou,  my  child,  be  ready  to  act 
upon  the  call  of  thy  religion  and  country ;  and  remember, 
each  earthlj  bond  which  thou  canst  form  is,  compared  to 
the  ties  which  bind  thee  to  them,  like  the  loose  flax  to  the 
twisted  cable.  Thou  hast  not  forgot  the  face  or  form  of  the 
damsel  Catherine  Seyton  ?  " 

Roland  would  have  replied  in  the  negative,  but  the  word 

140 


TBE  ABBOT  141 

seemed  to  stick  in  his  throat,  and  Magdalen  continued  her 
exhortations. 

**  Thon  must  not  forget  her,  my  son  ;  and  here  I  entrust 
thee  with  a  token,  which  I  trust  thou  wilt  speedily  find  an 
opportunity  of  delivering  with  care  and  secrecy  into  her  own 
hand." 

She  put  here  into  Eoland's  hand  a  very  small  packet,  of 
which  she  again  enjoined  him  to  take  the  strictest  care,  and 
to  suffer  it  to  be  seen  by  no  one  save  Catherine  Seyton,  who, 
she  again  (very  unneccessarily)  reminded  him,  was  the  young 
maiden  he  had  met  on  the  preceding  day.  She  then  be- 
stowed on  him  her  solemn  benediction,  and  bade  God  speed 
him. 

There  was  something  in  her  manner  and  her  conduct 
which  implied  mystery  ;  but  Roland  Graeme  was  not  of  an 
age  or  temper  to  waste  much  time  in  endeavoring  to  decipher 
her  meaning.  All  that  was  obvious  to  his  perception  in  the 
present  journey  promised  pleasure  and  novelty.  He  rejoiced 
that  he  was  traveling  towards  Edinburgh,  in  order  to  as- 
sume the  character  of  a  man,  and  lay  aside  that  of  a  boy. 
He  was  delighted  to  think  that  he  would  have  an  opportunity 
of  rejoining  Catherine  Seyton,  whose  bright  eyes  and  lively 
manners  had  made  so  favorable  an  impression  on  his  imagina- 
tion ;  and,  as  an  inexperienced  yet  high-spirited*  youth, 
entering  for  the  first  time  upon  active  life,  his  heart  bounded 
at  the  thought  that  he  was  about  to  see  all  those  scenes  of 
courtly  splendor  and  warlike  adventures  of  which  the  fol- 
lowers of  Sir  Halbert  used  to  boast  on  their  occasional  visits 
to  Avenel,  to  the  wonderment  and  envy  of  those  who,  like 
Roland,  knew  courts  and  camps  only  by  hearsay,  and  were 
condemned  to  the  solitary  sports  and  almost  monastic  seclu- 
sion of  Avenel,  surrounded  by  its  lonely  lake,  and  embosomed 
among  its  pathless  mountains.  ^'  They  shall  mention  my 
name,''  he  said  to  himself,  *'  if  the  risk  of  my  life  can  pur- 
chase me  opportunities  of  distinction,  and  Catherine  Sey- 
ton's  saucy  eye  shall  rest  with  more  respect  on  the  distin- 
guished soldier  than  that  with  which  she  laughed  to  scorn  the 
raw  and  inexperienced  page.'* .  There  was  wanting  but  one 
accessary  to  complete  the  sense  of  rapturous  excitation,  and 
he  possessed  it  by  being  once  more  mounted  on  the  back  of 
a  fiery  and  active  horse,  instead  of  plodding  along  on  foot, 
as  had  been  the  case  during  the  preceding  days. 

Impelled  by  the  liveliness  of  his  own  spirits,  which  so 
many  circumstances  tendered  naturally  to  exalt,  Roland 
Graeme's  voice  and  his  laughter  were  soon  distinguished 


142  WAVEBLET  NOVELS  ' 

amid  the  trampling  of  the  horses  of  the  retinue,  and  mo -e 
than  once  attracted  the  attention  of  their  leader,  who  re- 
marked with  satisfaction  that  the  youth  replied  with  gool- 
humored  raillery  to  such  of  the  train  as  jested  with  him  en 
his  dismissal  and  return  to  the  service  of  the  house  )f 
Avenel. 

"I  thought  the  holly-branch  in  your  bonnet  had  been 
blighted,  Master  Roland  ?  "  said  one  of  the  men-at-arms. 

**  Only  pinched  with  half  an  hour's  frost ;  you  see  it 
flourishes  as  green  as  ever/' 

'*  It  is  too  grave  a  plant  to  flourish  on  so  hot  a  soil  as  that 
head-piece  of  thine,  Master  Roland  Graeme,"  retorted  the 
other,  who  was  an  old  equerry  of  Sir  Halbert  Glendinning. 

**  If  it  will  not  flourish  alone,"  said  Roland,  '*  I  will  mix 
it  with  the  laurel  and  the  myrtle  ;  and  I  will  carry  them  ho 
near  the  sky  that  it  shall  make  amends  for  their  stinted 
growth/' 

Thus  speaking,  he  dashed  his  spurs  into  his  horse's  sides, 
and,  checking  him  at  the  same  time,  compelled  him  to  exe- 
cute a  lofty  caracole.  Sir  Halbert  Glendinning  looked  at 
the  demeanor  of  his  new  attendant  with  that  sort  of  melan- 
choly pleasure  with  which  those  who  have  long  followed  the 
pursuits  of  life,  and  are  sensible  of  their  vanity,  regard  the 
gay,  young,  and  buoyant  spirits  to  whom  existence  as  yet  is 
only  hope  and  promise. 

In  the  mean  while,  Adam  "Woodcock,  the  falconer,  stripped 
of  his  masquing  habit,  and  attired,  according  to  his  rank 
and  calling,  in  the  green  jerkin,  with  a  hawking-bag  on  the 
one  side  and  a  short  hanger  on  the  other,  a  glove  on  his  left 
hand  which  reached  half-way  up  his  arm,  and  a  bonnet  and 
feather  upon  his  head,  came  after  the  party  as  fast  as  his 
active  little  Galloway  nag  could  trot,  and  immediately 
entered  into  parley  with  Roland  Graeme. 

"  So,  my  youngster,  you  are  once  more  under  shadow  of 
the  holly-branch  ?  '* 

*^  And  in  case  to  repay  you,  my  good  friend,"  answered 
Roland,  ''your  ten  groats  of  silver." 

*'  Which,  but  an  hour  since,"  said  the  falconer,  "you  had 
nearly  paid  me  with  ten  inches  of  steel.  On  my  faith,  it  is 
written  in  the  book  of  our  destiny  that  I  must  brook  your 
dagger,  after  all." 

*'Nay,  speak  not  of  that,  my  good  friend,"  said  the  youth, 
*'  I  would  rather  have  broached  my  own  bosom  than  yours  ; 
but  who  could  have  known  you  in  the  mumming  dress  yon 
wore  ?" 


THE  ABBOT  143 

"  Yes,"  the  falconer  resumed,  for  both  as  a  poet  and  actor 
he  had  his  own  professional  share  of  self-conceit,  '^I  think 
I  was  as  good  an  Hovvleglas  as  ever  played  part  at  a  Shrove- 
tide revelry,  and  not  a  much  worse  Abbot  of  Unreason.  I 
defy  the  Old  Enemy  to  unmasque  me  when  I  choose  to  keep 
my  vizard  on.  What  the  devil  brought  the  knight  on  us 
before  we  had  the  game  out  ?  You  would  have  heard  me 
halloo  my  own  new  ballad  with  a  voice  should  have  reached 
to  Berwick.  But  I  pray  you.  Master  Roland,  be  less  free  of 
cold  steel  on  slight  occasions  ;  since,  but  for  the  stuffing  of 
my  reverend  doublet,  I  had  only  left  the  kirk  to  take  my 
place  in  the  kirkyard." 

*' Nay,  spare  me  that  feud,"  said  Roland  Graeme,  "we 
shall  have  no  time  to  fight  it  out ;  for,  by  our  lord's  com- 
mand, I  am  bound  for  Edinburgh." 

"'  I  know  it,"  said  Adam  Woodcock,  "  and  even  therefore 
we  shall  have  time  to  solder  up  this  rent  by  the  way,  for 
Sir  Halbert  has  appointed  me  your  companion  and  guide." 

"Ay  ?  and  with  what  purpose  ?  "  said  the  page. 

"  That,"  said  the  falconer,  "  is  a  question  I  cannot  an- 
swer ;  but  I  know  that,  be  the  food  of  the  eyases  washed  or 
unwashed,  and,  indeed,  whatever  becomes  of  perch  and 
mew,  I  am  to  go  with  you  to  Edinburgh,  and  see  you  safely 
delivered  to  the  Regent  at  Holyrood." 

"  How,  to  the  Regent  ?"  said  Roland,  in  surprise. 

"  Ay,  by  my  faith,  to  the  Regent,"  replied  Woodcock ; 
"  I  promise  you  that,  if  you  are  not  to  enter  his  service,  at 
least  you  are  to  wait  upon  him  in  the  character  of  a  retainer 
of  our  Knight  of  Avenel." 

"  I  know  no  right,"  said  the  youth,  "  which  the  Knight  of 
Avenel  hath  to  transfer  my  service,  supposing  that  I  owe  it 
to  himself." 

"  Hush — hush  ! "  said  the  falconer  ;  "'  that  is  a  question  I 
advise  no  one  to  stir  in  .  until  he  has  the  mountain  or  the 
lake,  or  the  march  of  another  kingdom,  which  is  better 
than  either,  betwixt  him  and  his  feudal  superior." 

"  But  Sir  Halbert  Glendinning,"  said  the  youth,  "  is  not 
my  feudal  superior  ;  nor  has  he  aught  of  authority " 

"  I  pray  you,  my  son,  to  rein  your  tongue,"  answered 
Adam  Woodcock ;  "  my  lord's  displeasure,  if  you  provoke 
it,  will  be  worse  to  appease  than  my  lady's.  The  touch  of 
his  least  finger  were  heavier  than  her  hardest  blow.  And, 
by  my  faith,  he  is  a  man  of  steel,  as  true  and  as  pure,  but 
as  hard  and  as  pitiless.  You  remember  the  Cock  of  Cap- 
perlaw,  whom  he  hanged  over  his  gate  for  a  mere  mistake— 


144  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

a  poor  yoke  of  oxen  taken  in  Scotland,  when  he  thought  he 
was  taking  them  in  English  land  ?  I  loved  the  Cock  of 
Capperlaw  ;  the  Kerrs  had  not  an  honester  man  in  their 
clan,  and  they  have  had  men  that  might  have  been  a  pattern 
to  the  Border — men  that  would  not  have  lifted  under  twenty 
cows  at  once,  and  would  have  held  themselves  dishonored  if 
they  had  taken  a  drift  of  sheep  or  the  like,  but  always 
managed  their  raids  in  full  credit  and  honor.  But  see,  his 
worship  halts,  and  we  are  close  by  the  bridge.  Ride  up — ■ 
ride  up  ;  we  must  have  his  last  instructions." 

It  was  as  Adam  Woodcock  said.  In  the  hollow  way  de- 
scending towards  the  bridge,  which  was  still  in  the  guardian- 
ship of  Peter  Bridge- Ward,  as  he  was  called,  though  he  was 
now  very  old.  Sir  Halbert  Glendinning  halted  his  retinue, 
and  beckoned  to  Woodcock  and  Grseme  to  advance  to  the 
head  of  the  train. 

''Woodcock,"  said  he,  ''thou  knowest  to  whom  thou  art 
to  conduct  this  yoTith.  And  thou,  young  man,  obey  dis- 
creetly and  with  diligence  the  orders  that  shall  be  given  thee. 
Curb  thy  vain  and  peevish  temper.  Be  just,  true,  and  faith- 
ful ;  and  there  is  in  thee  that  which  may  raise  thee  many  a 
degree  above  thy  present  station.  Neither  shalt  thou— al- 
ways supposing  thine  efforts  to  be  fair  and  honest — want  the 
protection  and  countenance  of  Avenel." 

Leaving  them  in  front  of  the  bridge,  the  center  tower  of 
which  now  began  to  cast  a  prolonged  shade  upon  the  river, 
the  Knight  of  Avenel  turned  to  the  left,  without  crossing 
the  river,  and  pursued  his  way  towards  the  chain  of  hills 
within  whose  recesses  are  situated  the  Lake  and  Castle  of 
Avenel.  There  remained  behind,  the  falconer,  Roland 
Graeme,  and  a  domestic  of  the  knight,  of  inferior  rank,  who 
was  left  with  them  to  look  after  their  horses  while  on  the 
road,  to  carry  their  baggage,  and  to  attend  to  their  conven- 
ience. 

So  soon  as  the  more  numerous  body  of  riders  had  turned 
off  to  pursue  their  journey  westward,  those  whose  route  lay 
across  the  river,  and  was  directed  towards  the  north,  sum- 
moned the  bridge-ward,  and  demanded  a  free  passage. 

"  I  will  not  lower  the  bridge,"  answered  Peter,  in  a  voice 
querulous  with  age  and  ill-humor.  "  Come  Papist,  come 
Protestant,  ye  are  all  the  same.  The  Papists  threatened  us 
with  purgatory,  and  fleeched  us  with  pardons  ;  the  Protes- 
tant mints  at  us  with  the  sword,  and  cuittles  us  with  the 
liberty  of  conscience  ;  but  never  a  one  of  either  says,  '  Peter, 
there  is  your  penny.'    I  am  well  tired  of  all  this,  and  for  no 


THE  ABBOT  145 

man  shall  the  bridge  fall  that  pays  me  not  ready  money; 
and  I  would  have  you  know  I  care  as  little  for  Geneva  as  for 
Eome,  as  little  for  homilies  as  for  pardons ;  and  the  silver 
pennies  are  the  only  passports  I  will  hear  of/^ 

*'Here  is  a  proper  old  chuff  ! "  said  Woodcock  to  his  com- 
panion ;  then  raising  his  voice,  he  exclaimed,  '^Hark  thee, 
dog — bridge-ward — villain,  dost  thou  think  we  have  refused 
thy  namesake  Peter^s  pence  to  Kome,  to  pay  thine  at  the 
bridge  of  Kennaquhair  ?  Let  thy  bridge  down  instantly  to 
the  followers  of  the  house  of  Avenel,  or  by  the  hand  of  my 
father,  and  that  handled  many  a  bridle  rein,  for  he  was  a 
bluff  Yorkshireman — I  say,  by  my  father^s  hand,  our  knight 
will  blow  thee  out  of  thy  solan-goose's  nest  there  in  the  mid- 
dle of  the  water,  with  the  light  falconet  which  we  are  bring- 
ing southward  from  Edinburgh  to-morrow/' 

The  bridge-ward  heard,  and  muttered,  '^  A  plague  on  falcon 
and  falconet,  on  cannon  and  demi-cannon,  and  all  the  bark- 
ing bull-dogs  whom  they  halloo  against  stone  and  lime  in 
these  our  days  !  It  was  a  merry  time  when  there  was  little 
besides  handy  blows,  and  it  may  be  a  flight  of  arrows  that 
harmed  an  ashler  wall  as  little  as  so  many  hailstones.  But 
we  must  jouk  and  let  the  jaw  gang  by/'  Comforting  him- 
Belf  in  his  state  of  disminished  consequence  with  this  pithy 
old  proverb,  Peter  Bridge-Ward  lowered  the  drawbridge, 
and  permitted  them  to  pass  over.  At  the  sight  of  his  white 
hair,  albeit  it  discovered  a  visage  equally  peevish  through 
age  and  misfortune,  Roland  was  inclined  to  give  him  an  alms, 
but  Adam  Woodcock  prevented  him.  ^' E'en  let  him  pay 
the  penalty  of  his  former  churlishness  and  greed,"  he  said  ; 
'^the  wolf,  when  he  has  lost  his  teeth,  should  be  treated 
no  better  than  a  cur." 

Leaving  the  bridge-ward  to  lament  the  alteration  of  times 
which  sent  domineering  soldiers  and  feudal  retainers  to  his 
place  of  passage,  instead  of  peaceful  pilgrims,  and  reduced 
him  to  become  the  oppressed,  instead  of  playing  the  extor- 
tioner, the  travelers  turned  them  northward ;  and  Adam 
Woodcock,  well  acquainted  with  that  part  of  the  countr}^ 
proposed  to  cut  short  a  considerable  portion  of  the  road  by 
traversing  the  little  vale  of  Glendearg,  so  famous  for  the 
adventures  which  befell  therein  during  the  earlier  part  of 
the  Benedictine's  Manuscript.  With  these,  and  with  the 
thousand  commentaries,  representations  and  misrepresenta- 
tions to  which  they  had  given  rise,  Roland  Graeme  was,  of 
course,  well  acquainted  ;  for  in  the  Castle  of  Avenel,  as  well 
as  in  other  great  establishments,  the  inmates  talked  of  noth- 
lo 


146  WAVERLET  NOVELS 

ing  so  often,  or  with  such  pleasure,  as  of  the  private  affairs 
of  their  lord  and  lady.  But  while  Roland  was  viewing  with 
interest  these  haunted  scenes,  in  which  things  were  said  to 
have  passed  beyond  the  ordinary  laws  of  nature,  Adam  Wood- 
cock was  still  regretting  in  his  secret  soul  the  unfinished 
revel  and  the  unsung  ballad,  and  kept  every  now  and  then 
breaking  out  with  some  such  verses  as  these  : 

"  The  friars  of  Fail  drank  berry-brown  ale. 
The  best  that  e'er  was  tasted  ; 
The  monks  of  Melrose  made  gude  kale 
On  Fridays,  when  they  fasted. 
St.  Monance'  sister, 
The  gray  priest  kist  her — 

Friend  save  the  company  I 
Sing  hay  trix,  trim-go-trix, 
Under  the  greenwood  tree  I  ** 

"By  my  hand,  friend  Woodcock,'^  said  the  page,  'though 
I  know  you  for  a  hardy  Gospeller,  that  fear  neither  saint  nor 
devil,  yet,  if  I  were  you,  I  would  not  sing  your  profane 
songs  in  this  valley  of  Glendearg,  considering  what  has  hap- 
pened here  before  our  time/' 

"  A  straw  for  your  wandering  spirits  ! "  said  Adam  Wood- 
cock ;  "  I  mind  them  no  more  than  an  earn  cares  for  a  string 
of  wild  geese  ;  they  have  all  fled  since  the  pulpits  were  filled 
with  honest  men,  and  the  people's  ears  with  sound  doctrine. 
Nay,  I  have  a  touch  at  them  in  my  ballad,  an  I  had  but  had 
the  good  luck  to  have  sung  it  to  end  ;  and  again  he  set  off 
in  the  same  key  : 

**  From  haunted  spring  and  ^assy  ring 
Troop  goblin,  elf,  and  fairy  ; 
And  the  kelpie  must  flit  from  the  black  bog-pit 
And  the  brownie  must  not  tarry ; 
To  Limbo  lake 
Their  way  they  take, 

With  scarce  the  pith  to  flee 
Sing  hay  trix,  trim-go-trix, 
Under  the  greenwood  tree  I 

I  think/'  he  added,  *'  that,  could  Sir.  Halbert's  patience 
have  stretched  till  we  came  that  length,  he  would  have  had 
a  hearty  laugh,  and  that  is  what  he  seldom  enjoys." 

*'  If  it  be  all  true  that  men  tell  of  his  early  life,"  said 
Roland,  "  he  has  less  right  to  laugh  at  goblins  than  most 
men." 

"  Ay,  if  it  be  all  true,"  answered  Adam  Woodcock  ;  ^'  but 
If  JjQ  cftii  ensure  us  of  that  ?    Moreover,  these  were  but  talea 


THE  ABBOT  14t 

the  monks  used  to  gull  us  simple  laymen  withal ;  they  knew 
that  fairies  and  hobgoblins  brought  aves  and  paternosters 
into  repute  ;  but  now  we  have  given  up  worship  of  images 
in  wood  and  stone,  methinks  it  were  no  time  to  be  afraid  of 
bubbles  in  the  water  or  shadows  in  the  air/' 

**  However/'  said  Roland  Graeme,  "  as  the  Catholics  say 
they  do  not  worship  wood  or  stone,  but  only  as  emblems  of 
the  holy  saints,  and  not  as  things  holy  in  themselves " 

"Pshaw  !  pshaw  \"  answered  the  falconer  ;  "a  rush  for 
their  prating.  They  told  us  another  story  when  these  bap- 
tized idols  of  theirs  brought  pike-staves  and  sandaled  shoon 
from  all  the  four  winds,  and  whillied  the  old  women  out  of 
their  corn  and  their  candle-ends,  and  their  butter,  bacon, 
wool,  and  cheese,  and  when  not  so  much  as  a  gray  groat 
escaped  tithing/' 

Roland  Graeme  had  been  long  taught,  by  necessity,  to  con- 
sider his  form  of  religion  as  a  profound  secret,  and  to  say 
nothing  whatever  in  its  defense  when  assailed,  lest  he  should 
draw  on  himself  the  suspicion  of  belonging  to  the  unpop- 
ular and  exploded  church.  He  therefore  suffered  Adam 
Woodcock  to  triumph  without  farther  opposition,  marvel- 
ing in  his  own  mind  whether  any  of  the  goblins,  formerly 
such  active  agents,  would  avenge  his  rude  raillery  before 
they  left  the  valley  of  Glendearg.  But  no  such  consequences 
followed.  They  passed  the  night  quietly  in  a  cottage  in  the 
glen,  and  the  next  day  resumed  their  route  to  Edinburgh. 


I 


■>a 


CHAPTER  XVII 

Edina  I  Scotia's  darling  seat, 

All  hail  thy  palaces  and  towers, 
Where  once,  beneath  a  monarch's  feet, 
Sate  legislation's  sovereign  powers  I 
Burns. 

''  This,  then,  is  Edinburgh  ? "  said  the  youth,  as  tne 
fellow-travelers  arrived  at  one  of  the  heights  to  the  south- 
ward, which  commanded  a  view  of  the  great  northern  cap- 
ital— ''  this  is  that  Edinburgh  of  which  we  have  heard  so 
much  ?" 

*'  Even  so,^'  said  the  falconer ;  *^  yonder  stands  Auld 
Reekie  ;  you  may  see  the  smoke  hover  over  her  at  twenty 
miles'  distance,  as  the  goss-hawk  hangs  over  a  plump  of 
young  wild  ducks  ;  ay,  yonder  is  the  heart  of  Scotland,  and 
each  th:''"  'hat  she  gives  is  felt  from  the  edge  of  Solway  to 
Duncansbii.  Head.  See,  yonder  is  the  old  Castle  ;  and  see 
to  the  right,  on  yon  rising  ground,  that  is  the  Castle  of 
Craigmillar,  which  I  have  known  a  merry  place  in  my 
time.'* 

*'  Was  it  not  there,''  said  the  page  in  a  low  voice,  '*  that 
the  Queen  held  her  court  ?" 

"  Ay,  ay,"  replied  the  falconer — '^  Queen  she  was  then, 
though  you  must  not  call  her  so  now.  Well,  they  may  say 
what  they  will — many  a  true  heart  will  be  sad  for  Mary 
Stuart,  e'en  if  all  be  true  men  say  of  her  ;  for  look  you. 
Master  Roland,  she  was  the  loveliest  creature  to  look  upon 
that  I  ever  saw  with  eye,  and  no  lady  in  the  land  liked 
better  the  fair  flight  of  a  falcon.  I  was  at  the  great  match 
on  Roslin  Moor  betwixt  Bothwell — he  was  a  black  sight  to 
her  that  Bothwell — and  the  Baron  of  Roslin,  who  could 
judge  a  hawk's  flight  as  well  as  any  man  in  Scotland  :  a 
butt  of  Rhenish  and  a  ring  of  gold  was  the  wager,  and  it  was 
flown  as  fairly  for  as  ever  was  red  gold  and  bright  wine. 
And  to  see  her  there  on  her  white  palfrey,  that  flew  as  if  it 
scorned  to  touch  more  than  the  heather  blossom  ;  and  to 
hear  her  voice,  as  clear  and  sweet  as  the  mavis's  whistle, 
mix  among  our  jolly  whooping  and  whistling  ;  and  to  mark 
ftll  the  nobles  dashing  round  her — happiest  he  who  got  a 

:14S 


THE  ABBOT  149 

word  or  a  look — tearing  through  moss  and  hag,  and  ventur- 
ing neck  and  limb  to  gain  the  praise  of  a  bold  rider,  and 
the  blink  of  a  bonny  queen's  bright  eye  !  She  will  see  little 
hawking  where  she  lies  now ;  ay,  ay,  pomp  and  pleasure 
pass  away  as  speedily  as  the  wap  of  a  falcon's  wing/' 

"  And  where  is  this  poor  queen  now  confined  ? "  said 
Roland  Graeme,  interested  in  the  fate  of  a  woman  whosft 
beauty  and  grace  had  made  so  strong  an  impression  even  oft 
the  blunt  and  careless  character  of  Adam  Woodcock. 

'^  Where  is  she  now  imprisoned  ?  "  said  honest  Adam  j 
'*  why,  in  some  castle  in  the  north,  they  say.  I  know  not 
where,  for  my  part,  nor  is  it  worth  while  to  vex  one's  self 
anent  what  cannot  be  mended.  An  she  had  guided  her 
power  well  whilst  she  had  it  she  had  not  come  to  so  evil  a  pass. 
Men  say  she  must  resign  her  crown  to  this  little  baby  of  a 
prince,  for  that  they  will  trust  her  with  it  no  longer.  Our 
master  has  been  as  busy  as  his  neighbors  in  all  this  work. 
If  the  Queen  should  come  to  her  own  again,  Avenal  Castle 
is  like  to  smoke  for  it,  unless  he  makes  his  bargain  all  the 
better." 

*'In  a  castle  in  the  north  Queen  Mary  is  confined  ?"  said 
the  page. 

''Why,  ay — they  say  so,  at  least.  In  a  castle  beyond  that 
great  river  which  comes  down  yonder,  and  looks  like  a  river  ; 
but  it  is  a  branch  of  the  sea,  and  as  bitter  as  brine. '^ 

"  And  amongst  all  her  subjects,"  said  the  page,  with  some 
emotion,  ''  is  there  none  that  will  adventure  anything  for 
her  relief  ?  " 

'' That  is  a  kittle  question,"  said  the  falconer;  ''and  if 
you  ask  it  often.  Master  Roland,  I  am  fain  to  tell  you  that 
you  will  be  mewed  up  yourself  in  some  of  those  castles,  if 
they  do  not  prefer  twisting  your  head  off,  to  save  farther  trou- 
ble with  you.  Adventure  anything  !  Lord,  why,  Murray  has 
the  wind  in  his  poop  now,  man,  and  flies  so  high  and  strong 
that  the  devil  a  wing  of  them  can  match  him.  No,  no ; 
there  she  is,  and  there  she  must  lie,  till  Heaven  send  her 
deliverance,  or  till  her  son  has  the  management  of  all.  But 
Murray  will  never  let  her  loose  again,  he  knows  her  too  well. 
And  hark  thee,  we  are  now  bound  for  Holyrood,  where  thou 
will  find  plenty  of  news  and  of  courtiers  to  tell  i-t.  But,  take 
my  counsel,  and  keep  a  calm  sough,  as  the  Scots  say  :  hear 
every  man's  counsel,  and  keep  your  own.  And  if  you  hap 
to  learn  any  news  you  like,  leap  not  up  as  if  you  were  to  put 
on  armor  direct  in  the  cause.  Our  old  Mr.  Wingate  says — 
and  he  knows  court  cattle  well — that  if  you  are  told  old  Sang 


ISO  WAVEBLEY  NOVELS 

Coul  is  come  alive  again,  yon  should  turn  it  off  with,  '  And 
is  he,  in  truth  ?  I  heard  not  of  it,'  and  should  seem  no  more 
moved  than  if  one  told  you,  by  way  of  novelty,  that  old  King 
Coul  was  dead  and  buried.  Wherefore,  look  well  to  your 
bearing.  Master  Roland,  for  I  promise  you,  you  come  among 
a  generation  that  are  keen  as  a  hungry  hawk.  And  never 
be  dagger  out  of  sheath  at  every  wry  word  you  hear  spoken  ; 
for  you  will  find  as  hot  blades  as  yourself,  and  then  will  be 
letting  of  blood  without  advice  either  of  leach  or  almanack.** 

'''You  shall  see  how  staid  I  will  be,  and  how  cautious, 
my  good  friend, *'  said  Graeme  ;  *'  but,  blessed  Lady,  what 
goodly  house  is  that  which  is  lying  all  in  ruins  so  close  to 
the  city  ?  Have  they  been  playing  at  the  Abbot  of  Unreason 
here,  and  ended  the  gambol  by  burning  the  church  ?" 

*' There  again  now,'*  replied  his  companion,  ''you  go 
down  the  wind  like  a  wild  haggard,  that  minds  neither 
lure  nor  beck  ;  that  is  a  question  you  should  have  asked  in 
as  low  a  tone  as  I  shall  answer  it." 

*'  If  I  stay  here  long,**  said  Eoland  Graeme,  * '  it  is  like  I  shall 
lose  the  natural  use  of  my  voice ;  but  what  are  the  ruins 
then?** 

**  The  Kirk  of  Field**,  said  the  falconer,  in  a  low  and  im- 
pressive whisper,  laying  at  the  same  time  his  finger  on  his 
lip  ;  "  ask  no  more  about  it ;  somebody  got  foul  play,  and 
somebody  got  the  blame  of  it ;  and  the  game  began  there 
which  perhaps  may  not  be  played  out  in  our  time.  Poor 
Henry  Darnley  !  to  be  an  ass,  he  understood  somewhat  of  a 
hawk  1  but  they  sent  him  on  the  wing  through  the  air  him- 
self one  bright  moonlight  night.** 

The  memory  of  this  catastrophe  was  so  recent  that  the 
page  averted  his  eyes  with  horror  from  the  scathed  ruins  in 
which  it  had  taken  place  ;  and  the  accusations  against  the 
Queen,  to  which  it  had  given  rise,  came  over  his  mind  with 
such  strength  as  to  balance  the  compassion  he  had  begun  to 
entertain  for  her  present  forlorn  situation. 

It  was,  indeed,  with  that  agitating  state  of  mind  which 
arises  partly  from  horror,  but  more  from  anxious  interest 
and  curiosity,  that  young  Graeme  found  himself  actually 
traversing  the  scene  of  those  tremendous  events  the  report  of 
which  had  disturbed  the  most  distant  solitudes  in  Scotland, 
like  the  echoes  of  distant  thunder  rolling  among  the  moun- 
tains. 

"Now,**  he  thought — "now  or  never  shall  I  become  a 
man,  and  bear  my  part  in  those  deeds  which  the  simple  in- 
habitants of  our  hamlets  repeat  to  each  other  as  if  they  were 


THE  ABBOT  151 

wrought  by  beings  of  a  superior  order  to  their  own  I  I  will 
know  now  wherefore  the  Knight  of  Avenel  carries  his  crest 
so  much  above  those  of  the  neighboring  baronage,  and  how 
it  is  that  men,  by  valor  and  wisdom,  work  their  way  from 
the  hodden-gray  coat  to  the  cloak  of  scarlet  and  gold/  Men 
say  I  have  not  much  wisdom  to  recommend  me  ;  and  if  that 
be  true,  courage  must  do  it ;  for  I  will  be  a  man  amongst 
living  men,  or  a  dead  corpse  amongst  the  dead/' 

From  these  dreams  of  ambition  he  turned  his  thoughts  to 
those  of  pleasure,  and  began  to  form  many  conjectures  when 
and  where  he  should  see  Catherine  Seyton,  and  in  what 
manner  their  acquaintance  was  to  be  renewed.  With  such 
conjectures  he  was  amusing  himself,  when  he  found  that 
they  had  entered  the  city,  and  all  other  feelings  were  sus- 
pended in  the  sensation  of  giddy  astonishment  with  which 
an  inhabitant  of  the  country  is  affected  when,  for  the  first 
time,  he  finds  himself  in  the  streets  of  a  large  and  populous 
city,  an  unit  in  the  midst  of  thousands. 

The  principal  street  of  Edinburgh  was  then,  as  now,  one 
of  the  most  spacious  in  Europe.  The  extreme  height  of  the 
houses,  and  the  variety  of  Gothic  gables,  and  battlements, 
and  balconies,  by  which  the  sky-line  on  each  side  was 
crowned  and  terminated,  together  with  the  width  of  the 
street  itself,  might  have  struck  with  surprise  a  more  prac- 
tised eye  than  that  of  young  Graeme.  The  population,  close 
packed  within  the  walls  of  the  city,  and  at  this  time  in- 
creased by  the  number  of  the  lords  of  the  King's  party  who 
had  thronged  to  Edinburgh  to  wait  upon  the  Regent  Mur- 
ray, absolutely  swarmed  like  bees  on  the  wide  and  stately 
street.  Instead  of  the  shop-windows,  which  are  now  calcu- 
lated for  the  display  of  goods,  the  traders  had  their  open 
booths  projecting  on  the  street,  in  which,  as  in  the  fashion 
of  the  modern  bazars,  all  was  exposed  which  they  had  upon 
sale.  And  though  the  commodities  were  not  of  the  richest 
kinds,  yet  Graeme  thought  he  beheld  the  wealth  of  the  whole 
world  in  the  various  bales  of  Flanders  cloths  and  the  speci- 
mens of  tapestry  ;  and  at  other  places  the  display  of  domes- 
tic utensils  and  pieces  of  plate  struck  him  with  wonder. 
The  sight  of  cutlers'  booths,  furnished  with  swords  and 
poniards,  which  were  manufactured  in  Scotland,  and  with 
pieces  of  defensive  armor,  imported  from  Flanders,  added 
to  his  surprise  ;  and  at  every  step  he  found  so  much  to  ad- 
mire and  to  gaze  upon  that  Adam  Woodcock  had  no  little 
difficulty  in  prevailing  on  him  to  advance  through  such  a 
scene  of  enchantment. 


152  VTA  VERLEY  NO  VELS 

The  sight  of  the  crowds  which  filled  the  streets  was 
equally  a  subject  of  wonder.  Here  a  gay  lady,  in  her  muf- 
fler, or  silken  veil,  traced  her  way  delicately,  a  gentleman- 
usher  making  way  for  her,  a  page  bearing  up  her  train,  and 
a  waiting  gentlewoman  carrying  her  Bible,  thus  intimating 
that  her  purpose  was  towards  the  church.  There  he  miglit 
see  a  group  of  citizens  bending  the  same  way,  with  their 
short  Flemish  cloaks,  wide  trousers,  and  high-caped  doub- 
lets— a  fashion  to  which,  as  well  as  to  their  bonnet  and 
feather,  the  Scots  were  long  faithful.  Then,  again,  came 
the  clergyman  himself,  in  his  black  Geneva  cloak  and  band, 
lending  a  grave  and  attentive  ear  to  the  discourse  of  several 
persons  who  accompanied  him,  and  who  were  doubtless 
holding  serious  converse  on  the  religious  subject  he  was 
about  to  treat  of.  Nor  did  there  lack  passengers  of  a  differ- 
ent class  and  appearance. 

At  every  turn,  Eoland  Graeme  might  see  a  gallant  ruffle 
along  in  the  newer  or  French  mode,  his  doublet  slashed,  and 
his  points  of  the  same  colors  with  the  lining,  his  long  sword 
on  one  side,  and  his  poniard  on  the  other,  behind  him  a 
body  of  stout  serving-men,  proportioned  to  his  estate  and 
quality,  all  of  whom  walked  with  the  air  of  military  retain- 
ers, and  were  armed  with  sword  and  buckler,  the  latter  be- 
ing a  small  round  shield,  not  unlike  the  Highland  target, 
having  a  steel  spike  in  the  center.  Two  of  these  parties, 
each  headed  by  a  person  of  importance,  chanced  to  meet  in 
the  very  center  of  the  street,  or,  as  it  was  called,  ^'  the 
crown  of  the  causeway  " — a  post  of  honor  as  tenaciously  as- 
serted in  Scotland  as  that  of  giving  or  taking  the  wall  used 
to  be  in  the  more  southern  part  of  the  island.  The  two 
leaders  being  of  equal  rank,  and,  most  probably,  either  ani- 
mated by  political  dislike  or  by  recollection  of  some  feudal 
enmity,  marched  close  up  to  each  other,  without  yielding 
an  inch  to  the  right  or  the  left  ;  and  neither  showing  the 
least  purpose  of  giving  way,  they  stopped  for  an  instant, 
and  then  drew  their  swords.  Their  followers  imitated  their 
example  ;  about  a  score  of  weapons  at  once  flashed  in  the 
sun,  and  there  was  an  immediate  clatter  of  swords  and  buck- 
lers, while  the  followers  on  either  side  cried  their  master^s 
name:  the  one  shouting,  *^  Help,  a  Leslie! — a  Leslie!^' 
while  the  others  answered  with  shouts  of  '^  Seyton  ! — Sey- 
ton  P'  with  the  additional  punning  slogan,  "Set  on — set 
on  ;  bear  the  knaves  to  the  ground  !  " 

If  the  falconer  found  difficulty  in  getting  the  page  to  go 
forward  before,  it  was  now  perfectly  impossible.     He  reined 


"  *  A  Seyton  !    A   Seyton  !    Set  on  !    Set  on  !  *  " 


THE  ABBOT  15S 

np  his  horse,  clapped  his  hands,  and,  delighted  with  the 
fray,  cried  and  shouted  as  fast  as  any  of  those  who  were  ac- 
tually engaged  in  it. 

The  noise  and  cries  thus  arising  on  the  Highgate,  as  it 
was  called,  drew  into  the  quarrel  two  or  three  other  parties 
of  gentlemen  and  their  servants,  besides  some  single  pas- 
sengers, who,  hearing  a  fray  betwixt  these  two  distinguished 
names,  took  part  in  it,  either  for  love  or  hatred. 

The  combat  became  now  very  sharp,  and  although  the 
sword-and-buckler  men  made  more  clatter  and  noise  than 
they  did  real  damage,  yet  several  good  cuts  were  dealt  among 
them ;  and  those  who  wore  rapiers — a  more  formidable 
weapon  than  the  ordinary  Scottish  sword — gave  and  received 
dangerous  wounds.  Two  men  were  already  stretched  on 
the  causeway,  and  the  party  of  Seyton  began  to  give  ground, 
being  much  inferior  in  number  to  the  other,  with  which 
several  of  the  citizens  had  united  themselves,  when  young 
Tloland  Gr??me,  beholamg  their  deader,  a  noble  gentleman, 
fighting  bravely,  and  hard  pressed  with  numbers,  could  with- 
hold no  longer.  ^'Adarn  Woodcock,^'  he  said,  ^' an  you  be- 
a  man,  draw,  and  let  us  take  part  with  the  Seyton."  And 
without  waiting  a  reply,  or  listening  to  the  falconer's  earn- 
est entreaty  that  he  would  leave  alone  a  strife  in  which  he 
had  no  concern,  the  fiery  youth  sprung  from  his  horse,  drew 
his  short  sword,  and  shouting  like  the  rest,  '^  A  Seyton  ! — ^ 
a  Seyton  !  Set  on  ! — set  on  ! ''  thrust  forward  into  the  throng, 
and  struck  down  one  of  those  who  was  pressing  hardest 
upon  the  gentleman  whose  cause  he  espoused.  This  sudden 
reinforcement  gave  spirit  to  the  weaker  party,  who  began 
to  renew  the  combat"  with  much  alacrity,  when  four  of  the 
magistrates  of  the  city,  distinguished  by  their  velvet  cloaks 
and  gold  chains,  came  up  with  a  guard  of  halberdiers  and 
citizens,  armed  with  long  weapons,  and  well  accustomed  to 
such  service,  thrust  boldly  forward,  and  compelled  the 
swordsmen  to  separate,  who  immediately  retreated  in  different 
directions,  leaving  such  of  the  wounded  on  both  sides  as  had 
been  disabled  in  the  fray  lying  on  the  street. 

The  falconer,  who  had  been  tearing  his  beard  for  anger  at 
his  comrade's  rashness,  now  rode  up  to  him  with  the  horse, 
which  he  had  caught  by  the  bridle,  and  accosted  him  with 
"Master  Roland — master  goose — master  madcap — will  it 
please  you  to  get  on  horse,  and  budge  ?  or  will  you  remain 
here  to  be  carried  to  prison,  and  made  to  answer  for  this 
pretty  day's  work  ? '' 

The  page,  who  had  begun  his  retreat  along  with  the  Sey- 


154  WAVEBLET  NOVELS 

tons,  just  as  if  he  had  been  one  of  their  natural  allies,  was 
by  this  unceremonious  application  made  sensible  that  he  was 
acting  a  foolish  part  ;  and,  obeying  Adam  Woodcock,  with 
some  sense  of  shame,  he  sprung  actively  on  horseback,  and 
upsetting  with  the  shoulder  of  the  animal  a  city-officer  who 
was  making  towards  him,  he  began  to  ride  smartly  down  the 
street,  along  with  his  companion,  and  was  quickly  out  of  the 
reach  of  the  hue  and  cry.  In  fact,  rencounters  of  the  kind 
were  so  common  in  Edinburgh  at  that  period  that  the  dis- 
turbance seldom  excited  much  attention  after  the  affray  was 
over,  unless  some  person  of  consequence  chanced  to  have 
fallen,  an  incident  which  imposed  on  his  friends  the  duty  of 
avenging  his  death  on  the  first  convenient  opportunity.  So 
feeble,  indeed,  was  the  arm  of  the  police,  that  it  was  not 
unusual  for  such  skirmishes  to  last  for  hours,  where  the 
parties  were  numerous  and  well  matched.  But  at  this  time 
the  Regent,  a  man  of  great  strength  of  character,  aware  of 
the  mischief  which  usually  arose  from  such  acts  of  violence, 
had  prevailed  with  the  magistrates  to  keep  a  constant  guard 
on  foot,  for  preventing  or  separating  such  affrays  as  had 
happened  in  the  present  case. 

The  falconer  and  his  young  companion  were  now  riding 
down  the  Canongate,  and  had  slackened  their  pace  to  avoid 
attracting  attention,  the  rather  that  there  seemed  to  be  no 
appearance  of  pursuit.  Roland  hung  his  head  as  one  who 
was  conscious  his  conduct  had  been  none  of  the  wisest,  while 
his  companion  thus  addressed  him  : 

"  Will  you  be  pleased  to  tell  me  one  thing.  Master  Roland 
Grseme,  and  that  is,  whether  there  be  a  devil  incarnate  in 
you  or  no  ?  " 

**  Truly,  Master  Adam  Woodcock,'*  answered  the  page,  "  I 
would  fain  hope  there  is  not.'* 

"  Then,"  said  Adam,  *'  I  would  fain  know  by  what  other 
influence  or  instigation  you  are  perpetually  at  one  end  or 
the  other  of  some  bloody  brawl  ?  What,  I  pray,  had  you  to 
do  with  these  Seytons  and  Leslies,  that  you  had  never  heard 
the  names  of  in  your  life  before  ?  '* 

**  You  are  out  there,  my  friend,''  said  Roland  Graeme,  ^'  I 
have  my  own  reasons  for  being  a  friend  to  the  Seytons." 

"  They  must  have  been  very  secret  reasons,  then,"  an- 
swered Adam  Woodcock,  ''  for  I  think  I  could  have  wagered 
you  had  never  known  one  of  the  name  ;  and  I  am  apt  to  be- 
lieve still  that  it  was  your  unhallowed  passion  for  that  clash- 
ing of  cold  iron,  which  has  as  much  charm  for  you  as  the 
clatter  of  »  brass  pan  h^th  for  a  hive  of  bees,  rather  thajx  any 


THE  ABBOT  156 

care  either  for  Seyton  or  for  ijeslie,  that  persuaded  yon  to 
thrust  your  fooFs  head  into  a  quarrel  that  nowise  concerned 
you.  But  take  this  for  a  warning,  my  young  master,  that 
if  you  are  to  draw  sword  with  every  man  who  draws  swords 
on  the  Highgate  here,  it  will  be  scarce  worth  your  while  to 
sheath  bilbo  again  for  the  rest  of  your  life,  since,  if  I  guess 
rightly,  it  will  scarce  endure  on  such  terms  for  many  hours 
— all  which  I  leave  to  your  serious  consideration/' 

"  By  my  word,  Adam,  I  honor  your  advice  ;  and  I  promise 
you  that  I  will  practise  by  it  as  faithfully  as  if  I  were  sworn 
apprentice  to  you,  to  the  trade  and  mystery  of  bearing  my- 
self with  all  wisdom  and  safety  through  the  new  paths  of 
life  that  I  am  about  to  be  engaged  in." 

*'  And  therein  you  will  do  well,"  said  the  falconer,  *'and 
I  do  not  quarrel  with  you.  Master  Roland,  for  having  a  grain 
over  much  spirit,  because  I  know  one  may  bring  to  the  hand 
a  wild  hawk,  which  one  never  can  a  dunghill  hen ;  and  so 
betwixt  two  faults  you  have  the  best  side  on't.  But,  besides 
your  peculiar  genius  for  quarreling  and  lugging  out  your 
side  companion,  my  dear  Master  Roland,  you  have  also  the 
gift  of  peering  under  every  woman's  muffler  and  screen,  as 
if  you  expected  to  find  an  old  acquaintance.  Though,  were 
you  to  spy  one,  I  should  be  as  much  surprised  at  it,  well  wot- 
ting how  few  you  have  seen  of  these  same  wild-fowl,  as  I  was 
at  your  taking  so  deep  an  interest  even  now  in  the  Seyton." 

"  Tush,  man  !  nonsense  and  folly,"  answered  Roland 
Graeme  ;  "  I  but  sought  to  see  what  eyes  these  gentle  hawks 
have  got  under  their  hood." 

''  Ay,  but  it's  a  dangerous  subject  of  inquiry,"  said  the 
falconer  ;  *'  you  had  better  hold  out  your  bare  wrist  for  an 
eagle  to  perch  upon.  Look  you.  Master  Roland,  these  pretty 
wild  geese  cannot  be  hawked  at  without  risk  :  they  have  as 
many  divings,  boltings,  and  volleyings  as  the  most  gamesome 
quarry  that  falcon  ever  flew  at.  And  besides,  every  woman 
of  them  is  manned  with  her  husband,  or  her  kind  friend,  or 
her  brother,  or  her  cousin,  or  her  sworn  servant  at  the  least. 
But  you  heed  me  not.  Master  Roland,  though  I  know  the 
game  so  well  :  your  eye  is  all  on  that  pretty  damsel  who 
trips  down  the  gate  before  us  ;  by  my  certes,  I  will  war- 
rant her  a  blythe  dancer  either  in  reel  or  revel — a  pair  of 
silver  morisco  bells  would  become  these  pretty  ankles  as  well 
as  the  jesses  would  suit  the  fairest  Norway  hawk." 

"  Thou  art  a  fool,  Adam,"  said  the  page,  *'  and  I  care  not 
a  button  about  the  girl  or  her  ankles.  But,  what  the  foul 
fiend,  one  must  look  at  something  !" 


156  WA  VEkLE Y  NO  VEL ^ 

''Very  true,  Master  Roland  Grseme/'  said  his  guide,  *'but 
let  me  pray  you  to  choose  your  objects  better.  Look  you. 
there  is  scarce  a  woman  walks  this  Highgate  with  a  silk 
screen  or  a  pearlin  muffler,  but,  as  I  said  before,  she  has 
either  gentleman-usher  before  her,  or  kinsman,  or  lover,  or 
husband,  at  her  elbow,  or  it  may  be  a  brace  of  stout  fellows 
with  sword  and  buckler,  not  so  far  behind  but  what  they  can 
follow  close.  But  you  heed  me  no  more  than  a  goss-hawk 
minds  a  yellow  yoldring.*' 

"  0  yes,  I  do — I  do  mind  you  indeed,*'  said  Roland  Graeme  : 
^'  but  hold  my  nag  a  bit — I  will  be  with  you  in  the  exchange 
of  a  whistle.'''*  So  saying,  and  ere  Adam  Woodcock  could 
finish  the  sermon  which  was  dying  on  his  tongue,  Roland 
Graeme,  to  the  falconer's  utter  astonishment,  threw  him  the 
bridle  of  his  jennet,  jumped  off  horseback,  and  pursued  down 
one  of  the  closes  or  narrow  lanes,  which  opening  under  a  vault, 
terminate  upon  the  main  street,  the  very  maiden  to  whom 
his  friend  had  accused  him  of  showing  so  much  attention, 
and  who  had  turned  down  the  pass  in  question. 

''  St.  Mary— St.  Magdalen— St.  Benedict— St.  Barnabas  ! " 
cried  the  poor  falconer,  when  he  found  himself  thus  suddenly 
brought  to  a  pause  in  the  midst  of  the  Canongate,  and  saw 
his  young  charge  start  off  like  a  madman  in  quest  of  a  damsel 
whom  he  had  never,  as  Adam  supposed,  seen  in  his  life  be- 
fore— *'  St.  Satan  and  St.  Beelzebub — for  this  would  make 
one  swear  saint  and  devil — v/hat  can  have  come  over  the  lad 
with  a  wanion  !  And  what  shall  I  do  the  whilst  ?  He  Avill 
have  his  throat  cut,  the  poor  lad,  as  sure  as  I  was  born  at 
the  foot  of  Roseberry  Topping.  Could  I  find  some  one  to 
hold  the  horses  !  But  they  are  as  sharp  here  north-way  as 
in  canny  Yorkshire  herself,  and  quit  bridle,  quit  titt,  as  we 
say.  An  I  could  but  see  one  of  our  folks  now,  a  holly-sprig 
were  worth  a  gold  tassel  ;  or  could  I  but  see  one  of  the 
Regent's  men  ;  but  to  leave  the  horses  to  a  stranger,  that  I 
cannot ;  and  to  leave  the  place  while  the  lad  is  in  jeopardy, 
that  I  wonot." 

We  must  leave  the  falconer,  however,  in  the  midst  of  his 
distress,  and  follow  the  hot-headed  youth  who  was  the  cause 
of  his  perplexity. 

The  latter  part  of  Adam  Woodcock's  sage  remonstrance 
had  been  in  a  great  measure  lost  upon  Roland,  for  whose 
benefit  it  was  intended  ;  because,  in  one  of  the  female  forms 
which  tripped  along  the  streets,  muffled  in  a  veil  of  striped 
silk,  like  the  women  of  Brussels  at  this  day,  his  eye  had 
disctrned  aomething  which  closely  resembled  the  exquisite 


TEE  ABBOT  157 

stiape  and  spirited  bearing  of  Catherine  Seytori.  During  all 
the  grave  advice  which  the  falconer  was  dinning  into  his  ear, 
his  eye  continued  intent  upon  so  interesting  an  object  of 
observation ;  and  at  lengthy  as  the  damsel,  just  about  to 
dive  under  one  of  the  arched  passages  which  afforded  an 
outlet  to  the  Canongate  from  the  houses  beneath  (a  passage 
graced  by  a  projecting  shield  of  arms,  supported  by  two 
hugh  foxes  of  stone),  had  lifted  her  veil  for  the  purpose 
perhaps  of  descrying  who  the  horseman  was  who  for  some 
time  had  eyed  her  so  closely,  young  Eoland  saw,  under 
the  shade  of  the  silken  plaid,  enough  of  the  bright  azure 
eyes,  fair  locks,  and  blythe  features  to  induce  him,  like  an 
inexperienced  and  rash  madcap,  whose  wilful  ways  had  never 
been  traversed  by  contradiction,  nor  much  subjected  to 
consideration,  to  throw  the  bridle  of  his  horse  into  Adam 
Woodcock's  hand,  and  leave  him  to  play  the  waiting  gentle- 
man, while  he  dashed  down  the  paved  court  after  Catherine 
Seyton — all  as  aforesaid. 

Women's  wits  are  proverbially  quick,  but  apparently  those 
of  Catherine  suggested  no  better  expedient  than  fairly  to  be- 
take herself  to  speed  of  foot,  in  hopes  of  baffling  the  page's 
vivacity,  by  getting  safely  lodged  before  he  could  discover 
where.  But  a  youth  of  eighteen,  in  pursuit  of  a  mistress, 
is  not  so  easily  outstripped.  Catherine  fled  across  a  paved 
court,  decorated  with  large  formal  vases  of  stone,  in  which 
yews,  cypresses,  and  other  evergreens  vegetated  in  somber 
sullenness,  and  gave  a  correspondent  degree  of  solemnity  to 
the  high  and  heavy  building  in  front  of  which  they  w^ere 
placed  as  ornaments,  aspiring  towards  a  square  portion  of 
the  blue  hemisphere,  corresponding  exactly  in  extent  to  the 
quadrangle  in  which  they  were  stationed,  and  all  around 
which  rose  huge  black  walls,  exhibiting  windows  in  rows  of 
five  stories,  with  heavy  architraves  over  each,  bearing  ar- 
morial and  religious  devices. 

Through  this  court  Catherine  Seyton  flashed  like  a  hunted 
doe,  making  the  best  use  of  those  pretty  legs  which  had 
attracted  the  commendation  even  of  the  reflective  and 
cautious  Adam  W^oodcock.  She  hastened  towards  a  large 
door  in  the  center  of  the  lower  front  of  the  court,  pulled  the 
bobbin  till  the  latch  flew  up,  and  esconced  herself  in  the 
ancient  mansion.  But,  if  she  fled  like  a  doe,  Eoland  Graeme 
followed  with  the  speed  and  ardor  of  a  youthful  staghound, 
loosed  for  the  first  time  on  his  prey.  He  kept  her  in  view  in 
spite  of  her  efforts  ;  for  it  is  remarkable  what  an  advantage  in 
8ueh  a  race  the  gallant  who  desires  to  see  possesses  over  the 


158  WAVEBLEY  NOVELS 

maiden  who  wishes  not  to  be  seen — an  advantage  which  I 
have  known  coanterbalance  a  great  start  in  point  of  dis- 
tance. In  short,  he  saw  the  waving  of  her  screen,  or  veil, 
at  one  corner,  heard  the  tap  of  her  foot,  light  as  that  was,  as  it 
crossed  the  court,  and  caught  a  glimpse  of  her  figure  just  a» 
she  entered  the  door  of  the  mansion. 

Roland  Graeme,  inconsiderate  and  headlong  as  we  have 
described  him,  having  no  knowledge  of  real  life  but  from  the 
romances  which  he  had  read,  and  not  an  idea  of  checking 
himself  in  the  midst  of  an  eager  impulse,  possessed,  besides, 
of  much  courage  and  readiness,  never  hesitated  for  a  mo- 
ment to  approach  the  door  through  which  the  object  of  his 
search  had  disappeared.  He  too  pulled  the  bobbin,  and  the 
latch,  though  heavy  and  massive,  answered  to  the  summons, 
and  rose.  The  page  entered  with  the  same  precipation  which 
had  marked  his  whole  proceeding,  and  found  himself  in  a 
large  gloomy  hall,  or  vestibule,  dimly  enlightened  by  lat- 
ticed casements  of  painted  glass,  and  rendered  yet  dimmer 
through  the  exclusion  of  the  sunbeams,  owing  to  the  height 
of  the  walls  of  those  buildings  by  which  the  courtyard  was 
inclosed.  The  walls  of  the  hall  were  surrounded  with  suits  of 
ancient  and  rusted  armor,  interchanged  with  huge  and  mas- 
sive stone  scutcheons,  bearing  double  tressures,  fleured  and 
counter-fleured,  wheat-sheaves, coronets,  and  so  forth — things 
which  Roland  Graeme  gave  not  a  moment's  attention. 

In  fact,  he  only  deigned  to  observe  the  figure  of  Catherine 
Seyton,  who,  deeming  herself  safe  in  the  hall,  had  stopped 
to  take  breath  after  her  course,  and  was  reposing  herself  for 
a  moment  on  a  large  oaken  settle  which  stood  at  the  upper 
end  of  the  hall.  The  noise  of  Roland's  entrance  at  once 
disturbed  her ;  she  startled  up  with  a  faint  scream  of  sur- 
prise, and  escaped  through  one  of  the  several  folding-doors  - 
which  opened  into  this  apartment  as  a  common  center. 
This  door,  which  Roland  Graeme  instantly  approached, 
opened  on  a  large  and  well-lighted  gallery,  at  the  upper  end 
of  which  he  could  hear  several  voices  and  the  noise  of 
hasty  steps  approaching  towards  the  hall,  or  vestibule. 
A  little  recalled  to  sober  thought  by  an  appearance  of  serious 
danger,  he  was  deliberating  whether  he  should  stand  fast  or 
retire,  when  Catherine  Seyton  re-entered  from  a  side  door, 
running  towards  him  with  as  much  speed  as  a  few  minutes 
since  she  had  fled  from  him. 

*'  0,  what  mischief  brought  you  hither?'*  she  said.  ''Fly 
— fly,  0^  you  are  a  dead  man  ;  or  stay — they  come — flight  if 
impossible  ;  say  you  came  to  ask  for  Lord  Seyton.*' 


THE  ABBOT  16d 

She  sprung  from  him  and  disappeared  through  the  door 
by  which  she  had  made  her  second  appearance  ;  and,  at  the 
same  instant,  a  pair  of  large  folding-doors  at  the  upper  end 
of  the  gallery  flew  open  with  vehemence,  and  six  or  seven 
young  gentlemen,  richly  dressed,  pressed  forward  into  the 
apartment,  having  for  the  greater  part,  their  swords 
drawn. 

**  Who  is  it,"  said  one,  "  dare  intrude  on  us  in  our  own 
mansion  ?  " 

*'  Cut  him  to  pieces,"  said  another  ;  *Met  him  pay  for  this 
day's  insolence  and  violence ;  he  is  some  follower  of  the 
Eothes." 

*'  No,  hy  St.  Mary,"  said  another  ;  "  he  is  a  follower  of  the 
arch-fiend  and  ennobled  clown,  Halbert  Glendinning,  who 
takes  the  style  of  Avenel — once  a  church-vassal,  now  a  pila- 
ger  of  the  church." 

'^  It  is  so,"  said  a  fourth  ;  "  I  know  him  by  the  holly-sprig, 
which  is  their  cognizance.  Secure  the  door ;  he  must  an- 
swer for  this  insolence." 

Two  of  the  gallants,  hastily  drawing  their  weapons,  passed 
on  to  the  door  by  which  Roland  had  entered  the  hall,  and 
stationed  themselves  there  as  if  to  prevent  his  escape.  The 
others  advanced  on  Graeme,  who  had  just  sense  enough  to 
perceive  that  any  attempt  at  resistance  would  be  alike  fruit- 
less and  imprudent.  At  once,  and  by  various  voices,  none  of 
which  sounded  amicably,  the  page  was  required  to  say  who 
he  was,  whence  he  came,  his  name,  his  errand,  and  who  sent 
him  hither.  The  number  of  the  questions  demanded  of  him 
at  once  afforded  a  momentary  apology  for  his  remaining  silent, 
and  ere  that  brief  truce  had  elapsed  a  personage  entered  the 
hall,  at  whose  appearance  those  who  had  gathered  fiercely 
around  Roland  fell  back  with  respect. 

This  was  a  tall  man,  whose  dark  hair  was  already  grizzled, 
though  his  eye  and  haughty  features  retained  all  the  anima- 
tion of  youth.  The  upper  part  of  his  person  was  undressed 
to  his  Holland  shirt  whose  ample  folds  were  stained  with 
blood.  But  he  wore  a  mantle  of  crimson,  lined  with  rich  fur, 
cast  around  him,  which  supplied  the  deficiency  of  his  dress. 
On  his  head  he  had  a  crimson  velvet  bonnet,  looped  up  on 
one  side  with  a  small  golden  chain  of  many  links,  which,  go- 
ing thrice  round  the  hat,  was  fastened  by  a  medal,  agreeable 
to  the  fashion  amongst  the  grandees  of  the  time. 

*'  Whom  have  you  here,  sons  and  kinsmen,"  said  he, 
''  around  whom  you  crowd  thus  roughly  ?  Know  you  not 
that  the  shelter  of  this  roof  should  secure  every  one  fair  treat- 


160  WA  VERLET  NOVELS 

ment  who  shall  come  hither  either  in  fair  peace  or  in  open 
and  manly  hostility  ?  " 

*'  But  here,  my  lord/'  answered  one  of  the  youths,  *'  is  a. 
knave  who  comes  on  treacherous  espial  I" 

''  I  deny  the  charge/'  said  Roland  Graeme,  boldly  ;  **  I  came 
to  inquire  after  my  Lord  Seyton/' 

"  A  likely  tale/'  answered  his  accusers,  *'  in  the  mouth  of 
a  follower  of  Glendinning." 

''  Stay  young  man/'  said  the  Lord  Seyton,  for  it  was  that 
nobleman  himself,  "  let  me  look  at  this  youth.  By  Heaven, 
it  is  the  very  same  who  came  so  boldly  to  my  side  not  very 
many  minutes  since,  when  some  of  my  own  knaves  bore  them- 
selves with  more  respect  to  their  own  worshipful  safety  than 
to  mine  !  Stand  back  from  him,  for  he  well  deserves  honor 
and  a  friendly  welcome  at  your  hands,  instead  of  this  rough 
treatment." 

They  fell  back  on  all  sides,  obedient  to  Lord  Seyton's 
commands,  who,  taking  Roland  Graeme  by  the  hand,  thanked 
him  for  his  prompt  and  gallant  assistance,  adding,  that  he 
nothing  doubted  *^  the  same  interest  which  he  had  taken  in 
his  cause  in  the  affray  brought  him  hither  to  inquire  after 
his  hurt/' 

Roland  bowed  low  in  acquiescence. 

''^  Or  is  there  anything  in  which  I  can  serve  you,  to  show 
my  sense  of  your  ready  gallantry  ?  " 

But  the  page,  thinking  it  best  to  abide  by  the  apology  for 
his  visit  which  the  Lord  Seyton  had  so  aptly  himself  sug- 
gested replied,  "  That  to  be  assured  of  his  lordship's  safety 
had  been  the  only  cause  of  his  intrusion.  He  judged,"  he 
added,  '^he  had  seen  him  receive  some  hurt  in  the 
affray." 

*'  A  trifle,"  said  Lord  Seyton  ;  '*  I  had  but  stripped  my 
doublet,  that  the  chirurgeon  might  put  some  dressing  on  the 
paltry  scratch,  when  these  rash  boys  interrupted  us  with  their 
clamor." 

Roland  Graeme,  making  a  low  obeisance,  was  now  about  to 
depart,  for,  relieved  from  the  danger  of  being  treated  as  a 
spy,  he  began  next  to  fear  that  his  companion,  Adam  Wood- 
cock, whom  he  had  so  unceremoniously  quitted,  would  either 
bring  him  into  some  farther  dilemma  by  venturing  into  the 
hotel  in  quest  of  him,  or  ride  off  and  leave  him  behind  alto- 
gether. But  Lord  Seyton  did  not  permit  him  to  escape  so 
easily.  "  Tarry,"  he  said,  ''  young  man,  and  let  me  know 
thy  rank  and  name.  The  Seyton  has  of  late  been  more  wont 
to  see  friends  and  followers  shrink  from  his  side  than  to  re- 


THE  ABBOT  161, 

ceive  aid  from  strangers  ;  but  a  new  world  may  come  round, 
in  which  he  may  have  the  chance  of  rewarding  his  well- 
wishers/' 

"  My  name  is  Roland  Graeme,  my  lord,"  answered  the 
youth,  ''a  page,  who  for  the  present  is  in  the  service  of  Sir 
Halbert  Glendinning." 

''  I  said  so  trom  the  first,''  said  one  of  the  young  men  ; 
''  my'  life  I  will  wager  that  this  is  a  shaft  out  of  the  heretic's 
quiver — a  stratagem  from  first  to  last,  to  injeer  into  your  con- 
fidence some  espial  of  his  own.  They  know  how  to  teach  both 
boys  and  women  to  play  the  intelligencers." 

*'  That  is  false,  if  it  be  spoken  of  me,"  said  Roland ;  ''no 
man  in  Scotland  should  teach  me  such  a  foul  part ! " 

"I  believe  thee,  boy,"  said  Lord  Seyton,  ''for thy  strokes 
were  too  fair  to  be  dealt  upon  an  understanding  with  those 
that  were  to  receive  them.  Credit  me,  however,  I  little  ex- 
pected to  have  help  at  need  from  one  of  your  master's  house- 
hold ;  and  I  would  know  what  moved  thee  in  my  quarrel,  to 
thine  own  endangering  ?" 

"So  please  you,  my  lord,"  said  Ronald,  "I  think  my 
master  himself  would  not  have  stood  by  and  seen  an  honor- 
able man  borne  to  earth  by  odds,  if  his  single  arm  could  help 
him.  Such  at  least  is  the  lesson  we  were  taught  in  chivalry 
at  the  Castle  of  Avenel." 

"  The  good  seed  hath  fallen  into  good  ground,  young 
man,"  said  Seyton  ;  "  but,  alas  !  if  thou  practise  such  hon- 
orable war  in  these  dishonorable  days,  when  right  is  every- 
where borne  down  by  mastery,  thy  life,  my  poor  boy,  will 
be  but  a  short  one." 

"  Let  it  be  short,  so  it  be  honorable,"  said  Roland  Graeme  ; 
"and  permit  me  now,  my  lord,  to  commend  me  to  your 
grace,  and  to  take  my  leave.  A  comrade  waits  with  my 
horse  in  the  street." 

"  Take  this,  however,  young  man,"  said  Lord  Seyton,* 
undoing  from  his  bonnet  the  golden  chain  and  medal,  "  and 
wear  it  for  my  sake." 

With  no  little  pride  Ronald  Graeme  accepted  the  gift, 
which  he  hastily  fastened  around  his  bonnet,  as  he  had  seen 
gallants  wear  such  an  ornament,  and,  renewing  his  obeisance 
to  the  baron,  left  the  hall,  traversed  the  court,  and  appeared 
in  the  street,  just  as  Adam  Woodcock,  vexed  and  anxious  at 
his  delay,  had  determined  to  leave  the  horses  to  their  fate 
and  go  in  quest  of  his  youthful  comrade.  "Whose  barn 
hast  thou  broken  next  ?  "  he  exclaimed,  greatly  relieved  by 

*SeeNotel3. 
11 


162  WA  VERLEY  NO  VEL8 

his  appearance,  although  his  countenance  indicated  that  he 
had  passed  through  an  agitating  scene. 

''  Ask  me  no  questions/'  said  Konald,  leaping  gaily  on  his 
horse  ;  *'  but  see  how  short  time  it  takes  to  win  a  chain  of 
gold/'  pointing  to  that  which  he  now  wore. 

**Now,  God  forbid  that  thou  hast  either  stolen  it  or  reft 
it  by  violence/'  said  the  falconer  ;  "  for,  otherwise,  I  wot 
not  how  the  devil  thou  couldst  compass  it.  I  have  been 
often  here,  ay,  for  months  at  an  end,  and  no  one  gave  me 
either  chain  or  medal." 

*'  Thou  seest  I  have  got  one  on  shorter  acquaintance  with 
the  city,''  answered  the  page  ;  ''  but  set  thine  honest  heart 
at  rest :  that  which  is  fairly  won  and  freely  given  is  neither 
reft  nor  stolen." 

'*  Marry,  hang  thee,  with  thy  fanfarona  *  about  thy  neck  ! " 
said  the  falconer  ;  "  I  think  water  will  not  drown  nor  hemp 
strangle  thee.  Thou  hast  been  discarded  as  my  lady's  page, 
to  come  in  again  as  my  lord's  squire  ;  and,  for  following  a 
noble  young  damsel  into  some  great  household,  thou  getst  a 
chain  and  medal,  where  another  would  have  had  the  baton 
across  his  shoulders,  if  he  missed  having  the  dirk  in  his 
body.  But  here  we  come  in  front  of  the  old  abbey.  Bear 
thy  good  luck  with  you  when  you  cross  these  paved  stones, 
and,  by  Our  Lady,  you  may  brag  Scotland/' 

As  he  spoke,  they  checked  their  horses,  where  the  huge 
old  vaulted  entrance  to  the  Abbey  or  Palace  of  Holyrood 
crossed  the  termination  of  the  street  down  which  they  had 
proceeded.  The  courtyard  of  the  palace  opened  within  this 
gloomy  porch,  showing  the  front  of  an  irregular  pile  of  mon- 
astic buildings,  one  wing  of  which  is  still  extant,  forming  a 
part  of  the  modern  palace,  erected  in  the  days  of  Charles  I. 

At  the  gate  of  the  porch  the  falconer  and  page  resigned 
their  horses  to  the  serving-man  in  attendance  ;  the  falconer 
commanding  him,  with  an  air  of  authority,  to  carry  them 
safely  to  the  stables.  ''We  follow,"  he  said,  ''the  Knight 
of  Avenel.  We  must  bear  ourselves  for  what  we  are  here," 
said  he  in  a  whisper  toEonald,  "for  everyone  here  is  looked 
on  as  they  demean  themselves  ;  and  he  that  is  too  modest 
must  to  the  wall,  as  the  proverb  says  ;  therefore,  cock  thy 
bonnet,  man,  and  let  us  brook  the  causeway  bravely." 

Assuming,  therefore,  an  air  of  consequence  corresponding 
to  what  he  supposed  to  be  his  master's  importance  and  qual- 
ity, Adam  Woodcock  led  the  way  into  the  courtyard  oi  the 
Palace  of  Holyrood. 

*  See  Note  14. 


CHAPTER    XVIII 

The  sky  is  clouded,  Gaspard, 
And  the  vex'd  ocean  sleeps  a  troubled  sleep, 
Beneath  a  lurid  gleam  of  parting  sunshine. 
Such  slumber  hangs  o'er  discontented  lands, 
While  factions  doubt,  as  yet,  if  they  have  strength 
To  front  the  open  battle. 

Albion,  a  Poem, 

Thb  youthful  page  paused  on  the  entrance  of  the  court- 
yard, and  implored  his  guide  to  give  him  a  moment's  breath- 
mg-space.  **Let  me  but  look  around  me,  man,"  said  he; 
"you  consider  not  I  have  never  seen  such  a  scene  as  this  be- 
fore. And  this  is  Holy  rood — the  resort  of  the  gallant  and 
gay,  and  the  fair,  and  the  wise,  and  the  powerful  ! " 

**  Ay,  marry,  is  it  !  *'  said  Woodcock  ;  **  but  I  wish  I  could 
hood  thee  as  they  do  the  hawks,  for  thou  startest  as  wildly 
as  if  you  sought  another  fray  or  another  Sanfarona.  I  would 
I  had  thee  safely  housed,  for  thou  lookest  wild  as  a  goss- 
hawk/' 

It  was  indeed  no  common  sight  to  Roland,  the  vestibule 
of  a  palace,  traversed  by  its  various  groups — some  radiant 
with  gaiety,  some  pensive,  and  apparently  weighed  down  by 
affairs  concerning  the  state  or  concerning  themselves.  Here 
the  hoary  statesman,  with  his  cautious  yet  commanding  look, 
his  furred  cloak  and  sable  pantoufles  ;  there  the  soldier,  in 
buff  and  steel,  his  long  sword  jarring  against  the  pavement, 
and  his  whiskered  upper  lip  and  frowning  brow  looking  a 
habitual  defiance  of  danger  which  perhaps  was  not  always 
made  good  ;  there  ag^ain  passed  my  lord's  serving-man,  high 
of  heart  and  bloody  of  hand,  humble  to  his  master  and  his  mas- 
ter's equals,  insolent  to  all  others.  To  these  might  be  added, 
the  poor  suitor,  with  his  anxious  look  and  depressed  mien  ; 
the  officer,  full  of  his  brief  authority,  elbowing  his  betters,  and 
possibly  his  benefactors,  out  of  the  road  ;  the  proud  priest, 
who  sought  a  better  benefice  ;  the  proud  baron,  who  sought  a 
grant  of  church  lands  ;  the  robber  chief,  who  came  to  solicit 
a  pardon  for  the  injuries  he  had  inflicted  on  his  neighbors  ; 
the  plundered  franklin,  who  came  to  seek  vengeance  for  that 
which  he  had  himself  received.     Besides,  there  was  the  mus- 

163  ^^^^ 


164  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

tering  and  disposition  of  guards  and  soldiers  ;  the  despatch- 
ing of  messengers,  and  the  receiving  them  ;  the  trampling 
and  neighing  of  horses  without  the  gate;  the  flashing  of 
arms,  and  rustling  of  plumes,  and  jingling  of  spurs,  within 
it.  In  short,  it  was  that  gay  and  splendid  confusion  in  which 
the  eye  of  youth  sees  all  that  is  brave  and  brilliant,  and  that 
of  experience  much  that  is  doubtful,  deceitful,  false,  and 
hollow — hopes  that  will  never  be  gratified,  promises  which 
will  never  be  fulfilled,  pride  in  the  disguise  of  humility,  and 
insolence  in  that  of  frank  and  generous  bounty. 

As,  tired  of  the  eager  and  enraptured  attention  which  the 
page  gave  to  a  scene  so  new  to  him,  Adam  Woodcock  endeav- 
ored to  get  him  to  move  forward,  before  his  exuberance  of 
astonishment  should  attract  the  observation  of  the  sharp- 
witted  denizens  of  the  court,  the  falconer  himself  became  an 
object  of  attention  to  a  gay  menial  in  a  dark-green  bonnet 
and  feather,  with  a  cloak  of  a  corresponding  color,  laid  down, 
as  the  phrase  then  went,  by  six  broad  bars  of  silver  lace,  and 
welted  with  violet  and  silver.  The  words  of  recognition 
burst  from  both  at  once.  "  What !  Adam  Woodcock  at 
court ! "  and  ''  What  !  Michael  Wing-the-Wind — and  how 
runs  the  hackit  greyhound  bitch  now  ?  " 

*'  The  waur  for  the  wear,  like  ourselves,  Adam, — eight 
years  this  grass — no  four  legs  will  carry  a  dog  forever  ;  but 
we  keep  her  for  the  breed,  and  so  she  ^scapes  Border  doom. 
But  why  stand  you  gazing  there  ?  I  promise  you,  my  lord 
has  wished  for  you  and  asked  for  you.'' 

*'  My  Lord  of  Murray  asked  for  me,  and  he  Regent  of  the 
kingdom  too  ! "  said  Adam.  ''  I  hunger  and  thirst  to  pay 
my  duty  to  my  good  lord  ;  but  I  fancy  his  good  lordship  re- 
members the  day's  sport  on  Carnwath  Moor  ;  and  my  Drum- 
melzier  falcon,  that  beat  the  hawks  from  the  Isle  of  Man, 
and  won  his  lordship  a  hundred  crowns  from  the  Southern 
baron  whom  they  called  Stanley." 

*'  Nay,  not  to  flatter  thee,  Adam,"  said  his  court  friend, 
**  he  remembers  nought  of  thee,  or  of  thy  falcon  either.  He 
hath  flown  many  a  higher  flight  since  that,  and  struck  his 
quarry  too.  But  come — come  hither  away  ;  I  trust  we  are 
to  be  good  comrades  on  the  old  score." 

"  What !"  said  Adam,  "  you  would  have  me  crush  a  pot 
with  you  ?  but  I  must  first  dispose  of  my  eyas,  where  he  will 
neither  have  girl  to  chase  nor  lad  to  draw  sword  upon." 

"  Is  the  youngster  such  a  one  ?  "  said  Michael. 

*'  Ay,  by  my  hood,  he  flies  at  all  game,"  replied  Wood- 
cock. 


THE  ABBOT  165 

"  Then  had  he  better  come  with  us/*  said  Michael  Wing- 
the-Wind  ;  ^'iov  we  cannot  have  a  proper  carouse  Just  now, 
only  I  would  wet  my  lips,  and  so  must  you.  I  want  to  hear 
the  news  from  St.  Mary's  before  you  see  my  lord,  and  I  will 
let  you  know  how  the  wind  sits  up  yonder. '* 

While  he  thus  spoke,  he  led  the  way  to  a  side  door  which 
opened  into  the  court ;  and  threading  several  dark  passages 
with  the  air  of  one  who  knew  the  most  secret  recesses  of  the 
palace,  conducted  them  to  a  small  matted  chamber,  where 
he  placed  bread  and  cheese  and  a  foaming  flagon  of  ale  be- 
fore the  falconer  and  his  young  companion,  who  immedia- 
tely did  justice  to  the  latter  in  a  hearty  draught,  which 
nearly  emptied  the  measure.  Having  drawn  his  breath,  and 
dashed  the  froth  from  his  whiskers,  he  observed,  that  his 
anxiety  for  the  boy  had  made  him  deadly  dry. 

"  Mend  your  draught,*''  said  his  hospitable  friend,  again 
supplying  the  flagon  from  a  pitcher  which  stood  beside. 
**  I  know  the  way  to  the  buttery-bar.  And  now,  mind  what 
I  say.  This  morning  the  Earl  of  Morton  came  to  my  lord 
in  a  mighty  chafe.** 

*'  What !  they  keep  the  old  friendship,  then  ?  **  said  Wood- 
cock. 

"Ay,  ay,  man,  what  else?**  said  Michael;  ''one  hand 
must  scratch  the  other.  But  in  a  mighty  chafe  was  my 
Lord  of  Morton,  who,  to  say  truth,  looketh  on  such  occasions 
altogether  uncanny,  and,  as  it  were,  fiendish  ;  and  he  says 
to  my  lord — for  I  was  in  the  chamber  taking  orders  about  a 
cast  of  hawks  that  are  to  be  fetched  from  Darnaway  ;  they 
match  your  long-winged  falcons,  friend  Adam.** 

"  I  will  believe  that  when  I  see  them  fly  as  high  a  pitch,** 
replied  Woodcock,  this  professional  observation  forming  a 
sort  of  parenthesis. 

''However,**  said  Michael,  pursuing  his  tale,  "my  Lord 
of  Morton,  in  a  mighty  chafe,  asked  my  Lord  Regent  whether 
he  was  well  dealt  with — 'For  my  brother,*  said  he,  '  should 
have  had  a  gift  to  be  commendator  of  Kennaquhair,  and  to 
have  all  the  temporalities  erected  into  a  lordship  of  regality 
for  his  benefit;  and  here,' said  he,  'the  false  monks  have 
had  the  insolence  to  choose  a  new  abbot  to  put  his  claim  in 
my  brother*s  way  ;  and,  moreover,  the  rascality  of  the  neigh- 
borhood have  burned  and  plundered  all  that  was  left  in  the 
abbey,  so  that  my  brother  will  not  have  a  house  to  dwell  in 
when  he  hath  ousted  the  lazy  hounds  of  priests.*  And  my 
lord,  seeing  him  chafed,  said  mildly  to  him,  'These  are 
ihrewd  tidings,  Douglas,  but  I  trust  they  be  not  true  ;  for 


166  WA  VJ^RLET  NOVELS 

Halbert  Glendinning  went  southward  yesterday  with  a  band 
of  spears,  and  assuredly,  had  either  of  these  chances  happened, 
that  the  monks  had  presumed  to  choose  an  abbot,  or  that 
the  abbey  had  been  burnt,  as  you  say,  he  had  taken  order 
on  the  spot  for  the  punishment  of  such  insolence,  and  had 
despatched  us  a  messenger/  And  the  Earl  of  Morton  re- 
plied   Now  I  pray  you,  Adam,  to  notice  that  I  say  this 

out  of  love  to  you  and  your  lord,  and  also  for  old  comrade- 
ship ;  and  also  because  Sir  Halbert  hath  done  me  good,  and 
may  again  ;  and  also  because  I  love  not  the  Earl  of  Morton, 
as  indeed  more  fear  than  like  him — so  then  it  were  a  foul 
deed  in  you  to  betray  me. — '  But,'  said  the  Earl  to  the  Re- 
gent, *  take  heed,  my  lord,  you  trust  not  this  Glendinning 
too  far  :  he  comes  of  churFs  blood,  which  was  never  true  to 
the  nobles/     By  St.   Andrew,  these  were  his  very  words. 

*  And  besides,'  he  said,  *  he  hath  a  brother  a  monk  in  St. 
Mary's,  and  walks  all  by  his  guidance,  and  is  making  friends 
on  the  Border  with  Buccleuch  and  with  Fernieherst,*  and 
will  join  hand  with  them,  were  there  likelihood  of  a  new 
world.'  And  my  lord  answered  like  a  free  noble  lord  as  he 
is  :  '  Tush  !  my  Lord  of  Morton,  I  will  be  warrant  for 
Glend inning's  faith  ;  and  for  his  brother,  he  is  a  dreamer, 
that  thinks  of  naught  but  book  and  breviary  ;  and  if  such 
hap  have  chanced  as  you  tell  of,  I  look  to  receive  from  Glen- 
dinning the  cowl  of  a  hanged  monk,  and  the  head  of  a  riot- 
ous churl,  by  way  of  sharp  and  sudden  justice.'  And  my 
Lord  of  Morton  left  the  place,  and,  as  it  seemed  to  me,  some- 
what malcontent.  But  since  that  time  my  lord  has  asked 
me  more  than  once  whether  there  has  arrived  no  messenger 
from  the  Knight  of  Avenel.  And  all  this  I  have  told  you, 
that  you  may  frame  your  discourse  to  the  best  purpose,  for 
it  seems  to  me  that  niy  lord  will  not  be  well  pleased  if  aught 
has  happened  like  what  my  Lord  of  Morton  said,  and  if  your 
lord  hath  not  ta'en  strict  orders  with  it." 

There  was  something  in  this  communication  which  fairly 
blanked  the  bold  visage  of  Adam  Woodcock,  in  spite  of  the 
reinforcement  which  his  natural  hardihood  had  received 
from  the  berry-brown  ale  of  Holyrood. 

''  What  was  it  he  said  about  a  churl's  head,  that  grim 
Lord  of  Morton  ?  "  said  the  disconcerted  falconer  to  his 
friend. 

*'  Nay,  it  was  my  Lord  Regent,  who  said  that  he  expected, 
if  the  abbey  was  injured,  your  knight  would  send  him  the 
head  of  the  ringleader  among  the  rioters." 

*  Both  these  Border  chief  tains  were  great  friends  of  Queen  Mary. 


THE  ABBOT  167 

'*  Nay,  but  is  this  done  like  a  good  Protestant/*  said  Adam 
Woodcock,  "  or  a  true  Lord  of  the  Congregation  ?  We  used 
to  be  their  white-boys  and  darlings  when  we  pulled  down 
the  convents  in  Fife  and  Perthshire." 

"  Ay,  but  that/'  said  Michael,  '*  was  when  old  mother 
Rome  held  her  own,  and  her  [the]  great  folks  were  deter- 
mined she  should  have  no  shelter  for  her  head  in  Scotland. 
But,  now  that  the  priests  are  fled  in  all  quarters,  and  their 
houses  and  lands  are  given  to  our  grandees,  they  cannot  see 
that  we  are  working  the  work  of  reformation  in  destroying 
the  palaces  of  zealous  Protestants." 

'*  But  I  tell  you  St.  Mary's  is  not  destroyed  ! ''  said  Wood- 
cock, in  increasing  agitation  ;  "  some  trash  of  painted  win- 
dows there  were  broken — things  that  no  nobleman  could 
have  brooked  in  his  house  ;  some  stone  saints  were  brought 
on  their  marrow-bones,  like  old  Widdrington  at  Chevy 
Chase  ;  but  as  for  fire-raising,  there  was  not  so  much  as  a 
lighted  lunt  amongst  us,  save  the  match  which  the  dragon 
had  to  light  the  burning  tow  withal,  which  he  was  to  spit 
against  St.  George  ;  nay,  I  had  caution  of  that." 

"  How  !  Adam  Woodcock,"  said  his  comrade,  ''  I  trust 
thou  hadst  no  hand  in  such  a  fair  work  ?  Look  you,  Adam, 
I  were  loth  to  terrify  you,  and  you  just  come  from  a  journey  ; 
but  I  promise  you.  Earl  Morton  hath  brought  you  down  a 
'  maiden '  from  Halifax,  you  never  saw  the  like  of  her  ;  and 
she'll  clasp  you  round  the  neck,  and  your  head  will  remain 
in  her  arms." 

''  Pshaw  !"  answered  Adam,  "  I  am  too  old  to  have  my 
head  turned  by  any  maiden  of  them  all.  I  know  my  Lord 
of  Morton  will  go  as  far  for  a  buxom  lass  as  any  one  ;  but 
what  the  devil  took  him  to  Halifax  all  the  way  ?  and  if 
he  has  got  a  gamester  there,  what  hath  she  to  do  with  my 
head  ?  " 

**  Much — much  ! "  answered  Michael.  "  Herod's  daughter, 
who  did  such  execution  with  her  foot  and  ankle,  danced  not 
men's  heads  off  more  cleanly  than  this  maiden  of  Morton.* 
'Tis  an  ax,  man — an  ax  which  falls  of  itself  like  a  sash  win- 
dow, and  never  gives  the  headsman  the  trouble  to  wield  it." 

"  By  my  faith,  a  shrewd  device,"  said  Woodcock  ;  '*  Heaven 
keep  us  free  on't  I " 

The  page,  seeing  no  end  to  the  conversation  between  these 
two  old  comrades,  and  anxious,  from  what  he  had  heard, 
concerning  the  fate  of  the  abbot,  now  interrupted  their  con- 
ference. 

•  See  Note  15.  .i// 


168  WA VERLEY  NOVELS 

"  Methinks/'  he  said,  ''  Adam  Woodcock,  thou  hadst 
better  deliver  thy  master's  letter  to  the  Eegent ;  questionless 
he  hath  therein  stated  what  has  chanced  at  Kennaquhair,  in 
the  way  most  advantageous  for  all  concerned/' 

*'  The  boy  is  right,"  said  Michael  Wing- the- Wind,  **  my 
lord  will  be  very  impatient/' 

*'  The  child  hath  wit  enough  to  keep  himself  warm,*^  said 
Adam  Woodcock,  producing  from  his  hawking-bag  his  lord's 
letter,  addressed  to  the  Earl  of  Murray,  *^  and  for  that  mat- 
ter so  have  I.  So,  Master  Roland,  you  will  e'en  please  to 
present  this  yourself  to  the  Lord  Regent ;  his  presence  will 
be  better  graced  by  a  young  page  than  by  an  old  falconer." 

"  Well  said,  canny  Yorkshire  !  "  replied  his  friend  ;  **  and 
but  now  you  were  so  earnest  to  see  our  good  lord  !  Why, 
wouldst  thou  put  the  lad  into  the  noose  that  thou  mayst 
slip  tether  thyself  ?  or  dost  thou  think  the  maiden  will  clasp 
his  fair  young  neck  more  willingly  than  thy  old  sunburnt 
weasand  ?*' 

"  Go  to,"  answered  the  falconer  ;  "  thy  wit  towers  high 
an  it  could  strike  the  quarry.  I  tell  thee,  the  youth  has 
naught  to  fear  :  he  had  nothing  to  do  with  the  gambol.  A 
rare  gambol  it  was,  Michael,  as  madcaps  ever  played  ;  and  I 
had  made  as  rare  a  ballad,  if  we  had  had  the  luck  to  get  it 
sung  to  an  end.  But  mum  for  that — tace,  as  I  said  before, 
is  Latin  for  a  candle.  Carry  the  youth  to  the  presence,  and 
I  will  remain  here,  with  bridle  in  hand,  ready  to  strike  the 
spurs  up  to  the  rowel-heads,  in  case  the  hawk  flies  my  way. 
I  will  soon  put  Soltra  Edge,  I  trow,  betwixt  the  Regent  and 
me,  if  he  means  me  less  than  fair  play." 

*'  Come  on  then,  my  lad,"  said  Michael,  "  since  thou  must 
needs  take  the  spring  before  canny  Yorkshire."  So  saying, 
he  led  the  way  through  winding  passages,  closely  followed 
by  Roland  Grasme,  until  they  arrived  at  a  large  winding 
stone  stair,  the  steps  of  which  were  so  long  and  broad,  and 
at  the  same  time  so  low,  as  to  render  the  ascent  uncom- 
monly easy.  When  they  had  ascended  abou  t  the  height  of 
one  story,  the  guide  stepped  aside,  and  pushed  open  the 
door  of  a  dark  and  gloomy  ante-chamber  ;  so  dark,  indeed, 
that  his  youthful  companion  stumbled,  and  nearly  fell  down 
upon  a  low  step,  which  was  awkwardly  placed  on  the  very 
threshold. 

*'  Take  heed,'*  said  Michael  Wing-the-Wind,  in  a  very  low 
tone  of  voice,  and  first  glancing  cautiously  round  to  see  if 
any  one  listened — '*  take  heed,  my  young  friend,  for  those 
who  fall  on  these  boards  seldom  rise  again.     Seest  thou 


THE  ABBOT  169 

that/'  he  added,  in  a  still  lower  voice,  pointing  to  some  dark 
crimson  stains  on  the  floor,  on  which  a  ray  of  light,  shot 
through  a  small  aperture,  and  traversing  the  general  gloom 
of  the  apartment,  fell  with  mottled  radiance — "  seest  thou 
that,  youth  ?  Walk  warily,  for  men  have  fallen  here  before 
you/' 

''  What  mean  you  ? "  said  the  page,  his  flesh  creeping, 
though  he  scarce  knew  why.     '*  Is  it  blood  ?  " 

*'  Ay,  ay,''  said  the  domestic,  in  the  same  whispering  tone, 
and  dragging  the  youth  on  by  the  arm.  '^  Blood  it  is — but 
this  is  no  time  to  question,  or  even  to  look  at  it.  *^  Blood 
it  is,  foully  and  fearfully  shed,  as  foully  and  fearfully 
avenged.  The  blood,"  he  added,  in  a  still  more  cautious 
tone,  '*  of  Seignor  David." 

Koland  Graeme's  heart  throbbed  when  he  found  himself  so 
unexpectedly  in  the  scene  of  Eizzio's  slaughter — a  catas- 
trophe which  had  chilled  with  horror  all  even  in  that  rude 
age,  which  had  been  the  theme  of  wonder  and  pity  through 
every  cottage  and  castle  in  Scotland,  and  had  not  escaped 
that  of  Avenel.  But  his  guide  hurried  him  forward,  per- 
mitting no  further  question,  and  with  the  manner  of  one 
who  has  already  tampered  too  much  with  a  dangerous  sub- 
ject. A  tap  which  he  made  at  a  low  door  at  one  end  of  the 
vestibule  was  answered  by  a  huissier,  or  usher,  who,  opening 
it  cautiously,  received  Michael's  intimation  that  a  page 
waited  the  Regent's  leisure,  who  brought  letters  from  the 
Knight  of  Avenel. 

"  The  council  is  breaking  up,"  said  the  usher  ;  "  but  give 
me  the  packet ;  his  Grace  the  Regent  will  presently  see  the 
messenger. " 

*'  The  packet,"  replied  the  page,  ''  must  be  delivered 
into  the  Regent's  own  hands  ;  such  were  the  orders  of  my 
master." 

The  usher  looked  at  him  from  head  to  foot,  as  if  surprised 
at  his  boldness,  and  then  replied,  with  some  asperity,  '^  Say 
you  so,  my  young  master  ?  Thou  crowest  loudly  to  be  but 
a  chicken,  and  from  a  country  barnyard  too." 

"  Were  it  a  time  or  place,"  said  Roland,  "  thou  shouldst 
see  I  can  do  more  than  crow  ;  but  do  your  duty,  and  let  the 
Regent  know  I  wait  his  pleasure." 

"  Thou  art  but  a  pert  knave  to  tell  me  of  my  duty,"  said 
the  courtier  in  office  ;  ''  but  I  will  find  a  time  to  show  yon 
you  are  out  of  yours  ;  meanwhile,  wait  there  till  you  are 
wanted."     So  saying,  he  shut  the  door  in  Roland's  face. 

Michael  Wing-the-Wind,  who  had  shrunk  from  his  youth- 


170  WAVERLET  NOVELS 

fill  companion  during  this  altercation,  according  to  the 
established  maxim  of  courtiers  of  all  ranks,  and  in  all  ages, 
now  transgressed  their  prudential  line  of  conduct  so  far  as 
to  come  up  to  him  once  more.  ''  Thou  art  a  hopeful  young 
springald,^'  said  he,  ''  and  I  see  right  well  old  Yorkshire  had 
reason  in  his  caution.  Thou  hast  been  five  minutes  in  the 
court,  and  hast  employed  thy  time  so  well  as  to  make  a 
powerful  and  a  mortal  enemy  of  the  usher  of  the  council- 
chamber.  Why,  man,  you  might  almost  as  well  have  offended 
the  deputy  butler  I"  ^  t      -n 

"  I  care  not  what  he  is,"  said  Roland  Graeme  ;  ''  I  will 
teach  whomever  I  speak  with  to  speak  civilly  to  me  in  return.^ 
I  did  not  come  from  Avenel  to  be  browbeaten  in  Holyrood.'' 
"  Bravo,  my  lad  \"  said  Michael ;  "  it  is  a  fine  spirit  if  you 
can  hold  it ;  but  see,  the  door  opens.'* 

The  usher  appeared,  and,  in  a  more  civil  tone  of  voice  and 
manner,  said  that  his  Grace  the  Regent  would  receive  the 
Knight  of  Avenel's  message  ;  and  accordingly  marshaled 
Roland  Graeme  the  way  into  the  apartment,  from  which  the 
council  had  been  just  dismissed,  after  finishing  their  con- 
sultations. There  was  in  the  room  a  long  oaken  table,  sur- 
rounded by  stools  of  the  same  wood,  with  a  large  elbow-chair, 
covered  with  crimson  velvet  at  the  head.  Writing  materials 
and  papers  were  lying  there  in  apparent  disorder  ;  and  one 
or  two  of  the  privy-councilors  who  had  lingered  behind,  as- 
suming their  cloaks,  bonnets,  and  swords,  and  bidding  fare- 
well to  the  Regent,  were  departing  slowly  by  a  large  door, 
on  the  opposite  side  to  that  through  which  the  page  entered. 
Apparently  the  Earl  of  Murray  had  made  some  jest,  for  the 
smiling  countenances  of  the  statesmen  expressed  that  sort 
of  cordial  reception  which  is  paid  by  courtiers  to  the 
condescending  pleasantries  of  a  prince. 

The  Regent  himself  was  laughing  heartily  as  he  said, 
"  Farewell,  my  lords,  and  hold  me  remembered  to  the  Cock 
oftheNorth.'* 

He  then  turned  slowly  round  towards  Roland  Graeme,  and 
the  marks  of  gaiety,  real  or  assumed,  disappeared  from  his 
countenance  as  completely  as  the  passing  bubbles  leave  the 
dark  mirror  of  a  still  profound  lake  into  which  a  traveler  has 
cast  a  stone  ;  in  the  course  of  a  minute  his  noble  features  had 
assumed  their  natural  expression  of  deep  and  even  melancholy 
gravity. 

This  distinguished  statesman,  for  as  such  his  worst  enemies 
acknowledged  him,  possessed  all  the  external  dignitv,  as  well 
as  almost  all  the  noble  qualities,  which  could  grace  the  power 


THE  ABBOT  171 

that  he  enjoyed  ;  and  had  he  succeeded  to  the  throne  as  his 
ligitimate  inheritance,  it  is  probable  he  would  have  been  re- 
corded as  one  of  Scotland's  wisest  and  greatest  kings.  But 
that  he  held  his  authority  by  the  deposition  and  imprison- 
ment of  his  sister  and  benefactress  was  a  crime  which  those 
only  can  excuse  who  think  ambition  an  apology  for  ingrati- 
tude. He  was  dressed  plainly  in  black  velvet,  after  the 
Flemish  fashion,  and  wore  in  his  high  crowned  hat  a  jeweled 
clasp,  which  looped  up  on  one  side,  and  formed  the  only 
ornament  of  his  apparel.  He  had  his  poniard  by  his  side, 
and  his  sword  lay  on  the  council  table. 

Such  was  the  personage  before  whom  Eoland  Graeme  now 
presented  himself,  with  a  feeling  of  breathless  awe,  very 
different  from  the  usual  boldness  and  vicacity  of  his  temper. 
In  fact,  he  was,  from  education  and  nature,  forward,  but  not 
impudent,  and  was  much  more  easily  controlled  by  the  moral 
superiority,  arising  from  the  elevated  talents  and  renown  of 
those  with  whom  he  conversed,  than  by  pretensions  founded 
only  on  rank  or  external  show.  He  might  have  braved  with 
indifference  the  presence  of  an  earl,  merely  distinguished  by 
his  belt  and  coronet ;  but  he  felt  overawed  in  that  of  the 
eminent  soldier  and  statesman,  the  wielder  of  a  nation's 
power,  and  the  leader  of  her  armies.  The  greatest  and  wisest 
are  flattered  by  the  deference  of  youth,  so  graceful  and  be- 
coming in  itself  ;  and  Murray  took,  with  much  courtesy,  the 
letter  from  the  hands  of  the  abashed  and  blushing  page,  and 
answered  with  complaisance  to  the  imperfect  and  half-mut- 
tered greeting  which  he  endeavored  to  deliver  to  him  on  the 
part  of  Sir  Halbert  of  Avenel.  He  even  paused  a  moment 
ere  he  broke  the  silk  with  which  the  letter  was  secured,  to 
ask  the  page  his  name,  so  much  he  was  struck  with  his  very 
handsome  features  and  form. 

"  Roland  Graham,'*  he  said,  repeating  the  words  after  the 
hesitating  page,  ' '  what,  of  the  Grahams  of  Lennox  ?  " 

"  No,  my  lords,"  replied  Roland  ;  "  my  parents  dwelt  in 
the  Debateable  Land." 

Murray  made  no  farther  inquiry  ;  but  proceeded  to  read 
his  despatches,  during  the  perusal  of  which  his  brow  began 
to  assume  a  stern  expression  of  displeasure,  as  that  of  one 
who  found  something  which  at  once  surprised  and  disturbed 
him.  He  sate  down  on  the  nearest  seat,  frowned  till  his  eye- 
brows almost  met  together,  read  the  letter  twice  over,  and 
was  then  silent  for  several  minutes.  At  length,  raising  his 
head,  his  eye  encountered  that  of  the  usher,  who  in  vain  en- 
deavored to  exchange  the  look  of  eager  and  curious  observa- 


17^  WAVEBLEY  NOVELS 

tion  with  which  he  had  been  perusing  the  Eegent^s  features 
for  that  open  and  unnoticing  expression  of  countenance 
which,  in  looking  at  all,  seems  as  if  it  saw  and  marked  noth- 
ing— a  cast  of  look  which  may  be  practised  with  advantage 
by  all  those,  of  whatever  degree,  who  are  admitted  to  witness 
the  familiar  and  unguarded  hours  of  their  superiors.  Great 
men  are  as  jealous  of  their  thoughts  as  the  wife  of  King 
Candaules  was  of  her  charms,  and  will  as  readily  punish  those 
who  have,  however  involuntarily,  beheld  them  in  mental 
dishabille  and  exposure. 

'^  Leave  the  apartment,  Hyndman,''  said  the  Regent, 
sternly,  ''and  carry  your  observation  elsewhere.  You  are 
too  knowing,  sir,  for  your  post,  which,  by  special  order,  is 
destined  for  men  of  blunter  capacity.  So  !  now  you  look 
more  like  a  fool  than  you  did  (for  Hyndman,  as  may  easily 
be  supposed,  was  not  a  little  disconcerted  by  this  rebuke)  ; 
keep  that  confused  stare,  and  it  may  keep  your  office.  Be- 
gone, sir  ! " 

The  usher  departed  in  dismay,  not  forgetting  to  register, 
amongst  his  other  causes  of  dislike  to  Roland  Graeme,  that  he 
had  been  the  witness  of  this  disgraceful  chiding.  When  he 
had  left  the  apartment,  the  Regent  again  addressed  the  page. 

"  Your  name  you  say  is  Armstrong  ?" 

"  l^o/'  replied  Roland,  "  my  name  is  Graeme,  so  please  you 
— Roland  Graeme,  whose  forbears  were  designated  of  Heather- 
gill,  in  the  Debateable  Land.'' 

''  Ay,  I  knew  it  was  a  name  from  the  Debateable  Land. 
Hast  thou  any  aquaintances  here  in  Edinburgh  ?" 

'*  My  lord,''  replied  Roland,  willing  rather  to  evade  this 
question  than  to  answer  it  directly,  for  the  prudence  of  being 
silent  with  respect  to  Lord  Seyton's  adventure  immediately 
struck  him,  '*  I  have  been  in  Edinburgh  scarce  an  hour,  and 
that  for  the  first  time  in  my  life." 

"  What !  and  thou  Sir  Halbert  Glendinning's  page  ?  "  said 
the  Regent. 

''  I  was  brought  up  as  my  lady's  page,"  said  the  youth, 
"  and  left  Avenel  Castle  for  the  first  time  in  my  life — at  least 
since  my  childhood — only  three  days  since." 

''  My  lady's  page  ! "  repeated  the  Earl  of  Murray,  as  if 
speaking  to  himself  ;  ''it  was  strange  to  send  his  lady's  page 
on  a  matter  of  such  deep  concernment.  Morton  will  say  it 
is  of  a  piece  with  the  nomination  of  his  brother  to  be  abbot ; 
and  yet  in  some  sort  an  inexperienced  youth  will  best  serve 
the  turn.  What  hast  thou  been  taught,  young  man,  in  thy 
doughty  apprenticeship  1 " 


THE  ABBOT  173 

"To  hunt,  my  lord,    and  to  hawk,'*  said  Roland  Gaeme. 

"  To  hunt  coneys,  and  to  hawk  at  ouzels  ?  said  the  Regent, 
gmiling ;  "for  such  are  the  sports  of  ladies  and  their 
followers/^ 

Graeme's  cheek  reddened  deeply  as  he  replied,  not  without 
some  emphasis,  "  To  hunt  red-deer  of  the  first  head,  and  to 
strike  down  herons  of  the  highest  soar,  my  lord,  which,  in 
Lothian  speech,  may  be  termed,  for  aught  I  know,  coneys 
and  ouzels ;  also,  I  can  wield  a  brand  and  couch  a  lance,  ac- 
cording to  our  Border  meaning ;  in  inland  speech  these  may 
be  termed  water-flags  and  bulrushes." 

'^  Thy  speech  rings  like  metal,''  said  the  Regent,  "  and  1 
pardon  the  sharpness  of  it  for  the  truth.  Thou  knowest, 
then,  what  belongs  to  the  duty  of  a  man-at-arms  ?  " 

"  So  far  as  exercise  can  teach  it,  without  real  service  in  the 
field,"  answered  Roland  Graeme  ;  "but  our  knight  permitted 
none  of  his  household  to  make  raids,  and  I  never  had  the 
good  fortune  to  see  a  stricken  field." 

"The  good  fortune  !  "  repeated  the  Regent,  smiling  some- 
what sorrowfully;  "take  my  word,  young  man,  jwar  is  the 
only  game  from  which  both  parties  rise  losers. "_. 

"  JN  ot  always,  my  lord,"  answered  the  page,  with  his  charac- 
teristic audacity,  "  if  fame  speaks  truth." 

"How,  sir  ?"  said  the  Regent,  coloring  in  his  turn,  and 
perhaps  suspecting  an  indiscreet  allusion  to  the  height  which 
he  himself  had  attained  by  the  hap  of  civil  war. 

"  Because,  my  lord,"  said  Roland  Graeme,  without  change 
of  tone,  "he  who  fights  well  must  have  fame  in  life  or  honor 
in  death  ;  and  so  war  is  a  game  from  which  no  one  can  rise 
a  loser." 

The  Regent  smiled  and  shook  his  head,  when  at  that 
moment  the  door  opened,  and  the  Earl  of  Morton  presented 
himself. 

"I  come  somewhat  hastily,"  he  said,  ^^and  I  enter  unan- 
nounced, because  my  news  are  of  weight.  It  is  as  I  said  : 
Edward  Glendinning  is  named  abbot,  and " 

"  Hush,  my  lord  ! "  said  the  Regent,  *'  I  know  it,  but '* 

"And  perhaps  you  knew  it  before  I  did,  my  Lord  of 
Murray,"  answered  Morton,  his  dark  red  brow  growing  darker 
and  redder  as  he  spoke. 

"  Morton,"  said  Murray,  "  suspect  me  not — touch  not  mine 
honor  ;  I  have  to  suffer  enough  from  the  calumnies  of  foes, 
let  me  not  have  to  contend  with  the  unjust  suspicions  of  my 
friends.  We  are  not  alone,"  said  he,  recollecting  himsefi 
**  or  I  could  tell  thee  more*'' 


174  WAVERLET  NOVELS 

He  led  Morton  into  one  of  the  deep  embrasures  which  the 
windows  formed  in  the  massive  wall,  and  which  afforded  a 
retiring-place  for  their  conversing  apart.  In  this  recess, 
Roland  observed  them  speak  together  with  much  earnestness, 
Murray  appearing  to  be  grave  and  earnest,  and  Morton  hav- 
ing a  jealous  and  offended  air,  which  seemed  gradually  to 
give  way  to  the  assurances  of  the  Regent. 

As  their  conversation  grew  more  earnest,  they  became 
gradually  louder  in  speech,  having  perhaps  forgotten  the 
presence  of  the  page,  the  more  readily  as  his  position  in  the 
apartment  placed  him  out  of  sight,  so  that  he  found  himself 
unwillingly  privy  to  more  of  their  discourse  than  he  cared 
to  hear.  For,  page  though  he  was,  a  mean  curiosity  after 
the  secrets  of  others  had  never  been  numbered  amongst 
Roland's  failings  ;  and,  moreover,  with  all  his  natural  rash- 
ness, he  could  not  but  doubt  the  safety  of  becoming  privy  to 
the  secret  discourse  of  these  powerful  and  dreaded  men. 
Still,  he  could  neither  stop  his  ears  nor  with  propriety  leave 
the  apartment ;  and  while  he  thought  of  some  means  of 
signifying  his  presence,  he  had  already  heard  so  much  that 
to  have  produced  himself  suddenly  would  have  been  as 
awkward,  and  perhaps  as  dangerous,  as  in  quiet  to  abide  the 
end  of  their  conference.  What  he  overheard,  however,  was 
but  an  imperfect  part  of  their  communication  ;  and  although 
a  more  expert  politician,  acquainted  with  the  circumstances 
of  the  times,  would  have  had  little  difficulty  in  tracing  the 
meaning,  yet  Ronald  Graeme  could  only  form  very  general 
and  vague  conjectures  as  to  the  import  of  their  discourse. 

''  All  is  prepared,^'  said  Murray,  *'  and  Lindesay  is  setting 
forward.  She  must  hesitate  no  longer  ;  thou  seest  I  act  by 
thy  counsel,  and  harden  myself  against  softer  considerations.^ 

"  True,  my  lord,'*  replied  Morton,  '^  in  what  is  necessary 
to  gain  power  you  do  not  hesitate,  but  go  boldly  to  the 
mark.  But  are  you  as  careful  to  defend  and  preserve  what  you 
have  won  ?  Why  this  establishment  of  domestics  around  her  ? 
Has  not  your  sister  men  and  maidens  enough  to  tend  her,  but 
you  must  consent  to  this  superfluous  and  dangerous  retinue  ?  " 

"For  shame,  Morton  !  a  princess,  and  my  sister,  could  I 
do  less  than  allow  her  due  tendance  ?  " 

"  Ay,''  replied  Morton,  ''  even  thus  fly  all  your  shafts — 
smartly  enough  loosened  from  the  bow,  and  not  unskilfully 
aimed,  but  a  breath  of  foolish  affection  ever  crosses  in  the 
mid  volley,  and  sways  the  arrow  from  the  mark." 

"Say  not  so,  Morton  !"  replied  Murray;  "I  have  both 
dared  and  done—" 


THE  ABBOT  175 

''Yes,  enough  to  gain,  but  not  enough  to  keep  ;  reckon 
not  that  she  will  think  and  act  thus.  You  have  wounded 
her  deeply  both  in  pride  and  in  power  ;  it  signifies  nought 
that  you  would  tent  now  the  wound  with  unavailing  salves : 
as  matters  stand  with  you,  you  must  forfeit  the  title  of  an 
affectionate  brother,  to  hold  that  of  a  bold  and  determined 
statesman/' 

"  Morton  ! "  said  Murray,  with  some  impatience,  "  I  brook 
not  these  taunts  ;  what  I  have  done  I  have  done  ;  what  1 
must  farther  do,  I  must  and  will  ;  but  I  am  not  made  of 
iron  like  thee,  and  I  cannot  but  remember.  Enough  of  this 
— my  purpose  holds." 

**  And  I  warrant  me,''  said  Morton,  '^  the  choice  of  these 
domestic  consolations  will  rest  with " 

Here  he  whispered  names  which  escaped  Eoland  Graeme's 
ear.  Murray  replied  in  a  similar  tone,  but  so  much  raised 
towards  the  conclusion  of  the  sentence  that  the  page  heard 
these  words — "  And  of  him  I  hold  myself  secure,  by  Glendin- 
ning's  recommendation." 

**  Ay,  which  may  be  as  much  trustworthy  as  his  late  con- 
duct at  the  Abbey  of  St.  Mary's  :  you  have  heard  that  his 
brother's  election  has  taken  place.  Your  favorite  Sir 
Halbert,  my  Lord  of  Murray,  has  as  much  fraternal  affection 
as  yourself." 

*'  By  Heaven,  Morton,  that  taunt  demanded  an  unfriendly 
answer,  but  I  pardon  it,  for  your  brother  also  is  concerned  ; 
but  this  election  shall  be  annulled.  I  tell  you.  Earl  of  Mor- 
ton, while  I  hold  the  sword  of  state  in  my  royal  nephew's 
name,  neither  lord  nor  knight  in  Scotland  shall  dispute  my 
authority  ;  and  if  I  bear  with  insults  from  my  friends,  it  is 
only  while  I  know  them  to  be  such,  and  forgive  their  follies 
for  their  faithfulness." 

Morton  muttered  what  seemed  to  be  some  excuse,  and  the 
Regent  answered  him  in  a  milder  tone,  and  then  subjoined, 
'*  Besides,  I  have  another  pledge  than  Glendinning's  recom- 
mendation for  this  youth's  fidelity  :  his  nearest  relative  has 
placed  herself  in  my  hands  as  his  security,  to  be  dealt  withal 
as  his  doings  shall  deserve." 

**That  is  something,"  replied  Morton  :  "but  yet,  in  fair 
love  and  good-will,  I  must  still  pray  you  to  keep  on  your 
guard.  The  foes  are  stirring  again,  as  horse-flies  and 
hornets  become  busy  so  soon  as  the  storm-blast  is  over. 
George  of  Seyton  was  crossing  the  causeway  this  morning 
with  a  score  of  men  at  his  back,  and  had  a  ruffle  with  my 
friends  of  the  house  of  Leslie  ;  they  met  at  the  Tron,  and 


176  WA  VERLEY  NO VELS 

were  fighting  hard,  when  the  provost,  with  his  guard  of 
partizana,  came  in  thirdsman,  and  staved  them  asunder  with 
their  halberds,  as  men  part  dog  and  bear/' 

"He  hath  my  order  for  such  interference,*'  said  the 
Regent.     "  Has  any  one  been  hurt  ?" 

"  George  of  Seyton  himself,  by  black  Ralph  Leslie  ;  the 
devil  take  the  rapier  that  ran  not  through  from  side  to  side  ! 
Ralph  has  a  bloody  coxcomb,  by  a  blow  from  a  messan  page 
whom  nobody  knew  ;  Dick  Seyton  of  Windy  go  wl  is  run 
through  the  arm ;  and  two  gallants  of  the  Leslies  have  suf- 
fered phlebotomy.  This  is  all  the  gentle  blood  which  has 
been  spilled  in  the  revel ;  but  a  yeoman  or  two  on  both  sides 
have  had  bones  broken  and  ears  cropped.  The  hostler- 
wives,  who  are  like  to  be  the  only  losers  by  their  miscar- 
riage, have  dragged  the  knaves  off  the  street,  and  are  crying 
a  drunken  coronach  over  them."  ■ 

•"  You  take  it  lightly,  Douglas,"  said  the  Regent ;  "  these 
broils  and  feuds  would  shame  the  capital  of  the  Great  Turk> 
let  alone  that  of  a  Christian  and  Reformed  state.  But,  if 
I  live,  this  gear  shall  be  amended  ;  and  men  shall  say,  when 
they  read  my  story,  that  if  it  were  my  cruel  hap  to  rise  to 
power  by  the  dethronement  of  a  sister,  I  employed  it,  when 
gained,  for  the  benefit  of  the  commonweal." 

*'  And  of  your  friends,"  replied  Morton  ;  "  wherefore  I 
trust  for  your  instant  order  annulling  the  election  of  this 
lurdane  abbot,  Edward  Glendinning." 

*'  You  shall  be  presently  satisfied,"  said  the  Regent,  and, 
stepping  forward,  he  began  to  call,  "So  ho,  Hyndman!" 
when  suddenly  his  eye  lighted  on  Roland  Graeme.  "  By  my 
faith,  Douglas,"  said  he,  turning  to  his  friend,  "here  have 
been  three  at  counsel !  " 

"  Ay,  but  only  two  can  keep  counsel,"  said  Morton  ;  "  the 
galliard  must  be  disposed  of." 

"  For  shame,  Morton — an  orphan  boy  !  Hearken  thee, 
my  child.  Thou  hast  told  me  some  of  thy  accomplishments 
— canst  thou  speak  truth  ?" 

"  Ay,  my  lord,  when  it  serves  my  turn,"  replied  Graeme. 

"It  shall  serve  thy  turn  now,"  said  the  Regent;  "and 
falsehood  shall  be  thy  destruction.  How  much  hast  thou 
heard  or  understood  of  what  we  two  have  spoken  together  ?*'    ■ 

"But  little,  my  lord,"  replied  Roland  Graeme,  boldly, 
''which  met  my  apprehension,  saving  that  it  seemed  to  me 
as  if  in  something  you  doubted  the  faith  of  the  Knight  of 
Avenel,  under  whose  roof  I  was  nurtured." 

"  And  what  hast  thou  to  say  on  that  point,  young  man  ?  " 


i 


THE  ABBOT  177 

continued  the  Eegent,  bending  his  eyes  upon  him  with  a 
keen  and  strong  expression  of  observation. 

^'  That,"  said  the  page,  ^*  depends  on  the  quality  of  those 
who  speak  against  his  honor  whose  bread  I  have  long  eaten. 
If  they  be  my  inferiors,  I  say  they  lie,  and  will  maintain  what 
I  say  with  my  baton  ;  if  my  equals,  still  I  say  they  lie,  and 
will  do  battle  in  the  quarrel,  if  they  list,  with  my  sword ;  if 
my  superiors "  he  paused. 

"Proceed  boldly,''  said  the  Regent.  "What  if  thv 
superiors  said  aught  that  nearly  touched  your  masters 
honor  ?  " 

"I  would  say,''  replied  Graeme,  "  that  he  did  ill  to  slander 
the  absent,  and  that  my  master  was  a  man  who  could  render 
an  account  of  his  actions  to  any  one  who  should  manfully 
demand  it  of  him  to  his  face." 

"And  it  were  manfully  said,"  replied  the  Regent. 
"What  thinkest  thou,  my  Lord  of  Morton  ?" 

"I  think,"  replied  Morton,  "that  if  the  young  galliard 
resemble  a  certain  ancient  friend  of  ours  as  much  in  the 
craft  of  his  disposition  as  he  does  in  eye  and  in  brow,  there 
may  be  a  wide  difference  betwixt  what  he  means  and  what 
he  speaks." 

"  And  whom  meanest  thou  that  he  resembles  so  closely  ?" 
said  Murray. 

"  Even  the  true  and  trusty  Julian  Avenel,"  replied  Morton. 

"  But  this  youth  belongs  to  the  Debateable  Land,"  said 
Murray. 

"  It  may  be  so ;  but  Julian  was  an  outlying  striker  of 
venison,  and  made  many  a  far  cast  when  he  had  a  fair  doe 
in  chase." 

"  Pshaw  ! "  said  the  Regent,  "  this  is  but  idle  talk.  Here, 
thou  Hyndman — thou  curiosity,"  calling  to  the  usher,  who 
now  entered,  "  conduct  this  youth  to  his  companion.  You 
will  both,"  he  said  to  Graeme,  "keep  yourselves  in  readiness 
to  travel  on  short  notice."  And  then  motioning  to  him 
courteously  to  withdraw,  he  broke  up  the  interview. 

12 


CHAPTEE  XIX 

It  is  and  is  not — 'tis  the  thing  I  sought  for. 

Have  kneel'd  for,  pray'd  for,  risk'd  my  fame  and  life  for, 

And  yet  it  is  not — no  more  than  the  shadow 

Upon  the  hard,  cold,  flat,  and  polish'd  mirror 

Is  the  warm,  graceful,  rounded,  living  substance 

Which  it  presents  in  form  and  lineament. 

Old  Play. 

The  usher,  with  gravity  which  ill  concealed  a  jealous  | 
scowl,  conducted  Eoland  Graeme  to  a  lower  apartment, 
where  he  found  his  comrade,  the  falconer.  The  man  of 
office  then  briefly  acquainted  them  that  this  would  be  their 
residence  till  his  Grace's  further  orders  ;  that  they  were  to 
so  to  the  pantry,  to  the  buttery,  to  the  cellar,  and  to  the 
kitchen,  at  the  usual  hours,  to  receive  the  allowances  be- 
coming their  station — instructions  which  Adam  Woodcock's 
old  familiarity  with  the  court  made  him  perfectly  under- 
stand. **  For  your  beds,"  he  said,  '*you  must  go  to  the 
hostelry  of  St.  Michael's,  in  respect  the  palace  is  now  full 
of  the  domestics  of  the  greater  nobles." 

No  sooner  was  the  usher's  back  turned  than  Adam  ex- 
claimed, with  all  the  glee  of  eager  curiosity,  "And  now. 
Master  Eoland,  the  news — the  news  ;  come,  unbutton  thy 
pouch  and  give  us  thy  tidings.  What  says  the  Eegent  ? 
Asks  he  for  Adam  Woodcock  ?  And  is  all  soldered  up,  or 
must  the  Abbot  of  Unreason  strap  for  it  ?  " 

"All  is  well  in  that  quarter."  said  the  page  ;  "and  for 

the  rest But,   hey-day,    what !    have   you  taken  the 

chain  and  medal  off  from  my  bonnet  ?  " 

"  And  meet  time  it  was,  when  yon  usher,  vinegar-faced 
rogue  that  he  is,  began  to  inquire  what  Popish  trangam  you 
were  wearing.  By  the  mass,  the  metal  would  have  been 
confiscated  for  conscience,  sake,  like  your  other  rattle-trap 
yonder  at  Avenel,  which  Mrs.  Lilias  bears  about  on  her 
shoes  in  the  guise  of  a  pair  of  shoe-buckles.  This  comes 
of  carrying  Popish  nicknackets  about  you." 

"  The  jade  ! "  exclaimed  Eoland  Graeme,  "  has  she  melted 
down  my  rosary  into  buckles  for  her  clumsy  hoofs,  which 
will  set  off  such  a  garnish  nearly  as  well  as  a  cow's  might  ? 

178 


THE  ABBOT  179 

Bnt,  hang  her,  let  her  keep  them  ;  many  a  dog's  trick  have 
I  played  old  Lilias,  for  want  of  having  something  better  to 
'  do,  and  the  buckles  will  serve  for  a  remembrance.  Do  you 
remember  the  verjuice  I  put  into  the  comfits,  when  old 
Wingate  and  she  were  to  breakfast  together  on  Easter 
morning  ?  " 

"  In  troth  do  I,  Master  Eoland  ;  the  major-domo's  mouth 
was  as  crooked  as  a  hawk's  beak  for  the  whole  morning 
afterwards,  and  any  other  page  in  your  room  would  have 
tasted  the  discipline  of  the  porter's  lodge  for  it.  But  my 
lady's  favor  stood  between  your  skin  and  many  a  jerking. 
Lord  send  you  may  be  the  better  for  her  protection  in  such 
matters  ! " 

*^  I  am  at  least  grateful  for  it,  Adam  ;  and  I  am  glad  you 
put  me  in  mind  of  it." 

*'Well,  but  the  news,  my  young  master,"  said  Wood- 
cock— "  spell  me  the  tidings  ;  what  are  we  to  fly  at  next  ? 
What  did  the  Regent  say  to  you  ?  " 

**  Nothing  that  I  am  to  repeat  again,"  said  Roland  Graeme, 
shaking  his  head. 

*"  Why,  hey-day,"  said  Adam,  "how  prudent  we  are  be- 
come all  of  a  sudden  !  You  have  advanced  rarely  in  brief 
space.  Master  Roland.  You  have  wellnigh  had  your  head 
broken,  and  you  have  gained  your  gold  chain,  and  you  have 
made  an  enemy.  Master  Usher  to  wit,  with  his  two  legs  like 
hawks'  perches,  and  you  have  had  audience  of  the  first  man 
in  the  realm,  and  bear  as  much  mystery  in  your  brow  as  if 
you  had  flown  in  the  court-sky  ever  since  you  were  hatched. 
I  believe  in  my  soul  you  would  run  with  a  piece  of  egg-shell 
on  your  head  like  the  curlews,  which — I  would  we  were 
after  them  again — we  used  to  call  whaups  in  the  halidome 
and  its  neighborhood.  But  sit  thee  down,  boy ;  Adam 
Woodcock  was  never  the  lad  to  seek  to  enter  into  forbidden 
secrets — sit  thee  down,  and  I  will  go  fetch  the  vivers ;  I 
know  the  butler  and  the  pantler  of  old." 

The  good-natured  falconer  set  forth  upon  his  errand, 
busying  himself  about  procuring  their  refreshment  ;  and 
during  his  absence  Roland  Graeme  abandoned  himself  to  the 
strange,  complicated,  and  yet  heart-stirring  reflections  to 
which  the  events  of  the  morning  had  given  rise.  Yester- 
day he  was  of  neither  mark  nor  likelihood,  a  vagrant  boy, 
the  attendant  on  a  relative  of  whose  sane  judgment  he  him- 
self had  not  the  highest  opinion  ;  but  now  he  had  become, 
he  knew  not  why,  or  wherefore,  or  to  what  extent,  the  cus- 
todier, as  the  Scottish  phrase  went,  of  some  important  state 


180  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

Becret,  in  the  safe  keeping  of  which  the  Eegent  himself  waa 
concerned.  It  did  not  diminish  from,  but  rather  added  to, 
the  interest  of  a  situation  so  unexpected  that  Roland  him- 
self did  not  perfectly  understand  wherein  he  stood  com- 
mitted by  the  state  secrets  in  which  he  had  unwittingly  be- 
come participator.  On  the  contrary,  he  felt  like  one  who 
looks  on  a  romantic  landscape,  of  which  he  sees  the  features 
for  the  first  time,  and  then  obscured  with  mist  and  driving 
tempest.  The  imperfect  glimpse  which  the  eye  catches  of 
rocks,  trees,  and  other  objects  around  him  adds  double 
dignity  to  these  shrouded  mountains  and  darkened  abysses, 
of  which  the  height,  depth,  and  extent  are  left  to  imagina- 
tion. 

But  mortals,  especially  at  the  well-appetized  age  which 

E recedes  twenty  years,  are  seldom  so  much  engaged  either 
y  real  or  conjectural  subjects  of  speculation  but  that  their 
earthly  wants  claim  their  hour  of  attention.  And  with  many 
a  smile  did  our  hero,  so  the  reader  may  term  him  if  he  will, 
hail  the  reanpearance  of  his  friend  Adam  Woodcock,  bearing 
on  one  wooaen  platter  a  tremendous  portion  of  boiled  beef, 
and  on  another  a  plentiful  allowance  of  greens,  or  rather 
what  the  Scotch  call  lang-kale.  A  groom  followed  with 
bread,  salt,  and  the  other  means  of  setting  forth  a  meal ;  and 
when  they  had  both  placed  on  the  oaken  table  what  they 
bore  in  their  hands,  the  falconer  observed  that,  since  he  knew 
the  court,  it  had  got  harder  and  harder  every  day  to  the  poor 
gentlemen  and  yeomen  retainers,  but  that  now  it  was  an  ab- 
solute flaying  of  a  flea  for  the  hide  and  tallow.  Such  throng- 
ing to  the  wicket,  and  such  churlish  answers,  and  such  bare 
beef-bones,  such  a  shouldering  at  the  buttery-hatch,  and 
cellarage,  and  nought  to  be  gained  beyond  small  insufficient 
single  ale,  or  at  best  with  a  single  "  straike "  of  malt  to 
counterbalance  a  double  allowance  of  water.  *'  By  the  mass, 
though,  my  young  friend, '^  said  he,  while  he  saw  the  food 
disappearing  fast  under  Eoland's  active  exertions,  "it  is  not 
so  well  to  lament  for  former  times  as  to  take  the  advantage 
of  the  present,  else  we  are  like  to  lose  on  both  sides." 

So  saying,  Adam  Woodcock  drew  his  chair  towards  the 
table,  unsheathed  his  knife  (for  every  one  carried  that  minis- 
ter of  festive  distribution  for  himself),  and  imitated  his  young 
companion's  example,  who  for  the  moment  had  lost  his  anx- 
iety for  the  future  in  the  eager  satisfaction  of  an  appetite 
sharpened  by  youth  and  abstinence. 

In  truth,  they  made,  though  the  materials  were  sufficiently 
♦imple,  a  very  respectable  meal  at  the  expense  of  the  royal 


THE  ABBOT  181 

allowance  ;  and  Adam  Woodcock,  notwithstanding  the  delib- 
erate censure  which  he  had  passed  on  the  household  beer  of 
the  palace,  had  taken  the  fourth  deep  draught  of  the  black- 
jack ere  he  remembered  him  that  he  had  spoken  in  its  dis- 
praise. Then,  flinging  himself  jollily  and  luxuriously  back 
m  an  old  Danske  elbow-chair,  and  looking  with  careless  glee 
towards  the  page,  extending  at  the  same  time  his  right  leg, 
and  stretching  the  other  easily  over  it,  he  reminded  his  com- 
panion that  he  had  not  yet  heard  the  ballad  which  he  had 
made  for  the  Abbot  of  Unreason's  revel.  And  accordingly 
he  struck  merrily  up  with  /(qqji: 

"  The  Pope,  that  pagan  full  of  pride, 
Has  blinded  us  full  lang " 

Roland  Graeme,  who  felt  no  great  delight,  as  may  be  sup- 
posed, in  the  falconer's  satire,  considering  its  subject,  began 
to  snatch  up  his  mantle  and  fling  it  around  his  shoulders,  an 
action  whicn  instantly  interrupted  the  ditty  of  Adam  Wood- 
cock. 

"  Where  the  vengeance  are  you  going  now,"  he  said,  '^  thou 
restless  boy  ?  Thou  hast  quicksilver  in  the  veins  of  thee  to  a 
certainty,  and  canst  no  more  abide  any  douce  and  sensible 
communing  than  a  hoodless  hawk  would  keep  perched  on 
my  wrist ! 

"  Why,  Adam,''  replied  the  page,  ''  if  you  must  needs 
know,  I  am  about  to  take  a  walk  and  look  at  this  fair  city. 
One  may  as  well  be  still  mewed  up  in  the  old  castle  of  the 
lake,  if  one  is  to  sit  the  livelong  night  between  four  walls, 
and  hearken  to  old  ballads." 

"  It  is  a  new  ballad,  the  Lord  help  thee  ! "  replied  Adam, 
"  and  that  one  of  the  best  that  ever  was  matched  with  a  rous- 
ing chorus." 

''  Be  it  so,"  said  the  page,  "  I  will  hear  it  another  day,  when 
the  rain  is  dashing  against  the  windows,  and  there  is  neither 
steed  stamping,  nor  spur  jingling,  nor  feather  waving  in  the 
neighborhood,  to  mar  my  marking  it  well.  But,  even  now, 
I  want  to  be  in  the  world,  and  to  look  about  me." 

'*  But  the  never  a  stride  shall  you  go  without  me,"  said  the 
falconer,  '^  until  the  Eegent  shall  take  you  whole  and  sound 
off  my  hand  ;  and  so,  if  you  will,  we  may  go  the  hostelry  of 
St.  Michael's,  and  there  you  will  see  company  enough,  but 
through  the  casement,  mark  you  me  ;  for  as  to  rambling 
through  the  street  to  seek  Seytons  and  Leslies,  and  having  a 
dozen  holes  rifted  in  your  new  jacket  with  rapier  and  poniard, 
I  will  yield  no  way  to  it." 


182  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

*'  To  the  "hostelry  of  St.  Michaers,  then,  with  all  my  heart/' 
gaid  the  page  ;  and  they  left  the  palace  accordingly,  rendered 
to  the  sentinels  at  the  gate,  who  had  now  taken  their  posts 
for  the  evening,  a  strict  account  of  their  names  and  business, 
were  dismissed  through  a  small  wicket  of  the  close-barred 
portal,  and  soon  reached  the  inn  or  hostelry  of  St.  Michael, 
which  stood  in  a  large  courtyard,  off  the  main  street,  close 
under  the  descent  of  the  Calton  Hill.  The  place,  wide, 
waste,  and  uncomfortable,  resembled  rather  an  Eastern 
caravansary,  where  men  found  shelter  indeed,  but  were 
obliged  to  supply  themselves  with  everything  else,  than  one 
of  our  modern  inns — 

Where  not  one  comfort  shall  to  those  be  lost, 
Who  never  ask,  or  never  feel,  the  cost. 

But  still,  to  the  inexperienced  eye  of  Eoland  Graeme,  the 
bustle  and  confusion  of  this  place  of  public  resort  furnished 
excitement  and  amusement.  In  the  large  room,  into  which 
they  had  rather  found  their  own  way  than  been  ushered  by 
mine  host,  travelers  and  natives  of  the  city  entered  and  de- 
parted, met  and  greeted,  gamed  or  drank  together,  forming 
the  strongest  contrast  to  the  stern  and  monotonous  order  and 
silence  with  which  matters  were  conducted  in  the  well-ordered 
household  of  the  Knight  of  Avenel.  Altercation  of  every 
kind,  from  brawling  to  jesting,  was  going  on  among  the 
groups  around  them,  and  yet  the  noise  and  mingled  voices 
seemed  to  disturb  no  one,  and  indeed  to  be  noticed  by  no 
others  than  by  those  who  composed  the  group  to  which  the 
speaker  belonged. 

The  falconer  passed  through  the  apartment  to  a  projecting 
latticed  window,  which  formed  a  sort  of  recess  from  the  room 
itself  ;  and  having  here  esconced  himself  and  his  companion, 
he  called  for  some  refreshments  ;  and  a  tapster,  after  he  had 
shouted  for  the  twentieth  time,  accommodated  him  with  the 
remains  of  a  cold  capon  and  a  neat's  tongue,  together  with  a 
pewter  stoup  of  weak  French  vin-de-pays.  ^'  Fetch  a  stoup 
of  brandy-wine,  thou  knave.  We  will  be  jolly  to-night. 
Master  Roland,^'  said  he,  when  he  saw  himself  thus  accom- 
modated, *'  and  let  care  come  to-morrow." 

But  Roland  had  eaten  too  lately  to  enjoy  the  good  cheer  ; 
and  feeling  his  curiosity  much  sharper  than  his  appetite,  he 
made  it  his  choice  to  look  out  of  the  lattice,  which  overhung 
a  large  yard  surrounded  by  the  stables  of  the  hostelry,  and 
f«d  hig  ©yea  on  the  busy  sight  beneath .:  while  Adam  Wood- 


THE  ABBOT  183 

cock,  after  he  had  compared  his  companion  to  the  Laird  of 
MacFarlane's  geese,  who  liked  their  play  better  than  their 
meat,*  disposed  of  his  time  with  the  aid  of  cup  and  trencher, 
occasionally  humming  the  burden  of  his  birth-strangled 
ballad,  and  beating  time  to  it  with  his  fingers  on  the  little 
round  table.  In  this  exercise  he  was  frequently  interrupted 
by  the  exclamations  of  his  companion,  as  he  saw  something 
new  in  the  yard  beneath  to  attract  and  interest  hin. 

It  was  a  busy  scene,  for  the  number  of  gentlemen  and 
nobles  who  were  now  crowded  into  the  city  had  filled  all  spare 
stables  and  places  of  public  reception  with  their  horses  and 
military  attendants.  There  were  some  score  of  yeomen  dress- 
ing their  own  or  their  masters'  horses  in  the  yard — whis- 
tling, singing,  laughing,  and  upbraiding  each  other,  in  a  style 
of  wit  which  the  good  order  of  Avenel  Castle  rendered  strange 
to  Roland  Graeme's  ears.  Others  were  busy  repairing  their 
own  arms,  or  cleaning  those  of  their  masters.  One  fellow, 
having  just  bought  a  bundle  of  twenty  spears,  was  sitting  in 
a  corner,  employed  in  painting  the  white  staves  of  the 
weapons  with  yellow  and  vermilion.  Other  lackeys  led  large 
staghounds,  or  wolf-dogs,  of  noble  race,  carefully  muzzled  to 
prevent  accidents  to  passengers.  All  came  and  went,  mixed 
together  and  separated,  under  the  delighted  eye  of  the  page, 
whose  imagination  had  not  even  conceived  a  scene  so  gaily 
diversified  with  the  objects  he  had  most  pleasure  in  behold- 
ing ;  so  that  he  was  perpetually  breaking  the  quiet  reverie  of 
honest  Woodcock,  and  the  mental  progress  which  he  was 
making  in  his  ditty,  by  exclaiming,  "Look  here,  Adam — 
look  at  the  bonny  bay  horse ;  St.  Anthony,  what  a  gallant 
forehand  he  hath  got  !  And  see  the  goodly  gray,  which 
yonder  fellow  in  the  frieze  jacket  is  dressing  as  awkwardly 
as  if  he  had  never  touched  aught  but  a  cow  ;  I  would  I  were 
nigh  him  to  teach  him  his  trade  !  And  lo  you,  Adam,  the 
gay  Milan  armor  that  the  yeoman  is  scouring,  all  steel  and 
silver,  like  our  knight's  prime  suit,  of  which  old  Wingate 
makes  such  account.  And  see  to  yonder  pretty  wench,  Adam, 
who  comes  tripping  through  them  all  with  her  milk-pail ;  I 
warrant  me  she  has  had  a  long  walk  from  the  loaning  ;  she 
Aas  a  stammel  waistcoat,  like  your  favorite  Cicely  Sunder- 
land, Master  Adam  ! " 

*'  By  my  hood,  lad,'*  answered  the  falconer,  *'  itis  well  for 

thee  thou  wert  brought  up  where  grace  grew.     Even  in  the 

Castle  of  Avenel  thou  wert  a  wild-blood  enough  ;  but  hadst 

thou  been  nurtured  here,  within  a  flight-shot  of  the  court, 

*  [See  The  Monastery.    Note  10,  p.  4411. 


184  WAVEELEY  NOVELS 

thou  liadst  been  the  veriest  crack-hemp  of  a  page  that  evei 
wore  feather  in  thy  bonnet  or  steel  by  thy  side  ;  truly,  I  wish 
it  may  end  well  with  thee/' 

**  Nay,  but  leave  thy  senseless  humming  and  drumming, 
old  Adam,  and  come  to  the  window  ere  thou  hast  drenched 
thy  senses  in  the  pint-pot  there.  See,  here  comes  a  merry 
minstrel  with  his  crowd,  and  a  wench  with  him,  that  dances 
with  bells  at  her  ankles ;  and  see,  the  yeomen  and  pages 
leave  their  horses  and  the  armor  they  were  cleaning,  and 
gather  round,  as  is  very  natural,  to  hear  the  music.  Come, 
old  Adam,  we  will  thither  too.'' 

''  You  shall  call  me  '  cut '  if  I  do  go  down,''  said  Adam  ; 
''you  are  near  as  good  minstrelsy  as  the  stroller  can  make, 
if  you  had  but  the  grace  to  listen  to  it." 

"  But  the  wench  in  the  stammel  waistcoat  is  stopping  too, 
Adam  ;  by  Heaven,  they  are  going  to  dance  !  Frieze  jacket 
wants  to  dance  with  stammel  waistcoat,  but  she  is  coy  and 
recusant." 

Then  suddenly  changing  his  tone  of  levity  into  one  of  deep 
interest  and  surprise,  he  exclaimed,  ''  Queen  of  Heaven  ! 
what  is  it  that  I  see  ?"  and  then  remained  silent. 

The  sage  Adam  Woodcock,  who  was  in  a  sort  of  languid 
degree  amused  with  the  page's  exclamations,  even  while  he 
professed  to  despise  them,  became  at  length  rather  desirous 
to  set  his  tongue  once  more  a-going,  that  he  might  enjoy 
the  superiority  afforded  by  his  own  intimate  familiarity  with 
all  the  circumstances  which  excited  in  his  young  companion's 
mind  so  much  wonderment. 

*'Well,  then,"  he  said  at  last,  ''what  is  it  you  do  see. 
Master  Eoland,  that  you  have  become  mute  all  of  a  sudden  ?  " 

Koland  returned  no  answer. 

"I  say.  Master  Koland  Graeme,"  said  the  falconer,  "it  is 
manners  in  my  country  for  a  man  to  speak  when  he  is 
spoken  to." 

Eoland  Graeme  remained  silent. 

"  The  murrain  is  in  the  boy,"  said  Adam  Woodcock,  "  he 
has  stared  out  his  eyes  and  talked  his  tongue  to  pieces,  I 
think  ! " 

The  falconer  hastily  drank  off  his  can  of  wine,  and  came 
to  Eoland,  who  stood  like  a  statue,  with  his  eyes  eagerly 
bent  on  the  courtyard,  though  Adam  Woodcock  was  unable 
to  detect  amongst  the  joyous  scene  w^hich  it  exhibited  aught 
that  could  deserve  such  devoted  attention. 

"  The  lad  is  mazed! "  said  the  falconer  to  himself. 

But  Eoland  Grasme  had  good  reasons  for  his  surprise, 


I 


THE  ABBOT  185 

though  they  were  not  such  as  he  could  communicate  to  his 
companion. 

The  touch  of  the  old  minstrel's  instrument,  for  he  had 
already  begun  to  play,  had  drawn  in  several  auditors  from 
the  street,  when  one  entered  the  gate  of  the  yard  whose  ap- 
pearance exclusively  arrested  the  attention  of  Koland  Graeme. 
He  was  of  his  own  age,  or  a  good  deal  younger,  and  from  his 
dress  and  bearing  might  be  of  the  same  rank  and  calling, 
having  all  the  air  of  coxcombry  and  pretension  which  ac- 
corded with  a  handsome,  though  slight  and  low,  figure  and 
an  elegant  dress,  in  part  hid  by  a  large  purple  cloak.  As  he 
entered,  he  cast  a  glance  up  towards  the  windows,  and,  to 
his  extreme  astonishment,  under  the  purple  velvet  bonnet 
and  white  feather,  Roland  recognized  the  features  so  deeply 
impressed  on  his  memory,  the  bright  and  clustered  tresses, 
the  laughing  full  blue  eyes,  the  well-formed  eyebrows,  the 
nose  with  the  slightest  possible  inclination  to  be  aquiline, 
the  ruby  lip,  of  which  an  arch  and  half -suppressed  smile 
seemed  the  habitual  expression — in  short,  the  form  and  face 
of  Catherine  Seyton  ;  in  man's  attire,  however,  and  mimick- 
iag,  as  it  seemed  not  unsuccessfully^  the  bearing  of  a  youth- 
ful but  forward  page. 

"  St.  George  and  St.  Andrew  ! "  exclaimed  the  mazed  Roland 
Grseme  to  himself,  '^  was  there  ever  such  an  audacious 
quean  !  She  seems  a  little  ashamed  of  her  mummery  too, 
for  she  holds  the  lap  of  her  cloak  to  her  face,  and  her  color 
is  heightened;  but,  Sancta  Maria,  how  she  threads  the  throng, 
with  as  firm  and  bold  a  step  as  if  she  had  never  tied  petti- 
coat round  her  waist  !  Holy  saints  !  she  holds  up  her  riding- 
rod  as  if  she  would  lay  it  about  some  of  their  ears  that  stand 
most  in  her  way  ;  by  trie  hand  of  my  father  !  she  bears  her- 
self like  the  very  model  of  pagehood.  Hey  !  what !  sure 
she  will  not  strike  frieze  jacket  in  earnest  ?''  But  he  was 
not  long  left  in  doubt ;  for  the  lout  whom  he  had  before 
repeatedly  noticed,  standing  in  the  way  of  the  bustling  page, 
and  maintaining  his  place  with  clownish  obstinacy  or 
stupidity,  the  advanced  riding-rod  was,  without  a  moment's 
hesitation,  sharply  applied  to  his  shoulders,  in  a  manner 
which  made  him  spring  aside,  rubbing  the  part  of  the  body 
which  had  received  so  unceremonious  a  hint  that  it  was  in 
the  way  of  his  betters.  The  party  injured  growled  forth  an 
oath  or  two  of  indignation,  and  Roland  Graeme  began  to 
think  of  flying  downstairs  to  the  assistance  of  the  translated 
Catherine  ;  but  the  laugh  of  the  yard  was  against  frieze 
jacket,  which  indeed  had,  in  those  days,  small  chance  of 


IM  WAVERLET  NOVELS 

fair  play  in  a  quarrel  with  velvet  and  embroidery  ;  so  that 
the  fellow,  who  was  a  menial  in  the  inn,  slunk  back  to  finish 
his  task  of  dressing  the  bonny  gray,  laughed  at  bj  all,  but 
most  by  the  wench  in  the  stammel  waistcoat,  his  fellow- 
servant,  who,  to  crown  his  disgrace,  had  the  cruelty  to  cast 
an  applauding  smile  upon  the  author  of  the  injury,  while, 
with  a  freedom  more  like  the  milkmaid  of  the  town  than 
she  of  the  plains,  she  accosted  him  with — '*  Is  there  any  one 
you  want  here,  my  pretty  gentleman,  that  you  seem  in  such 
haste?'' 

"  I  seek  a  slip  of  a  lad,"  said  the  seeming  gallant,  "  with 
a  sprig  of  holly  in  his  cap,  black  hair  and  black  eyes,  green 
jacket,  and  the  air  of  a  country  coxcomb  ;  I  have  sought  him 
through  every  close  and  alley  in  the  Canongate — ^the  fiend 
gore  him  ! " 

"Why,  God-a-mercy,  nun!*'  muttered  Roland  Graeme, 
much  bewildered. 

*'  I  will  inquire  him  presently  out  for  your  fair  young 
worship,"  said  the  wench  of  the  inn. 

**Do,"  said  the  gallant  squire,  ''and  if  you  bring  me  to 
him  you  shall  have  a  groat  to-night,  and  a  kiss  on  Sunday 
when  you  have  on  a  cleaner  kirtle.'* 

"  Why,  God-a-mercy,  nun  ! "  again  muttered  Roland, ''  this 
is  a  note  above  E  La.'' 

In  a  moment  after  the  servant  entered  the  room,  nnd  ush- 
ered in  the  object  of  his  surprise. 

While  the  disguised  vestal  looked  with  unabaahed  brow, 
and  bold  and  rapid  glance  of  her  eye,  through  the  various 
parties  in  the  large  old  room,  Roland  Graeme,  who  felt  an 
internal  awkward  sense  of  bashful  confusion,  which  he 
deemed  altogether  unworthy  of  the  bold  and  dashing  char- 
acter to  which  he  aspired,  determined  not  to  be  browbeaten 
and  put  down  by  this  singular  female,  but  to  meet  her  with 
a  glance  of  recognition  so  sly,  so  penetrating,  so  expressively 
humorous,  as  should  show  her  at  once  he  was  in  possession 
of  her  secret  and  master  of  her  fate,  and  should  compel  her 
to  humble  herself  towards  him,  at  least  into  the  look  and 
manner  of  respectful  and  deprecating  observance. 

This  was  extremely  well  planned  ;  but,  just  as  Roland  had 
called  up  the  knowing  glance,  the  suppressed  smile,  the 
shrewd  intelligent  look  which  was  to  insure  his  triumph,  he 
encountered  the  bold,  firm,  and  steady  gaze  of  his  brother  or 
sister  page,  who,  casting  on  him  a  falcon  glance,  and  recog- 
nizing  him  at  once  as  the  object  of  his  search,  walked  up 
with  the  most  unconcerned  look,  the  most  free  and  undaunted 


TBE  ABBOT  387 

composure,  and  hailed  him  with,  **  You,  sir  holly- top,  I 
would  speak  with  you." 

The  steady  coolness  and  assurance  with  which  these  words 
were  uttered,  although  the  voice  was  the  veiy  voice  he  had 
heard  at  the  old  convent,  and  although  the  features  more 
nearly  resembled  those  of  Catherine  when  seen  close  than 
when  viewed  from  a  distance,  produced,  nevertheless,  such 
a  confusion  in  Eoland's  mind  that  he  became  uncertain 
whether  he  was  not  still  under  a  mistake  from  the  beginning; 
the  knowing  shrewdness  which  should  have  animated  his 
visage  faded  into  a  sheepish  bashfulness,  and  the  half-sup- 
pressed but  most  intelligible  smile  became  the  senseless  gig- 
gle of  one  who  laughs  to  cover  his  own  disorder  of  ideas. 

"  Do  they  understand  a  Scotch  tongue  in  thy  country, 
holly-top  ?"  said  this  marvelous  specimen  of  metamorphosis. 
"  I  said  I  would  speak  with  thee." 

"  What  is  your  business  with  my  comrade,  my  young 
chick  of  the  game  ?"  said  Adam  Woodcock,  willing  to  step 
in  to  his  companion's  assistance,  though  totally  at  a  loss  to 
account  for  the  sudden  disappearance  of  all  Roland's  usual 
smartness  and  presence  of  mind. 

"  Nothing  to  you,  my  old  cock  of  the  perch,"  replied  the 
gallant;  "go  mind  your  hawk's  castings.  I  guess  by  your 
bag  and  your  gauntlet  that  you  are  squire  of  the  body  to  a 
sort  of  kites." 

He  laughed  as  he  spoke,  and  the  laugh  reminded  Roland 
so  irresistibly  of  the  hearty  fit  of  risibility  in  which  Cathe- 
rine had  indulged  at  his  expense  when  they  first  met  in  the 
old  nunnery,  that  he  could  scarce  help  exclaiming,  "  Cathe- 
rine Seyton,  by  Heavens!"  He  checked  the  exclamation, 
however,  and  only  said,  *^  I  think,  sir,  we  two  are  not  totally 
strangers  to  each  other." 

*'  We  must  have  met  in  our  dreams,  then,"  said  the  youth; 
"  and  my  days  are  too  busy  to  remember  what  I  think  on  at 
nights." 

'*  Or  apparently  to  remember  upon  one  day  those  whom  you 
may  have  seen  on  the  preceding  eve,"  said  Roland  Graeme. 

The  youth  in  his  turn  cast  on  him  a  look  of  some  surprise, 
as  he  replied,  ' '  I  know  no  more  of  what  you  mean  than  does 
the  horse  I  ride  on ;  if  there  be  offense  in  your  words,  you 
shall  find  me  as  ready  to  take  it  as  any  lad  in  Lothian." 

'*You  know  well,"  said  Roland,  ''though  it  pleases  you 
to  use  the  language  of  a  stranger,  that  with  you  I  can  have 
no  purpose  to  quarrel." 


188  WAVEBLEY  NOVELS 

"  Let  me  do  mine  errand,  then,  and  be  rid  of  you/'  said 
the  page.  '^  Step  hither  this  way,  out  of  that  old  leathern 
fist^s  hearing." 

They  walked  into  the  recess  of  the  window,  which  Eoland 
had  left  upon  the  youth's  entrance  into  the  apartment.  The 
messenger  then  turned  his  back  on  the  company,  after  cast- 
ing a  hasty  and  sharp  glance  around  to  see  if  they  were  ob- 
served. Roland  did  the  same,  and  the  page  in  the  purple 
mantle  thus  addressed  him,  taking  at  the  same  time  from 
under  his  cloak  a  short,  but  beautifully-wrought  sword, 
with  the  hilt  and  ornaments  upon  the  sheath  of  silver,  mas- 
sively chased  and  over-gilded:  '^I  bring  you  this  weapon 
from  a  friend,  who  gives  it  you  under  the  solemn  condition  that 
you  will  not  unsheathe  it  until  you  are  commanded  by  your 
rightful  sovereign.  For  your  warmth  of  temper  is  known, 
and  the  presumption  with  which  you  intrude  yourself  into  the 
quarrels  of  others  ;  and,  therefore,  this  is  laid  upon  you  as  a 
penance  by  those  who  wish  you  well,  and  whose  hand  will  in- 
fluence your  destiny  for  good  or  for  evil.  This  is  what  1  was 
charged  to  tell  you.  So  if  you  will  give  a  fair  word  for  a  fair 
sword,  and  pledge  your  promise,  with  hand  and  glove,  good 
and  well  ;  and  if  not,  1  will  carry  back  Caliburn  to  those 
who  sent  it.'^ 

"  And  may  I  not  ask  who  these  are  ?*'  said  Roland  Graeme, 
admiring  at  the  same  time  the  beauty  of  the  weapon  thus 
offered  him. 

"  My  commission  in  no  way  leads  me  to  answer  such  a 
question,"  said  he  of  the  purple  mantle. 

"  But  if  I  am  offended,"  said  Roland,  "  may  I  not  draw 
to  defend  myself  ?  " 

*'  Not  this  weapon,"  answered  the  sword-bearer  ;  ''but  you 
have  your  own  at  command,  and,  besides,  for  what  do  you 
wear  your  poniard  ?  " 

*'  For  no  good,"  said  Adam  Woodcock,  who  had  now  ap- 
proached close  to  them,  "  and  that  I  can  witness  as  well  as 
any  one." 

''  Stand  back,  fellow,"  said  the  messenger  ;  "  thou  hast  an 
intrusive,  curious  face,  that  will  come  by  a  buffet  if  it  is 
found  where  it  has  no  concern." 

''A  buffet,  my  young  Master  Malapert?"  said  Adam, 
drawing  back,  however;  ''best  keep  down  fist,  or,  by  Our 
Lady,  buffet  will  beget  buffet !" 

"Be  patient,  Adam  Woodcock,"  said  Roland  Graeme •, 
"  and  let  me  pray  you,  fair  sir,  since  by  such  addition  you 
choose  for  the  present  to  be  addressed,  may  I  not  barely  un- 


THE  ABBOT  189 

sheathe  this  weapon,  in  pure  simplicity  of  desire  to  know 
whether  so  fair  a  hilt  and  scabbard  are  matched  with  a  be- 
fitting blade  ?  " 

/'  By  no  manner  of  means/'  said  the  messenger  ;  '*  at  a 
word,  you  must  take  it  under  the  promise  that  you  never 
draw  it  until  you  receive  the  commands  of  your  lawful  sover- 
eign, or  you  must  leave  it  alone/' 

'*  Under  that  condition,  and  coming  from  your  friendly 
hand,  I  accept  of  the  sword,"  said  Eoland,  taking  it  from 
his  hand  ;  '^  but  credit  me,  that  if  we  are  to  work  together 
in  any  weighty  emprise,  as  I  am  induced  to  believe,  some 
confidence  and  openness  on  your  part  will  be  necessary  to 
give  the  right  impulse  to  my  zeal.  I  press  for  no  more  at 
present,  it  is  enough  that  you  understand  me/' 

**  I  understand  you  ! "  said  the  page,  exhibiting  the  ap- 
pearanoe  of  unfeigned  surprise  in  his  turn.  '^  Eenounce  me 
if  I  do  !  Here  you  stand  jiggling,  and  sniggling,  and  look- 
ing cunning,  as  if  there  were  some  mighty  matter  of  intrigue 
and  common  understanding  betwixt  you  and  me,  whom  you 
never  set  your  eyes  on  before  !  " 

"  What !  "  said  Eoland  Graeme,  *'  will  you  deny  that  we 
have  met  before  ?  " 

"  Marry  that  I  will,  in  any  Christian  court,"  said  the 
other  page. 

'•'  And  will  you  also  deny,"  said  Eoland,  "  that  it  was  rec- 
ommended to  us  to  study  each  other's  features  well,  that, 
in  whatever  disguise  the  time  might  impose  upon  us,  each 
should  recognize  in  the  other  the  secret  agent  of  a  mighty 
work  ?    Do  not  you  remember  that  Sisters  Magdalen   and 


I 


Dame  Bridget- 

The  messenger  here  interrupted  him,  shrugging  up  his 
shoulders  with  a  look  of  compassion — "  Bridget  and  Mag 
dalen  !  why,  this  is  madness  and  dreaming  !  Hark  ye. 
Master  Holly  top,  your  wits  are  gone  on  wool-gathering  ; 
comfort  yourself  with  a  caudle,  thatch  your  brain-sick 
noddle  with  a  woolen  nightcap,  and  so  God  be  with  you  !  " 

As  he  concluded  this  polite  parting  address,  Adam  Wood- 
cock, who  was  again  seated  by  the  table  on  which  stood  the 
now  empty  can,  said  to  him,  "  Will  you  drink  a  cup,  young 
man,  in  the  way  of  courtesy,  now  you  have  done  your  errand, 
and  listen  to  a  good  song?"  and  without  waiting  for  an 
answer,  he  commenced  his  ditty — 

**  The  Pope,  that  pagan  full  of  pride 
Hath  blinded  us  fTiIllong -*' 


190  WA  VERLET  NO  VELS 

It  is  probable  that  the  good  wine  had  made  some  innovation 
in  the  falconer's  brain,  otherwise  he  would  have  recollected 
the  danger  of  introducing  anything  like  political  or  polemi- 
cal pleasantry  into  a  public  assemblage,  at  a  time  when  men's 
minds  were  in  a  state  of  great  irritability.  To  do  him  justice, 
he  perceived  his  error,  and  stopped  short  so  soon  as  he  saw 
that  the  word  ''Pope"  had  at  once  interrupted  the  separate 
conversations  of  the  various  parties  which  were  assembled  in 
the  apartment;  and  that  many  began  to  draw  themselves  up, 
bridle,  look  big,  and  prepare  to  take  part  in  the  impending 
brawl;  while  others,  more  decent  and  cautious  persons, 
hastily  paid  down  their  lawing,  and  prepared  to  leave  the 
place  ere  bad  should  come  to  worse. 

And  to  worse  it  was  soon  likely  to  come ;  for  no  sooner  did 
Woodcock's  ditty  reach  the  ear  of  the  stranger  page,  than, 
uplifting  his  riding-rod,  he  exclaimed,  **  He  who  speaks  ir- 
reverently of  the  Holy  Father  of  the  church  in  my  presence 
is  the  cub  of  a  heretic  wolf-bitch,  and  I  will  switch  him  as  I 
would  a  mongrel  cur!" 

"  And  I  will  break  thy  young  pate,"  said  Adam,  **if  thou 
darest  to  lift  a  finger  to  me."  And  then,  in  defiance  of  the 
young  Drawcansir's  threats,  with  a  stout  heart  and  dauntless 
accent,  he  again  uplifted  the  stave, 

"The  Pope,  that  pagan  full  of  pride, 
Hath  blinded " 

But  Adam  was  able  to  proceed  farther,  being  himself  unfor- 
tunately blinded  by  a  stroke  of  the  impatient  youth's  switch 
across  his  eyes.  Enraged  at  once  by  the  smart  and  the  in- 
dignity, the  falconer  started  up,  and  darkling  as  he  was — 
for  his  eyes  watered  too  fast  to  permit  his  seeing  anything — 
he  would  soon  have  been  at  close  grips  with  his  insolent  ad- 
versary, had  not  Roland  Graeme,  contrary  to  his  nature, 
played  for  once  the  prudent  man  and  the  peacemaker,  and 
thrown  himself  betwixt  them,  imploring  Woodcock's  patience 
"  You  know  not,"  he  said,  '*  with  whom  you  nave  to  do. 
And  thou,"  addressing  the  messenger,  who  stood  scornfully 
laughing  at  Adam's  rage,  '^  get  thee  gone,  whoever  thou  art ; 
if  thou  be'st  what  I  guess  thee,  thou  well  knowest  there  are 
earnest  reasons  why  thou  shouldst." 

*'  Thou  hast  hit  it  right  for  once,  holly-top,"  said  the  gal- 
lant, '^  though  I  guess  you  drew  your  bow  at  a  venture. 
Here,  host,  let  this  yeoman  have  a  bottle  of  wine  to  wash  the 
smart  out  of  his  eyes^  and  there  is  a  French  crown  for  him.^ 


THE  ABBOT  19i 

So  saying,  he  threw  the  piece  of  money  on  the  table,  and 
left  the  apartment  with  a  quick  but  steady  pace,  looking 
firmly  at  right  and  left,  as  if  to  defy  interruption,  and  snap- 
ping his  fingers  at  two  or  three  respectable  burghers,  who, 
declaring  it  was  a  shame  that  any  one  should  be  suffered  to 
rant  and  ruffle  in  defense  of  the  Pope,  were  laboring  to  find 
the  hilts  of  their  swords,  which  had  got  for  the  present  un- 
happily entangled  in  the  folds  of  their  cloaks.  But,  as  the 
adversary  was  gone  ere  any  of  them  had  reached  his  weapon, 
they  did  not  think  it  necessary  to  unsheathe  cold  iron,  but 
merely  observed  to  each  other,  **'  This  is  more  than  master- 
ful violence,  to  see  a  poor  man  stricken  in  the  face  just  for 
singing  a  ballad  against  the  Whore  of  Babylon  !  If  the  Pope's 
champions  are  to  be  bangsfcers  in  our  very  change-houses, 
we  shall  soon  have  the  old  shavelings  back  again/' 

"  The  provost  should  look  to  it,"  said  another,  '*  and  have 
some  five  or  six  armed  with  partisans,  to  come  in  upon  the 
first  whistle,  to  teach  these  gallants  their  lesson.  For,  look 
you,  neighbor  Lugleather,  it  is  not  for  decent  householders 
like  ourselves  to  be  brawling  with  the  godless  grooms  and 
pert  pages  of  the  nobles,  that  are  bred  up  to  little  else  save 
bloodshed  and  blasphemy. '^ 

*' For  all  that,  neighbor,''  said  Lugleather,  "I  would  have 
curried  that  youngster  as  properly  as  ever  I  curried  a  lamb's 
hide,  had  not  the  hilt  of  my  bilbo  been  for  the  instant  be- 
y^ond  my  grasp  ;  and  before  I  could  turn  my  girdle,  gone 
was  my  master  ! " 

''  Ay,"  said  the  others,  "  the  devil  go  with  him,  and  peace 
abide  with  us  ;  I  give  my  rede,  neighbors,  that  we  pay  the 
lawing,  and  be  stepping  homeward,  like  brother  and  brother  ; 
for  old  St.  Giles's  is  tolling  curfew,  and  the  street  grows 
dangerous  at  night." 

With  that  the  good  burghers  adjusted  their  cloaks  and 
prepared  for  their  departure,  while  he  that  seemed  the  brisk- 
est of  the  three,  laying  his  hand  on  his  Andrea  Ferrara,  ob- 
served, "  That  they  that  spoke  in  praise  of  the  Pope  on  the 
Highgate  of  Edinburgh  had  best  bring  the  sword  of  St. 
Peter  to  defend  them." 

While  the  ill  humor  excited  by  the  insolence  of  the  young 
aristocrat  was  thus  evaporating  in  empty  menace,  Roland 
Graeme  had  to  control  the  far  more  serious  indignation  of 
Adam  Woodcock.  ''  Why  man,  it  was  but  a  switch  across 
the  mazzard  ;  blow  your  nose,  dry  your  eyes,  and  you  will 
dee  all  the  better  for  it." 

"  By  this  light,  which  I  cannot  see,"  said  Adam  Woodcock, 


192  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

"  thou  hast  been  a  false  friend  to  me,  young  man,  neither 
taking  up  my  rightful  quarrel  nor  letting  me  fight  it  out 
myself/' 

''  Fy,  for  shame,  Adam  Woodcock,"  replied  the  youth,  de- 
termined to  turn  the  tables  on  him,  and  become  in  turn  the 
counselor  of  good  order  and  peaceable  demeanor — '^  I  say,  fy 
for  shame  !  Alas,  that  you  will  speak  thus  !  Here  are  you 
sent  with  me,  to  prevent  an  innocent  youth  getting  into 
snares " 

**  I  wish  your  innocent  youth  were  cut  short  with  a  halter, 
with  all  my  heart  ! "  said  Adam,  who  began  to  see  which 
way  the  admonition  tended. 

— *' And  instead  of  setting  before  me,"  continued  Eoland, 
"  an  example  of  patience  and  sobriety  becoming  the  falconer 
of  Sir  Halbert  Glendenning,  you  quaff  me  off  I  know  not 
how  many  flagons  of  ale,  besides  a  gallon  of  wine,  and  a  full 
measure  of  strong  waters  ! " 

''  It  was  but  one  small  pottle,"  said  poor  Adam,  whom  con- 
sciousness of  his  own  indiscretion  now  reduced  to  a  merely 
defensive  warfare. 

*'  It  was  enough  to  pottle  you  handsomely,  however,"  said 
the  page.  ''  And  then  instead  of  going  to  bed  to  sleep  off 
your  liquor,  you  must  sit  singing  your  roisterous  songs  about 
popes  and  pagans,  till  you  have  got  your  eyes  almost  switched 
out  of  your  head  ;  and  but  for  my  interference,  whom  your 
drunken  ingratitude  accuses  of  deserting  you,  yon  galliard 
would  have  cut  your  throat,  for  he  was  whipping  out  a  whin- 
ger as  broad  as  my  hand  and  as  sharp  as  a  razor.  And  these 
are  lessons  for  an  inexperienced  youth  !  Oh,  Adam  !  out 
upon  you  ! — out  upon  you  ! " 

"  Marry,  amen,  and  with  all  my  heart,"  said  Adam  ;  "out 
upon  my  folly  for  expecting  anything  but  impertinent  rail- 
ery  from  a  page  like  thee,  that,  if  he  saw  his  father  in  a 
scrape,  would  laugh  at  him,  instead  of  lending  him  aid  ! " 

"Nay,  but  I  will  lend  you  aid,"  said  the  page,  still  laugh- 
ing ;  "  that  is,  I  will  lend  thee  aid  to  thy  chamber,  good 
Adam,  where  thou  shalt  sleep  off  wine  and  ale,  ire  and  in- 
dignation, and  awake  the  next  morning  with  as  much  fair 
wit  as  nature  has  blessed  thee  withal.  Only  one  thing  I  will 
warn  thee,  good  Adam,  that  henceforth  and  forever,  when 
thou  railest  at  me  for  being  somewhat  hot  at  hand,  and  rather 
too  prompt  to  out  with  poniard  or  so,  thy  admonition  shall 
serve  as  a  prologue  to  the  memorable  adventure  of  the 
switching  of  St.  Michael's." 

With  such  condoling  expressions  he  got  the  crestfallen 


THE  ABBOT  193 

falconer  to  his  bed,  and  then  retired  to  his  own  pallet,  where 
it  was  some  time  ere  he  could  fall  asleep.  If  the  messenger 
whom  he  had  seen  were  really  Catherine  Seyton,  what  a  mas- 
culine virago  and  termagant  must  she  be  !  and  stored  with 
what  an  inimitable  command  of  insolence  and  assurance  ! 
The  brass  on  her  brow  would  furbish  the  front  of  twenty 
pages  ;  "and  I  should  know,"  thought  Roland,  **  what  that 
amounts  to.  And  yet,  her  features,  her  look,  her  light  gait, 
her  laughing  eye,  the  art  with  which  she  disposed  the  mantle 
to  show  no  more  of  her  limbs  than  needs  must  be  seen — I  am 
glad  she  had  at  least  that  grace  left — the  voice,  the  smile — 
it  must  have  been  Catherine  Seyton,  or  the  devil  in  her  like- 
ness !  One  thing  is  good,  I  have  silenced  the  eternal  pre- 
dictions of  that  ass,  Adam  Woodcock,  who  has  set  up  for 
being  a  preacher  and  a  governor  over  me,  so  soon  as  he  has 
left  the  hawk^s  mew  behind  him." 

And  with  this  comfortable  reflection,  joined  to  the  happy 
indifference  which  youth  hath  for  the  events  of  the  morrow, 
Roland  Graeme  fell  fast  asleep. 

n 


CHAPTER  XX 

Now  have  you  reft  me  from  my  staff,  my  guide, 
Who  taught  my  youth,  as  men  teach  untamed  falcons, 
To  use  my  strength  discreetly — I  am  reft 
Of  comrade  and  of  counsel  I 

Old  Play. 

In  the  gray  of  the  next  morning's  dawn  there  was  a  loud 
knocking  at  the  gate  of  the  hostelry,  and  those  without, 
proclaiming  that  they  came  in  the  name  of  the  Regent  were 
instantly  admitted.  A  moment  or  two  afterwards,  Michael 
Wing- the- Wind  stood  by  the  bedside  of  our  travelers. 

*'  Up  ! — up  !  "  he  said,  '*  there  is  no  slumber  where  Murray 
hath  work  ado." 

Both  sleepers  sprung  up,  and  began  to  dress  themselves. 

'*  You,  old  friend,"  said  Wing-the-Wind  to  Adam  Wood- 
cock, ''  must  to  horse  instantly,  with  this  packet  to  the 
monks  of  Kennaquhair,  and  with  this,"  delivering  them  as 
he  spoke,  ''  to  the  Knight  of  Avenel." 

"As  much  as  commanding  the  monks  to  annul  their  elec- 
tion, I'll  warrant  me,  of  an  abbot,"  quoth  Adam  Woodcock, 
as  he  put  the  packets  into  his  bag,  "  and  charging  my  master 
to  see  it  done.  To  hawk  at  one  brother  with  another  is 
less  than  fair  play,  methinks." 

*'Fash  not  thy  beard  about  it,  old  boy,"  said  Michael, 
"  but  betake  thee  to  the  saddle  presently  ;  for  if  these  orders 
are  not  obeyed  there  will  be  bare  walls  at  the  kirk  of  St. 
Mary's,  and  it  may  be  at  the  Castle  of  Avenel  to  boot ;  for  I 
heard  my  Lord  of  Morton  loud  with  the  Regent,  and  we  are 
at   a  pass  that  we  cannot  stand  with  him  anent  trifles." 

"  But,"  said  Adam,  "  touching  the  Abbot  of  Unreason — 
what  say  they  to  that  outbreak  ?  An  they  be  shrewishly 
disposed,  I  were  better  pitch  the  packets  to  Satan,  and  take 
the  other  side  of  the  Border  for  my  bield." 

"  0,  that  was  passed  over  as  a  jest,  since  there  was  little 
harm  done.  But  hark  thee,  Adam,"  continued  his  comrade, 
"  if  there  were  a  dozen  vacant  abbacies  in  your  road,  wheth- 
er of  jest  or  earnest,  reason  or  unreason,  draw  thou  never 
one  of  their  miters  over  thy  brows.     The  time  is  not  fitting, 

194 


THE  ABBOT  195 

man ;  besides,  our  maiden  longs  to  clip  the  neck  of  a  fat 
churchman." 

'*  She  shall  never  sheer  mine  in  that  capacity/'  said  the 
falconer,  while  he  knotted  the  kerchief  in  two  or  three 
double  folds  around  his  sunburnt  bull-neck,  calling  out  at 
the  same  time,  '^  Master  Roland — Master  Roland,  make 
haste  !  we  must  back  to  perch  and  mew,  and,  thank  Heaven 
more  than  our  own  wit,  with  our  bones  whole,  and  without 
a  stab  in  the  stomach." 

"  Nay,  but,"  said  Wing-the-Wind,  "  the  page  goes  not 
back  with  you :  the  Regent  has  other  employment  for 
Mm." 

"  Saints  and  sorrows  ! "  exclaimed  the  falconer.  ''  Master 
Roland  Graeme  to  remain  here,  and  I  to  return  to  Avenel ! 
Why,  it  cannot  be  :  the  child  cannot  manage  himself  in 
this  wide  world  without  me,  and  I  question  if  he  will  stoop 
to  any  other  whistle  than  mine  own  ;  there  are  times  I  myself 
can  hardly  bring  him  to  my  lure." 

It  was  at  Roland's  tongue's  end  to  say  something  concern- 
ing the  occasion  they  had  for  using  mutually  each  other's 
prudence  ;  but  the  real  anxiety  which  Adam  evinced  at  part- 
mg  with  him  took  away  his  disposition  to  such  ungracious 
raillery.  The  falconer  did  not  altogether  escape,  however, 
for,  in  turninghisface  towards  the  lattice,  his  friend  Michael 
caught  a  glimpse  of  it,  and  exclaimed,  '"^I  prithee,  Adam 
Woodcock,  what  hast  thou  been  doing  with  these  eyes  of 
thine  ?    They  are  swelled  to  the  starting  from  the  socket ! " 

"  Nought  in  the  world,"  said  he,  after  casting  a  deprecat- 
ing glace  at  Roland  Graeme,  "but  the  effect  of  sleeping  in 
this  d d  truckle  without  a  pillow." 

''  Why,  Adam  Woodcock,  thou  must  be  grown  strangely 
dainty,  said  his  old  companion  ;  ''  I  have  known  thee  sleep 
all  night  with  no  better  pillow  than  a  bush  of  ling,  and 
start  up  with  the  sun  as  gleg  as  a  falcon  ;  and  now  thine 
eyes  resemble " 

"  Tush  man,  what  signifies  how  mine  eyes  look  now  ? " 
said  Adam.  "  Let  us  but  roast  a  crab-apple,  pour  a  pottle 
of  ale  on  it,  and  bathe  our  throats  withal,  thou  shalt  see  a 
change  in  me." 

"  And  thou  wilt  be  in  heart  to  sing  thy  jolly  ballad  about 
the  Pope  ?  "  said  his  comrade. 

"Ay,  that  I  will,"  replied  the  falconer,  "that  is,  when 
we  have  left  this  quiet  town  five  miles  behind  us,  if  you  will 
I  take  your  hobby  and  ride  so  far  on  my  way." 

"Nay,  that  I  may  not,"  said  Michael ;  "  I  can  but  stop 


196  WAVEBLEY  NOVELS 

to  partake  your  morning's  draught,  and  see  you  fairly  to 
horse  ;  I  will  see  that  they  saddle  them,  and  toast  the  crab 
for  thee,  without  loss  of  time.'^ 

During  his  absence  the  falconer  took  the  page  by  the 
hand.  "May  I  never  hood  hawk  again,''  said  the  good- 
natured  fellow,  "  if  I  am  not  as  sorry  to  part  with  you  as  if 
you  were  a  child  of  mine  own,  craving  pardon  for  the  free- 
dom ;  I  cannot  tell  what  makes  me  love  you  so  much,  un- 
less it  be  for  the  reason  that  I  loved  the  vicious  devil  of  a 
brown  Galloway  nag,  whom  my  master  the  knight  called 
Satan,  till  Master  Warden  changed  his  name  to  Seyton ;  for 
he  said  it  was  over  boldness  to  call  a  beast  after  the  King  of 
Darkness '* 

*'  And,"  said  the  page,  "  it  was  over  boldness  in  him,  I 
trow,  to  call  a  vicious  brute  after  a  noble  family." 

"  Well,"  proceeded  Adam,  ''  Seyton  or  Satan,  I  loved  that 
nag  over  every  other  horse  in  the  stable.  There  was  no 
sleeping  on  his  back  :  he  was  forever  fidgeting,  bolting, 
rearing,  biting,  kicking,  and  giving  you  work  to  do,  and 
maybe  the  measure  of  your  back  on  the  heather  to  the  boot 
of  it  all.  And  I  think  I  love  you  better  than  any  lad  in  the 
castle  for  the  self -same  qualities." 

"  Thanks — thanks,  kind  Adam.  I  regard  myself  bound 
to  you  for  the  good  estimation  in  which  you  hold  me." 

"Nay,  interrupt  me  not,"  said  the  falconer  ;  "  Satan  was 
a  good  nag.  But,  I  say,  I  think  I  shall  call  the  two  eyases 
after  you — the  one  Eoland  and  the  other  Graeme  ;  and, 
while  Adam  Woodcock  lives,  be  sure  you  have  a  friend. 
Here  is  to  thee,  my  dear  son." 

Roland  most  heartily  returned  the  grasp  of  the  hand,  an(J 
Woodcock,  having  taken  a  deep  draught,  continued  his  fare- 
well speech. 

"  There  are  three  things  I  warn  you  against,  Roland,  now 
that  you  are  to  tread  this  weary  world  without  my  experi- 
ence to  assist  you.  In  the  first  place,  never  draw  dagger  on 
slight  occasion  :  every  man's  doublet  is  not  so  well  stuffed 
as  a  certain  abbot's  that  you  wot  of.  Secondly,  fly  not  at 
every  pretty  girl,  like  a  merlin  at  a  thrush  ;  you  will  not 
always,  win  a  gold  chain  for  your  labor;  and,  by  the  way, 
here  I  return  to  you  your  fanfarona ;  keep  it  close,  it  is 
weighty,  and  may  benefit  you  at  a  pinch  more  ways  thai;i 
one.  Thirdly,  and  to  conclude,  as  our  worthy  preacher  says, 
beware  of  the  pottle-pot :  it  has  drenched  the  judgment  of 
wiser  men  than  you.  I  could  bring  some  instances  of  it, 
but  I  daresay  it  needeth  not ;  for  if  you  should  forget  your 


THE  AhSOT  m 

own  mishaps,  you  will  scarce  fail  to  remember  mine.  And 
BO  farewell,  my  dear  son." 

Eoland  returned  his  good  wishes,  and  failed  not  to  send 
his  humble  duty  to  his  kind  lady,  charging  the  falconer  at 
the  same  time  to  express  his  regret  that  he  should  have 
offended  her,  and  his  determination  so  to  bear  him  in  the 
world  that  she  would  not  be  ashamed  of  the  generous  pro- 
tection she  had  afforded  him. 

The  falconer  embraced  his  young  friend,  mounted  his 
tetout,  round-made,  trotting  nag,  which  the  serving-man  who 
had  attended  him  held  ready  at  the  door,  and  took  the  road 
to  the  southward.  A  sullen  and  heavy  sound  echoed  from 
the  horse's  feet,  as  if  indicating  the  sorrow  of  the  good- 
natured  rider.  Every  hoof-tread  seemed  to  tap  upon  Po- 
land's heart  as  he  heard  his  comrade  withdraw  with  so  lit- 
tle of  his  usual  alert  activity,  and  felt  that  he  was  once 
more  alone  in  the  world. 

He  was  roused  from  his  reverie  by  Michael  Wing-the- 
"Wind,  who  reminded  him  that  it  was  necessary  they  should 
instantly  return  to  the  palace,  as  my  Lord  Regent  went  to 
the  sessions  early  in  the  morning.  They  went  thither  ac- 
cordingly, and  Wing-the-Wind,  a  favorite  old  domestic,  who 
was  admitted  nearer  to  the  Regent's  person  and  privacy  than 
many  whose  posts  were  more  ostensible,  soon  introduced 
Graeme  into  a  small  matted  chamber,  where  he  had  an  au- 
dience of  the  present  head  of  the  troubled  state  of  Scot- 
land. The  Earl  of  Murray  was  clad  in  a  sad-colored  morn- 
ing-gown, with  a  cap  and  slippers  of  the  same  cloth ;  but, 
even  in  this  easy  dishabille,  held  his  sheathed  rapier  in  his 
hand — a  precaution  which  he  adopted  when  receiving  stran- 
gers, rather  in  compliance  with  the  earnest  remonstrances 
of  his  friends  and  partizans  than  from  any  personal  appre- 
hensions of  his  own.  He  answered  with  a  silent  nod  the 
respectful  obeisance  of  the  page,  and  took  one  or  two  turns 
through  the  small  apartment  in  silence,  fixing  his  keen  eye 
on  Roland,  as  if  he  wished  to  penetrate  into  his  very  soul. 
At  length  he  broke  silence. 

"  Your  name  is,  I  think,  Julian  Graeme  ?" 

'*  Roland  Graeme,  my  lord — not  Julian,*'  replied  the 
page.  ^ 

I''  Right — I  was  misled  by  some  trick  of  my  memory.     Ro- 
land  Graeme,   from   the   Debateable   Land.     Roland,  thou 
knowest  the  duties  which  belong  to  a  lady's  service  ?" 
*'  I  should  know  them,  my  lord,"  replied  Roland,  "  hav- 
ing been  bred  so  near  the  person  of  my  Lady  of  Avenel ;  but 


186  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

I  trust  never  more  to  practise  them,  as  the  knight  hath 
promised " 

"  Be  silent,  young  man,*'  said  the  Regent ;  "  I  am  to  speak, 
and  you  to  hear  and  obey.  It  is  necessary  that,  for  some 
space  at  least,  you  shall  again  enter  into  the  service  of  a  lady, 
who  in  rank  hath  no  equal  in  Scotland  ;  and  this  service  ac- 
complished, I  give  thee  my  word  as  knight  and  prince  that 
it  shall  open  to  you  a  course  of  ambition  such  as  may  well 
gratify  the  aspiring  wishes  of  one  whom  circumstances 
entitle  to  entertain  much  higher  views  than  thou.  I  will 
take  thee  into  my  household  and  near  to  my  person,  or  at 
your  own  choice,  I  will  give  you  the  command  of  afoot-com- 
pany ;  either  is  a  preferment  which  the  proudest  laird  in  the 
land  might  be  glad  to  insure  for  a  second  son.*' 

*'  May  I  presume  to  ask,  my  lord,*'  said  Roland,  observing 
the  Earl  paused  for  a  reply,  '^  to  whom  my  poor  services  are 
in  the  first  place  destined  ?  '* 

**  You  will  be  told  hereafter,"  said  the  Regent ;  and  then, 
as  if  overcoming  some  internal  reluctance  to  speak  further 
himself,  he  added,  "or  why  should  I  not  myself  tell  you  that 
you  are  about  to  enter  into  the  service  of  a  most  illustrious 
— most  unhappy,  lady — into  the  service  of  Mary  of  Scot- 
land.*' 

**  Of  the  Queen,  my  lord  ?"  said  the  page,  unable  to  re- 
press his  surprise. 

**  Of  her  who  was  the  Queen  ! "  said  Murray,  with  a  sin- 
gular mixture  of  displeasure  and  embarrassment  in  his  tone 
of  voice.  ''You  must  be  aware,  young  man,  that  her  son 
reigns  in  her  stead." 

He  sighed  from  an  emotion  partly  natural,  perhaps,  and 
partly  assumed. 

*'  And  am  I  to  attend  upon  her  Grace  in  her  place  of  im- 
prisonment, my  lord?"  again  demanded  the  page,  with  a 
stiaightforward  and  hardy  simplicity  which  somewhat  discon- 
certed the  sage  and  powerful  statesman. 

*'  She  is  not  imprisoned,"  answered  Murray,  angrily,  "  God 
forbid  she  should  :  she  is  only  sequestrated  from  state  affairs, 
and  from  the  business  of  the  public,  until  the  world  be  so 
effectually  settled  that  she  may  enjoy  her  natural  and  uncon- 
trolled freedom,  without  her  royal  disposition  being  exposed 
to  the  practises  of  wicked  and  designing  men.  It  is  for  this 
purpose,"  he  added,  *'  that,  while  she  is  to  be  furnished, 
as  right  is,  with  such  attendance  as  may  befit  her  present 
secluded  state,  it  becomes  necessary  that  those  placed  around 
her  are  persons  on  whose  prudence  I  can  have  reliance. 


THE  ABBOT  199 

Y«u  8ee,  therefore,  yon  are  at  once  called  on  to  discharge 
an  office  most  honorable  in  itself,  and  so  to  discharge  it  that 
you  may  make  a  friend  of  the  Regent  of  Scotland.  Thou 
art,  I  have  been  told,  a  singularly  apprehensive  youth  ;  and 
I  perceive  by  thy  look  that  thou  dost  already  understand 
what  I  would  say  on  this  matter.  In  this  schedule  your 
particular  points  of  duty  are  set  down  at  length ;  but  the 
sum  required  of  you  is  fidelity — I  mean  fidelity  to  myself 
and  to  the  state.  You  are,  therefore,  to  watch  every  attempt 
which  is  made,  or  inclination  displayed,  to  open  any  com- 
munication with  any  of  the  lords  who  have  become  banders 
in  the  west — with  Hamilton,  Seyton,  with  Fleming,  or  the 
like.  It  is  true  that  my  gracious  sister,  reflecting  upon  the 
ill  chances  that  have  happed  to  the  state  of  this  poor  king-j 
dom,  from  evil  counselors  who  have  abused  her  royal  nature 
in  time  past,  hath  determined  to  sequestrate  herself  from 
state  affairs  in  future.  But  it  is  our  duty,  as  acting  for  and 
in  the  name  of  our  infant  nephew,  to  guard  against  the  evils 
which  may  arise  from  any  mutation  or  vacillation  in  her 
royal  resolutions.  Wherefore,  it  will  be  thy  duty  to  watch, 
and  report  to  our  lady  mother,  whose  guest  our  sister  is  for 
the  present,  whatever  may  infer  a  disposition  to  withdraw 
her  person  from  the  place  of  security  in  which  she  is  lodged, 
or  to  open  communication  with  those  without.  If,  however, 
your  observation  should  detect  anything  of  weight,  and 
which  may  exceed  mere  suspicion,  fail  not  to  send  notice  by 
an  especial  messenger  to  me  directly,  and  this  ring  shall  be 
thy  warrant  to  order  horse  and  man  on  such  service.  And 
now  begone.  If  there  be  half  the  wit  in  thy  head  that  there 
is  apprehension  in  thy  look,  thou  fully  comprehendest  all 
that  I  would  say.  Serve  me  faithfully,  and  sure  as  I  am 
belted  earl  thy  reward  shall  be  great. ^' 

Koland  Graeme  made  an  obeisance,  and  was  about  to  de- 
part. 

The  Earl  signed  to  him  to  remain.  *'  I  have  trusted  thee 
deeply,*^  he  said,  "  young  man,  for  thou  art  the  only  one  of 
her  suite  who  has  been  sent  to  her  by  my  own  recommenda- 
tion. Her  gentlewomen  are  of  her  own  nomination  :  it  were 
I  too  hard  to  have  barred  her  that  privilege,  though  some  there 
were  who  reckoned  it  inconsistent  with  sure  policy.  Thou 
art  young  and  handsome.  Mingle  in  their  follies,  and  see 
they  cover  not  deeper  designs  under  the  appearance  of  female 
levity  ;  if  they  do  mine,  do  thou  countermme.     For  the  rest, 


bear  all  decorum  and  respect  to  the  person  of  thy  mistress 
•he  is  a  princess,  though  a  most  unhappy  one,  and  hath  been 


;iOO  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

a  queen,  thougli  now,  alas  !  no  longer  such.  Pay,  therefore, 
to  her  all  honor  and  respect  consistent  with  thy  fidelity  to 
the  King  and  me.  And  now,  farewell  !  Yet  stay — you 
travel  with  Lord  Lindesay,  a  man  of  the  old  world,  rough 
and  honest,  though  untaught  ;  see  that  thou  offend  him  not, 
for  he  is  not  patient  of  raillery,  and  thou,  I  have  heard,  art 
a  crack-halter. "  This  he  said  with  a  smile  ;  then  added, 
'^  I  could  have  wished  the  Lord  Lindesay's  mission  had  been 
entrusted  to  some  other  and  more  gentle  noble/' 

"And  wherefore  should  you  wish  that,  my  lord?''  said 
Morton,  who  even  then  entered  the  apartment ;  "  the  council 
have  decided  for  the  best ;  we  have  had  but  too  many  proofs 
of  this  lady's  stubbornness  of  mind,  and  the  oak  that  resists 
the  sharp  steel  ax  must  be  riven  with  the  rugged  iron 
wedge.  And  this  is  to  be  her  page  ?  My  Lord  Regent  hath 
doubtless  instructed  you,  young  man,  bow  you  shall  guide 
yourself  in  these  matters  ;  I  will  add  but  a  little  hint  on  my 
part.  You  are  going  to  the  castle  of  a  Douglas,  where 
treachery  never  thrives  :  the  first  moment  of  suspicion  will 
be  the  last  of  your  life.  My  kinsman,  William  Douglas, 
understands  no  raillery,  and  if  he  once  have  cause  to  think 
you  false,  you  will  waver  in  the  wind  from  the  castle  battle- 
ments ere  the  sun  set  upon  his  anger.  And  is  the  lady  to 
have  an  almoner  withal  ?" 

'^  Occasionally,  Douglas,"  said  the  R  gent ;  '^  it  were 
hard  to  deny  the  spiritual  consolation  which  she  thinks 
essential  to  her  salvation." 

''  You  are  ever  too  soft-hearted,  my  lord.  What !  a  false 
priest  to  communicate  her  lamentations,  not  only  to  our  un- 
friends in  Scotland,  but  to  the  Guises,  to  Rome,  to  Spain, 
and  I  know  not  where  ! " 

"  Fear  not,"  said  the  Regent,  ''  we  will  take  such  order 
that  no  treachery  shall  happen." 

"  Look  to  it,  then,"  said  Morton ;  ''you  know  my  mind 
respecting  the  wench  you  have  consented  she  shall  receive 
as  a  waiting-woman — one  of  a  family  which,  of  all  others, 
has  ever  been  devoted  to  her  and  inimical  to  us.  Had  we 
not  been  wary,  she  would  have  been  purveyed  of  a  page  as 
much  to  her  purpose  as  her  waiting-damsel.  I  hear  a  rumor 
that  an  old  mad  Romish  pilgrimer,  who  passes  for  at  least 
half  a  saint  among  them,  was  employed  to  find  a  fit  sub- 
ject." 

''  We  have  escaped  that  danger  at  least,"  said  Murray, 
"  and  converted  it  into  a  point  of  advantage  by  sending 
this  boy  of  Glendinning's ;  and  for  her  waiting-damsel,  you 


i 


CV-S^ 


**  *  Is  this  the  jackanape  page  for  whom  we  have  waited  tlius  long  ? ' 


THE  ABBOT  201 

cannot  grudge  lier  one  poor  maiden  instead  of  her  four 
noble  Maries  and  all  their  silken  train  ? '' 

'^  I  care  not  so  much  for  the  waiting-maiden/'  said 
Morton,  "  but  I  cannot  brook  the  almoner  :  I  think  priests 
of  all  persuasions  are  much  like  each  other.  Here  is  John 
Knox,  who  made  such  a  noble  puller-down,  is  ambitious  of 
becoming  a  setter-up,  and  a  founder  of  schools  and  colleges 
out  of  the  abbey  lands,  and  bishops'  rents,  and  other  spoils 
of  Rome,  which  the  nobility  of  Scotland  have  won  with  their 
sword  and  bow,  and  with  which  he  would  now  endow  new 
hives  to  sing  the  old  drone/' 

"  John  is  a  man  of  God,''  said  the  Regent,  "  and  his 
scheme  is  a  devout  imagination." 

The  sedate  smile  with  which  this  was  spoken  left  it  impos- 
sible to  conjecture  whether  the  words  were  meant  in  appro- 
bation or  in  derision  of  the  plan  of  the  Scottish  Reformer. 
Turning  then  to  Roland  Graeme,  as  if  he  thought  he  had 
been  long  enough  a  witness  of  this  conversation,  he  bade 
him  get  him  presently  to  horse,  since  my  Lord  of  Lindesay 
was  already  mounted.  The  page  made  his  reverence,  and 
left  the  apartment. 

Guided  by  Michael  Wing-the-Wind,  he  found  his  horse 
ready  saddled  and  prepared  for  the  journey  in  front  of  the 
palace  porch,  where  hovered  about  a  score  of  men-at-arms, 
whose  leader  showed  no  small  symptomsof  surly  impatience. 

"  Is  this  the  jackanape  page  for  whom  we  have  waited 
thus  long  ?  "  said  he  to  Wing-the-Wind.  '*  And  my  Lord 
Ruthven  will  reach  the  castle  long  before  us  ! " 

Michael  assented,  and  added  that  the  boy  had  been 
detained  by  the  Regent  to  receive  some  parting  instructions. 
The  leader  made  an  inarticulate  sound  in  his  throat,  ex- 
pressive of  sullen  acquiescence,  and  calling  to  one  of  his 
domestic  attendants,  *'  Edward,"  said  he,  '*  take  the  gallant 
into  your  charge,  and  let  him  speak  with  no  one  else." 

He  then  addressed,  by  the  title  of  Sir  Robert,  an  elderly 
and  respectable-looking  gentleman,  the  only  one  of  the 
party  who  seemed  above  the  rank  of  a  retainer  or  domestic, 
and  observed  that  they  must  get  to  horse  with  all  speed. 

During  this  discourse,  and  while  they  were  riding  slowly 
along  the  street  of  the  suburb,  Roland  had  time  to  examine 
more  accurately  the  looks  and  figure  of  the  baron  who  was 
at  their  head. 

Lord  Lindesay  of  the  Byres  was  rather  touched  than 
stricken  with  years.  His  upright  stature  and  strong  limbs 
Btill  showed  him  fully  equal  to  all  the  exertions  and  latigues 


J«02  WAVERLEY  J^OVELS 

of  war.  His  thick  eyebrows,  now  partially  grizzled,  lowered 
over  large  eyes  full  of  dark  fire,  which  seemed  yet  darker 
from  the  nncommon  depth  at  which  they  were  set  in  his 
head.  His  features,  naturally  strong  and  harsh,  had  their 
sternness  exaggerated  by  one  or  two  scars  received  in  battle. 
These  features,  naturally  calculated  to  express  the  harsher 
passions,  were  shaded  by  an  open  steel  cap,  with  a  projecting 
front,  but  having  no  visor,  over  the  gorget  of  which  fell  the 
black  and  grizzled  beard  of  the  grim  old  baron,  and  totally 
hid  the  lower  part  of  his  face.  The  rest  of  his  dress  was  a 
loose  buff-coat,  which  had  once  been  lined  with  silk  and 
adorned  with  embroidery,  but  which  seemed  much  stained 
with  travel  and  damaged  with  cuts,  received  probably  in 
battle.  It  covered  a  corslet  which  had  once  been  of  polished 
steel,  fairly  gilded,  but  was  now  somewhat  injured  with 
rust.  A  sword  of  antique  make  and  uncommon  size,  framed 
to  be  wieldied  with  both  hands,  a  kind  of  weapon  which  was 
then  beginning  to  go  out  of  use,  hung  from  his  neck  in  a 
baldric,  and  was  so  disposed  as  to  traverse  his  whole  person, 
the  huge  hilt  appearing  over  his  left  shoulder,  and  the  point 
reaching  well-nigh  to  the  right  heel,  and  jarring  against  his 
spur  as  he  walked.  This  unwieldy  weapon  could  only  be 
unsheathed  by  pulling  the  handle  over  the  left  shoulder,  for 
no  human  arm  was  long  enough  to  draw  it  in  the  usual 
manner.  The  whole  equipment  was  that  of  a  rude  warrior, 
negligent  of  his  exterior  even  to  misanthropical  sullenness  ; 
and  the  short,  harsh,  haughty  tone  which  he  used  towards 
his  attendants  belonged  to  the  same  unpolished  char- 
acter. 

The  personage  who  rode  with  Lord  Lindesay  at  the  head 
of  the  party  was  an  absolute  contrast  to  him  in  manner, 
form,  and  features.  His  thin  and  silky  hair  was  already 
white,  though  he  seemed  not  above  forty-five  or  fifty  years 
old.  His  tone  of  voice  was  soft  and  insinuating  ;  his  form 
thin,  spare,  and  bent  by  an  habitual  stoop  ;  his  pale  cheek 
was  expressive  of  shrewdness  and  intelligence ;  his  eye  was 
quick  though  placid,  and  his  whole  demeanor  mild  and  con- 
ciliatory. He  rode  an  ambling  nag,  such  as  were  used  by 
ladies,  clergymen,  or  others  of  peaceful  professions  ;  wore  a 
riding  habit  of  black  velvet,  with  a  cap  and  feather  of  the 
same  hue,  fastened  up  by  a  golden  medal ;  and  for  show,  and 
as  a  mark  of  rank  rather  than  for  use,  carried  a  walking 
sword  (as  the  short  light  rapiers  were  called),  without  any 
other  arms,  offensive  or  defensive. 

The  party  had  now  quitted  the  town,  and  proceeded,  at 


THE  ABBOT  203 

a  steady  trot,  towards  the  west.  As  they  prosecuted  their 
journey,  Roland  Graeme  would  gladly  have  learned  some- 
tliing  of  its  purpose  and  tendency,  but  the  countenance  of  the 
personage  next  to  whom  he  had  been  placed  in  the  train  dis- 
couraged all  approach  to  familiarity.  The  baron  himself  did 
not  look  more  grim  and  inaccessible  than  his  feudal  retainer, 
whose  grisly  beard  fell  over  his  mouth  like  the  portcullis  be- 
fore the  gate  of  the  castle,  as  if  for  the  purpose  of  prevent- 
ing the  escape  of  any  word  of  which  absolute  necessity  did 
not  demand  the  utterance.  The  rest  of  the  train  seemed 
under  the  same  taciturn  influence,  and  journeyed  on  with- 
out a  word  being  exchanged  amongst  them,  more  like  a  troop 
of  Carthusian  friars  than  a  party  of  military  retainers.  Ro- 
land Graeme  was  surprised  at  this  extremity  of  discipline  ; 
for  even  in  the  household  of  the  Knight  of  Avenel,  though 
somewhat  distinguished  for  the  accuracy  with  which  decorum 
was  enforced,  a  journey  was  a  period  of  license,  during 
which  jest  and  song,  and  everything  within  the  limits  of  be- 
coming mirth  and  pastime,  was  freely  permitted.  This  un- 
usual silence  was,  however,  so  far  acceptable  that  it  gave 
him  time  to  bring  any  shadow  of  judgment  which  he  pos- 
sessed to  council  on  his  own  situation  and  prospects,  which 
would  have  appeared  to  any  reasonable  person  in  the  highest 
degree  dangerous  and  perplexing. 

It  was  quite  evident  that  he  had,  through  various  circum- 
stances not  under  his  own  control,  formed  contradictory 
connections  with  both  the  contending  factions  by  whose  strife 
the  kingdom  was  distracted,  without  being  properly  an  ad- 
herent of  either.  It  seemed  also  clear  that  the  same  situa- 
tion in  the  household  of  the  deposed  Queen,  to  which  he  was 
now  promoted  by  the  influence  of  the  Regent,  had  been 
destined  to  him  by  his  enthusiastic  grandmother,  Magdalen 
Graeme  ;  for  on  this  subject  the  words  which  Morton  had 
dropped  had  been  a  ray  of  light  ;  yet  it  was  no  less  clear 
that  these  two  persons,  the  one  the  declared  enemy,  the 
other  the  enthusiastic  votary,  of  the  Catholic  religion  ;  the 
one  at  the  head  of  the  King's  new  government,  the  other, 
who  regarded  that  government  as  a  criminal  usurpation, 
must  have  required  and  expected  very  different  services  from 
the  individual  whom  they  had  thus  united  in  recommending. 
It  required  very  little  reflection  to  foresee  that  these  contra- 
dictory claims  on  his  service  might  speedily  place  him  in  a 
situation  where  his  honor  as  well  as  his  life  might  be  endan- 
gered. ^  But  it  was  not  in  Roland  Graeme's  nature  to  antici- 
pate evil  before  it  came,  or  to  prepare  to  combat  difficulties  be^ 


£04  WAVERLEY  NOVELS, 

fore  they  arrived.  '*  I  will  see  this  beautiful  and  unfortunate 
Mary  Stuart/'  he  said,  *'  of  whom  we  have  heard  so  much, 
and  then  there  will  be  time  enough  to  determine  whether  1 
will  be  kingsman  or  queensman.  None  of  them  can  say  I 
have  given  word  or  promise  to  either  of  their  factions  ;  for 
they  have  led  me  up  and  down  like  a  blind  Billy,  without 
giving  me  any  light  into  what  I  was  to  do.  But  it  was  lucky 
that  grim  Douglas  came  into  the  Regent's  closet  this  morn- 
ing, otherwise  I  had  never  got  free  of  him  without  plighting 
my  troth  to  do  all  the  Earl  would  have  me,  which  seemed, 
after  all,  but  foul  play  to  the  poor  imprisoned  lady,  to  place 
her  page  as  an  espial  on  her.'* 

Skipping  thus  lightly  over  a  matter  of  such  consequence, 
the  thoughts  of  the  hare-brained  boy  went  a-wool-gathering' 
after  more  agreeable  topics.  Now  he  admired  the  Gothic 
towers  of  Barnbougle,  rising  from  the  sea-beaten  rock,  and 
overlooking  one  of  the  most  glorious  landscapes  in  Scotland  ; 
and  now  he  began  to  consider  what  notable  sport  for  the 
hounds  and  the  hawks  must  be  afforded  by  the  variegated 
ground  over  which  they  travelled  ;  and  now  he  compared 
the  steady  and  dull  trot  at  which  they  were  then  prosecuting 
their  journey  with  the  delight  of  sweeping  over  hill  and  dale 
in  pursuit  of  his  favorite  sports.  As,  under  the  influence 
of  these  joyous  recollections,  he  gave  his  horse  the  spur,  and 
made  him  execute  a  gambade,  he  instantly  incurred  the  cen- 
sure of  his  grave  neighbor,  who  hinted  to  him  to  keep  the 
pace,  and  move  quietly  and  in  order,  unless  he  wished  such 
notice  to  be  taken  of  his  eccentric  movements  as  was  likely 
to  be  very  displeasing  to  him. 

The  rebuke  and  the  restraint  under  which  the  youth  now, 
found  himself  brought  back  to  his  recollection  his  late  good- 
humored  and  accommodating  associate  and  guide,  Adam 
Woodcock;  and  from  that  topic  his  imagination  made  a 
short  flight  to  Avenel  Castle,  to  the  quiet  and  unconfined 
life  of  its  inhabitants,  the  goodness  of  his  early  protectress,  not 
forgetting  the  denizens  of  its  stables,  kennels,  and  hawk- 
mews.  In  a  brief  space,  all  these  subjects  of  meditation 
gave  way  to  the  remembrance  of  that  riddle  of  womankind, 
Catherine  Seyton,  who  appeared  before  the  eye  of  his  mind 
now  in  her  female  form,  now  in  her  male  attire,  now  in  both 
at  once,  like  some  strange  dream,  which  presents  to  us  the 
lame  individual  under  two  different  characters  at  the  same 
instant.  Her  mysterious  present  also  recurred  to  his  recol- 
lection— the  sword  which  he  now  w^ore  at  his  side,  and  which 
h^  WW  not  to  draw,  save  by  command  of  his  legitimate 


THE  ABBOT  205 

Bovereign  !  But  the  key  of  this  mystery  he  judged  he  was 
likely  to  find  in  the  issue  of  his  present  journey. 

With  such  thoughts  passing  through  his  mind,  Roland 
Graeme  accompanied  the  party  of  Lord  Lindesay  to  the 
Queen's  Ferry,  which  they  passed  in  vessels  that  lay  in  readi- 
ness for  them.  They  encountered  no  adventure  whatever  in 
their  passage,  excepting  one  horse  being  lamed  in  getting 
into  the  boat — an  incident  very  common  on  such  occasions, 
until  a  few  years  ago,  when  the  ferry  was  completely  regu- 
lated. What  was  more  peculiarly  characteristic  of  the  olden 
age  was  the  discharge  of  a  culverin  at  the  party  from  the 
battlements  of  the  old  castle  of  Rosy  the,  on  the  north  side 
of  the  ferry,  the  lord  of  which  happened  to  have  some  public 
or  private  quarrel  with  the  Lord  Lindesay,  and  took  this 
mode  of  expressing  his  resentment.  The  insult,  however, 
as  it  was  harmless,  remained  unnoticed  and  unavenged,  nor 
did  anything  else  occur  worth  notice  until  the  band  had 
come  where  Lochleven  spread  its  magnificent  sheet  of  waters 
to  the  beams  of  a  bright  summer  sun. 

The  ancient  castle,  which  occupies  an  island  nearly  in  the 
center  of  the  lake,  recalled  to  the  page  that  of  Avenel,  in 
which  he  had  been  nurtured.  But  the  lake  was  much 
larger,  and  adorned  with  several  islets  besides  that  on  which 
the  fortress  was  situated  ;  and  instead  of  being  embosomed 
in  hills  like  that  of  Avenel,  had  upon  the  southern  side  only 
a  splendid  mountainous  screen,  being  the  descent  of  one  of 
the  Lomond  hills  and  on  the  other  was  surrounded  by  the 
extensive  and  fertile  plain  of  Kinross.  Roland  Graeme  looked 
with  some  degree  of  dismay  on  the  water-girdled  fortress, 
which  then,  as  now,  consisted  only  of  one  large  donjon-keep, 
surrounded  with  a  courtyard,  with  two  round  flanking 
towers  at  the  angles,  which  contained  within  its  circuit 
some  other  buildings  of  inferior  importance.  A  few  old 
trees,  clustered  together  near  the  castle,  gave  some  relief  to 
the  air  of  desolate  seclusion  ;  but  yet  the  page,  while  he 
gazed  upon  a  building  so  sequestrated,  could  not  but  feel 
for  the  situation  of  a  captive  princess  doomed  to  dwell 
there,  as  well  as  for  his  own.  '*I  must  have  been  born," 
he  thought,  ''under  the  star  that  presides  over  ladies  and 
lakes  of  water,  for  I  cannot  by  any  means  escape  from  the 
service  of  the  one  or  from  dwelling  in  the  other.  But  if 
they  allow  me  not  the  fair  freedom  of  my  sport  and  exercise, 
they  shall  find  it  as  hard  to  confine  a  wild  drake  as  a  youth 
who  can  swim  like  one/* 

The  band  had  now  reached  the  edge  of  the  water,  and  one 


2m  WAVERLUr  notEL^ 

of  the  party  advancing  displayed  Lord  Lindesay''s  pennon, 
waving  it  repeatedly  to  and  fro,  while  that  baron  himself 
blew  a  clamorous  blast  on  his  bugle.  A  banner  was  presently 
displayed  from  the  roof  of  the  castle  in  reply  to  these  signals, 
and  one  or  two  figures  were  seen  busied  as  if  unmooring  a 
boat  which  lay  close  to  the  islet. 

*'  It  will  be  some  time  ere  they  can  reach  us  with  the  boat/' 
said  the  companion  of  the  Lord  Lindesay  ;  *'  should  we  not 
do  well  to  proceed  to  the  town,  and  array  ourselves  in  some 
better  order,  ere  we  appear  before " 

'*  You  may  do  as  you  list.  Sir  Eobert,*'  replied  Lindesay, 
"  I  have  neither  time  nor  temper  to  waste  on  such  vanities. 
She  has  cost  me  many  a  hard  ride,  and  must  not  now  take 
ofiense  at  the  threadbare  cloak  and  soiled  doublet  that 
I  am  arrayed  in.  It  is  the  livery  to  which  she  has  brought 
all  Scotland.^' 

'*  Do  not  speak  so  harshly,'*  said  Sir  Robert ;  *^  if  she  hath 
done  wrong,  she  hath  dearly  abeyed  it ;  and  in  losing  all  real 
power,  one  would  not  deprive  her  of  the  little  external  homage 
due  at  once  to  a  lady  and  a  princess.'' 

"  I  say  to  you  once  more,  Sir  Robert  Melville,"  replied 
Lindesay,  '^  do  as  you  will ;  for  me,  I  am  now  too  old  to 
dink  myself  as  a  gallant  to  grace  the  bower  of  dames." 

*'  The  bower  of  dames,  my  lord  I"  said  Melville,  looking 
at  the  rude  old  tower  :  "  is  it  yon  dark  and  grated  castle,  the 
prison  of  a  captive  queen,  to  which  you  give  so  gay  a  name  ?" 

"  Name  it  as  you  list,"  replied  Lindesay  ;  "  had  the  Regent 
desired  to  send  an  envoy  capable  to  speak  to  a  captive  queen, 
there  are  many  gallants  in  his  court  who  would  have  courted 
the  occasion  to  make  speeches  out  of  Amadis  of  Gaul  or  the 
Mirror  of  Knighthood,  But  when  he  sent  blunt  old  Linde- 
say, he  knew  he  would  speak  to  a  misguided  woman,  as  her 
former  misdoings  and  her  present  state  render  necessary.  I 
sought  not  this  employment :  it  has  been  thrust  upon  me  ; 
and  I  will  not  cumber  myself  with  more  form  in  the  discharge 
of  it  than  needs  must  be  tacked  to  such  an  occupation." 

So  saying.  Lord  Lindesay  threw  himself  from  horseback, 
and,  wrapping  his  riding-cloak  around  him,  lay  down  at  lazy 
length  upon  the  sward,  to  await  the  arrival  of  the  boat,  which 
was  now  seen  rowing  from  the  castle  towards  the  shore.  Sir 
Robert  Melville,  who  had  also  dismounted,  walked  at  short 
turns  to  and  fro  upon  the  bank,  his  arms  crossed  on  his 
breast,  often  looking  to  the  castle,  and  displaying  in  his 
countenance  a  mixture  of  sorrow  and  of  anxiety.  The  rest 
of  the  party  sate  like  statues  on  horseback,  without  moving 


THE  ABBOT  S07 

so  much  as  the  points  of  their  lances,  which  they  held 
upright  in  the  air. 

As  soon  as  the  boat  approached  a  rude  quay  or  landing- 
place  near  to  which  they  had  stationed  themselves,  Lord 
Lindesay  started  up  from  his  recumbent  posture,  and  asked 
the  person  who  steered  why  he  had  not  brought  a  larger  boat 
with  him  to  transport  his  retinue. 

"  So  please  you,"  replied  the  boatman,  "because  it  is  the 
order  of  our  lady  that  we  bring  not  to  the  castle  more  than 
four  persons.'' 

*''  Thy  lady  is  a  wise  woman/'  said  Lindesay,  ''to  suspect 
me  of  treachery  !  Or,  had  I  intended  it,  what  is  to  hinder  us 
from  throwing  you  and  your  comrades  into  the  lake  and  filling 
the  boat  with  my  own  fellows  ?  " 

The  steersman,  on  hearing  this,  made  a  hasty  signal  to  his 
men  to  back  their  oars,  and  hold  off  from  the  shore  which 
they  were  approaching. 

*'  Why,  thou  ass,"  said  Lindesay,  "  thou  didst  not  think 
that  I  meant  thy  fool's  head  serious  harm  ?  Hark  thee, 
friend,  with  fewer  than  three  servants  I  will  go  no  whither  ; 
Sir  Robert  Melville  will  require  at  least  the  attendance  of 
one  domestic  ;  and  it  will  be  at  your  peril  and  your  lady's  to 
refuse  us  admission,  come  hither  as  we  are  on  matters  of 
great  national  concern." 

The  steersman  answered  with  firmness,  but  with  great 
civility  of  expression,  that  his  orders  were  positive  to  bring 
no  more  than  four  into  the  island,  but  he  offered  to  row  back 
to  obtain  a  revisal  of  his  instructions. 

"  Do  so,  my  friend,"  said  Sir  Robert  Melville,  after  he  had 
in  vain  endeavored  to  persuade  his  stubborn  companion  to 
consent  to  a  temporary  abatement  of  his  train  :  **row  back 
to  the  castle,  sith  it  will  be  no  better,  and  obtain  thy  lady's 
orders  to  transport  the  Lord  Lindesay,  myself,  and  our  retinue 
thither." 

'*  And  hearken,"  said  Lord  Lindesay,  "  take  with  you  this 
page,  who  comes  as  an  attendant  on  your  lady's  guest.  Dis- 
mount, sirrah,"  said  he,  addressing  Roland,  "  and  embark 
with  them  in  that  boat." 

"  And  what  is  to  become  of  my  horse  ?"  said  Graeme  ;  '*  I 
am  answerable  for  him  to  my  master." 

^'  I  will  relieve  you  of  the, charge,"  said  Lindesay  ;  ''  thou 
wilt  have  little  enow  to  do  with  horse,  saddle,  or  bridle  for 
ten  years  to  come.  Thou  mayst  take  the  halter  an  thou  wilt : 
it  may  stand  thee  in  a  turn." 

•'  If  I  thought  so,"  said  Roland 


208  WAVERLET  NOVELS 

But  he  was  interrupted  by  Sir  Robert  Melville,  who  said 
to  him,  good-humor edly,  ''  Dispute  it  not,  young  friend  : 
resistance  can  do  no  good,  but  may  well  run  thee  into 
danger/' 

Roland  Graeme  felt  the  justice  of  what  he  said,  and,  though 
neither  delighted  with  the  matter  nor  manner  of  Lindesay's 
address,  deemed  it  best  to  submit  to  necessity,  and  to  embark 
without  further  remonstrance.  The  men  plied  their  oars. 
The  quay,  with  the  party  of  horse  stationed  near  it,  receded 
from  the  page's  eyes,  the  castle  and  the  islet  seemed  to  draw 
near  in  the  same  proportion,  and  in  a  brief  space  he  landed 
under  the  shadow  of  a  huge  old  tree  which  overhung  the 
landing-place.  The  steersman  and  Graeme  leaped  ashore ; 
the  boatmen  remained  lying  on  their  oars  ready  for  further 
service. 


CHAPTER  XXI 

Could  valor  aught  avail  or  people's  love, 
France  had  not  wept  Navarre's  brave  Henry  slain  ; 

If  wit  or  beauty  could  compassion  move, 
The  Rose  of  Scotland  had  not  wept  in  vain. 

Lewis,  Elegy  in  a  Royal  Mausoleum, 

At  the  gate  of  the  courtyard  of  Lochleven  appeared  the 
stately  form  of  the  Lady  of  Lochleven,  a  female  whose  early 
charms  had  captivated  James  V.,  by  whom  she  became 
mother  of  the  celebrated  Regent  Murray.  As  she  was  of 
noble  birth,  being  a  daughter  of  the  house  of  Mar,  and  of 
great  beauty,  her  intimacy  with  James  did  not  prevent  her 
being  afterwards  sought  in  honorable  marriage  by  many  gal- 
lants of  the  time,  among  whom  she  had  preferred  Sir  William 
Douglas  of  Lochleven.     But  well  has  it  been  said, — 

Our  pleasant  vices 
Are  made  the  whips  to  scourge  us. 

The  station  which  the  Lady  of  Lochleven  now  held  as  the 
wife  of  a  man  of  high  rank  and  interest,  and  the  mother  of 
a  lawful  family,  did  not  prevent  her  nourishing  a  painful  sense 
of  degradation,  even  w^hile  she  was  proud  of  the  talents,  the 
power,  and  the  station  of  her  son,  now  prime  ruler  of  the 
state,  but  still  a  pledge  of  her  illicit  intercourse.  "  Had 
James  done  to  her,^*  she  said  in  her  secret  heart,  ^'  the  justice 
he  owed  her,  she  had  seen  in  her  son,  as  a  source  of  unmixed 
delight  and  of  unchastened  pride,  the  lawful  monarch  of 
Scotland,  and  one  of  the  ablest  who  ever  swayed  the  scepter. 
The  house  of  Mar,  not  inferior  in  antiquity  or  grandeur  to 
that  of  Drummond,  would  then  have  also  boasted  a  queen 
among  its  daughters,  and  escaped  the  stain  attached  to  female 
frailty,  even  when  it  has  a  royal  lover  for  its  apology/* 
While  such  feelings  preyed  on  a  bosom  naturally  proud  and 
severe,  they  had  a  corresponding  effect  on  her  countenance, 
where  with  the  remains  of  great  beauty,  were  mingled  traits 
indicative  of  inward  discontent  and  peevish  melancholy.  It 
perhaps  contributed  to  increase  this  habitual  temperament, 
that  the  Lady  Lochleven  had  adopted  uncommonly  rigid  and 
severe  views  of  religion,  imitating  in  her  ideas  of  Reformed 
14  209 


210  WAYERLEY  NOVELS 

faith  the  very  worst  errors  of  the  Catholics,  in  limiting  the 
benefit  of  the  Gospel  to  those  who  profess  their  own  specula- 
tive tenets. 

In  every  respect,  the  unfortunate  Queen  Mary,  now  the 
compulsory  guest,  or  rather  prisoner,  of  this  sullen  lady, 
was  obnoxious  to  her  hostess.  Lady  Lochleven  disliked  her 
as  the  daughter  of  Mary  of  Guise,  the  legal  possessor  of  those 
rights  over  James's  heart  and  hand  of  which  she  conceived 
herself  to  have  been  injuriously  deprived  ;  and  yet  more  so 
as  the  professor  of  a  religion  which  she  detested  worse  than 
paganism. 

Such  was  the  dame  who,  with  stately  mien,  and  sharp  yet 
handsome  features,  shrouded  by  her  black  velvet  coif,  inter- 
rogated the  domestic  who  steered  her  barge  to  the  shore, 
what  had  become  of  Lindesay  and  Sir  Eobert  Melville.  The 
man  related  what  had  passed,  and  she  smiled  scornfully  as 
she  replied,  ''  Fools  must  be  flattered,  not  foughten  with 
Row  back — make  thy  excuse  as  thou  canst — say  Lord  Ruthven 
hath  already  reached  this  castle,  and  that  he  is  impatient 
for  Lord  Lindesay^s  presence.  Away  with  thee,  Randal — 
yet  stay,  what  galopin  is  that  thou  hast  brought  hither  ?'' 

"  So  please  you,  my  lady,  he  is  the  page  who  is  to  wait 
upon " 

'^  Ay,  the  new  male  minion,''  said  the  Lady  Lochleven  ; 
"the  female  attendant  arrived  yesterday.  I  shall  have  a 
well-ordered  house  with  this  lady  and  her  retinue ;  but  I 
trust  they  will  soon  find  some  others  to  undertake  such  a 
charge.  Begone,  Randal ;  and  you  (to  Roland  Graeme), 
follow  me  to  the  garden.'' 

She  led  the  way  with  a  slow  and  stately  step  to  the  small 
garden,  which,  inclosed  by  a  stone  wall  ornamented  with 
statues,  and  an  artificial  fountain  in  the  center,  extented  its 
dull  parterres  on  the  side  of  the  courtyard,  with  which  it 
communicated  by  a  low  and  arched  portal.  Within  the  nar- 
row circuit  of  its  formal  and  limited  walks,  Mary  Stuart  was 
now  learning  to  perform  the  weary  part  of  a  prisoner,  which, 
with  little  interval,  she  was  doomed  to  sustain  during  the 
remainder  of  her  life.  She  was  followed  in  her  slow  and 
melancholy  exercise  by  two  female  attendants  ;  but  in  tho 
first  glance  which  Roland  Graeme  bestowed  upon  one  so 
illustrious  by  birth,  so  distinguished  by  her  beauty,  accom- 
plishments, and  misfortunes,  he  was  sensible  of  the  presence 
of  no  other  than  the  unhappy  Queen  of  Scotland. 

Her  face,  her  form,  have  been  so  deeply  impressed  upon 
the  imagination  that,  even  at  the  distance  of  nearly  three 


THE  ABBOT  211 

eentttff^g,  it  is  unnecessary  to  remind  the  most  ignorant  and 
uninformed  reader  of  the  striking  traits  which  characterize 
that  remarkable  countenance,  which  seems  at  once  to  com- 
bine our  idea  of  the  majestic,  the  pleasing,  and  the  bril- 
liant, leaving  us  to  doubt  whether  they  express  most  happily 
the  queen,  the  beauty,  or  the  accomplished  woman.  Who 
is  there  that,  at  the  very  mention  of  Mary  Stuart's  name,  has 
not  her  countenance  before  him,  familiar  as  that  of  the  mis- 
tress of  his  youth,  or  the  favorite  daughter  of  his  advanced 
age  ?  Even  those  who  feel  themselves  compelled  to  believe 
all,  or  much,  of  what  her  enemies  laid  to  her  charge,  cannot 
think  without  a  sigh  upon  a  countenance  expressive  of  any- 
thing rather  than  the  foul  crimes  with  which  she  was  charged 
when  living,  and  which  still  continue  to  shade,  if  not  to 
blacken,  her  memory.  That  brow,  so  truly  open  and  regal ; 
those  eyebrows,  so  regularly  graceful,  which  yet  were  saved 
from  the  charge  of  regular  insipidity  by  the  beautiful  effect 
of  the  hazel  eyes  which  they  overarched,  and  which  seem  to 
utter  a  thousand  histories ;  the  nose,  with  all  its  Grecian 
precision  of  outline  ;  the  mouth,  so  well-proportioned,  so 
sweetly  formed  as  if  designed  to  speak  nothing  but  what  was 
delightful  to  hear  ;  the  dimpled  chin  ;  the  stately,  swan-like 
neck — form  a  countenance  the  like  of  which  we  know  not  to 
have  existed  in  any  other  character  moving  in  that  high 
class  of  life  where  the  actresses  as  well  as  the  actors  com- 
mand general  and  undivided  attention.  It  is  in  vain  to  say 
that  the  portraits  which  exist  of  this  remarkable  woman  are 
not  like  each  other ;  for,  amidst  their  discrepancy,  each 
possesses  general  features  which  the  eye  at  once  acknowledges 
as  peculiar  to  the  vision  which  our  imagination  has  raised 
while  we  read  her  history  for  the  first  time,  and  which  has 
been  impressed  upon  it  by  the  numerous  prints  and  pictures 
which  we  have  seen.  Indeed,  we  cannot  look  on  the  worst 
of  them,  however  deficient  in  point  of  execution,  without 
saying  that  it  is  meant  for  Queen  Mary  ;  and  no  small  in- 
stance it  is  of  the  power  of  beauty,  that  her  charms  should 
have  remained  the  subject  not  merely  of  admiration,  but  of 
warm  and  chivalrous  interest,  after  the  lapse  of  such  a  length 
of  time.  We  know  that  by  far  the  most  acute  of  those  who, 
in  latter  days,  have  adopted  the  unfavorable  view  of  Mary's 
character,  longed,  like  the  executioner  before  his  dreadful 
task  was  performed,  to  kiss  the  fair  hand  of  her  on  whom 
he  was  about  to  perform  so  horrible  a  duty. 

Dressed,  then,  in  a  deep  mourning  robe,  and  with  all  those 
charms  of  face,  shape,  and  manner  with  which   faithful 


212  WA  VERLEY  NOVELS 

tradition  has  made  each  reader  familiar,  Mary  Stewart  ad- 
vanced to  meet  the  Lady  of  Lochleven,  who,  on  her  part, 
endeavored  to  conceal  dislike  and  apprehension  under  the 
appearance  of  respectful  indifference.  The  truth  was,  that 
she  had  experienced  repeatedly  the  Queen's  superiority  in 
that  species  of  disguised  yet  cutting  sarcasm  with  which 
women  can  successfully  avenge  themselves  for  real  and  sub- 
stantial injuries.  It  may  be  well  doubted  whether  this 
talent  was  not  as  fatal  to  its  possessor  as  the  many  others 
enjoyed  by  that  highly  gifted,  but  most  unhappy,  female  ; 
for,  while  it  often  afforded  her  a  momentary  triumph  over 
her  keepers,  it  failed  not  to  exasperate  their  resentment ; 
and  the  satire  and  sarcasm  in  which  she  had  indulged 
were  frequently  retaliated  by  the  deep  and  bitter  hardships 
which  they  had  the  power  of  inflicting.  It  is  well  known 
that  her  death  was  at  length  hastened  by  a  letter  which  she 
wrote  to  Queen  Elizabeth,  in  which  she  treated  her  jealous 
rival  and  the  Countess  of  Shrewsbury  with  the  keenest  irony 
and  ridicule. 

As  the  ladies  met  together,  the  Queen  said,  bending  her 
head  at  the  same  time  in  return  to  the  obeisance  of  the 
Lady  Lochleven — "We  are  this  day  fortunate:  we  enjoy 
the  company  of  our  amiable  hostess  at  an  unusual  hour, 
and  during  a  period  which  we  have  hitherto  been  permitted 
to  give  to  our  private  exercise.  But  our  good  hostess 
knows  well  she  has  at  all  times  access  to  our  presence,  and 
need  not  observe  the  useless  ceremony  of  requiring  our  per- 
mission." 

"I  am  sorry  my  presence  is  deemed  an  intrusion  by  your 
Grace,"  said  the  Lady  of  Lochleven.  "  I  came  but  to  an- 
nounce the  arrival  of  an  addition  to  your  train,"  motioning 
with  her  hand  towards  Roland  Graeme,  ''a  circumstance  to 
which  ladies  are  seldom  indifferent." 

*'  0  !  I  crave  your  ladyship's  pardon  ;  and  am  bent  to 
the  earth  with  obligations  for  the  kindness  of  my  nobles — or 
my  sovereigns,  shall  I  call  them  ? — who  have  permitted  me 
such  a  respectable  addition  to  my  personal  retinue." 

"They  have  indeed  studied,  madam,"  said  the  Lady  of 
Locheven,  "to  show  their  kindness  toward  your  Grace  some- 
thing at  the  risk  perhaps  of  sound  policy,  and  I  trust  their 
doings  will  not  be  misconstrued." 

"  Impossible  ! "  said  the  Queen  ;  ''  the  bounty  which  per- 
mits the  daughter  of  so  many  kings,  and  who  yet  is  queen 
of  the  realm,  the  attendance  of  two  waiting-women  and  a 
boy,  is  a  grace  which  Mary  Stuart  can  never  sufficiently 


THE  ABBOT  21S 

acknowledge.  Why  !  my  train  will  be  equal  to  that  of  any 
country  dame  in  this  your  kingdom  of  Fife,  saving  but  the 
lack  of  a  gentleman-usher  and  a  pair  or  two  of  blue-coated 
serving-men.  But  I  must  not  forget,  in  my  selfish  joy,  the 
additional  trouble  and  charges  to  which  this  magnificent 
augumentation  of  our  train  will  put  our  kind  hostess  and 
the  whole  house  of  Lochleven.  It  is  this  prudent  anxiety, 
[  am  aware,  which  clouds  your  brows,  my  worthy  lady. 
But  be  of  good  cheer :  the  crown  of  Scotland  has  many  a 
fair  manor,  and  your  affectionate  son,  and  my  no  less  af- 
fectionate brother,  will  endow  the  good  knight  your  hus- 
band with  the  best  of  them,  ere  Mary  should  be  dismissed 
from  this  hospitable  castle  from  your  ladyship's  lack  of 
means  to  support  the  charges." 

'*The  Douglasses  of  Lochleven,  madam, '*  answered  the 
lady,  '^  have  known  for  ages  how  to  discharge  their  duty  to 
the  state,  without  looking  for  reward,  even  when  the  task 
was  both  irksome  and  dangerous." 

"Nay!  but,  my  dear  Lochleven,"  said  the  Queen,  "you 
are  over-scrupulous  ;  I  pray  you  accept  of  a  goodly  manor  ; 
what  should  support  the  Queen  of  Scotland,  in  this  her  princely 
court,  saving  her  own  crown-lands  ;  and  who  should  minister 
to  the  wants  of  a  mother,  save  an  affectionate  son  like  the 
Earl  of  Murray,  who  possesses  so  wonderfully  both  the  power 
and  inclination  ?  Or  said  you  it  was  the  danger  of  the  task 
which  clouded  your  smooth  and  hospitable  brow  ?  No 
doubt,  a  page  is  a  formidable  addition  to  my  body-guard  of 
females  ;  and  I  bethink  me  it  must  have  been  for  that 
reason  that  my  Lord  of  Lindesay  refused  even  now  to  venture 
within  the  reach  of  a  force  so  formidable,  without  being 
attended  by  a  competent  retinue." 

The  Lady  Lochleven  started,  and  looked  something  sur- 
prised ;  and  Mary,  suddenly  changing  her  manner  from  the 
smooth,  ironical  affectation  of  mildness  to  an  accent  of  austere 
command,  and  drawing  up  at  the  same  time  her  fine  person, 
said,  with  the  full  majesty  of  her  rank,  "  Yes  !  Lady  of 
Lochleven,  I  know  that  Euthven  is  already  in  the  castle, 
and  that  Lindesay  waits  on  the  bank  the  return  of  your 
barge  to  bring  him  hither  along  with  Sir  Eobert  Melville. 
For  what  purpose  do  these  nobles  come  ?  and  why  am  I 
not  in  ordinary  decency  apprised  of  their  arrival  ?  " 

"Their  purpose,  madam,"  replied  the  Lady  of  Lochleven, 
"  they  must  themselves  explain  ;  but  a  formal  annunication 
were  needless,  where  your  Grace  hath  attendants  who  can 
play  the  espial  so  well,'' 


214  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

"  Alas !  poor  Fleming,"  said  the  Queen,  turning  to  the 
elder  of  the  female  attendants,  ''thou  wilt  be  tried,  con- 
demned, and  gibbeted  for  a  spy  in  the  garrison,  because  thou 
didst  chance  to  cross  the  great  hall  while  my  good  Lady  of 
Lochleven  was  parleying  at  the  full  pitch  of  her  voice  with 
her  pilot  Kandal.  Put  black  wool  in  thy  ears,  girl,  as  you 
value  the  wearing  of  them  longer.  Kemember,  in  the  Castle 
of  Lochleven,  ears  and  tongues  are  matters  not  of  use,  but  for 
show  merely.  Our  good  hostess  can  hear,  as  well  as  speak  for 
us  all.  We  excuse  your  further  attendance,  my  lady  hostess," 
she  said,  once  more  addressing  the  object  of  her  resentment, 
*'  and  retire  to  prepare  for  an  interview  with  our  rebel  lords. 
We  will  use  the  ante-chamber  of  our  sleeping  apartment  as  our 
hall  of  audience.  You,  young  man,"  she  proceeded,  address- 
ing Roland  Graeme,  and  at  once  softening  the  ironical  sharp- 
ness of  her  manner  into  good-humored  raillery — **  you,  who  are 
all  our  male  attendance,  from  our  Lord  High  Chamberlain 
down  to  our  least  galopin,  follow  us  to  prepare  our  court." 

She  turned,  and  walked  slowly  towards  the  castle.  The 
Lady  of  Lochleven  folded  her  arms,  and  smiled  in  bitter 
resentment,  as  she  watched  her  retiring  steps. 

"Thy  whole  male  attendance  !"  she  muttered,  repeating 
the  Queen's  last  words,  ''and  well  for  thee  had  it  been  had 
thy  train  never  been  larger  ; "  then  turning  to  Roland,  in 
whose  way  she  had  stood  while  making  this  pause,  she  made 
room  for  him  to  pass,  saying  at  the  same  time,  "  Art  thou 
already  eavesdropping  ?  follow  thy  mistress,  minion,  and, 
if  thou  wilt,  tell  tier  what  I  have  now  said." 

Roland  Graeme  hastened  after  his  royal  mistress  and  her 
attendants,  who  had  just  entered  a  postern  gate  communi- 
cating betwixt  the  castle  and  the  small  garden.  They  as- 
cended a  winding  stair  as  high  as  the  second  story,  which 
was  in  a  great  measure  occupied  by  a  suite  of  three  rooms, 
opening  into  each  other,  and  assigned  as  the  dwelling  of  the 
captive  princess.  The  outermost  was  a  small  hall  or  ante- 
room, within  which  opened  a  large  parlor,  and  from  that 
again  the  Queen's  bedroom.  Another  small  apartment, 
which  opened  into  the  same  parlor,  contained  the  beds  of 
the  gentlewomen  in  waiting. 

Roland  Graeme  stopped,  as  became  his  station,  in  the  out- 
ermost of  these  apartments,  there  to  await  such  orders  as 
might  be  communicated  to  him.  From  the  grated  window 
of  the  room  he  saw  Lindesay,  Melville,  and  their  followers 
disembark  ;  and  observed  that  they  were  met  at  the  castle 
gate  by  a  third  noble,  to  whom  Lindesay  exclaimed,  in  his 


THE  ABBOT  215 

loud  harsh  voice,  *'  My  Lord  of  Ruthven,  you  hare  the  start 
of  us!" 

At  this  instant  the  page's  attention  was  called  to  a  burst 
of  hysterical  sobs  from  the  inner  apartment,  and  to  the  hur- 
ried ejaculations  of  the  terrified  females,  which  led  him 
almost  instantly  to  hasten  to  their  assistance.  When  he 
entered,  he  saw  that  the  Queen  had  thrown  herself  into  the 
large  chair  which  stood  nearest  the  door,  and  was  sobbing 
for  breath  in  a  strong  fit  of  hysterical  affection.  The  elder 
female  supported  her  in  her  arms,  while  the  younger  bathed 
her  face  with  water  and  with  tears  alternately. 

*'  Hasten,  young  man  ! "  said  the  elder  lady,  in  alarm — 
''  fly — call  in  assistance  ;  she  is  swooning  ! " 

But  the  Queen  ejaculated  in  a  faint  and  broken  voice, 
'^  Stir  not,  I  charge  you  ! — call  no  one  to  witness  ;  I  am  bet- 
ter— I  shall  recover  instantly."  And,  indeed,  with  an  effort 
which  seemed  like  that  of  one  struggling  for  life,  she  sate 
up  in  her  chair  and  endeavored  to  resume  her  composure, 
while  her  features  yet  trembled  with  the  violent  emotion  of 
body  and  mind  which  she  had  undergone.  '*  I  am  ashamed 
of  my  weakness,  girls/'  she  said,  taking  the  hands  of  her 
attendants  ;  "  but  it  is  over — and  I  am  Mary  Stuart  once 
more.  The  savage  tone  of  that  man's  voice — my  knowledge 
of  his  insolence — the  name  which  he  named — the  purpose 
for  which  they  come,  may  excuse  a  moment's  weakness,  and 
it  shall  be  a  moment's  only."  She  snatched  from  her  head 
the  curch,  or  cap,  which  had  been  disordered  during  her 
hysterical  agony  ;  shook  down  the  thick  clustered  tresses 
of  dark  brown  which  had  been  before  veiled  under  it ;  and, 
drawing  her  slender  fingers  across  the  labyrinth  which  they 
formed,  she  arose  from  the  chair,  and  stood  like  the  inspired 
image  of  a  Grecian  prophetess,  in  a  mood  which  partook  at 
once  of  sorrow  and  pride,  of  smiles  and  of  tears.  ''  We  are 
ill  appointed,"  she  said,  "  to  meet  our  rebel  subjects  ;  but, 
as  far  as  we  may,  we  will  strive  to  present  ourselves  as  be- 
comes their  queen.  Follow  me,  my  maidens,"  she  said ; 
"  what  says  thy  favorite  song,  my  Fleming  ? — 

My  maids,  come  to  my  dressing-bower, 

And  deck  my  nut-brown  hair ; 
Where'er  ye  laid  a  plait  before, 

Look  ye  lay  ten  times  mair. 

Alas ! "  she  added,  when  she  had  repeated  with  a  smile 
these  lines  of  an  old  ballad,  '^  violence  has  already  robbed 
me  of  the  ordinary  decorations  of  my  rank ;  and  the  few 


21b  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

that  nature  gave  me  have  been  destroyed  by  sorrow  and  by 
fear/'  Yet,  while  she  spoke  thus,  she  again  let  her  slender 
fingers  stray  through  the  wilderness  of  the  beautiful  tresses 
which  veiled  her  kingly  neck  and  swelling  bosom,  as  if,  in 
her  agony  of  mind,  she  had  not  altogether  lost  the  conscious- 
ness of  her  unrivaled  charms.  Roland  Graeme,  on  whose 
youth,  inexperience,  and  ardent  sense  of  what  was  dignified 
and  lovely,  the  demeanor  of  so  fair  and  high-born  a  lady 
wrought  like  the  charm  of  a  magician,  stood  rooted  to  the 
spot  with  surprise  and  interest,  longing  to  hazard  his  life  in 
a  quarrel  so  fair  as  that  which  Mary  Stuart's  must  needs  be. 
She  had  been  bred  in  France — she  was  possessed  of  the  most 
distinguished  beauty — she  had  reigned  a  queen,  and  a  Scot- 
tish queen,  to  whom  knowledge  of  character  was  as  essential 
as  the  use  of  vital  air.  In  all  these  capacities  Mary  was,  of 
all  women  on  the  earth,  most  alert  at  perceiving  and  using 
the  advantages  which"  her  charms  gave  her  over  almost  all 
who  came  within  the  sphere  of  their  influence.  She  cast  on 
Roland  a  glance  which  might  have  melted  a  heart  of  stone. 
"  My  poor  boy,''  she  said,  with  a  feeling  partly  real,  partly 
politic,  *'  thou  art  a  stranger  to  us,  sent  to  this  doleful  cap- 
tivity from  the  society  of  some  tender  mother,  or  sister,  or 
maiden,  with  whom  you  had  freedom  to  tread  a  gay  meas- 
ure round  the  Maypole.  I  grieve  for  you  ;  but  you  are  the 
only  male  in  my  limited  household — wilt  thou  obey  my 
orders  ?" 

*'  To  the  death,  madam,"  said  Graeme,  in  a  determined 
tone. 

"Then  keep  the  door  of  mine  apartment,"  said  the  Queen 
— "  keep  it  till  they  offer  actual  violence,  or  till  we  shall  be 
fitly  arrayed  to  receive  the  intrusive  visitors." 

''  I  vill  defend  it  till  they  pass  over  my  body,"  said  Roland 
Graeme,  any  hesitation  which  he  had  felt  concerning  the 
line  of  cond^.ict  he  ought  to  pursue  being  completely  swept 
away  by  the  ii-.i  pulse  of  the  moment. 

"Not  so,  my  good  youth,"  answered  Mary — "not  so,  I 
command  thee.  If  I  have  one  faithful  subject  beside  me, 
much  need,  God  w^t,  I  have  to  care  for  his  safety.  Resist 
them  but  till  they  are  put  to  the  shame  of  using  actual 
violence,  and  then  give  way,  I  charge  you.  Remember  my 
commands."  And,  With  a  smile  expressive  at  once  of  favor 
and  of  authority,  she  turned  from  him,  and,  followed  by 
her  attendants,  entered  the  bedroom. 

The  youngest  pauseo  for  half  a  second  ere  she  followed 
her  companion,  and  male  a  signal  to  Roland  Graeme  with 


THE  ABBOT  217 

her  hand.  He  had  been  already  long  aware  that  this  was 
Catherine  Seyton — a  circumstance  which  could  not  much 
surprise  a  youth  of  quick  intellect,  who  recollected  the  sort 
of  mysterious  discourse  which  had  passed  betwixt  the  two 
matrons  at  the  deserted  nunnery,  and  on  which  his  meeting 
with  Catherine  in  this  place  seemed  to  cast  so  much  light. 
Yet,  such  was  the  engrossing  effect  of  Mary's  presence,  that 
it  surmounted  for  the  moment  even  the  feelings  of  a  youth- 
ful lover  ;  and  it  was  not  until  Catherine  Seyton  had  disap- 
peared that  Roland  began  to  consider  in  what  relation  they 
were  to  stand  to  each  other.  *'  She  held  up  her  hand  to  me 
in  a  commanding  manner,''  he  thought ;  ''  perhaps  she 
wanted  to  confirm  my  purpose  for  the  execution  of  the 
Queen's  commands  ;  for  I  think  she  could  scarce  purpose  to 
scare  me  with  the  sort  of  discipline  which  she  administered 
to  the  groom  in  the  frieze  jacket  and  to  poor  Adam  Wood- 
cock. But  we  will  see  to  that  anon  ;  meantime,  let  us  do 
i'ustice  to  the  trust  reposed  in  us  by  this  .unhappy  Queen, 
think  my  Lord  of  Murray  will  himself  own  that  it  is  the 
duty  of  a  faithful  page  to  defend  his  lady  against  intrusion 
on  her  privacy." 

Accordingly,  he  stepped  to  the  little  vestibule,  made  fast, 
with  lock  and  bar,  the  door  which  opened  from  thence  to  the 
large  staircase,  and  then  sat  himself  down  to  attend  the  re- 
sult. He  had  not  long  to  wait  :  a  rude  and  strong  hand 
first  essayed  to  lift  the  latch,  then  pushed  and  shook  the 
door  with  violence,  and,  when  it  resisted  his  attempt  to  open 
it,  exclaimed,  *'  Undo  the  door  there,  you  within  ! " 

''  Why,  and  at  whose  command,"  said  the  page,  "  am  I  to 
undo  the  door  of  the  apartments  of  the  Queen  of  Scotland  ?" 

Another  vain  attempt,  which  made  hinge  and  bolts  jingle, 
showed  that  the  impatient  applicant  without  would  willingly 
have  entered  altogether  regardless  of  his  challenge ;  but  at 
length  an  answer  was  returned. 

*^  Undo  the  door,  on  your  peril :  the  Lord  Lindesay  comes 
to  speak  with  the  Lady  Mary  of  Scotland." 

*'  The  Lord  Lindesay,  as  a  Scottish  noble,"  answered  the 
page,  "  must  await  his  sovereign's  leisure." 

An  earnest  altercation  ensued  amongst  those  without,  in 
which  Roland  distinguished  the  remarkably  harsh  voice  of 
Lindesay  in  reply  to  Sir  Robert  Melville,  who  appeared  to 
have  been  using  some  soothing  language — '^  No  !  no  !  no  ! 
I  tell  thee  no  !     I  will  place  a  petard  against  the  door  rather 

I  than  be  baulked  by  a  profligate  woman,  and  bearded  by  an 
insolent  footboy." 


218  WAVERLET  NOVELS 

"Yet,  at  least,"  said  Melville,  ''let  me  try  fair  means  in 
the  first  instance.  Violence  to  a  lady  would  stain  yonr 
scutcheon  forever.     Or  await  till  my  Lord    Ruthven  comes/' 

''  I  will  await  no  longer,'-*  said  Lindesay  ;  *'  it  is  high  time 
the  business  were  done,  and  we  on  our  return  to  the  council. 
But  thou  mayst  try  thy  fair  play,  as  thou  callest  it,  while  I 
cause  my  train  to  prepare  the  petard.  I  came  hither  pro- 
vided with  as  good  gunpowder  as  blew  up  the  Kirk  of 
Field/' 

*'  For  God's  sake,  be  patient,"  said  Melville  ;  and,  ap- 
proaching the  door,  he  said,  as  speaking  to  those  within, 
"  Let  the  Queen  know  that  I,  her  faithful  servant,  Robert 
Melville,  do  entreat  her,  for  her  own  sake,  and  to  prevent 
worse  consequences,  that  she  will  undo  the  door,  and  admit 
Lord  Lindesay,  who  brings  a  mission  from  the  council  of 
state." 

**I  will  do  your  errand  to  the  Queen,"  said  the  page, 
*'and  report  to  you  her  answer." 

He  went  to  the  door  of  the  bedchamber,  and,  tapping 
against  it  gently,  it  was  opened  by  the  elder  lady  to  whom 
he  communicated  his  errand,  and  ret^.rned  with  directions 
from  the  Queen  to  admit  Sir  Robert  Melville  and  Lord 
Lindesay.  Roland  Graeme  returned  to  the  vestibule,  and 
opened  the  door  accordingly,  into  which  the  Lord  Lindesay 
strode,  with  the  air  of  a  soldier  who  has  fought  his  way  into 
a  conquered  fortress ;  while  Melville,  deeply  dejected,  fol- 
lowed him  more  slowly. 

'^  I  draw  you  to  witness  and  to  record,"  said  the  page  to 
this  last,  "  that,  save  for  the  especial  commands  of  the 
Queen,  I  would  have  made  good  the  entrance,  with  my  best 
strength  and  my  best  blood,  against  all  Scotland." 

**  Be  silent,  young  man,"  said  Melville,  in  a  tone  of  grave 
rebuke  :  *'add  not  brands  to  fire  ;  this  is  no  time  to  make  a 
flourish  of  thy  boyish  chivalry." 

**  She  has  not  appeared  even  yet,"  said  Lindesay,  who 
had  now  reached  the  midst  of  the  parlor  or  audience-room  ; 
*'  how  call  you  this  trifling  ?  " 

''Patience,  my  lord,"  replied  Sir  Robert,  "time  presses 
not ;  and  Lord  Ruthven  hath  not  as  yet  descended." 

At  this  moment  the  door  of  the  inner  apartment  opened, 
and  Queen  Mary  presented  herself,  advancing  with  an  air 
of  peculiar  grace  and  majesty,  and  seeming  totally  un- 
ruffled, either  by  the  visit  or  by  the  rude  manner  in  which 
it  had  been  enforced.  Her  dress  was  a  robe  of  black  velvet ; 
a  small  ruff,  open  in  front,  gave  a  full  view  of  her  beauti- 


THE  ABBOT  219 

fully  formed  chin  and  neck,  but  veiled  the  bosom.  On  her 
head  she  wore  a  small  cap  of  lace,  and  a  transparent  white 
veil  hung  from  her  shoulders  over  the  long  black  robe,  in 
large  loose  folds,  so  that  it  could  be  drawn  at  pleasure  ovei 
the  face  and  person.  She  wore  a  cross  of  gold  around  her 
neck,  and  had  her  rosary  of  gold  and  ebony  hanging  from 
her  girdle.  She  was  closely  followed  by  her  two  ladies,  who 
remained  standing  behind  her  during  the  conference.  Even 
Lord  Lindesay,  though  the  rudest  noble  of  that  rude  age, 
was  surprised  into  something  like  respect  by  the  uncon- 
cerned and  majestic  mien  of  her  whom  he  had  expected  to 
find  frantic  with  impotent  passion,  or  dissolved  in  useless 
and  vain  sorrow,  or  overwhelmed  with  the  fears  likely  in 
such  a  situation  to  assail  fallen  royalty. 

"  We  fear  we  have  detained  you,  my  Lord  of  Lindesay," 
said  the  Queen,  while  she  courtesied  with  dignity  in  answer 
to  his  reluctant  obeisance ;  '*  but  a  female  does  not  will- 
ingly receive  her  visitors  without  some  minutes  spent  at  the 
toilet.  Men,  my  lord,  are  less  dependent  on  such  cere- 
monies." 

Lord  Lindesay,  casting  his  eye  down  on  his  own  travel- 
stained  and  disordered  dress,  muttered  something  of  a  hasty 
journey,  and  the  Queen  paid  her  greeting  to  Sir  Robert  Mel- 
ville with  courtesy,  and  even,  as  it  seemed,  with  kindness. 
There  was  then  a  dead  pause,  during  which  Lindesay  looked 
towards  the  door,  as  if  expecting  with  impatience  the  col- 
league of  their  embassy.  The  Queen  alone  was  entirely  un- 
embarrassed, and,  as  if  to  break  the  silence,  she  addressed 
Lord  Lindesay,  with  a  glance  at  the  large  and  cumbrous 
sword  which  he  wore,  as  already  mentioned,  hanging  from 
his  neck. 

"  You  have  there  a  trusty  and  a  weighty  traveling  com- 
panion, my  lord.  I  trust  you  expected  to  meet  with  no 
enemy  here,  against  whom  such  a  formidable  weapon  could 
be  necessary  ?  It  is,  methinks,  somewhat  a  singular  orna- 
ment for  a  court,  though  I  am,  as  I  was  need  to  be,  too 
much  of  a  Stuart  to  fear  a  sword." 

'*  It  is  not  the  first  time,  madam,"  replied  Lindesay, 
bringing  around  the  weapon  so  as  to  rest  its  point  on  the 
ground,  and  leaning  one  hand  on  the  huge  cross-handle— 
'*it  is  not  the  first  time  that  this  weapon  has  intruded  it- 
self into  the  presence  of  the  house  of  Stuart." 

''  Possibly,  my  lord,"  replied  the  Queen,  "  it  may  have 
done  service  to  my  ancestors.  Your  ancestors  were  men  oi 
loyalty.*' 


220  WA  VERLEY  NO  VEL3 

"Ay,  madam/'  replied  lie,  ''service  it  hath  done;  but 
such  as  kings  love  neither  to  acknowledge  nor  to  reward. 
It  was  the  service  which  the  knife  renders  to  the  tree  when 
trimming  it  to  the  quick,  and  depriving  it  of  the  superfluous 
growth  of  rank  and  unfruitful  suckers,  which  rob  it  of 
nourishment/' 

"■  You  talk  riddles,  my  lord,"  said  Mary;  "  I  will  hope 
the  explanation  carries  nothing  insulting  with  it." 

"  You  shall  judge,  madam,"  answered  Lindesay.  "  With 
this  good  sword  was  Archibald  Douglas,  Earl  of  Angus, 
girded  on  the  memorable  day  when  he  acquired  the  name  of 
Bell-the-Oat,  for  dragging  from  the  presence  of  your  great- 
grandfather, the  third  James  of  the  race,  a  crew  of  minions, 
flatterers,  and  favorites,  whom  he  hanged  over  the  bridge 
of  Lauder,  as  a  warning  to  such  reptiles  how  they  approach 
a  Scottish  throne.  With  this  same  weapon,  the  same  in- 
flexible champion  of  Scottish  honor  and  nobility  slew  at  one 
blow  Spens  of  Kilspindie,  a  courtier  of  vour  grandfather, 
James  the  Fourth,  who  had  dared  to  speak  lightlv  of  him  in 
the  royal  presence.  They  fought  near  the  brook  of  Fala  ; 
and  Bell-the-Oat,  with  this  blade,  sheared  through  the  thigh 
of  his  opponent,  and  lopped  the  limb  as  easily  as  a  shepherd's 
boy  slices  a  twig  from  a  sapling." 

'*  My  lord,"  replied  the  Queen,  reddening,  **my  nerves 
are  too  good  to  be  alarmed  even  by  this  terrible  history. 
May  I  ask  how  a  blade  so  illustrious  passed  from  the  house 
of  Douglas  to  that  of  Lindesay  ?  Methinks  it  should  have 
been  preserved  as  a  consecrated  relic  by  a  family  who  have 
held  all  that  tliey  could  do  against  their  king  to  be  done  in 
favor  of  their  country." 

*'  Nay,  madam,"  said  Melville,  anxiously  interfering, 
"  ask  not  that  question  of  Lord  Lindesay.  And  you,  my 
lord,  for  shanie — for  decency,  forbear  to  reply  to  it." 

"  It  is  time  that  this  lady  should  hear  the  truth,"  replied 
Lindesay. 

''And  be  assured,"  said  the  Queen,  *' that  she  will  be 
moved  to  anger  by  none  that  you  can  tell  her,  my  lord. 
There  are  cases  in  which  just  scorn  has  always  the  mastery 
over  just  anger." 

"Then  know,"  said  Lindesay,  **that  upon  the  field  of 
Carberry  Hill,  when  that  false  and  infamous  traitor  and 
murderer,  James,  sometime  Earl  of  Both  well,  and  nick- 
named Duke  of  Orkney,  offered  to  do  personal  battle  with 
any  of  the  associated  nobles  who  came  to  drag  him  to  jus- 
tice^ I  acoepted  his  challenge^  and  was  by  the  noble  Earl  ol 


TEE  ABBOT 


221 


Morton  gifted  with  his  good  sword  that  I  might  therewith 
fight  it  out.  Ah  I  so  help  me  Heaven,  had  his  presumption 
been  one  grain  more,  or  his  cowardice  one  grain  less,  I  should 
have  done  such  work  with  this  good  steel  on  his  traitorous 
corpse  that  the  hounds  and  carrion-crows  should  have  found 
their  morsels  daintily  carved  to  their  use !" 

The  Queen's  courage  wellnigh  gave  way  at  the  mention  of 
BothwelFs  name — a  name  connected  with  such  a  train  of 
guilt,  shame,  and  disaster.  But  the  prolonged  boast  of 
Lindesay  gave  her  time  to  rally  herself,  and  to  answer  with 
an  appearance  of  cold  contempt — "  It  is  easy  to  slay  an 
enemy  who  enters  not  the  lists.  But  had  Mary  Stuart  in- 
herited her  father's  sword  as  well  as  his  scepter,  the  boldest 
Df  her  rebels  should  not  upon  that  day  have  complained  that 
they  had  no  one  to  cope  withal.  Your  lordship  will  forgive 
me  if  I  abridge  this  conference.  A  brief  description  of  a 
bloody  fight  is  long  enough  to  satisfy  a  lady's  curiosity ;  and 
unless  my  Lord  of  Lindesay  has  something  more  important 
to  tell  us  than  of  the  deeds  which  old  Bell-the-Cat  achieved, 
and  how  he  would  himself  have  emulated  them,  had  time 
and  tide  permitted,  we  will  retire  to  our  private  apartment ; 
and  you,  Fleming,  shall  finish  reading  to  us  yonder  little 
treatise i>e5  Rodomontades  Espagnolles." 

^'  Tarry,  madam,''  said  Lindesay,  his  complexion  redden- 
ing in  his  turn  ;  ^'  I  know  your  quick  wit  too  well  of  old  to 
have  sought  an  interview  that  you  might  sharpen  its  edge  at 
the  expense  of  my  honor.  Lord  Ruthven  and  myself,  with 
Sir  Robert  Melville  as  a  concurrent,  come  to  your  Grace  on 
the  part  of  the  secret  council,  to  tender  to  you  what  much 
concerns  the  safety  of  your  own  life  and  the  welfare  of  the 
state." 

*'  The  secret  council !  "  said  the  Queen.  "  By  what 
powers  can  it  subsist  or  act,  while  I,  from  whom  it  holds  its 
character,  am  here  detained  under  unjust  restraint  ?  But 
it  matters  not  :  what  concerns  the  welfare  of  Scotland  shall 
be  acceptable  to  Mary  Stuart,  come  from  whatever  quarter 
it  will  ;  and  for  what  concerns  her  own  life,  she  has  lived 
long  enough  to  be  weary  of  it,  even  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
five.     Where  is  your  colleague,  my  lord ;  why  tarries  he  ?  " 

*'  He  comes,  madam,"  said  Melville,  and  Lord  Ruthven 
entered  at  the  instant,  holding  in  his  hand  a  packet.  As 
the  Queen  returned  his  salutation,  she  became  deadly  pale, 
bnt  instantly  recovered  herself  by  dint  of  strong  and  sudden 
resolution,  just  as  the  noble,  whose  appearance  seemed  to 
excite  such  emotions  in  her  bosom,  entered  the  apartment 


222  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

in  company  with  George  Douglas,  the  youngest  son  of  the 
Knight  of  Lochleven,  who,  during  the  absence  of  his  father 
and  brethren,  acted  as  seneschal  of  the  castle,  under  the 
direction  of  the  elder  Lady  Lochleyen^  his  father's  mother. 


CHAPTER  XXn 

I  give  this  heavy  weight  from  off  my  head. 
And  this  unwieldy  scepter  from  my  hand  ; 
With  mine  own  tears  I  wash  away  my  balm. 
With  m^  own  hand  I  give  away  my  crown, 
With  mine  own  tongue  deny  my  sacred  state, 
With  mine  own  breath  release  all  duteous  oaths. 

Richard  H, 

Lord  Ruthven"  had  the  look  and  bearing  which  became  a 
soldier  and  a  statesman,  and  the  martial  cast  of  his  form  and 
features  procured  him  the  popular  epithet  of  Greystil,  by 
which  he  was  distinguished  by  his  intimates,  after  the  hero 
of  a  metrical  romance  then  generally  known.  His  dress, 
which  was  a  buff  coat  embroidered,  had  a  half-military  char- 
acter, but  exhibited  nothing  of  the  sordid  negligence  which 
distinguished  that  of  Lindesay.  But  the  son  of  an  ill-fated 
sire,  and  the  father  of  a  yet  more  unfortunate  family,  bore 
in  his  look  that  cast  of  inauspicious  melancholy  by  which  the 
physiognomists  of  that  time  pretended  to  distinguish  those 
who  were  predestined  to  a  violent  and  unhappy  death. 

The  terror  which  the  presence  of  this  nobleman  impressed 
on  the  Queen's  mind  arose  from  the  active  share  he  had  borne 
in  the  slaughter  of  David  Rizzio  ;  his  father  having  presided 
at  the  perpetration  of  that  abominable  crime,  although  so 
weak  from  long  and  wasting  illness  that  he  could  not  endure 
the  weight  of  his  armor,  having  arisen  from  a  sick-bed  to 
commit  a  murder  in  the  presence  of  his  sovereign.  On  that 
occasion  his  son  also  had  attended  and  taken  an  active  part. 
It  was  little  to  be  wondered  at  that  the  Queen,  considering 
her  condition  when  such  a  deed  of  horror  was  acted  in  her 
presence,  should  retain  an  instinctive  terror  for  the  principal 
actors  in  the  murder.  She  returned,  however,  with  grace 
the  salutation  of  Lord  Ruthven,  and  extended  her  hand  to 
George  Douglas,  who  kneeled  and  kissed  it  with  respect — 
the  first  mark  of  a  subject's  homage  which  Roland  Graeme 
had  seen  any  of  them  render  to  the  captive  sovereig^n.  She 
returned  his  greeting  in  silence,  and  there  was  a  brief  pause, 
during  which  the  steward  of  the  castle,  a  man  of  a  sad  brow 
and  a  severe  eye,  placed,  under  George  Douglas's  directions. 


224  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

a  table  and  writing  materials  ;  and  the  page,  obedient  to 
his  mistress's  dumb  signal,  advanced  a  large  chair  to  the 
fiide  on  which  the  Queen  stood,  the  table  thus  forming  a 
sort  of  bar  which  divided  the  Queen  and  her  personal  fol- 
lowers from  her  unwelcome  visitors.  The  steward  then  with- 
drew, after  a  low  reverence.  When  he  had  closed  the  door 
behind  him,  the  Queen  broke  silence.  "  With  favor,  my 
lords,  I  will  sit ;  my  walks  are  not  indeed  extensive  enough 
at  present  to  fatigue  me  greatly,  yet  I  find  repose  something 
more  necessary  than  usual.'' 

She  sat  down  accordingly,  and,  shading  her  cheek  with 
her  beautiful  hand,  looked  keenly  and  impressively  at  each  of 
the  nobles  in  turn.  Mary  Fleming  applied  her  kerchief  to 
her  eyes,  and  Catherine  Sey  ton  and  Roland  Graeme  exchanged 
a  glance,  which  showed  that  both  were  too  deeply  engrossed 
with  sentiments  of  interest  and  commiseration  for  their 
royal  mistress  to  think  of  anything  which  regarded  them- 
selves. 

''  I  wait  the  purpose  of  your  mission,  my  lords,"  said  the 
Queen,  after  she  had  been  seated  for  about  a  minute  with- 
out a  word  being  spoken — '^  I  wait  your  message  from  those 
you  call  the  secret  council.  I  trust  it  is  a  petition  of  par- 
don, and  a  desire  that  I  will  resume  my  rightful  throne, 
without  using  with  due  severity  my  right  of  punishing  those 
who  have  dispossessed  me  of  it  ?  '* 

*'  Madam,''  replied  Ruthven,  "  it  is  painful  for  us  to  speak 
harsh  truths  to  a  princess  who  has  long  ruled  us.  But  we 
come  to  offer,  not  to  implore,  pardon.  In  a  word,  madam, 
we  have  to  propose  to  you,  on  the  part  of  the  secret  council, 
that  you  sign  these  deeds,  which  will  contribute  greatly  to 
the  pacification  of  the  state,  the  advancement  of  God's  AVord, 
and  the  welfare  of  your  own  future  life." 

^'  Am  I  expected  to  take  these  fair  words  on  trust,  my 
lord  ?  or  may  I  hear  the  contents  of  these  reconciling  papers 
ere  I  am  asked  to  sign  them  ?  " 

"  Unquestionably,  madam  ;  it  is  our  purpose  and  wish 
you  should  read  what  you  are  required  to  sign,"  replied 
Ruthven. 

''Required?"  replied  the  Queen,  with  some  emphasis, 
"but  the  phrase  suits  well  the  matter.     Read,  my  lord." 

The  Lord  Ruthven  proceeded  to  read  a  formal  instru- 
ment running  in  the  Queen's  name,  and  setting  forth  that 
she  had  been  called,  at  an  early  age,  to  the  administration 
of  the  crown  and  realm  of  Scotland,  and  had  toiled  diligently 
therein,  until  she  was  in  body  and  spirit  so  Trearied  out  and 


THE  ABBOT  225 

disgusted  that  she  was  unable  any  longer  to  endure  the  trav- 
ail and  pain  of  state  affairs ;  and  that,  since  God  had 
blessed  her  with  a  fair  and  hopeful  son,  she  was  desirous  to 
ensure  to  him,  even  while  she  yet  lived,  his  succession  to  the 
crown,  which  was  his  by  right  of  hereditary  descent. 
'^  Wherefore,''  the  instrument  proceeded,  ''we,  of  the 
motherly  affection  we  bear  to  our  said  son,  have  renounced 
and  demitted,  and,  by  these  our  letters  of  free  good-will,  re- 
nounce and  demit,  the  crown,  government,  and  guiding  of 
the  realm  of  Scotland,  in  favor  of  our  said  son,  that  he  may 
succeed  to  us  as  native  prince  thereof,  as  much  as  if  we  had 
been  removed  by  disease,  and  not  by  our  own  proper  act. 
And  that  this  dismission  of  our  royal  authority  may  have  the 
more  full  and  solemn  effect,  and  none  pretend  ignorance, 
we  give,  grant,  and  commit  full  and  free  and  plain  power  to 
our  trusty  cousins.  Lord  Lindesay  of  the  Byres  and  William 
Lord  Ruthven,  to  appear  in  our  name  before  as  many  of  the 
nobility,  clergy,  and  burgesses  as  may  be  assembled  at  Stirl- 
ing, and  there,  in  our  name  and  behalf,  publicly,  and  in 
their  presence,  to  renounce  the  crown,  guidance,  and  govern- 
ment of  this  our  kingdom  of  Scotland.'' 

The  Queen  here  broke  in  with  an  air  of  extreme  surprise. 

*'  How  is  this,  my  lords  ? ''  she  said;  *'  Are  my  ears 
turned  rebels,  that  they  deceive  me  with  sounds  so  extra- 
ordinary ?  And  yet  it  is  no  wonder  that,  having  conversed 
so  long  with  rebelion,  they  should  now  force  its  language 
upon  my  understanding.  Say  I  am  mistaken,  my  lords 
— say,  for  the  honor  of  yourselves  and  the  Scottish  nobility, 
that  my  right  trusty  cousins  of  Lindesay  and  Euthven,  two 
barons  of  warlike  fame  and  ancient  line,  have  not  sought  the 
prison-house  of  their  kind  mistress  for  such  a  purpose  as 
these  words  seem  to  imply.  Say,  for  the  sake  of  honor  and 
loyalty,  that  my  ears  have  deceived  me." 

''No,  madam,"  said  Ruthven,  gravely,  "your  ears  do  not 
deceive  you  ;  they  deceived  you  when  they  were  closed 
against  the  preachers  of  the  Evangel,  and  the  honest  advice 
of  your  faithful  subjects ;  and  when  they  were  ever  open  to 
flattery  of  pickthanks  and  traitors,  foreign  cubiculars  and 
domestic  minions.  The  land  may  no  longer  brook  the  rule 
of  one  who  cannot  rule  herself ;  wherefore  I  pray  you  to 
comply  with  the  last  remaining  wish  of  your  subjects  and 
counselors,  and  spare  yourself  and  us  the  further  agitation 
of  matters  so  painful." 

"And  is  this  all  my  loving  subjects  require  of  me,  my 
lord?"  said  Mary,  in  a  tone  of  bitter  irony.  "Do  thej? 
15 


f 26  M  A  VERLEY  iVO  VELS 

really  stint  themselves  to  the  easy  boon  that  I  should  yield 
up  the  crown,  which  is  mine  by  birthright,  to  an  infant 
which  is  scarcely  more  than  a  year  old ;  fling  down  my 
scepter,  and  take  up  a  distaff  ?  0  no  !  it  is  too  little  for 
them  to  ask.  That  other  roll  of  parchment  contains  some- 
thing harder  to  be  compiled  with,  and  which  may  more 
highly  tax  my  readiness  to  comply  with  the  petitions  of  my 
lieges." 

*'  This  parchment,^'  answered  Ruthven,  in  the  same  tone 
of  inflexible  gravity,  and  unfolding  the  instrument  as  hr 
spoke,  **is  one  by  which  your  Grace  constitutes  your  nearest 
in  blood,  and  the  most  honorable  and  trustworthy  of  your 
subjects,  James  Earl  of  Murray,  regent  of  the  kingdom  dur- 
ing the  minority  of  the  young  King.  He  already  holds  the 
appointment  from  the  secret  council.'^ 

The  Queen  gave  a  sort  of  shriek,  and  clapping  her  hands 
together,  exclaimed,  **  Comes  the  arrow  out  of  his  quiver  ? 
— out  of  my  brother's  bow  ?  Alas  !  I  looked  for  his  return 
from  France  as  my  sole,  at  least  my  readiest,  chance  of  de- 
liverance. And  yet,  when  I  heard  that  he  had  assumed  the 
government,  I  guessed  he  would  shame  to  wield  it  in  my 
name." 

"  I  must  pray  your  answer,  madam,"  said  Lord  Ruthven, 
"to  the  demand  of  the  council." 

*' The  demand  of  the  council!"  said  the  Queen  ;  ''say 
rather  the  demand  of  a  set  of  robbers,  impatient  to  divide 
the  spoil  they  have  seized.  To  such  a  demand,  and  sent  by 
the  mouth  of  a  traitor,  whose  scalp,  but  for  my  womanish 
mercy,  should  long  since  have  stood  on  the  city  gates,  Mary 
of  Scotland  has  no  answer." 

''I  trust,  madam,"  said  Lord  Ruthven,  *'my  being  unac- 
ceptable to  your  presence  will  not  add  to  your  obduracy  of 
resolution.  It  may  become  you  to  remember  that  th«  death 
of  the  minion,  Rizzio,  cost  the  house  of  Ruthven  its  head 
and  leader.  My  father,  more  worthy  than  a  whole  province 
of  such  vile  sycophants,  died  in  exile,  and  broken-hearted.'' 

The  Queen  clasped  her  hands  on  her  face,  and,  resting  her 
arms  on  the  table,  stooped  down  her  head  and  wept  so 
bitterly  that  the  tears  were  seen  to  find  their  way  in  streams 
between  the  white  and  slender  fingers  with  which  she  en- 
deavored to  conceal  them. 

"  My  lords,"  said  Sir  Robert  Melville,  '*  this  is  too  much 
rigor.  Under  yonr  lordships'  favor,  we  came  hither,  not 
to  revive  old  griefs,  but  to  find  the  mode  of  avoiding  new 


I 


THE  ABBOT  227 

"  Sir  Robert  Melville/*  said  Euthven,  "  we  best  know  for 
what  purpose  we  were  delegated  hither,  and  wherefore  you 
were  somewhat  unnecessarily  sent  to  attend  us." 

"  Nay,  by  my  hand,"  said  Lord  Lindesay,  '*  I  know  not 
why  we  were  cumbered  with  the  good  knight,  unless  he 
comes  in  place  of  the  lump  of  sugar  which  pothicars  put 
into  their  wholesome  but  bitter  medicaments,  to  please  a 
froward  child — a  needless  labor,  methinks,  where  men  have 
the  means  to  make  them  swallow  the  physic  otherwise." 

"  Nay,  my  lords,"  said  Melville,  *'  ye  best  know  your  own 
secret  instructions.  I  conceive  I  shall  best  obey  mine  in 
striving  to  mediate  between  her  Grace  and  you." 

**  Be  silent.  Sir  Robert  Melville,"  said  the  Queen,  arising, 
and  her  face  still  glowing  with  agitation  as  she  spoke.  ''  My 
kerchief,  Fleming  ;  I  shame  that  traitors  should  have  power 
to  move  me  thus.  Tell  me,  proud  lords,"  she  added,  wiping 
away  the  tears  as  she  spoke,  *^  by  what  earthly  warrant  can 
liege  subjects  pretend  to  challenge  the  rights  of  an  anointed 
sovereign,  to  throw  off  the  allegiance  they  have  vowed,  and 
to  take  away  the  crown  from  the  head  on  which  Divine 
warrant  had  placed  it  ?  " 

**  Madam,"  said  Ruthven,  *'I  will  deal  plainly  with  you. 
Your  reign,  from  the  dismal  field  of  Pinkie  Cleuch,  when 
you  were  a  babe  in  the  cradle,  till  now  that  ye  stand  a  grown 
dame  before  us,  hath  been  such  a  tragedy  of  losses,  disasters, 
civil  dissensions,  and  foreign  wars  that  the  like  is  not  to  be 
found  in  our  chronicles.  The  French  and  English  have, 
with  one  consent,  made  Scotland  the  battlefield  on  which  to 
fight  out  their  own  ancient  quarrel.  For  ourselves,  every 
man's  hand  hath  been  against  his  brother,  nor  hath  a  year 
passed  over  without  rebellion  and  slaughter,  exile  of  nobles, 
and  oppressing  of  the  commons.  We  may  endure  it  no 
longer  ;  and,  therefore,  as  a  prince  to  whom  God  hath 
refused  the  gift  of  hearkening  to  wise  counsel,  and  on  whose 
dealings  and  projects  no  blessing  hath  ever  descended,  we 

f)ray  you  to  give  way  to  other  rule  and  governance  of  the 
and,  that  a  remnant  may  yet  be  saved  to  this  distracted 
l-ealm." 

"  My  lord,"  said  Mary,  "  it  seems  to  me  that  you  fling  on 
my  unnappy  and  devoted  head  those  evils  which,  with  far 
more  justice,  I  may  impute  to  your  own  turbulent,  wild, 
and  untamable  dispositions  :  the  frantic  violence  with  which 
you,  the  magnates  of  Scotland,  enter  into  feuds  against  each 
other,  sticking  at  no  cruelty  to  gratify  your  wrath,  taking 
deep  reyenge  for  the  slightest  offenses,  and  setting  at  defi- 


228  WAV EBLET  NOVELS 

ance  those  wise  laws  which  your  ancestors  made  for  stanch- 
ing of  such  cruelty,  rebelling  against  the  lawful  authority, 
and  bearing  yourselves  as  if  there  were  no  king  in  the  land, 
or  rather  as  if  each  were  king  in  his  own  premises.  And 
now  you  throw  the  blame  on  met — on  me,  whose  life  has  been 
embittered — whose  sleep  has  been  broken — whose  happiness 
has  been  wrecked,  by  your  dissensions.  Have  I  not  myself 
been  obliged  to  traverse  wilds  and  mountains,  at  the  head  of 
a  few  faithful  followers,  to  maintain  peace  and  to  put  down 
oppression  ?  Have  I  not  worn  harness  on  my  person,  and 
carried  pistols  at  my  saddle ;  fain  to  lay  aside  the  softness  of 
a  woman,  and  the  dignity  of  a  queen,  that  I  might  show  an 
example  to  my  followers  ?  " 

'*We  grant,  madam/'  said  Lindesay,  ''that  the  affrays 
occasioned  by  your  misgovernment  may  sometimes  have 
startled  you  in  the  midst  of  a  masque  or  galliard  ;  or  it  may 
be  that  such  may  have  interrupted  the  idolatry  of  the  mass, 
or  the  Jesuitical  counsels  of  some  French  ambassador.  But 
the  longest  and  severest  journey  which  your  Grace  has  taken 
in  my  memory  was  from  Hawick  to  Hermitage  Gastle  ;  and 
whether  it  was  for  the  weal  of  the  etate,  or  for  your  own 
honor,  rests  with  your  Grace's  conscience."" 

The  Queen  turned  to  him  with  inexpressible  sweetness  of 
tone  and  manner,  and  that  engaging  look  which  Heaven 
had  assigned  her,  as  if  to  show  that  the  choicest  arts  to  win 
men's  affections  may  be  given  in  vain.  ''  Lindesay,"  she 
said,  ''  you  spoke  not  to  me  in  this  stern  tone,  and  with 
such  scurril  taunt,  yon  fair  summer  evening,  when  you  and 
I  shot  at  the  butts  against  the  Earl  of  Mar  and  Mary  Living- 
stone, and  won  of  them  the  evening's  collation,  in  the  privy 
garden  of  St.  Andrews.  The  Master  of  Lindesay  was  then 
my  friend,  and  vowed  to  be  my  soldier.  How  I  have  of- 
fended the  Lord  of  Lindesay  I  know  not,  unless  honors  have 
changed  manners." 

Hard-hearted  as  he  was,  Lindesay  seemed  struck  with  this 
unexpected  appeal,  but  almost  instantly  replied,  "  Madam, 
it  is  well  known  that  your  Grace  could  in  those  days  make 
fools  of  whomever  approached  you.  1  pretend  not  to  have 
been  wiser  than  others.  But  gayer  men  and  better  courtiers 
soon  jostled  aside  my  rude  homage,  and  I  think  your  Grace 
cannot  but  remember  times  when  my  awkward  attempts  to 
take  the  manners  that  pleased  you  were  the  sport  of  the 
court  popinjays,  the  Maries  and  the  Frenchwomen." 

''  My  lord,  I  grieve  if  I  have  offended  you  through  idle 
gaiety,"  said  the  Queen,  "  and  can  but  say  it  was  most  unwit- 


I 


THE  ABBOT  229 

fcingly  done.  You  are  fully  revenged  ;  for  through  gaiety," 
she  said  with  a  sigh,  '^will  I  never  offend  any  one  more." 

"  Our  time  is  wasting,  madam,"  said  Lord  Ruthven  ;  ''  I 
must  pray  your  decision  on  this  weighty  matter  which  I  have 
submitted  to  you." 

*^What,  my  lord!  "said  the  Queen,  **upon  the  instant, 
and  without  a  moment^s  time  to  deliberate  ?  Can  the 
council,  as  they  term  themselves,  expect  this  of  me  ?" 

'^  Madam,"  replied  Ruthven,  "  the  council  hold  the  opinion 
that,  since  the  fatal  term  which  passed  betwixt  the  night  of 
King  Henry's  murder  and  the  day  of  Carberry  Hill,  your 
Grace  should  have  held  you  prepared  for  the  measure  now 
proposed,  as  the  easiest  escape  from  your  numerous  dangers 
and  difficulties." 

"  Great  God  !  "  exclaimed  the  Queen  ;  '^  and  is  it  as  a  boon 
that  you  propose  to  me,  what  every  Christian  king  ought  to 
regard  as  a  loss  of  honor  equal  to  the  loss  of  life  !  You  take 
from  me  my  crown,  my  power,  my  subjects,  my  wealth,  my 
state.  What,  in  the  name  of  every  saint,  can  you  offer,  or 
do  you  offer,  in  requital  of  my  compliance  ?  " 

a  We  give  you  pardon,"  answered  Ruthven,  sternly  ;  ''we 
give  you  space  and  means  to  spend  your  remaining  life  in 
penitence  and  seclusion  ;  we  give  you  time  to  make  your 
peace  with  Heaven,  and  to  receive  the  pure  Gospel,  which 
you  have  ever  rejected  and  persecuted." 

The  Queen  turned  pale  at  the  menace  which  this  speech, 
as  well  as  the  rough  and  inflexible  tones  of  the  speaker, 
seemed  distinctly  to  infer.  **  And  if  I  do  not  comply  with 
your  request  so  fiercely  urged,  my  lord,  what  then  follows  ?" 

She  said  this  in  a  voice  in  which  female  and  natural  fear 
was  contending  with  the  feelings  of  insulted  dignity.  There 
was  a  pause,  as  if  no  one  cared  to  return  to  the  question  a 
distinct  answer.  At  length  Ruthven  spoke.  ''  There  is  little 
need  to  tell  to  your  Grace,  who  are  well  read  both  in  the  laws 
and  in  the  chronicles  of  the  realm,  that  murder  and  adultery 
are  crimes  for  which  ere  now  queens  themselves  have  suffered 
death." 

''And  where,  my  lord,  or  how,  found  you  an  accusation 
so  horrible  against  her  who  stands  before  you  ?  "  said  Queen 
Mary.  "  The  foul  and  odious  calumnies  which  have  poisoned 
the  general  mind  of  Scotland,  and  have  placed  me  a  helpless 
prisoner  in  your  hands,  are  surely  no  proof  of  guilt  ?  " 

"We  need  look  for  no  further  proof,"  replied  the  stern 
Lord  Ruthven,  "  than  the  shameless  marriage  betwixt  the 
widow  of  the  murdered  and  the  leader  of  the  band  of  mur- 


m  WA  VERLET  NOVELS 

derers  !  They  that  joined  hands  in  the  fated  month  of  May 
had  already  united  hearts  and  counsel  in  the  deed  which 
preceeded  that  marriage  but  a  few  brief  weeks/' 

*' My  lord — my  lord,"  said  the  Queen,  eagerly,  **  remem- 
ber well  there  were  more  consents  than  mine  to  that  fatal 
union — that  most  unhappy  act  of  a  most  unhappy  life.  The 
evil  steps  ador)ted  by  sovereigns  are  often  the  suggestion  of 
bad  counselors  ;  but  these  counselors  are  worse  than  fiends 
who  tempt  and  betray,  if  they  themselves  are  the  first  to  call 
their  unfortunate  princes  to  answer  for  the  consequences  of 
their  own  advice.  Heard  ye  never  of  a  bond  by  the  nobles, 
my  lords,  recommending  that  ill-fated  union  to  the  ill-fated 
Mary  ?  Methinks,  were  it  carefully  examined,  we  should  see 
that  the  names  of  Morton,  and  of  Lindesay,  and  of  Ruthven 
may  be  found  in  that  bond,  which  pressed  me  to  marry  that 
unhappy  man.  Ah  !  stout  and  loyal  Lord  Herries,  who 
never  knew  guile  or  dishonor,  you  bent  your  noble  knee  to 
me  in  vain,  to  warn  me  of  my  danger,  and  wert  yet  the  first 
to  draw  thy  good  sword  in  my  cause  when  I  suffered  for 
neglecting  thy  counsel !  Faithful  knight  and  true  noble, 
what  a  difference  betwixt  thee  and  those  counselors  of  evil 
who  now  threaten  my  life  for  having  fallen  into  the  snares 
they  spread  for  me  !  '* 

**  Madam,"  said  Ruthven,  "  we  know  that  you  are  an 
orator  ;  and  perhaps  for  that  reason  the  council  has  sent 
hither  men  whose  converse  hath  been  more  with  the  wars 
than  with  the  language  of  the  schools  or  the  cabals  of  state. 
We  but  desire  to  know  if,  on  assurance  of  life  and  honor,  ye 
will  demit  the  rule  of  this  kingdom  of  Scotland  ?  " 

*'  And  what  warrant  have  t"  said  the  Queen,  *'  that  ye 
will  keep  that  treaty  with  me,  if  I  should  barter  my  kingly 
estate  for  seclusion  and  leave  to  weep  in  secret  ?  " 

**  Our  honor  and  our  word,  madam,"  answered  Ruthven. 

**  They  are  too  slight  and  unsolid  pledges,  my  lord,"  said 
the  Queen  ;  "  add  at  least  a  handful  of  thistle-down  to  give 
them  weight  in  the  balance." 

^'  Away,  Ruthven,"  said  Lindesay  ;  '*  she  was  ever  deaf  to 
counsel,  save  of  slaves  and  sycophants  :  let  her  remain  by 
her  refusal,  and  abide  by  it  ! " 

**Stay,  my  lord,"  said  Sir  Robert  Melville,  ''or  rather 
permit  me  to  have  but  a  few  minutes'  private  audience  with 
her  Grace.  If  my  presence  with  you  could  avail  aught,  it 
must  be  as  a  mediator ;  do  not,  I  conjure  you,  leave  the 
castle,  or  break  off  the  conference,  until  I  bring  you  word 
how  her  Grace  shall  finally  stand  disposed." 


THE  ABBOT  281 

*'  We  will  remain  in  the  hall,"  said  Lindesay,  *'  for  half 
an  hour's  space  ;  but  in  despising  our  words  and  our  pledge 
of  honor,  she  has  touched  the  honor  of  my  name  :  let  her 
look  herself  to  the  course  she  has  to  pursue.  If  the  half- 
hour  should  pass  away  without  her  determining  to  comply 
with  the  demands  of  the  nation,  her  career  will  be  brief 
enough." 

With  little  ceremony  the  two  nobles  left  the  apartment, 
traversed  the  vestibule,  and  descended  tlie  winding  stairs, 
the  clash  of  Lindesay's  huge  sword  being  heard  as  it  rang 
against  each  step  in  his  descent.  George  Douglas  followed 
them,  after  exchanging  with  Melville  a  gesture  of  surprise 
and  sympathy. 

As  soon  as  they  were  gone,  the  Queen,  giving  way  to  grief, 
fear,  and  agitation,  threw  herself  into  the  seat,  wrung  her 
hands,  and  seemed  to  abandon  herself  to  despair.  Her  fe- 
male attendants,  weeping  themselves,  endeavored  yet  to 
pray  her  to  be  composed,  and  Sir  Robert  Melville,  kneeling  at 
her  feet,  made  the  same  entreaty.  After  giving  way  to  a 
passionate  burst  of  sorrow,  she  at  length  said  to  Melville, 
"  Kneel  not  to  me,  Melville — mock  me  not  with  the  homage 
of  the  person,  when  the  heart  is  far  away.  Why  stay  you 
behind  with  the  deposed — the  condemned  ? — her  who  has 
but  few  hours  perchance  to  live  ?  You  have  been  favored 
as  well  as  the  rest ;  why  do  you  continue  the  empty  show  of 
gratitude  and  thankfulness  any  longer  than  they  ?^' 

**  Madam,"  said  Sir  Robert  Melville,  '*so  help  me  Heaven 
at  my  need,  my  heart  is  as  true  to  you  as  when  you  were  in 
your  highest  place." 

"True  to  me ! — true  to  me  !"  repeated  the  Queen,  with 
some  scorn  ;  *'  tush,  Melville,  what  signifies  the  truth  which 
walks  hand  in  hand  with  my  enemies'  falsehood  ?  Thy 
hand  and  thy  sword  have  never  been  so  well  acquainted  that 
I  can  trust  thee  in  aught  where  manhood  is  required.  0, 
Seyton,  for  thy  bold  father,  who  is  both  wise,  true,  and 
valiant ! " 

Roland  Graeme  could  withstand  no  longer  his  earnest  de- 
sire to  offer  his  services  to  a  princess  so  distressed  and  so 
beautiful.  '*lf  one  sword,"  he  said,  "madam,  can  do  any- 
thing to  back  the  wisdom  of  this  grave  counselor,  or  to  de- 
fend your  rightful  cause,  here  is  my  weapon,  and  here  is  my 
hand  ready  to  draw  and  use  it."  And  raising  his  sword  with 
one  hand,  he  laid  the  other  upon  the  hilt. 

As  he  thus  held  up  the  weapon,  Catherine  Seyton  ex- 
claimed, "  Methinks  1  see  a  token  from  my  father,  madam  ;" 


232  WAVERLET  NOVELS 

and  immediately  crossing  the  apartment,  she  took  Roland 
Graeme  by  the  skirt  of  the  cloak,  and  asked  him  earnestly 
whence  he  had  that  sword. 

"  The  page  answered  with  surprise,  ''  Methinks  this  is  no 
presence  in  which  to  jest.  Surely,  damsel,  you  yourself  best 
know  whence  and  how  I  obtained  the  weapon." 

*^  Is  this  a  time  for  folly  ?  "  said  Catherine  Seyton.  ''  Un- 
sheathe the  sword  instantly  !  " 

^'  If  the  Queen  commands  me,"  said  the  youth,  looking 
towards  his  royal  mistress. 

*'  For  shame,  maiden  !"  said  the  Queen  ;  "  wouldst  thou 
instigate  the  poor  boy  to  enter  into  useless  strife  with  the 
two  most  approved  soldiers  in  Scotland  ?  " 

^*In  your  Grace's  cause,"  replied  the  page,  '*  I  will  ven- 
ture my  life  upon  them  ! "  And  as  he  spoke  he  drew  his 
weapon  partly  from  the  sheath,  and  a  piece  of  parchment, 
rolled  around  the  blade,  fell  out  and  dropped  on  the  floor. 

Catherine  Seyton  caught  it  up  with  eager  haste.  '^  It  is 
my  father's  handwriting,"  she  said,  **  and  doubtless  conveys 
his  best  duteous  advice  to  your  Majesty  ;  I  knew  that  it  was 
prepared  to  be  sent  in  this  weapon,  but  I  expected  another 
messenger." 

"By  my  faith,  fair  one,"  thought  Roland,  "and  if  you 
knew  not  that  I  had  such  a  secret  missive  about  me,  I  was 
yet  more  ignorant." 

The  Queen  cast  her  eye  upon  the  scroll,  and  remained  a 
few  minutes  wrapped  in  deep  thought.  "  Sir  Robert  Mel- 
ville," she  at  length  said,  "  this  scroll  advises  me  to  submit 
myseli  to  necessity,  and  to  subscribe  the  deeds  these  hard 
men  have  brought  with  them,  as  one  who  gives  way  to  the 
natural  fear  inspired  by  the  threats  of  rebels  and  murderers. 
You,  Sir  Robert,  are  a  wise  man,  and  Seyton  is  both  saga- 
cious and  brave.  Neither,  I  think,  would  mislead  ms  in  this 
matter." 

"  Madam,"  said  Melville,  "  if  I  have  not  the  strength  of 
body  of  the  Lords  Herries  or  Seyton,  I  will  yield  to  neither 
in  zeal  for  your  Majesty's  service.  I  cannot  fight  for  you  like 
these  lords,  but  neither  of  them  is  more  willing  to  die  for 
your  service." 

"I  believe  it,  my  old  and  faithful  counselor,"  said  the 
Queen,  "and  believe  me,  Melville,  I  did  thee  but  a  moment's 
injustice.  Read  what  my  Lord  Seyton  hath  written  to  us, 
and  give  us  thy  best  counsel." 

He  glanced  over  the  parchment,  and  instantly  replied,  "  0  ! 
my  dear  and  royal  mistress,  only  treason  itself  could  give  yo^ 


THE  ABBOT  233 

other  advice  than  Lord  Seytori  has  here  expressed.  He, 
Herries,  Huntly,  the  English  ambassador  Throgmorton,  and 
others,  yonr  friends,  are  all  alike  of  opinion  that  whatever 
deeds  or  instruments  you  execute  within  these  walls  must 
lose  all  force  and  effect,  as  extorted  from  your  Grace  by 
duress,  by  sufferance  of  present  evil,  and  fear  of  men,  and 
harm  to  ensue  on  your  refusal.  Yield,  therefore,  to  the  tide, 
and  be  assured  that,  in  subscribing  what  parchments  they 
present  to  you,  you  bind  yourself  to  nothing,  since  your  act 
of  signature  wants  that  which  alone  can  make  it  valid,  the 
free  will  of  the  grantor." 

*' Ay,  so  says  my  Lord  Seyton,"  replied  Mary  ;  ''yet  me- 
thinks,  for  the  daughter  of  so  long  a  line  of  sovereigns  to 
resign  her  birthright,  because  rebels  press  upon  her  with 
threats,  argues  little  of  royalty,  and  will  read  ill  for  the  fame 
of  Mary  in  future  chronicles.  Tush  !  Sir  Robert  Melville, 
the  traitors  may  use  black  threats  and  bold  words,  but  they 
will  not  dare  to  put  their  hands  forth  on  our  person  ?  " 

"  Alas  !  madam,  they  have  already  dared  so  far,  and  in- 
curred such  peril  by  the  lengths  which  they  have  gone,  that 
they  are  but  one  step  from  the  worst  and  uttermost." 

''  Surely,"  said  the  Queen,  her  fears  again  predominating, 
"  Scottish  nobles  would  not  lend  themselves  to  assassinate  a 
helpless  woman  ?  " 

*' Bethink  you,  madam,"  he  replied,  ''what  horrid  spec- 
tacles have  been  seen  in  our  day  ;  and  what  act  is  so  dark 
that  some  Scottish  hand  has  not  been  found  to  dare  it  ? 
Lord  Lindesay,  besides  his  natural  sullenness  and  hardness 
of  temper,  is  the  near  kinsman  of  Henry  Darnley,  and  Ruth- 
ven  has  his  own  deep  and  dangerous  plans.  The  council, 
besides,  speak  of  proofs  by  writ  and  word,  of  a  casket  with 
letters — of  I  know  not  what. " 

"Ah!  good  Melville,"  answered  the  Queen,  "were  I  as 
sure  of  the  even-handed  integrity  of  my  judges  as  of  my  own 
innocence — and  yet " 

"  Oh  !  pause,  madam,"  said  Melville  ;  "  even  innocence 
must  sometimes  for  a  season  stoop  to  injurious  blame.  Be- 
sides, you  are  here " 

He  looked  round  and  paused. 

"  Speak  out,  Melville,"  said  the  Queen,  "never  one  ap- 
proached my  person  who  wished  to  work  me  evil ;  and  even 
this  poor  page,  whom  I  have  to-day  seen  for  the  first  time  in 
my  life,  I  can  trust  safely  with  your  communication." 

*'  Nay,  madam,"  answered  Melville,  "  in  such  emergence, 
and  he  being  the  bearer  of  Lord  Sey ton's  message,  I  will 


234  W A  VERLEY  JV  O  VELS 

venture  to  say  before  him  and  these  fair  ladies,  whose  truth 
and  fidelity  I  dispute  not — I  say,  1  will  venture  to  say,  that 
there  are  other  modes  besides  that  of  open  trial  by  which 
deposed  sovereigns  often  die  ;  and  that,  as  Machiavel  saith, 
there  is  but  one  step  betwixt  a  king's  prison  and  his  grave.'* 

*^  Oh  !  were  it  but  swift  and  easy  for  the  body/'  said  the 
unfortunate  princess,  ''  were  it  but  a  safe  and  happy  change 
for  the  soul,  the  woman  lives  not  that  would  take  the  step  so 
soon  as  I  !  But,  alas  !  Melville,  when  we  think  of  death,  a 
thousand  sins,  which  we  have  trod  as  worms  beneath  our 
feet,  rise  up  against  us  as  flaming  serpents.  Most  injuriously 
do  they  accuse  me  of  aiding  Darnley's  death ;  yet,  blessed 
Lady !  I  afforded  too  open  occasion  for  the  suspicion  ;  I 
espoused  Both  well. '* 

**  Think  not  of  that  now,  madam,'*  said  Melville,  '*  think 
rather  of  the  immediate  mode  of  saving  yourself  and  son. 
Comply  with  the  present  unreasonable  demands,  and  trust 
that  better  times  will  shortly  arrive.*' 

''  Madam,"  said  Eoland  Graeme,  "  if  it  pleases  you  that  I 
should  do  so,  I  will  presently  swim  through  the  lake,  if  they 
refuse  me  other  conveyance  to  the  shore  ;  I  will  go  to  the 
courts  successively  of  England,  France,  and  Spain,  and  will 
show  you  have  subscribed  these  vile  instruments  from  no 
stronger  impulse  than  the  fear  of  death,  and  I  will  do  battle 
against  them  that  say  otherwise." 

The  Queen  turned  her  round,  and  with  one  of  those  sweet 
smiles  which,  during  the  era  of  life's  romance,  overpay  every 
risk,  held  her  hand  towards  Roland,  but  without  speaking  a 
word.  He  kneeled  reverently  and  kissed  it,  and  Melville 
again  resumed  his  plea. 

"  Madam,"  he  said,  "time  presses,  and  you  must  not  let 
those  boats,  which  I  see  they  are  even  now  preparing,  put 
forth  on  the  lake.  Here  are  enough  of  witnesses — your  ladies 
— this  bold  youth — myself,  when  it  can  serve  your  cause 
effectually,  for  I  would  not  hastily  stand  committed  in  this 
matter  ;  but  even  without  me  here  is  evidence  enough  to  show 
that  you  have  yielded  to  the  demands  of  the  council  through 
force  and  fear,  but  from  no  sincere  and  unconstrained  assent. 
Their  boats  are  already  manned  for  their  return  ;  oh  !  permit 
your  old  servant  to  recall  them  ! " 

'*  Melville,"  said  the  Queen, ''  thou  art  an  ancient  courtier  ; 
when  didst  thou  ever  know  a  sovereign  prince  recall  to  his 
presence  subjects  who  had  parted  from  him  on  such  terms  as 
those  on  which  these  envoys  of  the  council  left  us,  and  who 
yet  were  recalled  without  submission  or  apology  ?    Let  it 


THE  ABBOT  235 

cost  me  both  life  and  crown,  I  will  not  again  command  them 
to  my  presence/' 

**  Alas  !  madam,  that  empty  form  should  make  a  barrier  ! 
If  I  rightly  understand,  you  are  not  unwilling  to  listen  to 
real  and  advantageous  counsel  ;  but  your  scruple  is  saved,  I 
hear  them  returning  to  ask  your  final  resolution.  0  !  take 
the  advice  of  the  noble  Seyton,  and  you  may  once  more  com- 
mand those  who  now  usurp  a  triumph  over  you.  But  hush  ! 
I  hear  them  in  the  vestibule. '' 

As  he  concluded  speaking,  George  Douglas  opened  the  door 
of  the  apartment,  and  marshaled  in  the  two  noble  envoys. 

'^  We  come,  madam,''  said  the  Lord  Ruthven,  ''to  request 
your  answer  to  the  proposal  of  the  council." 

''Your  final  answer,"  said  Lord  Lindesay  ;  "for  with  a 
refusal  you  must  couple  the  certainty  that  you  have  precipi- 
tated your  fate,  and  renounced  the  last  opportunity  of  mak- 
ing peace  with  God,  and  ensuring  your  longer  abode  in  the 
world." 

"  My  lords,"  said  Mary,  with  inexpressible  grace  and  dig- 
nity, ''  the  evils  we  cannot  resist  we  must  submit  to  :  I  will 
subscribe  these  parchments  with  such  liberty  of  choice  as  my 
condition  permits  me.  Were  I  on  yonder  shore,  with  a  fleet 
jennet  and  ten  good  and  loyal  knights  around  me,  I  would 
subscribe  my  sentence  of  eternal  condemnation  as  soon  as  the 
resignation  of  my  throne.  But  here,  in  the  Castle  of  Loch- 
leven,  with  deep  water  around  me,  and  you,  my  lords,  beside 
me,  I  have  no  freedom  of  choice.  Give  me  the  pen,  Melville, 
and  bear  witness  to  what  I  do,  and  why  I  do  it." 

*'  It  is  our  hope  your  Grace  will  not  suppose  yourself  com- 
pelled, by  any  apprehensions  from  us,"  said  the  Lord  Ruth- 
ven, *'  to  execute  what  must  be  your  own  voluntary  deed." 

The  Queen  had  already  stooped  towards  the  table,  and 
placed  the  parchment  before  her,  with  the  pen  between  her 
fingers,  ready  for  the  important  act  of  signature.  But  when 
Lord  Ruthven  had  done  speaking,  she  looked  up,  stopped 
short,  and  threw  down  the  pen.  ''  If,"  she  said,  "  I  am  ex- 
pected to  declare  I  give  away  my  crown  of  free  will,  or  other- 
wise than  because  I  am  compelled  to  renounce  it  by  the  threat 
of  worse  evils  to  myself  and  my  subjects,  I  will  not  put  my 
name  to  such  an  untruth — not  to  gain  full  possession  of  Eng- 
land, France,  and  Scotland  !  all  once  my  own,  in  possession, 
or  by  right." 

''  Beware,  madam,"  said  Lindesay,  and,  snatching  hold  of 
the  Queen's  arm  with  his  own  ganntleted  hand,  he  pressed 
it,  iu  the  rudeness  of  his  passion,  more  closely,  perhaps,  than 


236  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

he  was  himself  aware  of — ^^  beware  how  you  contend  with 
those  who  are  the  stronger,  and  have  the  mastery  of  your 
fate!'' 

He  held  his  grasp  on  her  arm,  bending  his  eyes  on  her  with 
a  stern  and  intimidating  look,  till  both  Euthven  and  Melville 
cried  '*  Shame  ! "  and  Douglas,  who  had  hitherto  remained 
in  a  state  of  apparent  apathy,  had  made  a  stride  from  the 
door,  as  if  to  interfere.  The  rude  baron  then  quitted  his 
hold,  disguising  the  confusion  which  he  really  felt  at  having 
indulged  his  passion  to  such  an  extent  under  a  sullen  and 
contemptuous  smile. 

The  Queen  immediately  began,  with  an  expression  of  pain, 
to  bare  the  arm  which  he  had  grasped,  by  drawing  up  the 
sleeve  of  her  gown,  and  it  appeared  that  his  gripe  had  left 
the  purple  marks  of  his  iron  fingers  upon  her  flesh.  *'  My 
lord,^^  she  said,  ^'  as  a  knight  and  a  gentleman,  you  might 
have  spared  my  frail  arm  so  severe  a  proof  that  you  have  the 
greater  strength  on  your  side,  and  are  resolved  to  use  it. 
But  I  thank  you  for  it — it  is  the  most  decisive  token  of  the 
terms  on  which  this  day's  business  is  to  rest.  I  draw  you  to 
witness,  both  lords  and  ladies,"  she  said,  showing  the  marks 
of  the  grasp  on  her  arm,  "  that  I  subscribe  these  instruments 
m  obedience  to  the  sign-manual  of  my  Lord  of  Lindesay, 
which  you  may  see  imprinted  on  mine  arm.''  * 

Lindesay  would  have  spoken,  but  was  restrained  by  his 
colleague  Ruthven,  who  said  to  him,  "  Peace,  my  Lord.  Let 
t;he  Lady  Mary  of  Scotland  ascribe  her  signature  to  what  she 
will,  it  is  our  business  to  procure  it,  and  carry  it  to  the  coun- 
cil. Should  there  be  debate  hereafter  on  the  manner  in 
which  it  was  adhibited,  there  will  be  time  enough  for  it." 

Lindesay  was  silent  accordingly,  only  muttering  within  his 
beard.  '^  I  meant  not  to  hurt  her  ;  but  I  think  women's  flesh 
be  as  tender  as  new-fallen  snow." 

The  Queen  meanwhile  subscribed  the  rolls  of  parchment 
with  a  hasty  indifference,  as  if  they  had  been  matters  of  slight 
consequence,  or  of  mere  formality.  When  she  had  performed 
this  painful  task,  she  arose,  and,  having  courtesied  to  the 
lords,  was  about  to  withdraw  to  her  chamber.  Ruthven  and 
Sir  Robert  Melville  made,  the  first  a  formal  reverence,  the 
second  an  obeisance,  in  which  his  desire  to  acknowledge  his 
sympathy  was  obviously  checked  by  the  fear  of  appearing  in 
the  eyes  of  his  colleagues  too  partial  to  his  former  mistress. 
But  Lindesay  stood  motionless,  even  when  they  were  prepar- 
ing to  withdraw,  ^.t  length,  as  if  moved  by  a  sudden  im^ 
♦  See  The  Resignation  of  Queen  Mary.    Note  16. 


I 


THE  ABBOT  237 

pulse,  he  walked  round  the  table  which  had  hitherto  been  be- 
twixt them  and  the  Queen,  kneeled  on  one  knee,  took  her 
hand,  kissed  it,  let  it  fall,  and  arose.  "  Lady,''  he  said, 
^*  thou  art  a  noble  creature,  even  though  thou  hast  abused 
God's  choicest  gifts.  I  pay  that  devotion  to  thy  manliness 
of  spirit  which  I  would  not  have  paid  to  the  power  thou  hast 
long  undeservedly  wielded  :  I  kneel  to  Mary  Stuart,  not  to 
the  Queen." 

"  The  Queen  and  Mary  Stuart  pity  thee  alike,  Lindesay," 
said  Mary — ''alike  they  pity,  and  they  forgive  thee.  An 
honored  soldier  hadst  thou  been  by  a  king's  side  ;  leagued 
with  rebels,  what  art  thou  but  a  good  blade  in  the  hands  of 
a  ruffian  ?  Farewell,  my  Lord  Ruthven,  the  smoother  but 
the  deeper  traitor.  Farewell,  Melville.  Mayst  thou  find, 
masters  that  can  understand  state  policy  better,  and  have  the 
means  to  reward  it  more  richly,  than  Mary  Stuart !  Fare- 
well, George  of  Douglas  ;  make  your  respected  grand-dame 
comprehend  that  we  would  be  alone  for  the  remainder  of  the 
day,     God  wot,  we  have  need  to  collect  our  thoughts." 

All  bowed  and  withdrew  ;  but  scarce  had  they  entered  the 
vestibule  ere  Ruthven  and  Lindesay  were  at  variance. 
"  Chide  not  with  me,  Ruthven,"  Lindesay  was  heard  to  say 
in  answer  to  something  more  indistinctly  urged  by  his  col- 
league— "  chide  not  with  me,  for  I  will  not  brook  it !  You 
put  the  hangman's  office  on  me  in  this  matter,  and  even  the 
very  hangman  hath  leave  to  ask  some  pardon  of  those  on 
whom  he  does  his  office.  I  would  I  had  as  deep  cause  to  be 
this  lady's  friend  as  I  have  to  be  her  enemy  :  thou  shouldst 
see  if  I  spared  limb  and  life  in  her  quarrel." 

" Thou  art  a  sweet  minion,"  said  Ruthven,  ''to  fight  a 
lady's  quarrel,  and  all  for  a  brent  brow  and  a  tear  in  the  eye  ! 
Such  toys  have  been  out  of  thy  thoughts  this  many  a  year." 

"Do  me  right,  Ruthven,"  said  Lindesay.  "You  are  like 
a  polished  corslet  of  steel  :  it  shines  more  gaudily,  bub  it  is 
not  a  whit  softer — nay,  it  is  five  times  harder — than  a  Glasgow 
breast-plate  of  hammered  iron.  Enough.  We  know  each 
other." 

They  descended  the  stairs,  were  heard  to  summon  their 
boats,  and  the  Queen  signed  to  Roland  Grasme  to  retire  to 
the  vestibule,  and  leave  her  with  her  female  attendants. 


CHAPTER  XXIII 

Give  me  a  morsel  on  the  greensward  rather, 
Coarse  as  you  will  the  cooking.     Let  the  fresh  spring 
Bubble  beside  my  napkin,  and  the  free  birds. 
Twittering  and  chirping,  hop  from  bough  to  bough, 
To  claim  the  crumbs  I  leave  for  perquisites ; 
Your  prison-feasts  I  like  not. 

The  Woodsman,  a  Drama. 

A  RECESS  in  the  vestibule  was  enlightened  by  a  small  window, 
at  which  Roland  Graeme  stationed  himself  to  mark  the  depar- 
ture of  the  lords.  He  could  see  their  followers  mustering  on 
horseback  under  their  respective  banners,  the  western  sun 
glancing  on  their  corslets  and  steel  caps  as  they  moved  to 
and  fro,  mounted  or  dismounted,  at  intervals.  On  the  narrow 
space  betwixt  the  castle  and  the  water,  the  Lords  Ruthven 
and  Lindesay  were  already  moving  slowly  to  their  boats,  ac- 
companied by  the  Lady  of  Lochleven,  her  grandson,  and  their 
principal  attendants.  They  took  a  ceremonious  leave  of  each 
other,  as  Roland  could  discern  by  their  gestures,  and  the 
boats  put  off  from  their  landing-place  ;  the  boatmen  stretched 
to  their  oars,  and  they  speedily  diminished  upon  the  eye  of 
the  idle  gazer,  who  had  no  better  employment  than  to  watch 
their  motions.  Such  seemed  also  the  occupation  of  the  Lady 
Lochleven  and  George  Douglas,  who,  returning  from  the 
landing-place,  looked  frequently  back  to  the  boats,  and  at 
length  stopped,  as  if  to  observe  their  progress,  under  the 
window  at  which  Roland  Graeme  was  stationed.  As  they 
gazed  on  the  lake,  he  could  hear  the  lady  distinctly  say, 
**  And  she  has  bent  her  mind  to  save  her  life  at  the  expense 
of  her  kingdom  ?" 

"  Her  life,  madam  !  "  replied  her  son  ;  "  I  know  not  who 
would  dare  to  attempt  it  in  the  castle  of  my  father.  Had  I 
dreamt  that  it  was  with  such  purpose  that  Lindesay  insisted 
on  bringing  his  followers  hither,  neither  he  nor  they  should 
have  passed  the  iron  gate  of  Lochleven  Castle.  ^^ 

"  I  speak  not  of  private  slaughter,  my  son,  but  of  open 
trial,  condemnation,  and  execution  ;  for  with  such  she  nai 
been  threatened,  and  to  such  threats  she  has  given  way. 
Had  she  not  more  of  the  false  Guisian  blood  than  of  the  royal 

238 


THE  ABBOT  239 

race  of  Scotland  in  her  veins,  she  had  bidden  them  defiance 
to  their  teeth.  But  it  is  all  of  the  same  complexion,  and 
meanness  is  the  natural  companion  of  profligacy.  1  am  dis- 
charged, forsooth,  from  intruding  on  her  gracious  presence 
this  evening.  Go  thou,  my  son,  and  render  the  usual  service 
of  the  meal  to  this  unqueened  queen.'' 

''So  please  you,  lady  mother,"  said  Douglas,  ^'I  care  not 
greatly  to  approach  her  presence." 

*'Tnou  art  right,  my  son  ;  and  therefore  I  trust  thy  pru- 
dence, even  because  I  have  noted  thy  caution.  She  is  like  an 
isle  on  the  ocean,  surrounded  with  shelves  and  quicksands  : 
its  verdure  fair  and  inviting  to  the  eye,  but  the  wreck  of  many 
a  goodly  vessel  which  had  approached  it  too  rashly.  But  for 
thee,  my  son,  I  fear  nought  ;  and  we  may  not,  with  our 
honor,  suffer  her  to  eat  without  the  attendance  of  one  of  us. 
She  may  die  by  the  judgment  of  Heaven,  or  the  fiend  may 
have  power  over  her  in  her  despair  ;  and  then  we  would  be 
touched  in  honor  to  show  that,  in  our  house,  and  at  our  table, 
she  had  had  all  fair  play  and  fitting  usage." 

Here  Koland  was  interrupted  by  a  smart  tap  on  the  shoulders 
reminding  him  sharply  of  Adam  Woodcock's  adventure  of 
the  preceding  evening.  He  turned  round,  almost  expecting 
to  see  the  page  of  St.  Michael's  hostelry.  He  saw,  indeed, 
Catherine  Seyton  ;  but  she  was  in  female  attire,  differing,  no 
doubt,  a  great  deal  in  shape  and  materials  from  that  which 
she  had  worn  when  they  first  met,  and  becoming  her  birth 
as  the  daughter  of  a  great  baron,  and  her  rank  as  the  attend- 
ant on  a  princess.  ''So,  fair  page,"  said  she,  ''eavesdrop- 
ping is  one  of  your  page4ike  qualities,  I  presume  ?  " 

"Fair  sister,"  answered  Roland,  in  the  same  tone,  "if 
some  friends  of  mine  be  as  well  acquainted  with  the  rest  of 
our  mystery  as  they  are  with  the  arts  of  swearing,  swagger- 
ing, and  switching,  they  need  ask  no  page  in  Christendom 
for  further  insight  into  his  vocation." 

"  Unless  that  pretty  speech  infer  that  you  have  yourself 
had  the  discipline  of  the  switch  since  we  last  met,  the  prob- 
ability whereof  I  nothing  doubt,  I  profess,  fair  page,  I  am 
at  a  loss  to  conjecture  your  meaning.  But  there  is  no  time 
to  debate  it  now — they  come  with  the  evening  meal.  Be 
pleased,  sir  page,  to  do  your  duty." 

Four  servants  entered  bearing  dishes,  preceded  by  the  same 
stern  old  steward  whom  Roland  had  already  seen,  and  fol- 
lowed by  George  Douglas,  already  mentioned  as  the  grandson 
of  the  Lady  of  Lochleven,  and  who,  acting  as  seneschal,  rep- 
resented upon  this  occasion  his  father,  the  lord  of  the  castle. 


240  WAYERLEY  N0V:ELS 

He  entered  with  his  arms  folded  on  his  bosom,  and  his  looks 
bent  on  the  ground.  With  the  assistance  of  Eoland  Graeme, 
a  table  was  suitably  covered  in  the  next  or  middle  apartment, 
on  which  the  domestics  placed  their  burdens  with  great  rev- 
erence, the  steward  and  Douglas  bending  low  when  they 
had  seen  the  table  properly  adorned,  as  if  their  royal  prisoner 
had  sat  at  the  board  in  question.  The  door  opened,  and 
Douglas,  raising  his  eyes  hastily  cast  them  again  on  the 
earth,  when  he  perceived  it  was  only  the  Lady  Mary  Fleming 
who  entered. 

**  Her  Grace/^  she  said,  '*  will  not  eat  to-night.'^ 

*'Let  us  hope  she  may  be  otherwise  persuaded,"  said 
Douglas ;  "  meanwhile,  madam,  please  to  see  our  duty 
performed." 

A  servant  presented  bread  and  salt  on  a  silver  plate,  and 
the  old  steward  carved  for  Douglas  a  small  morsel  in  succes- 
sion from  each  of  the  dishes  presented,  which  he  tasted,  as 
was  then  the  custom  at  the  tables  of  princes,  to  which  death 
was  often  suspected  to  find  its  way  in  the  disguise  of  food. 

^*  The  Queen  will  not  then  come  forth  to-night  ?"  said 
Douglas. 

*'  She  has  so  determined,"  replied  the  lady. 

**  Our  further  attendance  then  is  unnecessary  :  we  leave 
you  to  your  supper,  fair  ladies,  and  wish  you  good  even." 

He  retired  slowly  as  he  came,  and  with  the  same  air  of 
deep  dejection,  and  was  followed  by  the  attendants  belonging 
to  the  castle.  The  two  ladies  sate  down  to  their  meal,  and 
Eoland  Graeme,  with  ready  alacrity,  prepared  to  wait  upon 
them.  Catherine  Seyton  whispered  to  her  companion,  who 
replied  with  the  question,  spoken  in  a  low  tone,  but  looking 
at  the  page — '^  Is  he  of  gentle  blood  and  well  nurtured  ?  " 

The  answer  which  she  received  seemed  satisfactory,  for  she 
said  to  Roland,  ^'  Sit  down,  young  gentleman,  and  eat  with 
your  sisters  in  captivity." 

^'  Permit  me  rather  to  perform  my  duty  in  attending 
them,"  said  Roland,  anxious  to  show  he  was  possessed  of  the 
high  tone  of  deference  prescribed  by  the  rules  of  chivalry 
towards  the  fair  sex,  and  especially  to  dames  and  maidens  of 
quality. 

*'  You  will  find,  sir  page,"  said  Catherine,  ''you  will  have 
little  time  allowed  you  for  your  meal ;  waste  it  not  in  cere- 
mony, or  you  may  rue  your  politeness  ere  to-morrow  morn- 
ing." 

**  Your  speech  is  too  free,  maiden,"  said  the  elder  lady  ; 
*'  the  modesty  of  the  youth  may  teach  you  more  fitting 


TEE  ABBOT  Ul 

fashions  towards  one  whom  to-day  you  have  seen  for  the  first 
time." 

Catherine  Seyton  cast  down  her  eyes,  but  not  till  she  had 
given  a  single  glance  of  inexpressible  archness  towards  Eo- 
land,  whom  her  more  grave  companion  now  addressed  in  a 
tone  of  protection. 

*'Eegard  her  not,  young  gentleman;  she  knows  little  of 
the  world,  save  the  forms  of  a  country  nunnery;  take  thy 
place  at  the  board-end,  and  refresh  thyself  after  thy  jour- 
ney." 

Eoland  Graeme  obeyed  willingly,  as  it  was  the  first  food 
he  had  that  day  tasted ;  for  Lindesay  and  his  followers 
seemed  regardless  of  human  wants.  Yet,  notwithstanding 
the  sharpness  of  his  appetite,  a  natural  gallantry  of  disposi- 
tion, the  desire  of  showing  himself  a  well-nurtnred  gentle- 
man in  all  courtesies  towards  the  fair  sex,  and,  for  aught  I 
know,  the  pleasure  of  assisting  Catherine  Seyton,  kept  his 
attention  awake,  during  the  meal,  to  all  those  nameless  acts 
of  duty  and  service  which  gallants  of  that  age  were  accus- 
tomed to  render.  He  carved  with  neatness  and  decorum, 
and  selected  duly  whatever  was  most  delicate  to  place  before 
the  ladies.  Ere  they  could  form  a  wish,  he  sprung  from  the 
table  ready  to  comply  with  it — poured  wine — tempered  it 
with  water — removed  and  exchanged  trenchers,  and  per- 
formed the  whole  honors  of  the  table,  with  an  air  at  once  of 
cheerful  diligence,  profound  respect,  and  graceful  prompti- 
tude. 

When  he  observed  that  they  had  finished  eating,  he  hast- 
ened to  offer  to  the  elder  lady  the  silver  ewer,  basin,  and 
napkin,  with  the  ceremony  and  gravity  which  he  would  have 
used  towards  Mary  herself.  He  next,  with  the  same  de- 
corum, having  supplied  the  basin  with  fair  water,  presented 
it  to  Catherine  Seyton.  Apparently  she  was  determined  to 
disturb  his  self-possession  if  possible  ;  for,  while  in  the  act 
of  bathing  her  hands,  she  contrived,  as  it  were  by  accident, 
to  flirt  some  drops  of  water  upon  the  face  of  the  assiduous 
assistant.  But  if  such  was  her  mischievous  purpose  she  was 
completely  disappointed ;  for  Eoland  Graeme,  internally 
piquing  himself  on  his  self-command,  neither  laughed  nor 
was  discomposed ;  and  all  that  the  maiden  gained  by  her 
frolic  was  a  severe  rebuke  from  her  companion,  taxing  her 
with  mal-address  and  indecorum.  Catherine  replied  not, 
but  sat  pouting,  something  in  the  humor  of  a  spoilt  child, 
who  watches  the  opportunity  of  wreaking  upon  some  one  oi 
«ther  its  resentment  for  a  deserved  reprimand. 
i6 


248  WAVEBLET  NOVELS 

The  Lady  Mary  Fleming,  in  the  meanwhile,  was  naturally 
well  pleased  with  the  exact  and  reverent  observance  of  the 
page,  and  said  to  Catherine,  after  a  favorable  glance  at 
Roland  Greeme,  "  You  might  well  say,  Catherine,  our  com- 
panion in  captivity  was  well  born  and  gently  nurtured.  I 
would  not  make  him  vain  by  my  praise,  but  his  services  en- 
able us  to  dispense  with  those  which  George  Douglas  conde- 
scends not  to  afford  us,  save  when  the  Queen  is  herself  in 
presence." 

**  Umph  !  1  think  hardly,"  answered  Catherine.  "  George 
Douglas  is  one  ot  the  most  handsome  gallants  in  Scotland, 
and  'tis  pleasure  to  see  him  even  still,  when  the  gloom  of 
Lochleven  Castle  has  shed  the  same  melancholy  over  him 
that  it  has  done  over  everything  else.  When  he  was  at 
Holyrood,  who  would  have  said  the  young  sprightly  George 
Douglas  would  have  been  contented  to  play  the  locksman 
here  in  Lochleven,  with  no  gayer  amusement  than  that  of 
turning  the  key  on  two  or  three  helpless  women  ?  A  strange 
office  for  a  knight  of  the  bleeding  heart ;  why  does  he  not 
leave  it  to  his  father  or  his  brothers  ?  " 

**  Perhaps,  like  us,  he  has  no  choice,"  answered  the  Lady 
Fleming.  *'  But,  Catherine,  thou  hast  used  thy  brief  space 
at  court  well,  to  remember  what  George  Douglas  was  then." 

"I  used  mine  eyes,  which  I  suppose  was  what  I  was  de- 
signed to  do,  and  they  were  worth  using  there.  When  I  was 
at  the  nunnery,  they  were  very  useless  appurtenances  ;  and 
now  I  am  at  Lochleven,  they  are  good  for  nothing,  save  to 
look  over  that  eternal  work  of  embroidery." 

"  You  speak  thus,  when  you  have  been  but  a  few  brief 
hours  amongst  us  :  was  this  the  maiden  who  would  live  and 
die  in  a  dungeon,  might  she  but  have  permission  to  wait  on 
her  gracious  queen  ? ' 

"  Nay,  if  you  chide  in  earnest,  my  jest  is  ended,"  said 
Catherine  Seyton.  *'  I  would  not  yield  in  attachment  to  my 
poor  godmother  to  the  gravest  dame  that  ever  had  wise  saws 
upon  her  tongue,  and  a  double-starched  ruff  around  her 
throat — ^you  know  I  would  not.  Dame  Mary  Fleming,  and  it 
is  putting  shame  on  me  to  say  otherwise." 

**  She  will  challenge  the  other  court  lady,"  thought  Ro- 
land Graeme — '•'  she  will  to  a  certainty  fling  down  her  glove, 
and  if  Dame  Mary  Fleming  hath  but  the  soul  to  lift  it,  we 
may  have  a  combat  in  the  lists  ! "  But  the  answer  of  Lady 
ifary  Fleming  was  such  as  turns  away  wrath. 

**  Thou  art  a  good  child,"  she  said,  "  my  Catherine,  and  a 
faithful ;  but  Heaven  pity  him  who  shall  have  one  day  a 


THE  ABBOT  243 

creature  so  beairtifnl  to  delight  him,  and  a  thing  so  mis- 
chievous to  torment  him  :  thou  art  fit  to  drive  twenty  hus- 
bands stark  mad." 

**Nay/'  said  Catherine,  resuming  the  full  career  of  her 
careless  good-humor,  "  he  must  be  half-witted  beforehand 
that  gives  me  such  an  opportunity.  But  I  am  glad  you  are 
not  angry  with  me  in  sincerity,"  casting  herself  as  she  spoke 
into  the  arms  of  her  friend,  and  continuing,  with  a  tone  of 
apologetic  fondness,  while  she  kissed  her  on  either  side  of 
the  face — "  You  know,  my  dear  Fleming,  that  I  have  to  con- 
tend with  both  my  father's  lofty  pride  and  with  my  mother's 
high  spirit.  G-od  bless  them  I  they  have  left  me  these  good 
qualities,  having  small  portion  to  give  besides,  as  times  go  ; 
and  so  I  am  wilful  and  saucy  ;  but  let  me  remain  only  a  week 
in  this  castle,  and  0,  my  dear  Fleming,  my  spirit  will  be  as 
chastised  and  as  humble  as  thine  own." 

Dame  Mary  Fleming's  sense  of  dignity,  and  love  of  form, 
could  not  resist  this  affectionate  appeal.  She  kissed  Cathe- 
rine Seyton  in  her  turn  affectionately  ;  while,  answering  the 
last  part  of  her  speech,  she  said,  **  Now,  Our  Lady  forbid, 
dear  Catherine,  that  you  should  lose  aught  that  is  beseeming 
of  what  becomes  so  well  your  light  heart  and  lively  humor. 
Keep  but  your  sharp  wit  on  this  side  of  madness,  and  it  can- 
not but  be  a  blessing  to  us.  But  let  me  go,  mad  wench — I 
hear  her  Grace  touch  her  silver  call."  And,  extricating  her- 
self from  Catherine's  grasp,  she  went  towards  the  door  of 
Queen  Mary's  apartment,  from  which  was  heard  the  low  tone 
of  a  silver  whistle,  which,  now  only  used  by  the  boatswains 
in  the  navy,  was  then,  for  want  of  bells,  the  ordinary  mode 
by  which  ladies,  even  of  the  very  highest  rank,  summoned 
their  domestics.  When  she  had  made  two  or  three  steps 
towards  the  door,  however,  she  turned  back,  and  advancing 
to  the  young  couple  whom  she  left  together,  she  said,  in  a 
very  serious  though  a  low  tone,  '*  I  trust  it  is  impossible  that 
we  can,  any  of  us,  or  in  any  circumstances,  forget  that,  few 
as  we  are,  we  form  the  household  of  the  Queen  of  Scotland ; 
and  that,  in  her  calamity,  all  boyish  mirth  and  childish  jest- 
ing can  only  serve  to  give  a  great  triumph  to  her  enemies, 
who  have  already  found  their  account  in  objecting  to  her 
the  lightness  of  every  idle  folly  that  the  young  and  the  gay 
practised  in  her  court."    So  saying,  she  left  the  apartment. 

Catherine  Seyton  seemed  much  struck  with  this  remon 
Btrance.     She  suffered  herself  to  drop  into  the  seat  which 
she  had  quitted  when  she  went  to  embrace   Dame  Mary 
Fleming,  and  for  some  time  rested  her  brow  upon  her  hands ; 


Ui  WAVEBLEY  NOVELS 

while  Koland  Graeme  looked  at  her  earnestly,  with  a  mixture 
of  emotions  which  perhaps  he  himself  could  neither  have 
analyzed  nor  explained.  As  she  raised  her  face  slowly  from 
the  posture  to  which  a  momentary  feeling  of  self -rebuke  had 
depressed  it,  her  eyes  encountered  those  of  Roland,  and  be- 
came gradually  animated  with  their  usual  spirit  of  malicious 
drollery,  which  not  unnaturally  excited  a  similar  expression 
m  those  of  the  equally  volatile  page.  They  sat  for  the  space 
of  two  minutes,  each  looking  at  the  other  with  great  serious- 
ness on  their  features,  and  much  mirth  in  their  eyes,  until 
at  length  Catherine  was  the  first  to  break  silence. 

*'  May  i  pray  you,  fair  sir,"  she  began, very  demurely,  "  to 
tell  me  what  you  see  in  my  face  to  arouse  looks  so  extremely 
sagacious  and  knowing  as  those  with  which  it  is  your  wor- 
ship's pleasure  to  honor  me  ?  It  would  seem  as  there  were 
some  wonderful  confidence  and  intimacy  betwixt  u  ,  fair  sir, 
if  one  is  to  judge  from  your  extremely  cunning  looks  ;  and 
so  help  me.  Our  Lady,  as  I  never  saw  you  but  twice  in  my 
life  before." 

"  And  where  were  those  nappy  occasions/"*  said  Roland, 
*'if  I  may  be  bold  enough  to  ask  the  quest  on  ?" 

"  At  the  nunnery  of  St.  Catherine's,^'  said  the  damsel,  "  in 
the  first  instance  ;  and,  in  the  second,  durin^^  five  minutes 
of  a  certain  raid  or  foray  which  it  was  your  pleasure  to  make 
into  the  lodging  c±'  my  lord  and  father.  Lord  Seyton,  from 
which,  to  my  surprise,  as  probably  to  your  own,  you  returned 
with  a  token  of  friendship  and  favor  instead  of  broken  bones, 
which  were  the  more  probable  reward  of  your  intrusion,  con- 
sidering the  prompt  ire  of  the  house  of  Seyton.  I  am  deeply 
mortified,"  she  added,  ironically,  '*  that  your  recollection 
should  require  refreshment  on  a  subject  so  important;  and 
that  my  memory  should  be  stronger  than  yours  on  such  an 
occasion  is  truly  humiliating." 

"  Your  own  memory  is  not  so  exactly  correct,  fair  mistress," 
answered  the  page,  *'  seeing  you  have  forgotten  meeting  the 
third,  in  the  hostelry  of  St.  Michaers  when  it  pleased  you  to 
lay  your  switch  across  the  face  of  my  comrade,  in  order,  I 
warrant,  to  show  that,  in  the  house  of  Seyton,  neither  the 
prompt  ire  of  its  descendants,  nor  the  use  of  the  doublet  and 
hose,  are  subject  to  Salique  law,  or  confined  to  the  use  of  the 
males." 

''  Fair  sir,"  answered  Catherine,  looking  at  him  with  great 
steadiness  and  some  surprise,  '^  unless  your  fair  wits  have 
forsaken  you,  I  am  at  a  loss  what  to  conjecture  of  your 
meaning." 


THE  ABBOT  245 

''By  my  troth,  fair  mistress,"  answered  Roland,  ''and 
were  I  as  wise  a  warlock  as  Michael  Scott,  I  could  scarce 
riddle  the  dream  you  read  me.  Did  I  not  see  you  last  night 
in  the  hostelry  or  St.  MichaeFs  ?  Did  you  not  bring  me  this 
sword,  with  command  not  to  draw  it  save  at  the  command  of 
my  native  and  rightful  sovereign  ?  And  have  I  not  done  as 
you  required  me  ?  Or  is  the  sword  a  piece  of  lath,  my  word 
a  bulrush,  my  memory  a  dream,  and  my  eyes  good  for  nought 
— espials  which  corbies  might  pick  out  of  my  head  ?  " 

"  And  if  your  eyes  serve  you  not  more  truly  on  other  occa- 
sions than  in  your  vision  of  St.  Michael,"  said  Catherine, 
"  I  know  not,  the  pain  apart,  that  the  corbies  would  do  you 
any  great  injury  in  the  deprivation.  But  hark,  the  bell ; 
hush,  for  God's  sake,  we  are  interrupted " 

The  damsel  was  right ;  for  no  sooner  had  the  dull  toll  of 
the  castle  bell  begun  to  resound  through  the  vaulted  apart- 
ment than  the  door  of  the  vestibule  flew  open,  and  the  stew- 
ard with  his  severe  countenance,  his  gold  chain,  and  his 
white  rod,  entered  the  apartment,  followed  by  the  same  train 
of  domestics  who  had  placed  the  dinner  on  the  table,  and 
who  now,  with  the  same  ceremonious  formality  began  to  re- 
move it. 

The  steward  remained  motionless  as  some  old  picture, 
while  the  domestics  did  their  office  ;  and  when  it  was  accom- 
plished, everything  removed  from  the  table,  and  the  board 
itself  taken  from  its  tressels  and  disposed  against  the  wall, 
he  said  aloud,  without  addressing  any  one  in  particular,  and 
somewhat  in  the  tone  of  a  herald  reading  a  proclamation, 
"My  noble  lady.  Dame  Margaret  Erskine,  by  marriage 
Douglas,  lets  the  Lady  Mary  of  Scotland  and  her  attendants 
to  wit,  that  a  servant  of  the  true  Evangel,  her  reverend 
chaplain,  will  to-night,  as  usual,  expound,  lecture,  and  cate- 
chise, according  to  the  forms  of  the  congregation  of  Gos- 
pellers." 

"Hark  you,  my  friend,  Mr.  Dryfesdale,"  said  Catherine, 
"I  understand  this  announcement  is  a  nightly  form  of  yours. 
Now,  I  pray  you  to  remark,  that  the  Lady  of  Fleming  and  I 
— for  I  trust  your  insolent  invitation  concerns  us  only — have 
chosen  St.  Peter's  pathway  to  Heaven  ;  so  I  see  no  one  whom 
your  godly  exhortation,  catechise,  or  lecture  can  benefit,  ex- 
cepting this  poor  page,  who,  being  in  Satan's  hand  as  well 
as  yourself,  had  better  worship  with  you  than  remain  to 
cumber  our  better  advised  devotions." 
^  The  page  was  wellnigh  giving  a  round  denial  to  the  asser- 
tions which  this  speech  implied,  when,  remembering  what 


246  WAYKELEY  NOVELS 

had  passed  betwixt  him  and  the  Regent,  and  seeing  Cath. 
erine's  finger  raised  in  a  monitory  fashion,  he  felt  him- 
self, as  on  former  occasions  at  the  Castle  of  Avenel,  obliged 
to  submit  to  the  task  of  dissimulation,  and  followed  Dryfes- 
dale  down  to  the  castle  chapel,  where  he  assisted  in  the  de- 
votions of  the  evening. 

The  chaplain  was  named  Elias  Henderson.  He  was  a  man 
in  the  prime  of  life,  and  possessed  of  good  natural  parts^ 
carefully  improved  by  the  best  education  which  those  times 
afforded.  To  these  qualities  were  added  a  faculty  of  close  and 
terse  reasoning,  and,  at  intervals,  a  flow  of  happy  illustration 
and  natural  eloquence.  The  religious  faith  of  Eoland 
Graeme,  as  we  have  already  had  opportunity  to  observe,  rested 
on  no  secure  basis,  but  was  entertained  rather  in  obedience 
to  his  grandmother's  behests,  and  his  secret  desire  to  contra- 
dict the  chaplain  of  Avenel  Castle,  than  from  any  fixed  or 
steady  reliance  which  he  placed  on  the  Romish  creed.  His 
ideas  had  been  of  late  considerably  enlarged  by  the  scenes  he 
had  passed  through  ;  and  feeling  that  there  was  shame  in 
not  understanding  something  of  those  political  disputes  be- 
twixt the  professors  of  the  ancient  and  of  the  Reformed 
faith,  he  listened,  with  more  attention  than  it  had  hitherto 
been  in  his  nature  to  yield  on  such  occasions,  to  an  animated 
discussion  of  some  of  the  principal  points  of  difference  be- 
twixt the  churches. 

So  passed  away  the  first  day  in  the  Castle  of  Lochleven  ; 
and  those  which  followed  it  were,  for  some  time,  of  a  very 
monotonous  and  uniform  tenor. 


CHAPTER  XXIV 

Tis  a  weary  life  this  .... 

Vaults  overhead,  and  grates  and  bars  around  me, 
And  my  sad  hours  spent  with  as  sad  companions, 
Whose  thoughts  are  brooding  o'er  their  own  mischances, 
Far,  far  too  deeply  to  take  part  in  mine. 

The  Woodsman, 

The  course  of  life  to  which  Mary  and  her  little  retinue  were 
doomed  was  in  the  last  degree  secluded  and  lonely,  varied 
only  as  the  weather  permitted  or  rendered  impossible  the 
Queen's  usual  walk  in  the  garden  or  on  the  battlements. 
The  greater  part  of  the  morning  she  wrought  with  her  ladies 
at  those  pieces  of  needlework  many  of  which  still  remain, 
proofs  of  her  indefatigable  application.  At  such  hours  the 
page  was  permitted  the  freedom  of  the  castle  and  islet ;  nay, 
lie  was  sometimes  invited  to  attend  George  Douglas  when  he 
went  a-sportmg  upon  the  lake  or  on  its  margin — opportuni- 
ties of  diversion  which  were  only  clouded  by  the  remarkable 
melancholy  which  always  seemed  to  brood  on  that  gentle- 
man's brow,  and  to  mark  his  whole  demeanor — a  sadness  so 
profound  that  Roland  never  observed  him  to  smile,  or  to 
speak  any  word  unconnected  with  the  immediate  object  of 
their  exercise. 

The  most  pleasant  part  of  Roland's  day  was  the  occasional 
space  which  he  was  permitted  to  pass  in  personal  attendance 
on  the  Queen  and  her  ladies,  together  with  the  regular  din- 
ner-time, which  he  always  spent  with  Dame  Mary  Fleming 
and  Catherine  Seyton.  At  these  periods,  he  had  frequent 
occasion  to  admire  the  lively  spirit  and  inventive  imagina- 
tion of  the  latter  damsel,  who  was  unwearied  in  her  con- 
trivances to  amuse  her  mistress,  and  to  banish,  for  a  time  at 
least,  the  melancholy  which  preyed  on  her  bosom.  She 
danced,  she  sung,  she  recited  tales  of  ancient  and  modern 
times,  with  that  heartfelt  exertion  of  talent  of  which  the 
pleasure  lies  not  in  the  vanity  of  displaying  it  to  others,  but 
m  the  enthusiastic  consciousness  that  we  possess  it  ourselves. 
And  yet  these  high  accomplishments  were  mixed  with  an 
air  of  rusticity  and  hare-brained  vivacity  which  seemed  rather 
to  belong  to  some  village  maid,  the  coquette  of  the  ring 

U7 


i48  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

around  the  Maypole,  than  to  the  high-bred  descendant  of 
an  ancient  baron.  A  touch  of  audacity,  altogether  short  of 
effrontery,  and  far  less  approaching  to  vulgarity,  gave,  as  it 
were,  a  wildness  to  all  that  she  did ;  and  Mary,  while  de- 
fending her  from  some  of  the  occasional  censures  of  her 
grave  companion,  compared  her  to  a  trained  singing-bird 
escaped  from  a  cage,  which  practises  in  all  the  luxuriance  of 
freedom,  and  in  full  possession  of  the  greenwood  bough,  the 
airs  which  it  had  learned  during  its  earlier  captivity. 

The  moments  which  the  page  was  permitted  to  pass  in  the 
presence  of  this  fascinating  creature  danced  so  rapidly  away 
that,  brief  as  they  were,  they  compensated  the  weary  dulness 
of  all  the  rest  of  the  day.  The  space  of  indulgence,  how- 
ever, was  always  brief,  nor  were  any  private  interviews  be- 
twixt him  and  Catherine  permitted,  or  even  possible. 
Whether  it  were  some  special  precaution  respecting  the 
Queen's  household,  or  whether  it  were  her  general  ideas  of 
propriety.  Dame  Fleming  seemed  particularly  attentive  to 
prevent  the  young  people  from  holding  any  separate  corre- 
spondence together,  and  bestowed,  for  Catherine's  sole  benefit 
in  this  matter,  the  full  stock  of  prudence  and  experience 
which  she  had  acquired  when  mother  of  the  Queen's  maidens 
of  honor,  and  by  which  she  had  gained  their  hearty  hatred. 
Casual  meetings,  however,  could  not  be  prevented,  unless 
Catherine  had  been  more  desirous  of  shunning,  or  Roland 
Graeme  less  anxious  in  watching  for  them.  A  smile,  a  gibe, 
a  sarcasm,  disarmed  of  its  severity  by  the  arch  look  with 
which  it  was  accompanied,  was  all  that  time  permitted  to 
pass  between  them  on  such  occasions.  But  such  passing  in- 
terviews neither  afforded  means  nor  opportunity  to  renew 
the  discussion  of  the  circumstances  attending  their  earlier 
acquaintance,  nor  to  permit  Roland  to  investigate  more  ac- 
curately the  mysterious  apparition  of  the  page  in  the  purple 
velvet'  cloak  at  the  hostelry  of  St.  Michael's. 

The  winter  months  slipped  heavily  away,  and  spring  was 
already  advanced,  when  Roland  Graeme  observed  a  gradual 
change  in  the  manners  of  his  fellow-prisoners.  Having  no 
business  of  his  own  to  attend  to,  and  being,  like  those  of  his 
age,  education,  and  degree,  sufficiently  curious  concerning 
what  passed  around,  he  began  by  degrees  to  suspect,  and 
finally  to  be  convinced,  that  there  was  something  in  agita- 
tion among  his  companions  in  captivity  to  which  they  did 
not  desire  that  lie  should  be  privy.  Nay,  he  became  almost 
certain  that,  by  some  means  unintelligible  to  him.  Queen 
Mary  held  correspondence  beyond  the  walls  and  waters  which 


THE  ABBOT  249 

surrounded  her  prison-house,  and  that  she  nourished  some 
secret  hope  of  deliverance  or  escape.  In  the  conversations 
betwixt  her  and  her  attendants  at  which  he  was  necessarily 
present,  the  Queen  could  not  always  avoid  showing  that  she 
was  acquainted  with  the  events  which  were  passing  abroad 
in  the  world,  and  which  he  only  heard  through  her  report. 
He  observed  that  she  wrote  more  and  worked  less  than  had 
been  her  former  custom,  and  that,  as  if  desirous  to  lull  sus- 
picion asleep,  she  changed  her  manner  towards  the  Lady 
Lochleven  into  one  more  gracious,  and  which  seemed  to  ex- 
press a  resigned  submission  to  her  lot.  "  They  think  I  am 
blind/'  he  said  to  himself,  ''  and  that  I  am  unfit  to  be  trusted 
because  I  am  so  young,  or  it  may  be  because  I  was  sent 
hither  by  the  Regent.  Well  I  be  it  so  ;  they  may  be  glad  to 
confide  in  me  in  the  long  run  ;  and  Catherine  Seyton,  for  as 
saucy  as  she  is,  may  find  me  as  safe  a  confidant  as  that  sullen 
•  Douglas,  whom  she  is  always  running  after.  It  maybe  they 
are  angry  with  me  for  listening  to  Master  Elias  Henderson, 
but  it  was  their  own  fault  for  sending  me  there  ;  and  if  the 
man  speaks  truth  and  good  sense,  and  preaches  only  the 
Word  of  God,  he  is  as  likely  to  be  right  as  either  Pope  or 
councils.'' 

It  is  probable  that  in  this  last  conjecture  Roland  Graeme 
had  hit  upon  the  red  cause  why  the  ladies  had  not  entrusted 
him  with  their  counsels.  He  had  of  late  had  several  confer- 
ences with  Henderson  on  the  subject  of  religion,  and  had 
given  him  to  understand  that  he  stood  in  need  of  his  instruc- 
tions, although  he  had  not  thought  there  was  either  prudence 
or  necessity  for  confessing  that  hitherto  he  had  held  the 
tenets  of  the  Church  of  Rome. 

Elias  Henderson,  a  keenpropagatorof  the  Reformed  faith, 
had  sought  the  seclusion  of  Lochleven  Castle  with  the  express 
purpose  and  expectation  of  making  converts  from  Rome 
amongstthedotnesticsof  the  dethroned  Queen,  and  confirm- 
ing the  faith  of  those  who  already  held  the  Protestant  doc- 
trines. Perhaps  his  hopes  soared  a  little  higher,  and  he  might 
nourish  some  expectation  of  a  proselyte  more  distinguished, 
in  the  person  of  the  deposed  Queen.  But  the  pertinacity 
with  which  she  and  her  female  attendants  refused  to  see  or 
listen  to  him  rendered  such  hope,  if  he  nourished  it,  alto- 
gether abortive. 

The  opportunity,  therefore,  of  enlarging  the  religious  in- 
formation of  Roland  Graeme,  and  bringing  him  to  a  more  due 
sense  of  his  duties  to  Heaven,  was  hailed  by  the  good  man 
fts  a  door  opened  by  Providence  for  the  salvation  of  a  sinner. 


250  WAVEBLET  NOVELS 

He  dreamed  not,  indeed,  that  he  was  converting  a  Papist, 
but  such  was  the  ignorance  which  Koland  displayed  upon 
some  material  points  of  the  Reformed  doctrine,  that  Master 
Henderson,  while  praising  his  docility  to  the  Lady  Lochleven 
and  her  grandson,  seldom  failed  to  add,  that  his  venerable 
brother,  Henry  Warden,  must  be  now  decayed  in  strength 
and  in  mind,  since  he  found  a  catechumen  of  his  flock  so 
ill-grounded  in  the  principles  of  his  belief.  For  this,  indeed, 
Roland  Graeme  thought  it  was  unnecessary  to  assign  the  true 
reason,  which  was  his  having  made  it  a  point  of  honor  to  for- 
get all  that  Henry  Warden  taught  him,  as  soon  as  he  was  no 
longer  compelled  to  repeat  it  over  as  a  lesson  acquired  by 
rote.  The  lessons  of  his  new  instructor,  if  not  more  impres- 
sively delivered,  were  received  by  a  more  willing  ear  and  a 
more  awakened  understanding,  and  the  solitud^  of  Lochleven 
Castle  was  favorable  to  graver  thoughts  than  the  page  had 
hitherto  entertained.  He  wavered  yet,  indeed,  as  one  who 
was  almost  persuaded  ;  but  his  attention  to  the  chaplain's 
instructions  procured  him  favor  even  with  the  stern  old 
dame  herself  ;  and  he  was  once  or  twice,  but  under  great 
precaution,  permitted  to  go  to  the  neighboring  village  of 
Kinross,  situated  on  the  mainland,  to  execute  some  ordinary 
commission  of  his  unfortunate  mistress. 

For  some  time  Roland  Graeme  might  be  considered  as 
standing  neuter  betwixt  the  two  parties  who  inhabited  the 
water-girdled  Tower  of  Lochleven  ;  but,  as  he  rose  in  the 
opinion  of  the  lady  of  the  castle  and  her  chaplain,  he  per- 
ceived, with  great  grief,  that  he  lost  ground  in  that  of  Mary 
and  her  female  allies. 

He  came  gradually  to  be  sensible  that  he  was  regarded  as 
a  spy  upon  their  discourse,  and  that,  instead  of  the  ease 
with  which  they  had  formerly  conversed  in  his  presence, 
without  suppressing  any  of  the  natural  feelings  of  anger,  of 
sorrow,  or  mirth  which  the  chance  topic  of  the  moment  hap- 
pened to  call  forth,  their  talk  was  now  guardedly  restricted 
to  the  most  indiiferent  subjects,  and  a  studied  reserve  ob- 
served even  in  the  mode  of  treating  these.  This  obvious 
want  of  confidence  was  accompanied  with  a  correspondent 
change  in  their  personal  demeanor  towards  the  unfortunate 
page.  The  Queen,  who  had  at  first  treated  him  with  marked 
courtesy,  now  scarce  spoke  to  him,  save  to  convey  some  nec- 
essary command  for  her  service.  The  Lady  Fleming  re- 
stricted her  notice  to  the  most  dry  and  distant  expressions  ot 
civility  ;  and  Catherine  Seyton  oecame  bitter  in  her  pleas- 
antries, and  shy,  cross,  and  pettish  in  any  intercourse  they 


THE  ABBOT  251 

had  together.  What  was  yet  more  provoking,  he  saw,  or 
thought  he  saw,  marks  of  intelligence  betwixt  George  Doug- 
las and  the  beautiful  Catherine  Seyton ;  and,  sharpened 
by  jealousy,  he  wrought  himself  almost  into  a  certainty  that 
the  looks  which  they  exchanged  conveyed  matters  of  deep 
and  serious  import.  *'  No  wonder,''  he  thought,  "  if, 
courted  by  the  son  of  a  proud  and  powerful  baron,  she  can 
no  longer  spare  a  word  or  look  to  the  poor  fortuneless  page.*' 

In  a  word,  Roland  Graeme's  situation  became  truly  dis- 
agreeable, and  his  heart  naturally  enough  rebelled  against 
the  injustice  of  this  treatment,  which  deprived  him  of  the 
only  comfort  which  he  had  received  for  submitting  to  a  con- 
finement in  other  respects  irksome.  He  accused  Queen  Mary 
and  Catherine  Seyton  (for  concerning  the  opinion  of  Dame 
Fleming  he  was  indifferent)  of  inconsistency  in  being  dis- 
pleased with  him  on  account  of  the  natural  consequences  of 
an  order  of  their  own.  Why  did  they  send  him  to  hear  this 
overpowering  preacher  ?  The  Abbot  Ambrosius,  he  recol- 
lected, understood  the  weakness  of  their  Popish  cause  better, 
when  he  enjoined  him  to  repeat  within  his  own  mind  aves, 
and  credos,  and  paters  all  the  while  old  Henry  Warden 
preached  or  lectured,  that  so  he  might  secure  himself  against 
lending  even  a  momentary  ear  to  his  heretical  doctrine. 
"  But  I  will  endure  this  life  no  longer,"  said  he  to  himself, 
manfully  ;  '*  do  they  suppose  I  would  betray  my  mistress, 
because  I  see  cause  to  doubt  of  her  religion  ?  That  would  be 
a  serving,  as  they  say,  the  devil  for  God's  sake.  I  will  forth 
into  the  world  ;  he  that  serves  fair  ladies  may  at  least  expect 
kind  looks  and  kind  words ;  and  I  bear  not  the  mind  of  a 
gentleman,  to  submit  to  cold  treatment  and  suspicion,  and  a 
life-long  captivity  besides.  I  will  speak  to  George  Douglas 
to-morrow  when  we  go  out  a-fishing." 

A  sleepless  night  was  spent  in  agitating  this  magnanimous 
resolution,  and  he  arose  in  the  morning  not  perfectly  decided 
in  his  own  mind  whether  he  should  abide  by  it  or  not.  It 
happened  that  he  was  summoned  by  the  Queen  at  an  unusual 
hour,  and  just  as  he  was  about  to  go  out  with  George  Douglas. 
He  went  to  attend  her  commands  in  the  garden  ;  but,  as  he 
had  his  angling-rod  in  his  hand,  the  circumstance  announced 
his  previous  intention,  and  the  Queen,  turning  to  the  Lady 
Fleming,  said,  "  Catherine  must  devise  some  other  amuse- 
ment for  us,  ma  bonne  amie :  our  discreet  page  has  already 
made  his  party  for  the  day's  pleasure." 

"I  said  from  the  beginning,"  answered  the  Lady  Flem- 
ing, '*  that  your  Grace  ought  not  to  rely  on  being  favored 


252  IVA VERLEY  NOVELS 

with  the  company  of  a  youth  who  has  so  many  Hnguenot 
acquaintances,  and  has  the  means  of  amusing  himself  far 
more  agreeably  than  with  us." 

"  I  wish,"  said  Catherine,  her  animated  features  redden- 
ning  with  mortification,  "  that  his  friends  would  sail  away 
with  him  for  good,  and  bring  us  in  return  a  page — if  such 
a  thing  can  be  found — faithful  to  his  Queen  and  to  his 
religion." 

^^  One  part  of  your  wishes  may  be  granted,  madam,''  said 
Eoland  Grseme,  unable  any  longer  to  restrain  his  sense  of  the 
treatment  which  he  received  on  all  sides ;  and  he  was  about 
to  add,  ''  I  heartily  wish  you  a  companion  in  my  room,  if 
such  can  be  found,  who  is  capable  of  enduring  women's 
caprices  without  going  distracted."  Luckily,  he  recollected 
the  remorse  which  he  had  felt  at  having  given  way  to  the 
vivacity  of  his  temper  upon  a  similar  occasion  ;  and  closing 
his  lips,  imprisoned,  until  it  died  on  his  tongue,  a  reproach 
so  misbecoming  the  presence  of  majesty. 

"  Why  do  you  remain  there,"  said  the  Queen,  ''as  if  you 
were  rooted  to  the  parterre  ?  " 

''I  but  attend  your  Grace's  commands,"  said  the  page. 

'*  I  have  none  to  give  you.     Begone,  sir  !" 

As  he  left  the  garden  to  go  to  the  boat,  he  distinctly  heard 
Mary  upbraid  one  of  her  attendants  in  these  words  :  '*  You 
see  to  what  you  have  exposed  us  I " 

This  brief  scene  at  once  determined  Koland  Graeme's  reso- 
lution to  quit  the  castle,  if  it  were  possible,  and  to  impart 
his  resolution  to  George  Douglas  without  loss  of  time.  That 
gentleman,  in  his  usual  mood  of  silence,  sate  in  the  stern  of 
the  little  skiff  which  they  used  on  such  occasions,  trimming 
his  fishing-tackle,  and,  from  time  to  time,  indicating  by 
signs  to  Graeme,  who  pulled  the  oars,  which  way  he  should 
row.  When  they  were  a  furlong  or  two  from  the  castle, 
Roland  rested  on  the  oars,  and  addressed  his  companion  some- 
what abruptly — ''I  have  something  of  importance  to  say  to 
you,  under  your  pleasure,  fair  sir." 

The  pensive  melancholy  of  Douglas's  countenance  at  once 
gave  way  to  the  eager,  keen,  and  startled  look  of  one  who 
expects  to  hear  something  of  deep  and  alarming  import. 

"  I  am  wearied  to  the  very  death  of  this  Castle  of  Loch- 
leven,"  continued  Roland. 

''Is  that  all  ?"  said  Douglas  ;  "I  know  none  of  its  in- 
habitants who  are  much  better  pleased  with  it." 

*'  Ay — but  I  am  neither  a  native  of  the  house  nor  a  pris- 
oner in  it,  and  so  I  may  reasonably  desire  to  leave  it." 


THE  ABBOT  253 

"  Yon  might  desire  to  quit  it  with  equal  reason/'  answered 
Douglas,  ''  if  you  were  both  the  one  and  the  other/^ 

'*^But/'  said  Eoland  Graeme,  "1  am  not  only  tired  of 
living  in  Lochleven  Castle,  but  I  am  determined  to  quit 
it/' 

''That  is  a  resolution  more  easily  taken  than  executed,'' 
replied  Douglas. 

''Not  if  yourself,  sir,  and  your  lady  [grand-]  mother 
choose  to  consent,"  answered  the  page. 

"  You  mistake  the  matter,  Eoland,"  said  Douglas  :  "  you 
will  find  that  the  consent  of  two  other  persons  is  equally  es- 
sential— that  of  the  Lady  Mary,  your  mistress,  and  that  of 
my  uncle  the  Eegent,  who  placed  you  about  her  person,  and 
who  will  not  think  it  proper  that  she  should  change  her  at- 
tendants so  soon." 

"  And  must  I  then  remain  whether  I  will  or  no  ?  "  de- 
manded the  page,  somewhat  appalled  at  a  view  of  the  sub- 
ject which  would  have  occurred  sooner  to  a  person  of  more 
experience. 

"At  least,"  said  George  Douglas,  "you  must  will  to  re- 
main till  my  uncle  consents  to  dismiss  you." 

"Frankly,"  said  the  page,  "and  speaking  to  you  as  a 
gentleman  who  is  incapable  of  betraying  me,  I  will  confess 
that,  if  I  thought  myself  a  prisoner  here,  neither  walls  nor 
water  should  confine  me  long." 

"  Frankly,"  said  Douglas,  "  I  could  not  much  blame  you 
for  the  attempt ;  yet,  for  all  that,  my  father,  or  uncle,  or 
the  earl,  or  any  of  my  brothers,  or,  in  short,  any  of  the  King's 
lords  into  whose  hand  you  fell,  would  in  such  a  case  hang 
you  like  a  dog,  or  like  a  sentinel  who  deserts  his  post ;  and 
I  promise  you  that  you  will  hardly  escape  them.  But  row 
towards  St.  Serfs  Island  :  there  is  a  breeze  from  the  west, 
and  we  shall  have  sport,  keeping  to  windward  of  the  isle, 
where  the  ripple  is  strongest.  We  will  speak  more  of  what 
you  have  mentioned  when  we  have  had  an  hour's  sport." 

Their  fishing  was  successful,  though  never  did  two  anglers 
pursue  even  that  silent  and  unsocial  pleasure  with  less  of 
verbal  intercourse. 

When  their  time  was  expired,  Douglas  took  the  oars  in  his 
turn,  and  by  his  order  Eoland  Graeme  steered  the  boat,  di- 
recting her  course  upon  the  landing-place  at  the  castle. 
But  he  also  stopped  in  the  midst  of  his  course,  and,  looking 
around  him,  said  to  Graeme.  "  There  is  a  thing  which  I 
could  mention  to  thee ;  but  it  is  so  deep  a  secret  that  even 
here,  surrounded  as  we  are  by  waves  and  sky,  without  the 


254  WAVEBLEY  NOVELS 

possibility  of  a  listener,  I  cannot  prevail  on  myself  to 
speak  it  out/' 

''  Better  leave  it  unspoken,  sir/'  answered  Koland  Graeme, 
"if  you  doubt  the  honor  of  him  who  alone  can  hear  it/' 

"  I  doubt  not  your  honor/'  replied  George  Douglas  ;  "  but 
you  are  young,  imprudent,  and  changeful/' 

'*  Young,"  said  Koland,  '*  I  am,  and  it  may  be  imprudent . 
but  who  hath  informed  you  that  I  am  changeful  ?  " 

**  One  that  knows  you,  perhaps,  better  than  you  know 
yourself,"  replied  Douglas. 

"  I  suppose  you  mean  Catherine  Seyton,"  said  the  page, 
his  heart  rising  as  he  spoke  ;  "  but  she  is  herself  fifty  times 
more  variable  in  her  humor  than  the  very  water  which  we 
are  floating  upon/' 

^'  My  young  acquaintance,"  said  Douglas,  "  I  pray  you  to 
remember  that  Catherine  Seyton  is  a  lady  of  blood  and  birth, 
and  must  not  be  lightly  spoken  of/' 

*'  Master  George  of  Douglas,"  said  Graeme,  *'  as  that  speech 
seemed  to  be  made  under  the  warrant  of  something  like  a 
threat,  I  pray  you  to  observe  that  I  value  not  the  threat  at 
the  estimation  of  a  fin  of  one  of  these  dead  trouts  ;  and, 
moreover,  I  would  have  you  to  know  that  the  champion  who 
undertakes  the  defense  of  every  lady  of  blood  and  birth 
whom  men  accuse  of  change  of  faith  and  of  fashion  is  like 
to  have  enough  of  work  on  his  hands/' 

**  Go  to,"  said  the  seneschal,  but  in  a  tone  of  good-humor, 
"  thou  art  a  foolish  boy,  unfit  to  deal  with  any  matter  more 
serious  than  the  casting  of  a  net  or  the  flying  of  a  hawk/' 

"  If  your  secret  concerns  Catherine  Seyton,"  said  the  page, 
'^  I  care  not  for  it,  and  so  you  may  tell  her  if  you  will.  1 
wot  she  can  shape  you  opportunity  to  speak  with  her,  as  she 
has  ere  now/' 

The  flush  which  passed  over  Douglas's  face  made  the  page 
aware  that  he  had  lighted  on  a  truth  when  he  was,  in  fact, 
speaking  at  random  ;  and  the  feeling  that  he  had  done  so 
was  like  striking  a  dagger  into  his  own  heart.  His  companion, 
without  further  answer,  resumed  the  oars,  and  pulled  lustily 
till  they  arrived  at  the  island  and  the  castle.  The  servants 
received  the  product  of  their  sport,  and  the  two  fishers, 
turning  from  each  other  in  silence,  went  each  to  his  several 
apartment. 

Roland  Graeme  had  spent  about  an  hour  in  grumbling 
against  Catherine  Seyton,  the  Queen,  the  Regent,  and  the 
whole  house  of  Lochleven,  with  George  Douglas  at  the  head 
©f  it,  when  the  time  approached  that  his  duty  called  him  to 


THE  ABBOT  256 

attend  the  meal  of  Queen  Marj.  As  he  arranged  his  dress  for 
this  purpose,  he  grudged  the  trouble,  which  on  similar  occa- 
sions he  used,  with  boyish  foppery,  to  consider  as  one  of  the 
most  important  duties  of  his  day  ;  and  when  he  went  to  take 
his  place  behind  the  chair  of  the  Queen,  it  was  with  an  air  of 
offended  dignity  which  could  not  escape  her  observation,  and 
probably  appeared  to  her  ridiculous  enough,  for  she  whispered 
something  in  French  to  her  ladies,  at  which  the  Lady  Flem- 
ing laughed,  and  Catherine  appeared  half  diverted  and  hali 
disconcerted.  This  pleasantry,  of  which  the  subject  was  con- 
cealed from  him,  the  unfortunate  page  received,  of  course,  as 
a  new  offense,  and  called  an  additional  degree  of  sullen  dig- 
nity into  his  mien,  which  might  have  exposed  him  to  farther 
raillery,  but  that  Mary  appeared  disposed  to  make  allowance 
for  and  compassionate  his  feelings. 

With  the  peculiar  tact  and  delicacy  which  no  woman  pos- 
sessed in  greater  perfection,  she  began  to  soothe  by  degrees 
the  vexed  spirit  of  her  magnanimous  attendant.  The  excel- 
lence of  the  fish  which  he  had  taken  in  his  expedition,  the 
high  flavor  and  beautiful  red  color  of  the  trouts,  which  have 
long  given  distinction  to  the  lake,  led  her  first  to  express  her 
thanks  to  her  attendant  for  so  agreeable  an  addition  to  her 
table,  especially  vl^owq,  jour  de  jeiine  ;  and  then  brought  on 
inquiries  into  the  place  where  the  fish  had  been  taken,  their 
size,  their  peculiarities,  the  times  when  they  were  in  season, 
and  a  comparison  between  the  Lochleven  trouts  and  those 
which  are  found  in  the  lakes  and  rivers  of  the  south  of  Scot- 
land. The  ill-humor  of  Eoland  Graeme  was  never  of  an  obsti- 
nate character.  It  rolled  away  like  mist  before  the  sun,  and 
he  was  easily  engaged  in  a  keen  and  animated  dissertation  about 
Lochleven  trout,  and  sea  trout,  and  river  trout,  and  bull  trout, 
and  char,  which  never  rise  to  a  fly,  and  par  which  some  sup- 
pose infant  salmon,  and  "herlings,'*  which  frequent  the  Nith 
and  ^' vendisses,"  which  are  only  found  in  the  Castle  Loch  of 
Lochmaben  ;  and  he  was  hurrying  on  with  the  eager  impetu- 
osity and  enthusiasm  of  a  young  sportsman,  when  he  observed 
that  the  smile  with  which  the  Queen  at  first  listened  to  him 
died  languidly  away,  and  that,  in  spite  of  her  efforts  to  sup- 
press them,  tears  rose  to  her  eyes.  He  stopped  suddenly 
short,  and,  distressed  in  his  turn,  asked,  *'  If  he  had  had  the 
misfortune  unwittingly  to  give  displeasure  to  her  Grace  ?'* 

*'No,  my  poor  boy,'*  replied  the  Queen;  **but,  as  you 
numbered  up  the  lakes  and  rivers  of  my  kingdom,  imagina- 
tion cheated  me,  as  it  will  do,  and  snatched  me  from  these 
dreary  walls  away  to  the  romantic  streams  of  Nithsdale  and 


JJ56  WA  VEBLEY  NOVELS 

the  royal  towers  of  Lochmaben.  0  land,  which  my  fathers 
have  so  long  ruled !  of  the  pleasures  which  you  extend  so 
freely  your  Queen  is  now  deprived,  and  the  poorest  beggar, 
who  may  wander  free  from  one  landward  town  to  another, 
would  scorn  to  change  fates  with  Mary  of  Scotland  ! " 

''Your  Highness, ''  said  the  Lady  Fleming,  ''  will  do  well 
to  withdraw." 

"  Come  with  me  then,  Fleming,"  said  the  Queen  :  "  I 
would  not  burden  hearts  so  young  as  these  are  with  the  sight 
of  my  sorrows." 

She  accompanied  these  words  with  a  look  of  melancholy 
compassion  towards  Roland  and  Catherine,  who  were  now 
left  alone  together  in  the  apartment. 

The  page  found  his  situation  not  a  little  embarrassing  ;  for 
as  every  reader  has  experienced  who  may  have  chanced  to  be 
in  such  a  situation,  it  is  extremely  difficult  to  maintain  the 
full  dignity  of  an  offended  person  in  the  presence  of  a  beauti- 
ful girl,  whatever  reason  we  may  have  for  being  angry  with 
her.  Catherine  Seyton,  on  her  part,  sat  still  like  a  linger- 
ing ghost,  which,  conscious  of  the  awe  which  its  presence  im- 
poses, is  charitably  disposed  to  give  the  poor  confused  mor- 
tal whom  it  visits  time  to  recover  his  senses,  and  comply 
with  the  grand  rule  of  demonology  by  speaking  first.  But 
as  Eoland  seemed  in  no  hurry  to  avail  himself  of  her  con- 
descension, she  carried  it  a  step  farther,  and  herself  opened 
the  conversation. 

"  I  pray  you,  fair  sir,  if  it  may  be  permitted  me  to  disturb 
your  august  reverie  by  a  question  so  simple,  what  may  have 
become  of  your  rosary  ?" 

''  It  is  lost,  madam — lost  some  time  since,"  said  Roland, 
partly  embarrassed  and  partly  indignant. 

''  And  may  I  ask  farther,  sir,"  said  Catherine,  '^  why  you 
have  not  replaced  it  with  another  ?  I  have  half  a  mind," 
she  said,  taking  from  her  pocket  a  string  of  ebony  heads 
adorned  with  gold,  ''  to  bestow  one  upon  you,  to  keep  for  toy 
sake,  just  to  remind  you  of  former  acquaintance." 

There  was  a  little  tremulous  accent  in  the  tone  with  which 
these  words  were  delivered,  which  at  once  put  to  flight  Ro- 
land Grasme's  resentment,  and  brought  him  to  Catherine's 
side  ;  but  she  instantly  resumed  the  bold  and  firm  accent 
which  was  more  familiar  to  her.  "I  did  not  bid  you,"  she 
said,  ''  come  and  sit  so  close  by  me  ;  for  the  acquaintance 
that  I  spoke  of  has  been  stiff  and  cold,  dead  and  buried,  for 
this  many  a  day.'' 

**  Now  Heaven  forbid  I "   said  the   page,  "  it  has   only 


J 


THE  ABBOT  257 

slept ;  and  now  that  you  desire  it  should  awake,  fair  Cath- 
erine, believe  me  that  a  pledge  of  your  returning  favor "' 

'^  Nay,  nay,''  said  Catherine,  withholding  the  rosary, 
towards  which,  as  he  spoke,  he  extended  his  hand,  ''  I  have 
changed  my  mind  on  better  reflection.  What  should  a  here- 
tic do  with  these  holy  beads,  that  have  been  blessed  by  the 
Father  of  the  church  himself  V 

Roland  winced  grievously,  for  he  saw  plainly  which  way 
the  discourse  was  now  likely  to  tend,  and  felt  that  it  must 
at  all  events  be  embarrassing.  ''Nay,  but,"  he  said,  *^^  it 
was  as  a  token  of  your  own  regard  tliat  you  offered  them.'' 

"  Ay,  fair  sir,  but  that  regard  attended  the  faithful  sub- 
ject, the  loyal  and  pious  Catholic,  the  individual  who  was 
so  solemnly  devoted  at  the  same  time  with  myself  to  the 
same  grand  duty ;  which,  you  must  now  understand,  was  to 
serve  the  church  and  Queen.  To  such  a  person,  if  you  ever 
heard  of  him,  was  my  regard  due,  and  not  to  him  who  asso- 
ciates with  heretics,  and  is  about  to  become  a  renegade." 

'*I  should  scarce  believe,  fair  mistress,"  said  Eoland,  in- 
dignantly, **  that  the  vane  of  your  favor  turned  only  to  a 
Catholic  wind,  considering  that  it  points  so  plainly  to  George 
Douglas,  who,  I  think,  is  both  kingsman  and  Protestant." 

**  Think   better   of    George   Douglas,"    said    Catherine, 

*'  than  to  believe "  and  then  checking  herself,  as  if  she 

had  spoken  too  much,  she  went  on,  ''  I  assure  you,  fair  Mas- 
ter Roland,  that  all  who  wish  you  well  are  sorry  for  you." 

*^  Their  number  is  very  few,  I  believe,"  answered  Roland, 
''  and  their  sorrow,  if  they  feel  any,  not  deeper  than  ten 
minutes'  time  will  jure." 

"They  are  more  t  nmerous,  and  think  more  deeply  con- 
cerning you,  than  yoc(  seem  to  be  aware,"  answered  Cath- 
erine. **  But  perhaps  they  think  wrong.  You  are  the  best 
judge  in  your  own  affairs  ;  and  if  you  prefer  gold  and 
church  lands  to  honor  and  loyalty,  and  the  faith  of  your 
fathers,  why  should  you  be  hampered  in  conscience  more 
than  others  ?" 

"  May  Heaven  bear  witness  for  me,"  said  Roland,  "  that 
if  I  entertain  any  difference  of  opinion — that  is,  if  1  nourish 
any  doubts  in  point  of  religion,  they  have  been  adopted  on 
the  conviction  of  my  own  mind,  and  the  suggestion  of  my 
own  conscience !" 

"  Ay,  ay,  your  conscience — your  conscience  !"  repeated 
she  with  satiric  emphasis — "your  conscience  is  the  scape- 
goat ;  I  warrant  it.  an  able  one  :  it  will  bear  the  burden  of 
one  of  the  best  manors  of  the  Abbey  of  St.  Mary  of  Kenna- 
17 


258  WA  YEELET  NO VEL8 

qnhair,  lately  forfeited  to  our  noble  Lord  the  King  by  the 
abbot  and  community  thereof,  for  the  high  crime  of  fidelity 
to  their  religious  vows,  and  now  to  be  granted  by  the  High 
and  Mighty  Traitor,  and  so  forth,  James  Earl  of  Murray,  to 
the  good  squire  of  dames,  Roland  Graeme,  for  his  loyal  and 
faithful  service  as  under-espial  and  deputy-turnkey  for  se- 
curing the  person  of  his  lawful  sovereign,  Queen  Mary/^ 

*^You  misconstrue  me  cruelly,''^  said  the  page — "yes, 
Catherine,  most  cruelly.  God  knows  I  would  protect  this 
poor  lady  at  the  risk  of  my  life,  or  with  my  life  ;  but  what 
can  I  do — what  can  any  one  do  for  her  ?  " 

^'Much  may  be  done — enough  may  be  done — all  may  be 
done — if  men  will  be  but  true  and  honorable,  as  Scottish  men 
were  in  the  days  of  Bruce  and  Wallace.  0,  Roland,  from 
what  an  enterprise  you  are  now  withdrawing  your  heart 
and  hand,  through  mere  fickleness  and  coldness  of  spirit ! " 

*'  How  can  I  withdraw,^'  said  Roland,  *^from  an  enter- 
prise which  has  never  been  communicated  to  me  ?  Has  the 
Queen,  or  have  you,  or  has  any  one,  communicated  with  me 
upon  anything  for  her  service  which  I  have  refused  ?  Or 
have  you  not,  all  of  you,  held  me  at  such  a  distance  from 
your  counsels  as  if  I  were  the  most  faithless  spy  since  the 
days  of  Ganelon  ?"  * 

^'^  And  who/'  said  Catherine  Seyton,  "would  trust  the 
sworn  friend,  and  pupil,  and  companion  of  the  heretic 
preacher  Henderson  ?  Ay,  a  proper  tutor  you  have  chosen, 
instead  of  the  excellent  Ambrosius,  who  is  now  turned  out 
of  house  and  homestead,  if  indeed  he  is  not  languishing  in  a 
dungeon,  for  withstanding  the  tyranny  of  Morton,  to  whose 
brother  the  temporalities  of  that  noble  house  of  God  have 
been  gifted  away  by  the  Regent. '^ 

"Is  it  possible  ?"  said  the  page;  "and  is  the  excellent 
Father  Ambrose  in  such  distress  ? '' 

"  He  would  account  the  news  of  your  falling  away  from 
the  faith  of  your  fathers,^'  answered  Catherine,  '^  a  worse 
mishap  than  aught  that  tyranny  can  inflict  on  himself. '' 

"  But  why,''  said  Roland,  very  much  moved — "  why  should 
you  suppose  that — that — that  it  is  with  me  as  you  say  ?  " 

"  Do  you  yourself  deny  it  ?  '*  replied  Catherine  ;  "  do  you 
not  admit  that  you  have  drunk  the  poison  which  you  should 
have  dashed  from  your  lips  ?  Do  you  deny  that  it  now  fer- 
ments in  your  veins,  if  it  has  not  altogether  corrupted  the 
springs  of  life  ?  Do  you  deny  that  you  have  your  doubts,  as 
you  proudly  term  them,  respecting  what  popes  and  coun- 

♦See  Note  17. 


THE  ABBOT  269 

cils  have  declared  it  unlawful  to  doubt  of  ?  Is  not  your  faith 
wavering,  if  not  overthrown  't  Does  not  the  heretic  preacher 
boast  his  conquest  ?  Does  not  the  heretic  woman  of  this 
prison-house  hold  up  thy  example  to  others  ?  Do  not  the 
Queen  and  the  Lady  Fleming  believe  in  thy  falling  away  ? 
And  is  there  any  except  one — yes,  I  will  speak  it  out,  and 
think  as  lightly  as  you  please  of  my  good- will — is  there  one 
except  myself  that  holds  even  a  lingering  hope  that  you  may 
yet  prove  what  we  once  all  believed  of  you  ?  " 

'*  I  know  not,"  said  our  poor  page,  much  embarrassed  by  the 
view  which  was  thus  presented  to  him  of  the  conduct  he  was 
expected  to  pursue,  and  by  a  person  in  whom  he  was  not  the 
less  interested  that  so  long  a  residence  in  Lochleven  Castle, 
with  no  object  so  likely  to  attract  his  undivided  attention, 
had  taken  place  since  they  had  first  met — '^I  know  not  what 
you  expect  of  me,  or  fear  from  me.  I  was  sent  hither  to  at- 
tend Queen  Mary,  and  to  her  I  acknowledge  the  duty  of  a 
servant  through  life  and  death.  If  any  one  had  expected 
service  of  another  kind,  I  was  not  the  party  to  render  it.  I 
neither  avow  nor  disclaim  the  doctrines  of  the  Eeformed 
Church.  Will  you  have  truth  ?  It  seems  to  me  that  the 
profligacy  of  the  Catholic  clergy  has  brought  this  judgment 
on  their  own  heads,  and,  for  aught  I  know,  it  may  be  for 
their  reformation.  But,  for  betraying  this  unhappy  Queen, 
God  knows  I  am  guiltless  of  the  thought.  Did  I  even  be- 
lieve worse  of  her  than  as  her  servant  I  wish — as  her  sub- 
ject I  dare — to  do,  I  would  not  betray  her  ;  far  from  it — I 
would  aid  her  in  aught  which  could  tend  to  a  fair  trial 
of  her  cause.^' 

''  Enough  ! — enough  ! "  answered  Catherine,  clasping  her 
hands  together  ;  ^'  then  thou  wilt  not  desert  us  if  any  means 
are  presented  by  which,  placing  our  royal  mistress  at  free- 
dom, this  case  may  be  honestly  tried  betwixt  her  and  her 
rebellious  subjects  ?" 

^'  Nay,  but,  fair  Catherine,"  replied  the  page,  "  hear  but 
what  the  Lord  of  Murray  said  when  he  sent  me  hither " 

^^Hear  but  what  the  devil  said,"  replied  the  maiden, 
**  rather  than  what  a  false  subject,  a  false  brother,  a  false 
counselor,  a  false  friend  said  !  A  man  raised  from  a  petty 
pensioner  on  the  crown's  bounty  to  be  the  counselor  of 
majesty,  and  the  prime  distributor  of  the  bounties  of  the 
state  ;  one  with  whom  rank,  fortune,  title,  consequence,  and 
power  all  grew  up  like  a  mushroom  by  the  mere  warm  good- 
will of  the  sister  whom,  in  requital,  he  hath  mewed  up  in 
this  place  of  melancholy  seclusion  ;  whom,  in  further  re- 


260  WA  VBBLET  NOVELS 

quital,  ne  has  deposed  ;  and  whom,  if  he  dared,  he  would 
murder ! '' 

"  I  think  not  so  ill  of  the  Earl  of  Murray,"  said  Eoland 
Graeme  ;  ^'and  sooth  to  speak,"  he  added,  with  a  smile,  '^  it 
would  require  some  bribe  to  make  me  embrace,  with  firm  and 
deperate  resolution,  either  one  side  or  the  other." 

"Nay,  if  that  is  all,"  replied  Catherine  Seyton,  in  a  tone 
of  enthusiasm,  '^  you  shall  be  guerdoned  with  prayers  from 
oppressed  subjects — from  dispossessed  clergy — from  insulted 
nobles — with  immortal  praise  by  future  ages — with  eager 
gratitude  by  the  present — with  fame  on  earth  and  with  feli- 
city in  Heaven  !  Your  country  will  thank  you — your  Queen 
will  be  debtor  to  you — you  will  achieve  at  once  the  highest 
from  the  lowest  degree  m  chivalry — all  men  will  honor,  all 
women  will  love  you — and  I,  sworn  with  you  so  early  to  the 
accomplishment  of  Queen  Mary's  freedom,  will — yes,  I  will 
love  you  better  than — ever  sister  loved  brother  ! " 

"  Say  on — say  on  ! "  whispered  Eoland,  kneeling  on  one 
knee,  and  taking  her  hand,  which,  in  the  warmth  of  exhorta- 
tion, Catherine  held  towards  him. 

"  Nay,"  said  she,  pausing,  "  I  have  already  said  too  much 
— far  too  much  if  I  prevail  not  with  you,  far  too  little  if  I 
do.  But  I  prevail,  she  continued,  seeing  that  the  coun- 
tenance of  the  youth  she  addressed  returned  the  enthusiasm 
of  her  own — ''I  prevail;  or  rather  the  good  cause  prevails 
through  its  own  strength — thus  I  devote  thee  to  it."  And 
as  she  spoke  she  approached  her  finger  to  the  brow  of  the 
astonished  youth,  and,  without  touching  it,  signed  the  cross 
over  his  forehead  ;  stooped  her  face  towards  him,  and  seemed 
to  kiss  the  empty  space  in  which  she  had  traced  the  symbol ; 
then  starting  up,  and  extricating  herself  from  his  grasp, 
darted  into  the  Queen's  apartment. 

Roland  Graeme  remained  as  the  enthusiastic  maiden  had 
left  him,  kneeling  on  one  knee,  with  breath  withheld,  and 
with  eyes  fixed  upon  the  space  which  the  fairy  form  of  Cath- 
erine Seyton  had  so  lately  occupied.  If  his  thoughts  were 
not  of  unmixed  delight,  they  at  least  partook  of  that  thrill- 
ing and  intoxicating,  though  mingled,  sense  of  pain  and 
pleasure,  the  most  overpowering  which  life  offers  in  its 
blended  cup.  He  rose  and  retired  slowly  ;  and  although  the 
chaplain,  Mr.  Henderson,  preached  on  that  evening  his  best 
sermon  against  the  errors  of  Popery,  I  would  not  engage 
that  he  was  followed  accurately  through  the  train  of  his  reas- 
oning by  the  young  proselyte,  with  a  view  to  whose  especial 
benefit  he  had  handled  the  subject. 


CHAPTER  XXV 

And  when  Love's  torch  hath  set  the  heart  in  flame, 
Comes  Seignor  Reason,  with  his  saws  and  cautions, 
Giving  such  aid  as  the  old  gray-beard  sexton, 
Who  from  the  church-vault  drags  his  crazy  engine, 
To  ply  its  dribbling  ineffectual  streamlet 
Against  a  conflagration. 

Old  Play. 

In  a  musing  mood,  Roland  Graeme  upon  the  ensuing  morn- 
ing betook  himself  to  the  battlements  of  the  castle,  as  a  spot 
where  he  might  indulge  the  course  of  his  thick-coming  fan- 
cies with  least  chance  of  interruption.  But  his  place  of 
retirement  was  in  the  present  case  ill  chosen,  for  he  was 
presently  joined  by  Mr.  Elias  Henderson. 

"I  sought  you  young  man,''  said  the  preacher,  "having 
to  speak  of  something  which  concerns  jou  nearly.'' 

The  page  had  no  pretense  for  avoiding  the  conference 
which  the  chaplain  thus  offered,  though  he  felt  that  it  might 
prove  an  embarrassing  one. 

"In  teaching  thee,  as  far  as  my  feeble  knowledge  hath 
permitted,  thy  duty  towards  God,"  said  the  chaplain,  "there 
are  particulars  of  your  duty  towards  man  upon  which  I  was 
unwilling  long  or  much  to  insist.  You  are  here  in  the  ser- 
vice of  a  lady,  honorable  as  touching  her  birth,  deserving  of  all 
compassion  as  respects  her  misfortunes,  and  garnished  with 
even  but  too  many  of  those  outward  qualities  which  win 
men's  regard  and  affection.  Have  you  ever  considered  your 
regard  to  this  Lady  Mary  of  Scotland  in  its  true  light  and 
bearing  ?  " 

"  I  trust,  reverend  sir,"  replied  Roland  Graeme,  "  that  I 
am  well  aware  of  the  duties  a  servant  in  my  condition  owes 
to  his  royal  mistress,  especially  in  her  lowly  and  distressed 
state." 

"True,"  answered  the  preacher;  "but  it  is  even  that 
honest  feeling  which  may,  in  the  Lady  Mary's  case,  carry 
thee  into  great  crime  and  treachery." 

"  How  so,  reverend  sir  ?"  replied  the  page  ;  "  I  profess  I 
understand  you  not." 

**  I  speak  to  yon  not  of  the  crimes  of  this  ill-advised  lady/* 

261 


262  WAVEELEY  NOVELS 

said  the  preacher ;  ''  they  are  not  subjects  for  the  ears  of 
her  sworn  servant.  But  it  is  enough  to  say  that  this  un- 
happy person  hath  rejected  more  offers  of  grace^  more  hopes 
of  glory,  than  ever  were  held  out  to  earthly  princes  ;  and 
that  she  is  now,  her  day  of  favor  being  passed,  sequestered 
in  this  lonely  castle,  for  the  commonweal  of  the  people  of 
Scotland,  and  it  may  be  for  the  benefit  of  her  own  soul." 

'*  Reverend  sir,"  said  Roland,  somewhat  impatiently,  *'I 
am  but  too  well  aware  that  my  unfortunate  mistress  is  im- 
prisoned, since  I  have  the  misfortune  to  share  in  her  restraint 
myself,  of  which,  to  speak  sooth,  I  am  heartily  weary." 

"It  is  even  of  that  which  I  am  about  to  speak,"  said 
the  chaplain,  mildly  ;  *'  but  first,  my  good  Roland,  look  forth 
on  the  pleasant  prospect  of  yonder  cultivated  plain.  You  see, 
where  the  smoke  arises,  yonder  village  standing  half-hidden 
by  the  trees,  and  you  know  it  to  be  the  dwelling-place  of 
peace  and  industry.  From  space  to  space,  each  by  the  side 
of  its  own  stream,  you  see  the  gray  towers  of  barons,  with 
cottages  interspersed ;  and  you  know  that  they  also,  with 
their  household,  are  now  living  in  unity — the  lance  hung 
upon  the  wall  and  the  sword  resting  in  its  sheath.  You  see, 
too,  more  than  one  fair  church  where  the  pure  waters  of  life 
are  offered  to  the  thirsty'  and  where  the  hungry  are  refreshed 
with  spiritual  food.  What  would  he  deserve  who  should  bring 
fire  and  slaughter  into  so  fair  and  happy  a  scene — who  should 
bear  the  swords  of  the  gentry  and  turn  them  against  each 
other — who  should  give  tower  and  cottage  to  the  flames,,  and 
slake  the  embers  with  the  blood  of  the  ind wallers  ?  What 
would  he  deserve  who  should  lift  up  agaip  that  ancient 
Dagon  of  superstition  whom  the  worthies  of  the  time  have 
beaten  down,  and  who  should  once  more  mak^  the  churches 
of  God  the  high  places  of  Baal  ?  " 

''  You  have  limned  a  frightful  picture,  reverend  sir/'  said 
Roland  Graeme ;  "yet  I  guess  not  whom  you  would  charge 
with  the  purpose  of  effecting  a  change  so  horrible." 

"  God  forbid,"  replied  the  preacher,  "  that  3  should  say  to 
thee,  thou  art  the  man.  Yet  beware,  Roland  Graeme,  that 
thou,  in  serving  thy  mistress,  hold  fast  the  still  higher  ser- 
vice which  thou  owest  to  the  peace  of  thy  country  and  the 
prosperity  of  her  inhabitants ;  else,  Roland  Graeme,  thou 
mayst  be  the  very  man  upon  whose  head  will  fall  the  curses 
and  assured  punishment  due  to  such  work.  If  thou  art  won 
by  the  song  of  these  sirens  to  aid  that  unhappy  lady's  '^scapa 
from  this  place  of  penitence  and  security,  it  is  over  with  tlip 
peace  of  Scotland's  cottages  and  with  the  prosperity  of  he^ 


THE  ABBOT  263 

palaces ;  and  the  babe  unborn  shall  curse  the  name  of  the 
man  who  gave  inlet  to  the  disorder  which  will  follow  the  war 
betwixt  the  mother  and  the  son." 

"  I  know  of  no  such  plan,  reverend  sir,"  answered  the 
page,  '  ^  and  therefore  can  aid  none  such.  My  duty  towards 
the  Queen  has  been  simply  that  of  an  attendant ;  it  is  a  task 
of  which,  at  times,  I  would  willingly  have  been  freed  ;  never- 
theless  " 

^*  It  is  to  prepare  thee  for  the  enjoyment  of  something 
more  of  liberty,"  said  the  preacher,  '^  that  I  have  endeavored 
to  impress  upon  you  the  deep  responsibility  under  which 
your  office  must  be  discharged.  George  Douglas  hath  told 
the  Lady  Lochleven  that  you  are  weary  of  this  service,  and 
my  intercession  hath  partly  determined  her  good  ladyship 
that,  as  your  discharge  cannot  be  granted,  you  shall,  instead, 
be  employed  in  certain  commissions  on  the  mainland,  which 
have  hitherto  been  discharged  by  other  persons  of  confidence. 
Wherefore,  come  with  me  to  the  lady,  for  even  to-day  such 
duty  will  be  imposed  on  you." 

^'  I  trust  you  will  hold  me  excused,  reverend  sir,"  said  the 
page,  who  felt  that  an  increase  of  confidence  on  the  part  of 
the  lady  of  the  castle  and  her  family  would  render  his  situa- 
tion in  a  moral  view  doubly  embarrassing,  ''  one  cannot 
serve  two  masters  ;  and  I  much  fear  that  my  mistress  will 
not  hold  me  excused  for  taking  employment  under  an- 
other." 

"  Fear  not  that,"  said  the  preacher  ;  ''  her  consent  shall  be 
asked  and  obtained.  I  fear  she  will  yield  it  but  too  easily,  as 
hoping  to  avail  herself  of  your  agency  to  maintain  correspond- 
ence with  her  friends,  as  those  falsely  call  themselves  who 
would  make  her  name  the  watchward  for  civil  war." 

"  And  thus,"  said  the  page,  ^^  I  shall  be  exposed  to  sus- 
picion on  all  sides  ;  for  my  mistress  will  consider  me  as  a  spy 
placed  on  her  by  her  enemies,  seeing  me  so  far  trusted  by 
them  ;  and  the  Lady  Lochleven  will  never  cease  to  suspect 
the  possibility  of  my  betraying  her,  because  circumstances 
put  it  into  my  power  to  do  so  ;  I  would  rather  remain  as  I 
am." 

There  followed  a  pause  of  one  or  two  minutes,  during 
which  Henderson  looked  steadily  in  Roland's  countenance, 
as  if  desirous  to  ascertain  whether  there  was  not  more  in  the 
answer  than  the  precise  words  seemed  to  imply.  He  failed 
in  this  point,  however  ;  for  Eoland,  bred  a  page  from  child- 
hood, knew  how  to  assume  a  sullen,  pettish  cast  of  counte* 
nance,  well  enough  calculated  to  hide  all  internal  emotions. 


264  WAVERLET  NOVELS 

"  I  understand  thee  not,  Roland/'  said  the  preacher,  '^  or 
rather  thou  thinkst  on  this  matter  more  deeply  than  I  appre- 
hended to  be  in  thy  nature.  Methought  the  delight  of 
going  on  shore  with  thy  bow,  or  thy  gun,  or  thy  angling-rod, 
would  have  borne  away  all  other  feelings." 

"  And  so  it  would,"  replied  Roland,  who  perceived  the 
danger  of  suffering  Henderson's  half-raised  suspicions  to  be- 
come fully  awake — **  I  would  have  thought  of  nothing  but 
the  gun  and  the  oar,  and  the  wild  water-fowl  that  tempt  me 
by  sailing  among  the  sedges  yonder  so  far  out  of  flight-shot, 
had  you  not  spoken  of  my  going  on  shore  as  what  was  to  oc- 
casion burning  of  town  and  tower,  the  downfall  of  the  Evan- 
gel, and  the  upsetting  of  the  mass." 

"  Follow  me,  then,"  said  Henderson,  ''  and  we  will  seek 
the  Lady  Lochleven." 

They  found  her  at  breakfast  with  her  grandson  George 
Douglas.  ''Peace  be  with  your  ladyship!"  said  the 
preacher,  bowing  to  his  patroness  ;  "  Ronald  Graeme  awaits 
your  order." 

'•^ Young  man,"  said  the  lady,  "our  chaplain  hath  war- 
ranted for  thy  fidelity,  and  we  are  determined  to  give  you 
certain  errands  to  do  for  us  in  our  town  of  Kinross.  ' 

"  Not  by  my  advice,"  said  Douglas,  coldly. 

"  I  said  not  that  it  was,"  answered  the  lady,  something 
sharply.  ''  The  mother  of  thy  father  may,  I  should  think, 
be  old  enough  to  judge  for  herself  in  a  matter  so  simple. 
Thou  wilt  take  the  skiff,  Roland,  and  two  of  my  people, 
whom  Dryfesdale  or  Randal  will  order  out,  and  fetch  off  cer- 
tain stuff  of  plate  and  hangings  which  should  last  night  be 
lodged  at  Kinross  by  the  wains  from  Edinburgh." 

"And  give  this  packet,"  said  George  Douglas,  "to  a 
servant  of  ours,  whom  you  will  find  in  waiting  there.  It  is 
the  report  to  my  father,"  he  added,  looking  towards  his 
grandmother,  who  acquiesced  by  bending  her  head. 

"  I  have  already  mentioned  to  Master  Henderson,"  said 
Roland  Graeme,  "  that,  as  my  duty  requires  my  attendance 
on  the  Queen,  her  Grace's  permission  for  my  journey  ought 
to  be  obtained  before  I  can  undertake  your  commission." 

"  Look  to  it,  my  son,"  said  the  old  lady,  "  the  scruple  of 
the  youth  is  honorable." 

"  Craving  your  pardon,  madam,  I  have  no  wish  to  force 
myself  on  her  presence  thus  early,"  said  Douglas  in  an  in- 
di^erent  tone ;  "it  might  displease  her,  and  were  no  way 
agreeable  to  me." 

"  And  I,"  said  the  Lady  Lochleven,  "  although  her  temper 


i 


THE  ABBOT  265 

hath  been  more  gentle  of  late,  have  no  will  to  undergo,  with* 
out  necessity,  the  rancor  of  her  wit." 

'*  Under  your  permission,  madam/'  said  the  chaplain,  "  I 
will  myself  render  your  request  to  the  Queen.  During  my 
long  residence  in  this  house  she  hath  not  deigned  to  see  me 
in  private,  or  to  hear  my  doctrine  ;  yet  so  may  Heaven 
prosper  my  labors,  as  love  for  her  soul,  and  desire  to  bring 
her  into  the  right  path,  was  my  chief  motive  for  coming 
hither." 

"  Take  care.  Master  Henderson,"  said  Douglas,  in  a  tone 
which  seemed  almost  sarcastic,  *^^lest  you  rush  hastily  on  an 
adventure  to  which  you  have  no  vocation  ;  you  are  learned, 
and  know  the  adage,  Ne  accesseris  in  consilium  nisi  vocatus. 
Who  hath  required  this  at  your  hand  ?  " 

"  The  Master  to  whose  service  I  am  called,"  answered  the 
preacher,  looking  upward — ^'  He  who  hath  commanded  me 
to  be  earnest  in  season  and  out  of  season." 

'*  Your  acquaintance  hath  not  been  much,  I  think,with 
courts  or  princes,"  continued  the  young  esquire. 

'*  No,  sir,"  replied  Henderson,  ''  but,  like  my  master  Knox, 
I  see  nothing  frightful  in  the  fair  face  of  a  pretty  lady." 

*'  My  son,"  said  the  Lady  of  Lochleven,  *^  quench  not  the 
good  man's  zeal :  let  him  do  the  errand  to  this  unhappy 
princess." 

''  With  more  willingness  than  I  would  do  it  myself,"  said 
George  Douglas.  Yet  something  in  his  manner  appeared 
to  contradict  his  words. 

The  minister  went  accordingly,  followed  by  Roland  Graeme, 
and,  demanding  an  audience  of  the  imprisoned  princess,  was 
admitted.  He  found  her  with  her  ladies  engaged  in  the 
daily  task  of  embroidery.  The  Queen  received  him  with  that 
courtesy  which,  in  ordinary  cases,  she  used  towards  all  who 
approached  her,  and  the  clergyman,  in  opening  his  commis- 
sion, was  obviously  somewhat  more  embarrassed  than  he  had 
expected  to  be.  ^'  The  good  Lady  of  Lochleven,  may  it 
please  your  Grace " 

He  made  a  short  pause,  during  which  Mary  said,  with  a 
smile,  *'  My  Grace  would,  in  truth,  be  well  pleased  were  the 
Lady  of  Lochleven  our  good  lady  ;  but  go  on — what  is  the  will 
of  the  good  Lady  of  Lochleven  ?  " 

"She  desires,   madam/'  said  the  chaplain,   "that  your 

Grace  will  permit  this  young  gentleman,  your  page,  Roland 

Graeme,  to  pass  to  Kinross,  to  look  after  some  household  stuff 

•  and  hangings  sent  hither  for  the  better  furnishing  of  your 

Grace's  apartments." 


266  WAVEBLEY  NOVELS 

'*  The  Lady  of  Lochleven/'  said  the  Qaeen,  "  uses 
needless  ceremony,  in  requesting  our  permission  for  that 
which  stands  within  her  own  pleasure.  We  well  know  that 
this  young  gentleman's  attendance  on  us  had  not  been  so 
long  permitted  were  he  not  thought  to  be  more  at  the  com- 
mand of  that  good  lady  than  at  ours.  But  we  cheerfully 
yield  consent  that  he  shall  go  on  her  errand  ;  with  our  will 
we  would  doom  no  living  creature  to  the  captivity  which  we 
ourselves  must  suffer.'" 

"  Ay,  madam/'  answered  the  preacher,  "  and  it  is  doubt- 
less natural  for  humanity  to  quarrel  with  its  prison-house. 
Yet  there  have  been  those  who  have  found  that  time  spent 
in  the  house  of  temporal  captivity  may  be  so  employed  as  to 
redeem  us  from  spiritual  slavery. 

"  I  apprehend  your  meaning,  sir,''  replied  the  Queen, 
"  but  I  have  heard  your  apostle — I  have  heard  Master  John 
Knox  ;  and  were  I  to  be  perverted,  I  would  willingly  resign 
to  the  ablest  and  most  powerful  of  heresiarchs  the  poor  honor 
he  might  acquire  by  overcoming  my  faith  and  my  hope." 

'*  Madam,"  said  the  preacher,  "it  is  not  to  the  talents 
or  skill  of  the  husbandman  that  God  gives  the  increase  :  the 
words  which  were  offered  in  vain  by  him  whom  you  justly 
call  our  apostle,  during  the  bustle  and  gaiety  of  a  court, 
may  yet  find  better  acceptance  during  the  leisure  for  reflec- 
tion which  this  place  affords.  God  knows,  lady,  that  I  speak 
in  singleness  of  heart,  as  one  who  would  as  soon  compare 
himself  to  the  immortal  angels  as  to  the  holy  man  whom 
you  have  named.  Yet  would  you  but  condescend  to  apply 
to  their  noblest  use  those  talents  and  that  learning  which  all 
allow  you  to  be  possessed  of — would  you  afford  us  but  the 
slightest  hope  that  you  would  hear  and  regard  what  can  be 
urged  against  the  blinded  superstition  and  idolatry  in  which 
you  were  brought  up,  sure  am  I,  that  the  most  powerfully 
gifted  of  my  brethren,  that  even  John  Knox  himself,  would 
hasten  hither,  and  account  the  rescue  of  your  single  soul 
from  the  nets  of  Komish  error " 

"  I  am  obliged  to  you  and  to  them  for  their  charity,"  said 
Mary  ;  *'  but  as  I  have  at  present  but  one  presence-chamber, 
I  would  reluctantly  see  it  converted  into  a  Huguenot  synod." 

*'  At  least,  madam,  be  not  thus  obstinately  blinded  in 
your  errors  !  Hear  one  who  has  hungered  and  thirsted, 
watched  and  prayed,  to  undertake  the  good  work  of  your 
conversion,  and  who  would  be  content  to  die  the  instant  that 
a  work  so  advantageous  for  yourself  and  so  beneficial  to 
Scotland  were  accomplished.     Yes,  lady,  could  I  but  shake 


THE  ABBOT  267 

the  remaining  pillar  of  the  heathen  temple  in  this  land — 
and  that  permit  me  to  term  your  faith  in  the  delusions  of 
Kome — I  could  be  content  to  die  overwhelmed  in  the  ruins  ! " 

"  I  will  not  insult  your  zeal,  sir/^  replied  Mary,  ''  by 
saying  you  are  more  likely  to  make  sport  for  the  Philistines 
than  to  overwhelm  them  :  your  charity  claims  my  thanks, 
for  it  is  warmly  expressed,  and  may  be  truly  purposed.  But 
believe  as  well  of  me  as  I  am  willing  to  do  of  you,  and  think 
that  I  may  be  as  anxious  to  recall  you  to  the  ancient  and 
only  road  as  you  are  to  teach  mo  your  new  bye-ways  to 
Paradise." 

^'  Then,  madam,  if  such  be  your  generous  purpose,"  said 
Henderson,  eagerly,  *' what  hinders  that  we  should  dedicate 
some  part  of  that  time  unhappily  now  too  much  at  your 
Grace's  disposal  to  discuss  a  question  so  weighty  ?  You  by 
report  of  all  men  are  both  learned  and  witty  ;  and  I,  tliough 
without  such  advantages,  am  strong  in  my  cause  as  in  a 
tower  of  defense.  Why  should  we  not  spend  some  space  in 
endeavoring  to  discover  which  of  us  hath  the  wrong  side  in 
this  important  matter  ?  " 

**  Nay,"  said  Queen  Mary,  "  I  never  alleged  my  force  was>* 
strong  enough  to  accept  of  a  combat  en  chamj)  clos  with  a 
scholar  and  a  polemic.  Besides,  the  match  is  not  equal. 
You,  sir,  might  retire  when  you  felt  the  battle  go  against 
you,  while  I  am  tied  to  the  stake,  and  have  no  permission  to 
say  the  debate  wearies  me.     I  would  be  alone." 

She  courtesied  low  to  him  as  she  uttered  these  words  ;  and 
Henderson,  whose  zeal  was  indeed  ardent,  but  did  not  ex- 
tend to  the  neglect  of  delicacy,  bowed  in  return,  and  prepared 
to  withdraw. 

"  I  would,"  he  said,  *'  that  my  earnest  wish,  my  most 
zealous  prayer,  could  procure  to  your  Grace  any  blessing  or 
comfort,  but  especially  that  in  which  alone  blessing  or  com- 
fort is,  as  easily  as  the  slightest  intimation  of  your  wish  will 
remove  me  from  your  presence." 

He  was  in  the  act  of  departing,  when  Mary  said  to  him 
with  much  courtesy,  ^'  Do  me  no  injury  in  your  thoughts, 
good  sir ;  it  may  be,  that  if  my  time  here  be  protracted 
longer — as  surely  I  hope  it  will  not,  trusting  that  either  my 
rebel  subjects  will  repent  of  their  disloyalty,  or  that  my 
faithful  lieges  will  obtain  the  upper  hand — but  if  my  time 
be  here  protracted,  it  may  be  I  shall  have  no  displeasure  in 
hearing  one  who  seems  so  reasonable  and  compassionate  as 
yourself,  and  I  may  hazard  your  contempt  by  endeavoring 
to  recollect  and  repeat  the  reasons   which  schoolmen  and 


268  WAVEELET  NOVELS 

councils  give  for  the  faith  that  is  in  me,  although  I  fear 
that,  God  help  me  !  my  Latin  has  deserted  me  with  my 
other  possessions.  This  must,  however,  be  for  another  day. 
Meanwhile,  sir,  let  the  Lady  of  Lochleven  employ  my  page 
as  she  lists  ;  I  will  not  afford  suspicion  by  speaking  a  word 
to  him  before  he  goes.  Koland  Graeme,  my  friend,  lose  not 
an  opportunity  of  amusing  thyself  :  dance,  sing,  run,  and 
leap — all  may  be  done  merrily  on  the  mainland  ;  but  he 
must  have  more  than  quicksilver  in  his  veins  who  would  frolic 
here.'' 

"Alas!  madam,'*  said  the  preacher,  "to  what  is  it  you 
exhort  the  youth,  while  time  passes  and  eternity  summons  ! 
Can  our  salvation  be  insured  by  idle  mirth,  or  our  good 
work  wrought  out  without  fear  and  trembling  ?" 

"  I  cannot  fear  or  tremble,"  replied  the  Queen  :  "  to  Mary 
Stuart  such  emotions  are  unknown.  But,  if  weeping  and 
sorrow  on  my  part  will  atone  for  the  boy's  enjoying  an  hour 
of  boyish  pleasure,  be  assured  the  penance  shall  be  duly 

"Nay,  but,  gracious  lady,"  said  the  preacher,  "in  this 
.you  greatly  err :  our  tears  and  our  sorrows  are  all  too  little 
for  our  own  faults  and  follies,  nor  can  we  transfer  them,  as 
your  church  falsely  teaches,  to  the  benefit  of  others." 

"  May  I  pray  you,  sir,"  answered  the  Queen,  *'  with  as 
little  offense  as  such  a  prayer  may  import,  to  transfer  your- 
self elsewhere  ?  We  are  sick  at  heart,  and  may  not  now  be 
disturbed  with  further  controversy  ;  and  thou,  Eoland,  take 
this  little  purse  " — then  turning  to  the  divine,  she  said,  show- 
ing its  contents, — "Look,  reverend  sir,  it  contains  only 
these  two  or  three  gold  testoons — a  coin  which,  though 
bearing  my  own  poor  features,  I  have  ever  found  more  active 
against  me  than  on  my  side,  just  as  my  subjects  take  arms 
against  me,  with  my  own  name  for  their  summons  and 
signal.  Take  this  purse  that  thou  mayst  want  no  means  of 
amusement.  Fail  not — fail  not  to  bring  me  back  news  from 
Kinross  ;  only  let  it  be  such  as,  without  suspicion  or  offense, 
may  be  told  in  the  presence  of  this  reverend  gentleman,  or 
of  the  good  Lady  Lochleven  herself." 

The  last  hint  was  too  irresistible  to  be  withstood  ;  and 
Henderson  withdrew,  half-mortified,  half-pleased  with  his 
reception  ;  for  Mary,  from  long  habit  and  the  address  which 
was  natural  to  her,  had  learned,  in  an  extraordinary  degree, 
the  art  of  evading  discourse  which  was  disagreeable  to  her 
feelings  or  prejudices,  without  affronting  those  by  whom  it 
was  proffered. 


THE  ABBOT  26i) 

Eoland  Graeme  retired  with  the  chaplain  at  a  signal  from 
his  lady  ;  but  it  did  not  escape  him  that,  as  he  left  the  room, 
stepping  backwards  and  making  the  deep  obeisance  due  to 
royalty,  Catherine  Sey ton  held  up  her  slender  forefinger,  with 
a  gesture  which  he  alone  could  witness,  and  which  seemed 
to  say,  ''  Remember  what  has  passed  betwixt  us/' 

The  young  page  had  now  his  last  charge  from  the  Lady  of 
Lochleven.  "  There  are  revels,'^  she  said,  ''  this  day  at  the 
village.  My  son's  authority  is,  as  yet,  unable  to  prevent 
these  continued  workings  of  the  ancient  leaven  of  folly  which 
the  Romish  priests  have  kneaded  into  the  very  souls  of  the 
Scottish  peasantry.  I  do  not  command  thee  to  abstain 
from  them — that  would  be  only  to  lay  a  snare  for  thy 
folly,  or  to  teach  thee  falsehood ;  but  enjoy  these  vanities 
with  moderation,  and  mark  them  as  something  thou  must 
soon  learn  to  renounce  and  contemn.  Our  chamberlain  at 
Kinross,  Luke  Lundin — Doctor,  as  he  foolishly  calleth 
himself — will  acquaint  thee  what  is  to  be  done  in  the  matter 
about  which  thou  goest.  Remember  thou  art  trusted  ;  show 
thyself,  therefore,  worthy  of  trust." 

When  we  recollect  that  Roland  Graeme  was  not  yet  nine- 
teen, and  that  he  had  spent  his  whole  life  in  the  solitary 
Castle  of  Avenel,  excepting  the  few  hours  he  had  passed  in 
Edinburgh,  and  his  late  residence  at  Lochleven,  the  latter 
period  having  very  little  served  to  enlarge  his  acquaintance 
with  the  gay  world,  we  cannot  wonder  that  his  heart  beat 
high  with  hope  and  curiosity  at  the  prospect  of  partaking 
the  sport  even  of  a  country  wake.  He  hastened  to  his  little 
cabin,  and  turned  over  the  wardrobe  with  which,  in  every 
respect  becoming  his  station,  he  had  been  supplied  from 
Edinburgh,  probably  by  order  of  the  Earl  of  Murray.  By 
the  Queen's  command  he  had  hitherto  waited  upon  her  in 
mourning,  or  at  least  in  sad-colored  raiment.  Her  condition, 
she  said,  admitted  of  nothing  more  gay.  But  now  he  selected 
the  gayest  dress  his  wardrobe  afforded,  composed  of  scarlet, 
slashed  with  black  satin — the  royal  colors  of  Scotland  ; 
combed  his  long  curled  hair  ;  disposed  his  chain  and  medal 
round  a  beaver  hat  of  the  newest  block  ;  and  with  the  gay 
falchion  which  had  reached  him  in  so  mysterious  a  manner 
hung  by  his  side  in  an  embroidered  belt,  his  apparel,  added 
to  his  natural  frank  mien  and  handsome  figure,  formed  a 
most  commendable  and  pleasing  specimen  of  the  young 
gallant  of  the  period.  He  sought  to  make  his  parting  rev- 
erence to  the  Queen  and  her  ladies,  but  old  Dryfesdale 
hurried  him  to  the  boat. 


270  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 


te 


We  will  have  no  private  andiences,"  he  said,  "  my 
master  ;  since  you  are  to  be  trusted  with  somewhat,  we  will 
try  at  least  to  save  thee  from  the  temptation  of  opportunity. 
God  help  thee,  child,"  he  added,  with  a  glance  of  contempt 
at  his  gay  clothes,  "  an  the  bear-ward  be  yonder  from  St. 
Andrews,  have  a  care  thou  go  not  near  him." 

^^  And  wherefore,  I  pray  you  ?"  said  Roland. 

*'Lest  he  take  thee  for  one  of  his  runaway  jackanapes,'' 
answered  the  steward,  smiling  sourly. 

"  I  wear  not  my  clothes  at  thy  cost,"  said  Roland,  indig- 
nantly. 

*'  Nor  at  thine  own  either,  my  son,"  replied  the  steward, 
'^  else  would  thy  garb  more  nearly  resemble  thy  merit  and 
thy  station." 

Roland  Graeme  suppressed  with  difficulty  the  repartee 
which  arose  to  his  lips,  and,  wrapping  his  scarlet  mantle 
around  him,  threw  himself  into  the  boat,  which  two  rowers, 
themselves  urged  by  curiosity  to  see  the  revels,  pulled  stoutly 
towards  the  west  end  of  the  lake.  As  they  put  off,  Roland 
thought  he  could  discover  the  face  of  Catherine  Seyton, 
though  carefully  withdrawn  from  observation,  peeping  from 
a  loophole  to  view  his  departure.  He  pulled  off  his  hat,  and 
held  it  up  as  a  token  that  he  saw  and  wished  her  adieu.  A 
white  kerchief  waved  for  a  second  across  the  window,  and 
for  the  rest  of  the  little  voyage  the  thoughts  of  Catherine 
Seyton  disputed  ground  in  his  breast  with  the  expectations 
excited  by  the  approaching  revel.  As  they  drew  nearer  and 
nearer  the  shore,  the  sounds  of  mirth  and  music,  the  laugh, 
the  halloo,  and  the  shout  came  thicker  upon  the  ear,  and  in 
a  trice  the  boat  was  moored,  and  Roland  Graeme  hastened 
in  quest  of  the  chamberlain,  that,  being  informed  what  time 
he  had  at  his  own  disposal,  he  might  lay  it  out  to  the  best 
advantage. 


CHAPTER    XXVI 

Room  for  the  master  of  the  ring,  ye  swains, 
Divide  your  crowded  ranks  ;  before  him  march 
The  rural  minstrelsy,  the  rattling  drum, 
The  clamorous  war-pipe,  and  far-echoing  horn. 

SoMERViLLE,  Rural  Sports. 

No  long  space  intervened  ere  Roland  Graeme  was  able  to  dis- 
cover among  the  crowd  of  revelers,  who  gamboled  upon  the 
open  space  which  extends  betwixt  the  village  and  the  lake,  a 
person  of  so  great  importance  as  Doctor  Luke  Lundin  upon 
whom  devolved  officially  the  charge  of  representing  the 
lord  of  the  land,  and  who  was  attended  for  support  of  his 
authority  by  a  piper,  a  drummer,  and  four  sturdy  clowns 
armed  with  rusty  halberds,  garnished  with  parti-colored 
ribbons — myrmidons  who,  early  as  the  day  was,  had  already 
broken  more  than  one  head  in  the  awful  names  of  the  Laird 
of  Lochleven  and  his  chamberlain.* 

As  soon  as  this  dignitary  was  informed  that  the  castle 
skiff  had  arrived,  with  a  gallant,  dressed  like  a  lord's  son  at 
the  least,  who  desired  presently  to  speak  to  him,  he  ad- 
justed his  ruff  and  his  black  coat,  turned  round  his  girdle 
till  the  garnished  hilt  of  his  long  rapier  became  visible,  and 
walked  with  due  solemnity  towards  the  beach.  Solemn  in- 
deed he  was  entitled  to  be,  even  on  less  important  occasions, 
for  he  had  been  bred  to  the  venerable  study  of  medicine,  as 
those  acquainted  with  the  science  very  soon  discovered  from 
the  aphorisms  which  ornamented  his  discourse.  His  success 
had  not  been  equal  to  his  pretensions  ;  but  as  he  was  a 
native  of  the  neighboring  kingdom  of  Fife,  and  bore  distant 
relation  to,  or  dependence  upon,  the  ancient  family  of  Lun- 
din of  that  ilk,  who  were  bound  in  close  friendship  with  the 
house  of  Lochleven,  he  had,  through  their  interest,  got 
planted  comfortably  enough  in  his  present  station  upon  the 
banks  of  that  beautiful  lake.  The  profits  of  his  chamber- 
lainship  being  moderate,  especially  in  those  unsettled  times, 
he  had  eked  it  out  a  little  with  some  practise  in  his  original 
profession ;  and  it  was  said  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  vil" 

*  See  Scottish  Fairs.     Note  18. 
271 


272  WAVERLET  NOVELS 

lage  and  barony  of  Kinross  were  not  more  effectually  thirled 
(which  may  be  translated  enthralled)  to  the  baron^s  mill  than 
they  were  to  the  medical  monopoly  of  the  chamberlain. 
Wo  betide  the  family  of  the  rich  boor  who  presumed  to  de- 
part this  life  without  a  passport  from  Dr.  Luke  Lundin  I 
for  if  his  representacives  had  aught  to  settle  with  the  baron, 
as  it  seldom  happened  otherwise,  they  were  sure  to  find  a 
cold  friend  in  the  chamberlain.  He  was  considered  enough, 
however,  gratuitously  to  help  the  poor  out  of  their  ailments, 
and  sometimes  out  of  all  their  other  distresses  at  the  same 
time. 

Formal,  in  a  double  proportion,  both  as  a  physician  and 
as  a  person  in  office,  and  proud  of  the  scraps  of  learning 
which  rendered  his  language  almost  universally  unintelligible. 
Dr.  Luke  Lundin  approached  the  beach,  and  hailed  the  page 
as  he  advanced  towards  him.  '*  The  freshness  of  the  morn- 
ing to  you,  fair  sir.  You  are  sent,  I  warrant  me,  to  see  if  we 
observe  here  the  regimen  which  her  good  ladyship  hath  pre- 
scribed, for  eschewing  all  superstitious  ceremonies  and  idle 
anilities  in  these  our  revels.  I  am  aware  that  her  good  lady- 
ship would  willingly  have  altogether  abolished  and  abrogated 
them.  But  as  I  had  the  honor  to  quote  to  her  from  the 
works  of  the  learned  Hercules  of  Saxony,  ofnnis  curatio  est 
vel  cajionica  vel  coacta — that  is,  fair  sir — for  silk  and  velvet 
have  seldom  their  Latin  ad  unguem — every  cure  must  be 
wrought  either  by  art  and  induction  of  rule  or  by  constraint ; 
and  the  wise  physician  chooseth  the  former.  Which  argu- 
ment her  ladyship  being  pleased  to  allow  well  of,  I  have  made 
it  my  business  so  to  blend  instruction  and  caution  with  delight 
—flat  mixtio,  as  we  say — that  I  can  answer  that  the  vulgar 
mind  will  be  defecated  and  purged  of  anile  and  Popish  fool- 
eries by  the  medicament  adhibited,  so  that  the  prhncB  vice 
being  cleansed,  Master  Henderson,  or  any  other  able  pastor, 
may  at  will  throw  in  tonics,  and  effectuate  a  perfect  moral 
cure,  tuto,  cito,  jummde.'^ 

"  I  have  no  charge,  Doctor  Lundin,^'  replied  the  page 

"  Call  me  not  doctor,'^  said  the  chamberlain,  ''  since  I  have 
laid  aside  my  furred  gown  and  bonnet,  and  retired  me  into 
bhis  temporality  of  chamberlainship.'' 

'*  0,  sir,"  said  the  page,  who  was  no  stranger  by  report  to 
the  character  of  this  original,  ^'  the  cowl  makes  not  the  monk, 
neither  the  cord  the  friar :  we  have  all  heard  of  the  cures 
wrought  by  Doctor  Lundin." 

"Toys,  young  sir — trifles,"  answered  the  leech  with  grave 
disclamation  of  superior  skill ;  "  the  hit-or-miss  practise  of 


THE  ABBOT  273 

a  poor  retired  gentleman,  in  a  short  cloak  and  doublet. 
Marry,  Heaven  sent  its  blessing  ;  and  this  I  must  say,  better 
fashioned  mediciners  have  brought  fewer  patients  through — 
lunga  roba  cortd  scienzia,  saith  the  Italian — ha,  fair  sir,  you 
have  the  language  ? '' 

Roland  Graeme  did  not  think  it  necessary  to  expound  to 
this  learned  Theban  whether  he  understood  him  or  no  ;  but, 
leaving  that  matter  uncertain,  he  told  him  he  came  in  quest 
of  certain  packages  which  should  have  arrived  at  Kinross 
and  been  placed  under  the  chamberlain^s  charge  the  evening 
before. 

"  Body  o'  me  ! "  said  Doctor  Lundin,  ^'  I  fear  our  common 
carrier,  John  Auchtermuchty,  hath  met  with  some  mischance, 
that  he  came  not  up  last  night  with  his  wains  :  bad  land  this 
to  journey  in,  my  master  ;  and  the  fool  will  travel  by  night 
too,  although — besides  all  maladies,  from  your  tussis  to  your 
pestis,  which  walk  abroad  in  the  night  air — he  may  well  fall 
in  with  half  a  dozen  swashbucklers,  who  will  ease  him  at  once 
of  his  baggage  and  his  earthly  complaints.  I  must  send 
forth  to  inquire  after  him,  since  he  hath  stuff  of  the  honor- 
able household  on  hand ;  and,  by  Our  Lady,  he  hath  stuff 
of  mine  too — certain  drugs  sent  me  from  the  city  for  com- 
position of  my  alexipharmics  ;  this  gear  must  be  looked  to. 
Hodge,''  said  he,  addressing  one  of  redoubted  bodyguard, 
*'  do  thou  and  Toby  Telford  take  the  mickle  brown  aver  and 
the  black  cut-tailed  mare,  and  make  out  towards  the  Keiry 
Craigs,*  and  see  what  tidings  you  can  have  of  Auchtermuchty 
and  his  wains  ;  I  trust  it  is  only  the  medicine  of  the  pottle- 
pot — being  the  only  medicamenturn  which  the  beast  useth — - 
which  has  caused  him  to  tarry  on  the  road.  Take  the 
ribbons  from  your  halberds,  ye  knaves,  and  get  on  your  jacks, 
plate-sleeves,  and  knapsculls,  that  your  presence  may  work 
some  terror  if  you  meet  with  opposers.''  He  then  added, 
turning  to  Roland  Graeme,  "  I  warrant  me  we  shall  have 
news  of  the  wains  in  brief  season.  Meantime  it  will  please 
you  to  look  upon  the  sports  ;  but  first  to  enter  my  poor  lodg- 
ing and  take  your  morning's  cup.  For  what  saith  the  school 
of  Salerno — 

Poculum,  name  haustum, 
Resturat  naturam  exhaustam  ?  " 

*'  Your  learning  is  too  profound  for  me,"  replied  the  page  ; 
"and  so  would  your  draught  be  likewise,  I  fear." 
**  Not  a  whit,  fair  sir  :  a  cordial  cup  of  sack,  impregnated 

*  See  Note  19. 
i8 


•^74  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

with  wormwood,  is  the  best  anti-pestilential  draught ;  and, 
to  speak  truth,  the  pestilential  miasmata  are  now  very  rife 
in  the  atmosphere.  We  live  in  a  happy  time,  young  man," 
continued  he,  in  a  tone  of  grave  irony,  ^'^and  have  many 
blessings  unknown  to  our  fathers.  Here  are  two  sovereigns 
in  the  land,  a  regnant  and  a  claimant ;  that  is  enough  of 
one  good  thing,  but,  if  any  one  wants  more,  he  may  find  a 
king  in  every  peel-house  in  the  country  ;  so,  if  we  lack 
government,  it  is  not  for  want  of  governors.  Then  have  we 
a  civil  war  to  phlebotomize  us  every  year,  and  to  prevent 
our  population  from  starving  for  want  of  food  ;  and  for  the 
same  purpose  we  have  the  plague  proposing  us  a  visit,  the 
best  of  all  recipes  for  thinning  aland,  and  converting  younger 
brothers  into  elder  ones.  Well,  each  man  in  his  vocation. 
You  young  fellows  of  the  sword  desire  to  wrestle,  fence, 
or  so  forth  with  some  expert  adversary ;  and  for  my  part, 
I  love  to  match  myself  for  life  or  death  against  that  same 
plague.'* 

As  they  proceeded  up  the  street  of  the  little  village  to- 
wards the  doctor's  lodgings,  his  attention  was  successively 
occupied  by  the  various  personages  whom  he  met,  and 
pointed  out  to  the  notice  of  his  companion. 

'^  Do  you  see  that  fellow  with  the  red  bonnet,  the  blue 
jerkin,  and  the  great  rough  baton  in  his  hand  ?  I  believe 
that  clown  hath  the  strength  of  a  tower  :  he  has  lived  fifty 
years  in  the  world,  and  never  encouraged  the  liberal  sciences 
by  buying  one  pennyworth  of  medicaments.  But  see  you 
that  man  with  ih.Q  fades  Hippoc^-atica?"  said  he,  pointing 
out  to  a  thin  peasant,  with  swelled  legs,  and  a  most  cadaver- 
ous countenance  ;  *^that  I  call  one  of  the  worthiest  men  in 
the  barony  :  he  breakfasts,  luncheons,  dines,  and  sups  by 
my  advice,  and  not  without  my  medicine  ;  and,  for  his  own 
single  part,  will  go  farther  to  clear  out  a  moderate  stock  of 
pharmaceutics  than  half  the  country  besides.  How  do 
you,  my  honest  friend  ? ''  said  he  to  the  party  in  question, 
with  a  tone  of  condolence. 

"  Very  weakly,  sir,  since  I  took  the  electuary,''  answered 
the  patient ;  '*  it  neighbored  ill  with  the  two  spoonfuls  of 
pease-porridge  and  the  kirn-milk." 

^'  Pease-porridge  and  kirn-milk  !  Have  you  been  under 
medicine  these  ten  years,  and  keep  your  diet  so  ill  ?  The 
next  morning  take  the  electuary  by  itself,  and  touch 
nothing  for  six  hours."  The  poor  object  bowed  and  limped 
off. 

Thf  n<8?t  whoui  the  doctor  deigned  to  take  notice  of  wa|i 


THE  ABBOT  275 

a  lame  fellow,  by  whom  the  honor  was  altogether  unde- 
served, for  at  sight  of  the  mediciner  he  began  to  shuffle 
away  in  the  crowd  as  fast  as  his  infirmities  would  permit. 

*'  There  is  an  ungrateful  hound  for  you,^"*  said  Doctor 
Lundin  :  "  I  cured  him  of  the  gout  in  his  feet,  and  now  he 
talks  of  the  chargeableness  of  medicine,  and  makes  the  first 
use  of  his  restored  legs  to  fiy  from  his  physician.  His 
podagra  hath  become  a  chiragra,  as  honest  Martial  hath  it : 
the  gout  has  got  into  his  fingers,  and  he  cannot  draw  his 
purse.     Old  saying  and  true — 

PrsBmia  cum  poscit  medicus,  Sathan  est. 

We  are  angels  when  we  come  to  cure,  devils  when  we  ask 
payment  ;  but  I  will  administer  a  purgation  to  his  purse,  1 
warrant  him.  There  is  his  brother  too,  a  sordid  chuff.  So 
ho,  there  !  Saunders  Dartlet !  you  have  been  ill,  I  hear  ?  " 

"Just  got  the  .turn,  as  I  was  thinking  to  send  to  your 
honor,  and  I  am  brawly  now  again  ;  it  was  nae  great  thing 
that  ailed  me.'' 

"  Hark  you,  sirrah,''  said  the  doctor,  '^  I  trust  you  re- 
member your  owing  to  the  laird  four  stones  of  barley-meal 
and  a  bow  of  oats  ;  and  I  would  have  you  send  no  more  such 
kain-fowls  as  you  sent  last  season,  that  looked  as  wretchedly 
as  patients  just  dismissed  from  a  plague-hospital ;  and  there 
is  hard  money  owing  besides." 

*'  I  was  thinking,  sir,"  said  the  man,  more  Scotico,  that  is, 
returning  no  direct  answer  on  the  subject  on  which  he  was 
addressed,  "  my  best  way  would  be  to  come  down  to  your 
honor,  and  take  your  advice  yet,  in  case  my  trouble  should 
come  back." 

"Do  so  then,  knave,"  replied  Lundin,  "and  remember 
what  Bcclesiasticus  saith — *  Give  place  to  the  physician  :  let 
him  not  go  from  thee,  for  thou  hast  need  of  him.'" 

His  exhortation  was  interrupted  by  an  apparition  which 
seemed  to  strike  the  doctor  with  as  much  horror  and  surprise 
as  his  own  visage  inflicted  upon  sundry  of  those  persons 
whom  he  had  addressed. 

The  figure  which  produced  this  effect  on  the  Esculapius 
of  the  village  was  that  of  a  tall  old  woman,  who  wore  a  high- 
crowned  hat  and  muffler.  The  first  of  these  habiliments 
added  apparently  to  her  stature,  and  the  other  served  to 
conceal  the  lower  part  of  her  face,  and  as  the  hat  itself  was 
slouched,  little  could  be  seen  besides  two  brown  cheek-bones, 
and  the  eyes  of  swarthy  fire,  that  gleamed  from  under  tira 


276  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

shaggy  gray  eyebrows.  She  was  dressed  in  a  long  dark 
colored  robe  of  unusual  fashion,  bordered  at  the  skirts  and 
on  the  stomacher  with  a  sort  of  white  trimming  resembling 
the  Jewish  phylacteries,  on  which  was  wrought  the  char- 
acters of  some  unknown  language.  She  held  in  her  hand  a 
walking-staff  of  black  ebony. 

"  By  the  soul  of  Celsus,"  said  Doctor  Luke  Lundin,  "it 
is  old  Mother  Nicneven  herself  ;  she  hath  come  to  beard  me 
within  mine  own  bounds,  and  in  the  very  execution  of  mine 
office  !  *  Have  at  thy  coat,  old  woman,'  as  the  song  says. 
Hob  Anster,  let  her  presently  be  seized  and  committed  to 
the  tolboth  ;  and  if  there  are  any  zealous  brethren  here 
who  would  give  the  hag  her  deserts,  and  duck  her,  as  a 
witch,  in  the  loch,  I  pray  let  them  in  no  way  be  hindered." 

But  the  myrmidons  of  Doctor  Lundin  showed  in  this  case 
no  alacrity  to  do  his  bidding.  Hob  Anster  even  ventured 
to  remonstrate  in  the  name  of  himself  and  his  brethren. 
"  To  be  sure  he  was  to  do  his  honor's  bidding  ;  and  for  a' 
that  folk  said  about  the  skill  and  witcheries  of  Mother 
Nicneven,  he  would  put  his  trust  in  God,  and  his  hand  on 
her  collar,  without  dreadour.  But  she  was  no  common 
spae-wife,  this  Mother  Nicneven,  like  Jean  Jopp  that  lived 
in  the  Brierie  Baulk.  She  had  lords  and  lairds  that  would 
ruffle  for  her.  There  was  Moncriefl  of  Tippermalloch,  that 
was  Popish,  and  the  laird  of  Carslogie,  a  kenn'd  queens- 
man,  were  in  the  fair,  with  wha  kenn'd  how  mony  swords 
and  bucklers  at  their  back ;  .and  they  would  be  sure  to 
make  a  break-out  if  the  officers  meddled  with  the  auld 
Popish  witch-wife,  who  was  sae  weel  friended  ;  mair  espe- 
cially as  the  laird's  best  men,  such  as  were  not  in  the  castle, 
were  in  Edinburgh  with  him,  and  he  doubted  his  honor  the 
doctor  would  find  ower  few  to  make  a  good  backing  if  blades 
were  bare." 

The  doctor  listened  unwillingly  to  this  prudential  counsel, 
and  was  only  comforted  by  the  faithful  promise  of  his  satel- 
lite that  " The  old  woman  should,"  as  he  expressed  it,  "be 
ta'en  canny  the  next  time  she  trespassed  on  the  bounds." 

"  And  in  that  event,"  said  the  doctor  to  his  companion, 
"fire  and  fagot  shall  be  the  best  of  her  welcome." 

This  he  spoke  in  hearing  of  the  dame  herself,  who  even 
then,  and  in  passing  the  doctor,  shot  towards  him  from 
under  her  gray  eyebrows  a  look  of  the  most  insulting  and 
contemptuous  superiority. 

"This  way,"  continued  the  physician — "this  way,"  mar- 
ghaling  his  guest  into  his  lodging  ;  "take care  you  stumble 


THE  ABBOT  277 

Hot  over  a  retort,  for  it  is  hazardous  for  the  ignorant  to 
walk  in  the  ways  of  art." 

The  page  found  all  reason  for  the  caution  ;  for,  besides 
stuffed  birds,  and  lizards,  and  bottled  snakes,  and  bundles  of 
simples  made  up,  and  other  parcels  spread  out  to  dry,  and 
all  the  confusion,  not  to  mention  the  mingled  and  sicken- 
ing smells,  incidental  to  a  druggist's  stock-in-trade,  he  had 
also  to  avoid  heaps  of  charcoal,  crucibles,  bolt-heads,  stoves, 
and  the  other  furniture  of  a  chemical  laboratory. 

Amongst  his  other  philosophical  qualities,  Doctor  Lundin 
failed  not  to  be  a  confused  sloven,  and  his  old  housekeeper, 
whose  life,  as  she  said,  was  spent  in  *^  redding  him  up,"  had 
trotted  off  to  the  mart  of  gaiety  with  other  and  younger 
folks.  Much  clattering  and  jangling  therefore  there  was 
among  jars,  and  bottles,  and  phials,  ere  the  doctor  produced 
the  salutiferous  potion  which  he  recommended  so  strongly, 
and  a  search  equally  long  and  noisy  followed  among  broken 
cans  and  cracked  pipkins  ere  he  could  bring  forth  a  cup  out 
of  which  to  drink  it.  Both  matters  being  at  length  achieved, 
the  doctor  set  the  example  to  his  guest,  by  quaffing  off  a 
cup  of  the  cordial,  and  smacking  his  lips  with  approbation 
as  it  descended  his  gullet.  Eoland,  in  turn,  submitted  to 
swallow  the  potion  which  his  host  so  earnestly  recommended, 
but  which  he  found  so  insufferably  bitter  that  he  became 
eager  to  escape  from  the  laboratory  in  search  of  a  draught 
of  fair  water  to  expel  the  taste.  In  spite  of  his  efforts,  he 
was  nevertheless  detained  by  the  garrulity  of  his  host,  till 
he  gave  him  some  account  of  Mother  Nicneven. 

*^  I  care  not  to  speak  of  her,"  said  the  doctor,  '^  in  the 
open  air,  and  among  the  throng  of  people  :  not  for  fright, 
like  yon  cowardly  dog,  Anster,  but  because  I  would  give  no 
occasion  for  a  fray,  having  no  leisure  to  look  to  stabs, 
slashes,  and  broken  bones.  Men  call  the  old  hag  a  prophet- 
ess ;  I  do  scarce  believe  she  could  foretell  when  a  brood  of 
chickens  will  chip  the  shell.  Men  say  she  reads  the  heavens  ; 
my  black  bitch  knows  as  much  of  them  when  she  sits  bay- 
ing the  moon.  Men  pretend  the  ancient  wretch  is  a  sorcer- 
ess, a  witch,  and  what  not ;  inter  nos,  I  will  never  contra- 
dict a  rumor  which  may  bring  her  to  the  stake  which  she 
so  richly  deserves,  but  neither  will  I  believe  that  the  tales 
of  witches  which  they  din  into  our  ears  are  aught  but 
knavery,  cozenage,  and  old  women's  fables." 

•'*  In  the  name  of  Heaven,  what  is  she  then,"  said  the 
page,  "  that  you  make  such  a  stir  about  her  ?  " 

**She  is  one  of  those   cursed  old  women,"  replied  th» 


278  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

doctor,  ''who  take  currently  and  impudently  upon  them- 
selves to  act  as  advisers  and  curers  of  tfie  sick,  on  the  strength 
of  some  trash  of  herbs,  some  rhyme  of  spells,  some  julep  or 
diet,  drink  or  cordial." 

"  Nay,  go  no  farther,"  said  the  page ;  "if  they  brew 
cordials,  evil  be  their  lot  and  all  their  partakers  ! " 

*'  You  say  well,  young  man,"  said  Doctor  Lundin  ;  '*  for 
inine  own  part,  I  know  no  such  pests  to  the  commonwealth 
as  these  old  incarnate  devils,  who  haunt  the  chambers  of  the 
brain-sick  patients,  that  are  mad  enough  to  suffer  them  to 
interfere  with,  disturb,  and  let  the  regular  progress  of  a 
learned  and  artificial  cure,  with  their  syrups,  and  their 
juleps,  and  diascordium,  and  mithridate,  and  my  Lady 
What-shall-calFum's  powder,  and  worthy  Dame  Trashem's 
pill ;  and  thus  make  widows  and  orphans,  and  cheat  the 
regular  and  well-studied  physician,  in  order  to  get  the  name 
of  wise  women  and  skeely  neighbors,  and  so  forth.  But 
no  more  on't.  Mother  Nicneven  *  and  I  will  meet  one 
day,  and  she  shall  know  there  is  danger  in  dealing  with  tlie 
doctor." 

*' It  is  a  true  word,  and  many  have  found  it,"  said  the 
page;  '^but,  under  your  favor,  I  would  fain  walk  abroad 
for  a  little  and  see  these  sports." 

"  It  is  well  moved,"  said  the  doctor,  ^'  and  I  too  should 
be  showing  myself  abroad.  Moreover,  the  play  waits  us, 
young  man  ;  to-day,  totus  mundus  agit  histrionem/'  And 
they  sallied  forth  accordingly  into  the  mirthful  scene. 

♦  See  Note  20. 


CHAPTEK  XXVII 

See  on  yon  verdant  lawn,  the  gathering  crowd 
Thickens  amain  ;  the  buxom  nymphs  advance, 
[Jsher'd  by  jolly  clowns  ;  distinctions  cease, 
Lost  in  the  common  joy,  and  the  bold  slave 
Leans  on  his  wealthy  master  unreproved. 

SoMERViLLE,  Rural  Sports, 

The  reappearance  of  the  dignified  chamberlain  on  the 
street  of  the  village  was  eagerly  hailed  by  the  revelers,  as  a 
pledge  that  the  play,  or  dramatic  representation,  which  had 
been  postponed  owing  to  his  absence,  was  now  full  surely  to 
commence.  Anything  like  an  approach  to  this  most  interest- 
ing of  all  amusements  was  of  recent  origin  in  Scotland,  and 
engaged  public  attention  in  proportion.  All  other  sports 
were  discontinued.  The  dance  around  the  Maypole  was 
arrested,  the  ring  broken  up  and  dispersed,  while  the  dancers, 
each  leading  his  partner  by  the  hand,  tripped  off  to  the  sylvan 
^theater.  A  truce  was  in  like  manner  achieved  betwixt  a  huge 
thrown  bear  and  certain  mastiffs,  who  were  tugging  and 
^fpulling  at  his  shaggy  coat,  under  the  mediation  of  the  bear- 
ward  and  half  a  dozen  butchers  and  yeomen,  who,  by  dint 
of  "  staving  and  tailing,^'  as  it  was  technically  termed, 
separated  the  unfortunate  animals,  whose  fury  had  for  an 
hour  past  been  their  chief  amusement.  The  itinerant  min- 
strel found  himself  deserted  by  the  audience  he  had  collected, 
even  in  the  most  interesting  passage  of  the  romance  which 
he  recited,  and  just  as  he  was  sending  about  his  boy,  with 
bonnet  in  hand,  to  collect  their  oblations.  He  indignantly 
stopped  short  in  the  midst  of  Rosewal  and  Lilian,  and,  re- 
placing his  three-stringed  fiddle,  or  rebeck,  in  its  leathern 
case,  followed  the  crowd,  with  no  good-will,  to  the  exhibition 
which  had  superseded  his  own.  The  juggler  had  ceased  his 
exertions  of  emitting  flame  and  smoke,  and  was  content  to 
respire  in  the  manner  of  ordinary  mortals  rather  than  to 
play  gratuitously  the  part  of  a  fiery  dragon.  In  short,  all 
other  sports  were  suspended,  so  eagerly  did  the  revelers 
throng  towards  the  place  of  representation. 

They  would  err  greatly  who  should  regulate  their  ideas  of 
this  dramatic  exhibition  upon  those  derived  from  a  modern 

279 


280  WA  VERLE  Y  NO  VEL  S 

theater  ;  for  the  rude  shows  of  Thespis  were  far  less  different 
from  those  exhibited  by  Euripides  on  the  stage  of  Athens, 
with  all  its  magnificent  decorations  and  pomp  of  dresses  and 
of  scenery.  In  the  present  case  there  were  no  scenes,  no 
stage,  no  machinery,  no  pit,  box,  and  gallery,  no  box-lobby  ; 
and,  what  might  in  poor  Scotland  be  some  consolation  for 
other  negations,  there  was  no  taking  of  money  at  the  door. 
As  in  the  devices  of  the  magnanimous  Bottom,  the  actors  had 
a  greensward  plot  for  a  stage,  and  a  hawthorn  bush  for  a 
greenroom  and  tiring-house  ;  the  spectators  being  accommo- 
dated with  seats  on  the  artificial  bank  which  had  been  raised 
around  three-fourths  of  the  playground,  the  remainder  being 
left  open  for  the  entrance  and  exit  of  the  performers.  Here 
sate  the  uncritical  audience,  the  chamberlain  in  the  center, 
as  the  person  highest  in  office — all  alive  to  enjoyment  and 
admiration,  and  all  therefore  dead  to  criticism. 

The  characters  which  appeared  and  disappeared  before  the 
amused  and  interested  audience  were  those  which  fill  the 
earlier  stage  in,  all  nations — old  men,  cheated  by  their  wives 
and  daughters,  pillaged  by  their  sons,  and  imposed  on  by 
their  domestics,  a  braggadocio  captain,  a  knavish  pardoner 
or  quaestionary,  a  country  bumpkin,  and  a  wanton  city  dame. 
Amid  all  these,  and  more  acceptable  than  almost  the  whole 
put  together,  was  the  all-licensed  fool,  the  Gracioso  of  the 
Spanish  drama,  who,  with  his  cap  fashioned  into  the  resem- 
blance of  a  coxcomb,  and  his  bauble,  a  truncheon  terminated 
by  a  carved  figure,  wearing  a  fool^s  cap,  in  his  hand,  went, 
came,  and  returned,  mingling  in  every  scene  of  the  piece, 
and  interrupting  the  business,  without  having  any  share  him- 
self in  the  action,  and  ever  and  anon  transfering  his  gibes 
from  the  actors  on  the  stage  to  the  audience  who  sat  around, 
prompt  to  applaud  the  whole. 

The  wit  of  the  piece,  which  was  not  of  the  most  polished 
kind,  was  chiefly  directed  against  the  superstitious  practises 
of  the  Catholic  religion  ;  and  the  stage  artillery  had  on  this 
occasion  been  leveled  by  no  less  a  person  than  Doctor  Lun- 
din,  who  had  not  only  commanded  the  manager  of  the  en- 
tertainment to  select  one  of  the  numerous  satires  which  had 
been  written  against  the  Papists  (several  of  which  were  cast 
in  a  dramatic  form),  but  had  even,  like  the  Prince  of  Den- 
mark, caused  them  to  insert,  or,  according  to  his  own  phrase, 
to  infuse,  here  and  there,  a  few  pleasantries  of  his  own 
penning,  on  the  same  inexhaustible  subject,  hoping  thereby 
to  mollify  the  rigor  of  the  Lady  of  Lochleven  towards  pas- 
times of  this  description.     Ho  failed  not  to  jog  Koland's 


TBE  ABBOT  281 

elbow,  who  was  sitting  in  state  behind  him,  and  recommend 
to  his  particular  attention  those  favorite  passages.  As  for 
the  page,  to  whom  the  very  idea  of  such  an  exhibition,  simple 
as  it  was,  was  entirely  new,  he  beheld  it  with  the  undimin- 
ished and  ecstatic  delight  with  which  men  of  all  ranks  look 
for  the  first  time  on  dramatic  representation,  and  laughed, 
shouted,  and  clapped  his  hands  as  the  performance  proceeded. 
An  incident  at  length  took  place  which  effectually  broke  off 
his  interest  in  the  business  of  the  scene. 

One  of  the  principal  personages  in  the  comic  part  of  the 
drama  was,  as  we  have  already  said,  a  quaestionary  or  pardoner, 
one  of  those  itinerants  who  hawked  about  from  place  to  place 
relics,  real  or  pretended,  with  which  he  excited  the  devotion 
at  once  and  the  charity  of  the  populace,  and  generally  de- 
ceived both  the  one  and  the  other.  The  hypocrisy,  impu- 
dence, and  profligacy  of  these  clerical  wanderers  had  made 
them  the  subject  of  satire  from  the  time  of  Chaucer  down  to 
that  of  Hey  wood.  Their  present  representative  failed  not  to 
follow  the  same  line  of  humor,  exhibiting  pig's  bones  for 
relics,  and  boasting  the  virtues  of  small  tin  crosses,  which 
had  been  shaken  in  the  holy  porringer  at  Loretto,  and  of 
cockle-shells,  which  had  been  brought  from  the  shrine  of 
St.  James  of  Compostella,  all  which  he  disposed  of  to  the 
devout  Catholics  at  nearly  as  high  a  price  as  antiquaries  are 
now  willing  to  pay  for  the  baubles  of  similar  intrinsic  value. 
A  length  the  pardoner  pulled  from  his  scrip  a  small  phial  of 
clear  water,  of  which  he  vaunted  the  quality  in  the  following 
verses : — 

"  Listneth,  gode  people,  everiche  one. 
For  in  the  londe  of  Babylone, 
Far  eastward  I  wot  it  lyeth, 
And  is  the  first  londe  the  sonne  espieth, 
Ther,  as  he  cometh  fro  out  the  se  ; 
In  this  ilk  londe,  as  thinketh  me, 
Right  as  holie  legendes  tell, 
Snottreth  from  a  roke  a  well, 
And  falleth  into  ane  bath  of  ston, 
Wher  chast  Susanne,  in  times  lon^  gon 
Was  wont  to  wash  her  bodie  and  um. 
Mickle  virtue  hath  that  streme, 
As  ye  shall  se  er  that  ye  pas, 
Ensample  by  this  little  glas. 
Through  nightes  cold  and  dayes  hote, 
Hiderward  I  have  it  brought ; 
Hath  a  wife  made  slip  or  slide, 
Or  a  maiden  stepp'd  aside, 
Putteth  this  water  under  her  nese, 
Wold  she  nold  she,  she  shall  snese." 


282  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

The  jest,  as  the  reader  skilful  in  the  antique  language  of 
the  drama  must  at  once  perceive,  turned  on  the  same  pivot 
as  in  the  old  minstrel  tales  of  the  Drmking-Horn  of  King 
Arthur  and  the  Mantle  made  Amiss.  But  the  audience  were 
neither  learned  nor  critical  enough  to  challenge  its  want  of 
originality.  The  potent  relic  was,  after  such  grimace  and 
buffoonery  as  befitted  the  subject,  presented  successively  to 
each  of  the  female  personages  of  the  drama,  not  one  of  whom 
sustained  the  supposed  test  of  discretion  ;  but,  to  the  infinite 
delight  of  the  audience,  sneexed  much  louder  and  longer 
than  perhaps  they  themselves  had  counted  on.  The  jest 
seemed  at  last  worn  threadbare,  and  the  pardoner  was  pass- 
ing on  to  some  new  pleasantry,  when  the  jester  or  clown  of 
the  drama,  possessing  himself  secretly  of  the  phial  which 
contained  the  wondrous  liquor,  applied  it  suddenly  to  the 
nose  of  a  young  woman,  who,  with  her  black  silk  muffler,  or 
screen,  drawn  over  her  face,  was  sitting  in  the  foremost  rank 
of  the  spectators,  intent  apparently  upon  the  business  of  the 
stage.  The  contents  of  the  phial,  well  calculated  to  sustain 
the  credit  of  the  pardoner's  legend,  set  the  damsel  a-sneezing 
violently,  an  admission  of  frailty  which  was  received  with 
shouts  of  rapture  by  the  audience.  These  were  soon,  how- 
ever, renewed  at  the  expense  of  the  jester  himself,  when  the 
insulted  maiden  extricated,  ere  the  paroxysm  was  well  over, 
one  hand  from  the  folds  of  her  mantle,  and  bestowed  on  the 
wag  a  buffet,  which  made  him  reel  fully  his  own  length  from 
the  pardoner,  and  then  acknowledge  the  favor  by  instant 
prostration. 

No  one  pities  a  jester  overcome  in  his  vocation,  and  the 
clown  met  with  little  sympathy  when,  rising  from  the  ground 
and  whimpering  forth  his  complaints  of  harsh  treatment,  he 
invoked  the  assistance  and  sympathy  of  the  audience.  But 
the  chamberlain,  feeling  his  own  dignity  insulted,  ordered 
two  of  his  halberdiers  to  bring  the  culprit  before  him.  When 
these  official  persons  first  approached  the  virago,  she  threw 
herself  into  an  attitude  of  firm  defiance,  as  if  determined  to 
resist  their  authority  ;  and  from  the  sample  of  strength  and 
spirit  which  she  had  already  displayed,  they  showed  no 
alacrity  at  executing  their  commission.  But  on  half  a 
minute's  reflection,  the  damsel  changed  totally  her  attitude 
and  manner,  folded  her  cloak  around  her  arms  in  modest  and 
maiden-like  fashion,  and  walked  of  her  own  accord  to  the 
presence  of  the  great  man,  followed  and  guarded  by  the  two 
manful  satellites.  As  she  moved  across  the  vacant  space, 
and  more  especially  as  she  stood  at  the  footstool  of  the  doe- 


THE  ABBOT  283 

tor's  judgment -seat,  the  maiden  discovered  that  lightness  and 
elasticity  of  step,  and  natural  grace  of  manner,  which  con- 
noisseurs in  female  beauty  know  to  be  seldom  divided  from 
it.  Moreover,  her  neat  russet-colored  jacket,  and  short  pet- 
ticoat of  the  same  color,  displayed  a  handsome  form  and  a 
pretty  leg.  Her  features  were  concealed  by  the  screen  ;  but 
the  doctor,  whose  gravity  did  not  prevent  his  pretensions  to 
be  a  connoisseur  of  the  school  we  have  hinted  at,  saw  enough 
to  judge  favorably  of  the  piece  by  the  sample. 

He  began,  however,  with  considerable  austerity  of  manner. 
"  And  how  now,  saucy  quean  ! "  said  the  medical  man  of 
office  ;  *' what  have  you  to  say  why  I  should  not  order  you 
to  be  ducked  in  the  loch  for  lifting  your  hand  to  the  man  in 
my  presence  ?  " 

*'  Marry,''  replied  the  culprit,  "  because  I  judge  that 
your  honor  will  not  think  the  cold  bath  necessary  for  my 
complaints." 

*^  A  pestilent  jade,"  said  the  doctor,  whispering  to  Koland 
Graeme,  ''and  Til  warrant  her  a  good  one  :  her  voice  is  as 
sweet  as  sirup.  But,  my  pretty  maiden,"  said  he,  ''you 
show  us  wonderful  little  of  that  countenance  of  yours  ;  be 
pleased  to  throw  aside  your  muffler." 

"  I  trust  your  honor  will  excuse  me  till  we  are  more  pri- 
vate," answered  the  maiden  ;  "  for  I  have  acquaintance,  and 
I  should  like  ill  to  be  known  in  the  country  as  the  poor  girl 
whom  that  scurvy  knave  put  his  jest  upon." 

"  Fear  nothing  for  thy  good  name,  my  sweet  little  modi- 
cum of  candied  manna  !"  replied  the  doctor  ;  "for  I  protest 
to  you,  as  I  am  chamberlain  of  Lochleven,  Kinross,  and  so 
forth,  that  the  chaste  Susanna  herself  could  not  have  snuffed 
that  elixir  without  sternutation,  being  in  truth  a  curious 
distillation  of  rectified  acetum,  or  vinegar  of  the  sun,  pre- 
pared by  mine  own  hands.  Wherefore,  as  thou  sayest  thou 
wilt  come  to  me  in  private,  and  express  thy  contrition  for  the 
offense  whereof  thou  hast  been  guilty,  I  command  that  all 
for  the  present  go  forward  as  if  no  such  interruption  of  the 
prescribed  course  had  taken  place." 

The  damsel  courtesied  and  tripped  back  to  her  place.  The 
play  proceeded,  but  it  no  longer  attracted  the  attention  of 
Eoland  Graeme. 

The  voice,  the  figure,  and  what  the  veil  permitted  to  be 
seen  of  the  neck  and  tresses,  of  the  village  damsel  bore  so 
strong  a  resemblance  to  those  of  Catherine  Seyton  that  he 
felt  like  one  bewildered  in  the  mazes  of  a  changeful  and 
stupifying  dream.     The  memorable   scene  of  the   hostelry 


284  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

rushed  on  his  recollection,  with  all  its  doubtful  and  marvel- 
ous circumstances.  Were  the  tales  of  enchantment  which 
he  had  read  in  romances  realized  in  this  extraordinary  girl  ? 
Could  she  transport  herself  from  the  walled  and  guarded 
Castle  of  Lochleven,  moated  with  its  broad  lake  (towards 
which  he  cast  back  a  look  as  if  to  ascertain  it  was  still  in 
existence),  and  watched  with  such  scrupulous  care  as  the 
safety  of  a  nation  demanded.  Could  she  surmount  all  these 
obstacles,  and  make  such  careless  and  dangerous  use  of  her 
liberty  as  to  engage  herself  publicly  in  a  quarrel  in  a  village 
fair  ?  Kolaud  was  unable  to  determine  whether  the  exer- 
tions which  it  must  have  cost  her  to  gain  her  freedom  or  the 
use  to  which  she  had  put  it  rendered  her  the  most  unac- 
countable creature. 

Lost  in  these  meditations,  he  kept  his  gaze  fixed  on  the 
subject  of  them  ;  and  in  every  casual  motion  discovered,  or 
thought  he  discovered,  something  which  reminded  him  still 
more  strongly  of  Catherine  Seyton.  It  occurred  to  him 
more  than  once,  indeed,  that  he  might  be  deceiving  himself 
by  exaggerating  some  casual  likeness  into  absolute  identity. 
But  then  the  meeting  at  the  hostelry  of  St.  MichaeFs  re- 
turned to  his  mind,  and  it  seemed  in  the  highest  degree 
improbable  that,  under  such  various  circumstances,  mere 
imagination  should  twice  have  found  opportunity  to  play 
him  the  self-same  trick.  This  time,  however,  he  determined 
to  have  his  doubts  resolved,  and  for  this  purpose  he  sate 
during  the  rest  of  the  play  like  a  greyhound  in  the  slip, 
ready  to  spring  upon  the  hare  the  instant  that  she  was  started. 
The  damsel,  whom  he  watched  attentively  lest  she  should 
escape  in  the  crowd  when  the  spectacle  was  closed,  sate  as  if 
perfectly  unconscious  that  she  was  observed.  But  the  worthy 
doctor  marked  the  direction  of  his  eyes,  and  magnanimously 
suppressed  his  own  inclination  to  become  the  Theseus  to 
this  Hippolyta,  in  deference  to  the  rights  of  hospitality, 
which  enjoined  him  to  forbear  interference  with  the  pleas* 
urable  pursuits  of  his  young  friend.  He  passed  one  or  two 
formal  gibes  upon  the  fixed  attention  which  the  page  paid 
to  the  unknown,  and  upon  his  own  jealousy ;  adding,  how- 
ever, that  if  both  were  to  be  presented  to  the  patient  at  once, 
he  had  little  doubt  she  would  think  the  younger  man  the 
sounder  prescription.  "  I  fear  me"  he  added,  *'  we  shall 
have  no  news  of  the  knave  Auchtermuchty  for  some  time, 
since  the  vermin  whom  I  sent  after  him  seem  to  have  proved 
corbie-messengers.  So  you  have  an  hour  or  two  on  your 
hands.  Master  Page  ;  and  as  the  minstrels  are  beginning  to 


THE  ABBOT  2S& 

strike  up,  now  that  the  play  is  ended,  why,  an  you  incline 
for  a  dance,  yonder  is  the  green,  and  there  sits  yonr  partner. 
I  trust  you  will  hold  me  perfect  in  my  diagnostics,  since  1 
see  with  half  an  eye  what  disease  you  are  sick  of,  and  have 
administered  a  pleasing  remedy. 

Discernit  sapiens  res  (as  Chambers  hath  it)  quas  confundit  asellus.** 

The  page  hardly  heard  the  end  of  the  learned  adage,  or 
the  charge  which  the  chamberlain  gave  him  to  be  within 
reach,  in  case  of  the  wains  arriving  suddenly,  and  sooner 
than  expected,  so  eager  was  he  at  once  to  shake  himself  free 
of  his  learned  associate  and  to  satisfy  his  curiosity  regarding 
the  unknown  damsel.  Yet,  in  the  haste  which  he  made  to- 
wards her,  he  found  time  to  reflect  that,  in  order  to  secure 
an  opportunity  of  conversing  with  her  in  private,  he  must 
not  alarm  her  at  first  accosting  her.  He  therefore  composed 
his  manner  and  gait,  and  advancing  with  becoming  self- 
confidence  before  three  or  four  country-fellows  who  were  in- 
tent on  the  same  design,  but  knew  not  so  well  how  to  put 
their  request  into  shape,  he  acquainted  her  that  he,  as  the 
deputy  of  the  venerable  chamberlain,  requested  the  honor  of 
her  hand  as  a  partner. 

''The  venerable  chamberlain,*^  said  the  damsel,  frankly, 
reaching  the  page  her  hand,  "  does  very  well  to  exercise  this 
part  of  his  privilege  by  deputy  ;  and  I  suppose  the  laws  of 
the  revels  leave  me  no  choice  but  to  accept  of  his  faithful 
delegate.  *' 

''Provided,  fair  damsel,"  said  the  page,  "his  choice  of  a 
delegate  is  not  altogether  distasteful  to  you." 

"  Of  that,  fair  sir,"  replied  the  maiden,  "I  will  tell  you 
more  when  we  have  danced  the  first  measure." 

Catherine  Seyton  had  admirable  skill  in  gestic  lore,  and 
was  sometimes  called  on  to  dance  for  the  amusement  of  her 
royal  mistress.  Roland  Graeme  had  often  been  a  spectator 
of  her  skill,  and  sometimes,  at  the  Queen^s  command,  Cath- 
erine's partner  on  such  occasions.  He  was,  therefore,  per- 
fectly acquainted  with  Catherine's  mode  of  dancing  ;  and 
observed  that  his  present  partner,  in  grace,  in  agility,  in 
quickness  of  ear,  and  precision  of  execution,  exactly  re- 
ssembled  her,  save  that  the  Scottish  jig  which  he  now  danced 
with  her  required  a  more  violent  and  rapid  motion,  and  more 
rustic  agility,  than  the  stately  pavens,  lavoltas,  and  cou- 
rantoes  which  he  had  seen  her  execute  in  the  chamber  of 
Queen  Mary.     The  active  duties  of  the  dance  left  him  little 


286  WAVERLET  NOVELS 

time  for  reflection,  ard  none  for  conversation  ;  but  when 
their  pas  de  deux  was  finished,  amidst  the  acclamations  of 
the  villagers,  who  had  seldom  witnessed  such  an  exhibition, 
he  took  an  opportunity,  when  they  yielded  up  the  green  to 
another  couple,  to  use  the  privilege  of  a  partner,  and  enter 
into  conversation  with  the  mysterious  maiden  whom  he  still 
held  by  the  hand. 

"  Fair  partner,  may  I  not  crave  the  name  of  her  who  has 
graced  me  thus  far  ?  " 

*'  You  may,^'  said  the  maiden  ;  '^  but  it  is  a  question 
whether  I  shall  answer  you." 

''  And  why  ?''  asked  Roland. 

"Because  nobody  gives  anything  for  nothing,  and  you  can 
tell  me  nothing  in  return  which  I  care  to  hear." 

''  Could  I  not  tell  you  my  name  and  lineage,  in  exchange 
for  yours  ?  "  returned  Eoland. 

^'  No  !  "  answered  the  maiden,  "  for  you  know  little  of 
either." 

"How  ?"  said  the  page,  somewhat  angrily. 

"  Wrath  you  not  for  the  matter,"  said  the  damsel ;  "  I 
will  show  you  in  an  instant  that  I  know  more  of  you  than 
you  do  of  yourself." 

"Indeed!"  answered  Graeme;  "for  whom  then  do  you 
take  me  ?  " 

"  For  the  wild  falcon,"  answered  she,  "  whom  a  dog 
brought  in  his  mouth  to  a  certain  castle,  when  he  was  but 
an  unfledged  eyas  ;  for  the  hawk  whom  men  dare  not  let  fly, 
lest  he  should  check  at  game  and  pounce  on  carrion  ;  whom 
folk  must  keep  hooded  till  he  has  the  proper  light  of  his 
eyes,  and  can  discover  good  from  evil." 

"  Well — be  it  so,"  replied  Roland  Graeme  ;  "I  guess  at  a 
part  of  your  parable,  fair  mistress  mine  ;  and  perhaps  I  know 
as  much  of  you  as  you  do  of  me,  and  can  well  dispense  with 
the  information  which  you  are  so  niggard  in  giving." 

"  Prove  that,"  said  the  maiden,  "  and  I  will  give  you  credit 
for  more  penetration  than  I  judged  you  to  be  gifted  withal." 

"  It  shall  be  proved  instantly,"  said  Roland  Graeme. 
'*  The  first  letter  of  your  name  is  S  and  the  last  N." 

"  Admirable  !  "  said  his  partner  ;  "guess  on." 

"It  pleases  you  to-day,"  continued  Roland,  "to  wear  the 
snood  and  kirtle,  and  perhaps  you  may  be  seen  to-morrow  in 
hat  and  feather,  hose  and  doublet." 

"In  the  clout! — in  the  clout!  you  have  hit  the  very 
white,"  said  the  damsel,  suppressing  a  great  inclination  to 
Uugh. 


THE  ABBOT  28t 

'*  You  can  switch  men's  eyes  out  of  their  heads,  as  well 
as  the  hearts  out  of  their  bosoms." 

These  last  words  were  uttered  in  a  low  and  tender  tone, 
which,  to  Roland's  great  mortification,  and  somewhat  to  his 
displeasure,  was  so  far  from  allaying  that  it  greatly  in- 
creased, his  partner's  disposition  to  laughter.  She  could 
scarce  compose  herself  while  she  replied,  *^  If  you  had 
thought  my  hand  so  formidable,'"  extricating  it  from  his 
hold,  ''you  would  not  have  grasped  it  so  hard;  but  I  per- 
ceive you  know  me  so  fully  that  there  is  no  occasion  to  show 
vou  my  face." 

"Fair  Catherine,"  said  the  page,  ''he  were  unworthy 
ever  to  have  seen  you,  far  less  to  have  dwelt  so  long  in  the 
same  service,  and  under  the  same  roof  with  you,  who  could 
mistake  your  air,  your  gesture,  your  step  in  walking  or  in 
.dancing,  the  turn  of  your  neck,  the  symmetry  of  your 
form  :  none  could  be  so  dull  as  not  to  recognize  you  by  so 
many  proofs  ;  but  for  me,  I  could  swear  even  to  that  tress 
of  hair  that  escapes  from  under  your  muffler." 

"  And  to  the  face,  of  course,  which  that  muffler  covers," 
said  the  maiden,  removing  her  veil,  and  in  an  instant  en- 
deavoring to  replace  it.  She  showed  the  features  of  Cath- 
erine ;  but  an  unusual  degree  of  petulant  impatience  in- 
flamed them  when,  from  some  awkwardness  in  her  manage- 
ment of  the  muffler,  she  was  unable  again  to  adjust  it  with 
that  dexterity  which  was  a  principal  accomplishment  of  the 
coquettes  of  the  time. 

"The  fiend  rive  the  rag  to  tatters  !"  said  the  damsel,  as 
the  veil  fluttered  about  her  shoulders,  with  an  accent  so 
earnest  and  decided  that  it  made  the  page  start.  He  looked 
again  at  the  damsel's  face,  but  the  information  which  his 
eyes  received  was  to  the  same  purport  as  before.  He 
assisted  her  to  adjust  her  muffler,  and  both  were  for  an  in- 
stant silent.  The  damsel  spoke  first,  for  Eoland  Graame 
was  overwhelmed  with  surprise  at  the  contrarieties  which 
Catherine  Seyton  seemed  to  include  in  her  person  and  char- 
acter. 

"  You  are  surprised,"  said  the  damsel  to  him,  "  at  what 
you  see  and  hear.  But  the  times  which  make  females  men 
are  least  of  all  fitted  for  men  to  become  women ;  yet  you 
yourself  are  in  danger  of  such  a  change." 

"  I  in  danger  of  becoming  effeminate  ! "  said  the  page. 

"  Yes,  you  for  all  the  boldness  of  your  reply,"  said  the 
damsel.  "  When  you  should  hold  fast  your  religion,  be- 
cause it  is  assailed  on  all  sides  by  rebels,  traitors,  and  here- 


288  WA  VERLEY  NO VEL8 

tics^  you  let  it  glide  out  of  your  breast  like  water  grasped  m 
the  hand.  If  you  are  driven  from  the  faith  of  your  fathers 
from  fear  of  a  traitor,  is  not  that  v/omanish  ?  If  you  are 
cajoled  by  the  cunning  arguments  of  a  trumpeter  of  heresy, 
or  the  praises  of  a  Puritanic  old  woman,  is  not  that  woman- 
ish ?  If  you  are  bribed  by  the  hope  of  spoil  and  prefer- 
ment, is  not  that  womanish  ?  And  when  you  wonder  at  my 
venting  a  threat  or  an  execration,  should  you  not  wonder  at 
yourself,  who,  pretending  to  a  gentle  name,  and  aspiring  to 
knighthood,  can  be  at  the  same  time  cowardly,  silly,  and 
self-interested  ?  '^ 

*'  I  would  that  a  man  would  bring  such  a  charge  \"  said 
the  page  ;  ^'  he  should  see,  ere  his  life  was  a  minute  older, 
whether  he  had  cause  to  term  me  coward  or  no/' 

*'  Beware  of  such  big  words,''  answered  the  maiden  ;  *'yon 
said  but  anon  that  1  sometimes  wear  hose  and  doublet." 

*^  But  remain  still  Catherine  Seyton,  wear  what  you  list," 
said  the  page,  endeavoring  again  to  possess  himself  of  her 
hand. 

'*You  indeed  are  pleased  to  call  me  so,"  replied  the 
maiden,  evading  his  intention,  "  but  I  have  many  other 
names  besides." 

'^  And  will  you  not  reply  to  that,"  said  the  page,  ''  by 
which  you  are  distinguished  beyond  every  other  maiden  in 
Scotland?" 

The  damsel,  unallured  by  his  praises,  still  kept  aloof,  and 
sung  with  a  gaiety  a  verse  from  an  old  ballad — 

"  O  some  do  call  me  Jack,  sweet  love, 
And  some  do  call  me  Gill ; 
But  when  I  ride  to  Holyrood, 
My  name  is  Wilful  Will." 

•'Wilful  Will ! "  exclaimed  the  page,  impatiently;  '*^say 
rather  Will  o'  the  Wisp — Jack  with  the  Lantern,  for  never 
was  such  a  deceitful  or  wandering  meteor  ! " 
^  '' If  I  be  such,"  replied  the  maiden,  '' I  ask  no  fools  to 
follow  me.  If  they  do  so,  it  is  at  their  own  pleasure,  and 
must  be  on  their  own  proper  peril." 

"  Nay,  but,  dearest  Catherine,"  said  Eoland  Graeme,  ''  be 
for  one  instant  serious." 

'^  If  you  will  call  me  your  dearest  Catherine,  when  I  have 
given  you  so  many  names  to  choose  upon,"  replied  the  dam- 
sel, "  I  would  ask  you  how,  supposing  me  for  two  or  three 
hours  of  my  life  escaped  from  yonder  tower,  you  have  the 


THE  ABBOT  289 

cruelty  to  ask  me  to  be  serious  during  the  only  merry  mo- 
ments I  have  seen  perhaps  for  months  ?" 

'*  Ay,  but,  fair  Catherine,  there  are  moments  of  deep  and 
true  feeling  which  are  worth  ten  thousand  years  of  the  live- 
liest mirth  ;  and  such  was  that  of  yesterday,  when  you  so 
nearly " 

"  So  nearly  what  ?  "  demanded  the  damsel,  hastily. 

*'^  When  you  approached  your  lips  so  near  to  the  sign  you 
had  traced  on  my  ferehead/' 

*' Mother  of  Heaven  \''  exclaimed  she,  in  a  yet  fiercer 
tone,  and  with  a  more  masculine  manner  than  she  had  yet 
exhibited.  '^  Catherine  Seyton  approached  her  lips  to  a 
man's  brow,  and  thou  that  man  !     Vassal,  thou  liest  ! " 

The  page  stood  astonished  ;  but,  conceiving  he  had  alarmed 
the  damsel's  delicacy  by  alluding  to  the  enthusiasm  of  a 
moment,  and  the  manner  in  which  she  had  expressed  it,  he 
endeavored  to  falter  forth  an  apology.  His  excuses,  though 
he  was  unable  to  give  them  any  regular  shape,  were  accepted 
by  his  companion,  who  had  indeed  suppressed  her  indigna- 
tion after  its  first  explosion.  *' Speak  no  more  on't,'' she 
said.  *'  And  now  let  us  part ;  our  conversation  may  attract 
more  notice  than  is  convenient  for  either  of  us,'' 

''Nay,  but  allow  me  at  least  to  follow  you  to  some  se- 
questered place." 

''  You  dare  not,"  replied  the  maiden. 

'^  How,"  said  the  youth,  ''  dare  not  ?  where  is  it  you  dare 
go,  where  I  dare  not  follow  ?" 

"  You  fear  a  will  o'  the  wisp,"  said  the  damsel ;  ''  how 
would  you  face  a  fiery  dragon,  with  an  enchantress  mounted 
on  its  back  ?  " 

"Like  Sir  Eger,  Sir  Grime,  or  Sir  Greysteil,"  said  the 
page  ;  '^  but  be  there  such  toys  to  be  seen  here  ?" 

" I  go  to  Mother  Nicneven's,"  answered  the  maid  ;  "and 
she  is  witch  enough  to  rein  the  horned  devil,  with  a  red  silk 
thread  for  a  bridle,  and  a  rowan-tree  switch  for  a  whip." 

"  I  will  follow  you,"  said  the  page. 

"Let  it  be  at  some  distance,"  said  the  maiden. 

And  wrapping  her  mantle  round  her  with  more  saccess 
than  on  her  former  attempt,  she  mingled  with  the  throng, 
and  walked  towards  the  village,  heedfully  followed  by  Ko- 
land  Graeme  at  some  distance,  and  under  every  precaution 
which  he  could  uae  to  prevent  his  purpose  from  being  ob- 
served. 
19 


CHAPTER  XXVIII 

ies,  it  is  she  whose  eyes  look'd  on  thy  childhood, 
And  watch'd  with  trembling  hope  thy  dawn  of  youth, 
That  now,  with  these  same  eyeballs  dimm'd  with  age. 
And  dimmer  yet  with  tears,  see  thy  dishonor. 

Old  Play. 

At  the  entrance  of  the  principal,  or  indeed,  so  to  speak,  the 
only,  street  in  Kinross  the  damsel,  whose  steps  were  pur- 
sued by  Roland  Graeme,  cast  a  glance  behind  her,  as  if  to  be 
certain  he  had  not  lost  trace  of  her,  and  then  plunged  down 
a  very  narrow  lane  which  ran  betwixt  two  rows  of  poor  and 
ruinous  cottages.  She  paused  for  a  second  at  the  door  of 
one  of  those  miserable  tenements,  again  cast  her  eye  up  the 
lane  towards  Roland,  then  lifted  the  latch,  opened  the  door, 
and  disappeared  from  his  view. 

With  whatever  haste  the  page  followed  her  example,  the 
difficulty  which  he  found  in  discovering  the  trick  of  the 
latch,  which  did  not  work  quite  in  the  usual  manner,  and  in 
pushing  open  the  door,  which  did  not  yield  to  his  first  effort, 
delayed  for  a  minute  or  two  his  entrance  into  the  cottage. 
A  dark  and  smoky  passage  led,  as  usual,  betwixt  the  exterior 
wall  of  the  house  and  the  ''hallan,"  or  clay  wall,  which 
served  as  a  partition  betwixt  it  and  the  interior.  At  the 
end  of  this  passage,  and  through  the  partition,  was  a  door 
leading  into  the/* ben,*'  or  inner  chamber  of  the  cottage, 
and  when  Roland  Graeme's  hand  was  upon  the  latch  of  this 
door,  a  female  voice  pronounced,  *'  Benedictus  qui  veniat  in 
nomifie  Domini,  damfiandus  qui  in  nomine  inimici."  On 
entering  the  apartment,  he  perceived  the  figure  which  the 
chamberlain  had  pointM  out  to  him  as  Mother  Nicneven, 
seated  beside  the  lowly  health.  Bat  there  was  no  other  per- 
son in  the  room.  Roland  Graeme  gazed  around  in  surprise 
at  the  disappearance  of  Catherine  Sl^ton,  without  paying 
much  regard  to  the  supposed  sorceress,  until  she  attracted 
and  riveted  his  regard  by  the  tone  in  which  she  asked  him — 
"  What  seekest  thou  here  ?  " 

"  I  seek,''  said  the  page,  with  much  embarrassment — **  I 
seek " 


\ 


THE  ABBOT  291 

But  his  answer  was  cut  short  when  the  old  woman,  draw- 
ing her  huge  gray  eyebrows  sternly  together,  with  a  frown 
which  knitted  her  brow  into  a  thousand  wrinkles,  arose,  and 
erecting  herself  up  to  her  full  natural  size,  tore  the  kerchief 
from  her  head,  and  seizing  Roland  by  the  arm,  made  two 
strides  across  the  floor  of  the  apartment  to  a  small  window 
through  which  the  light  fell  full  on  her  face,  and  showed 
the  astonished  youth  the  countenance  of  Magdalen  Graeme. 

'^  Yes,  Roland,''  she  said,  **  thine  eyes  deceive  thee  not : 
they  show  thee  truly  the  features  of  her  whom  thou  hast 
thyself  deceived,  whose  wine  thou  hast  turned  into  gall,  her 
bread  of  joyfulness  into  bitter  poison,  her  hope  into  the 
blackest  despair.  It  is  she  who  now  demands  of  thee,  what 
seekest  thou  here  ? — she  whose  heaviest  sin  towards  Heaven 
hath  been,  that  she  loved  thee  even  better  than  the  weal  of 
the  whole  church,  and  could  not  without  reluctance  sur- 
render thee  even  in  the  cause  of  God — she  now  asks  you, 
what  seekest  thou  here  V* 

While  she  spoke,  she  kept  her  broad  black  eye  riveted  on 
the  youth's  face,  with  the  expression  with  which  the  eagle 
regards  his  prey  ere  he  tears  it  to  pieces.  Roland  felt  him- 
self at  the  moment  incapable  either  of  reply  or  evasion. 
This  extraordinary  enthusiast  had  preserved  over  him  in 
gome  measure  the  ascendency  which  she  had  acquired  dur- 
ing his  childhood  ;  and,  besides,  he  knew  the  violence  of  her 
passions  and  her  impatience  of  contradiction,  and  was  sen- 
sible that  almost  any  reply  which  he  could  make  was  likely 
to  throw  her  into  an  ecstasy  of  rage.  He  was  therefore  silent ; 
and  Magdalen  Graeme  proceeded  with  increasing  enthusiasm 
in  her  apostrophe — **Once  more,  what  seek'st  thou,  false 
boy  ? — seek'st  thou  the  honor  thou  hast  renounced,  the  faith 
thou  hast  abandoned,  the  hopes  thou  hast  destroyed  ?  Or 
didst  thou  seek  me,  the  sole  protectress  of  thy  youth,  the 
only  parent  whom  thou  hast  known,  that  thou  mayest 
trample  on  my  gray  hairs,  even  as  thou  hast  already  trampled 
on  the  best  wishes  of  my  heart  ?" 

"  Pardon  me,  mother,"  said  Roland  Graeme  ;  "  but,  in 
truth  and  reason,  I  deserve  not  your  blame.  I  have  been 
treated  amongst  you — even  by  yourself,  my  revered  parent, 
as  well  as  by  others — as  one  who  lacked  the  common  attri- 
butes of  freewill  and  human  reason,  9r  was  at  least  deemed 
unfit  to  exercise  them.  A  land  of  enchantment  have  I  been 
led  into,  and  spells  have  been  cast  around  me — every  one  has 
met  me  in  disguise — every  one  \)s^  spoken  to  me  in  parables 
— ^I  haye  been  like  one  who  walks  in  a  weary  and  bewilder- 


892  WA  VEBLET  NO  VEL8 

ing  dream  ;  and  now  you  blame  me  that  I  have  not  the  sense, 
and  judgment,  and  steadiness  of  a  waking,  and  a  disen- 
chanted, and  a  reasonable  man,  who  knows  what  he  is  doing, 
and  wherefore  he  does  it !  If  one  must  walk  with  masks  and 
specters,  who  waft  themselves  from  place  to  place  as  it  were 
in  vision  rather  than  reality,  it  might  shake  the  soundest 
faith  and  turn  the  wisest  head.  I  sought,  since  I  must  needs 
avow  my  folly,  the  same  Catherine  Seyton  with  whom  you 
made  me  first  acquainted,  and  whom  I  most  strangely  find 
in  this  village  of  Kinross,  gayest  among  the  revelers,  when 
I  had  but  just  left  her  in  the  well-guarded  Castle  of  Loch- 
leven,  the  sad  attendant  of  an  imprisoned  Queen.  I  sought 
her,  and  in  her  place  I  find  you,  my  mother,  more  strangely 
disguised  than  even  she  is.'^ 

"And  what  hadst  thou  to  do  with  Catherine  Seyton?'' 
said  the  matron,  sternly  ;  "  is  this  a  time  or  a  world  to  follow 
maidens,  or  to  dance  around  a  Maypole  ?  When  the  trum- 
pet summons  every  trUe-hearted  Scotsman  around  the 
standard  of  the  true  sovereign,  shalt  thou  be  found  loitering 
in  a  lady's  bower  ?  " 

''No,  by  Heaven,  nor  imprisoned  in  the  rugged  walls  of 
an  island  castle  I  "  answered  Roland  Graeme.  ''  I  would  the 
blast  were  to  sound  even  now,  for  I  fear  that  nothing  less 
loud  will  dispel  the  chimerical  visions  by  which  I  am  sur- 
rounded." 

"  Doubt  not  that  it  will  be  winded,"  said  the  matron, 
*'  and  that  so  fearfully  loud,  that  Scotland  will  never  hear 
the  like  until  the  last  and  loudest  blast  of  all  shall  announce 
to  mountain  and  to  valley  that  time  is  no  more.  Meanwhile, 
be  thou  but  brave  and  constant.  Serve  God,  and  honor  thy 
sovereign.  Abide  by  thy  religion.  I  cannot — I  will  not — I 
dare  not  ask  thee  the  truth  of  the  terrible  surmises  I  have 
heard  touching  thy  falling  away — perfect  not  that  accursed 
sacrifice  ;  and  yet,  even  at  this  late  hour,  thou  mayst  be  what 
I  have  hoped  for,  the  son  of  my  dearest  hope.  What  say  I  ? 
The  son  of  ??2y  hope  ?  Thou  shalt  be  the  hope  of  Scotland, 
her  boast  and  her  honor  I  Even  thy  wildest  and  most  foolish 
wishes  may  perchance  be  fulfilled.  I  might  blush  to  mingle 
meaner  motives  with  the  noble  guerdon  I  hold  out  to  thee. 
It  shames  me,  being  such  as  I  am,  to  mention  the  idle  pas- 
sions of  youth,  save  with  contempt  and  the  purpose  of  cen- 
sure. But  we  must  bribe  children  to  wholesome  medicine 
by  the  offer  of  cates,  and  youth  to  honorable  achievement 
with  the  promise  of  pleasure.  Mark  me,  therefore,  Roland. 
The  love  of  Catherine  Seyton  will  follow  him  only  who  shaU 


THE  ABBOT  ^3 

achieve  the  freedom  of  her  mistress  :  and  believe,  it  may  be 
one  day  in  thine  own  power  to  be  that  happy  lover.  Cast, 
therefore,  away  doubt  and  fear,  and  prepare  to  do  what  re- 
ligion calls  for,  what  thy  country  demands  of  thee,  what 
thy  duty  as  a  subject  and  as  a  servant  alike  require  at  your 
hand ;  and  be  assured,  even  the  idlest  or  wildest  wishes  of 
thy  heart  will  be  most  readily  attained  by  following  the  call 
of  thy  duty/' 

As  she  ceased  speaking,  a  double  knock  was  heard  against 
the  inner  door.  The  matron,  hastily  adjusting  her  muffler 
and  resuming  her  chair  by  the  hearth,  demanded  who  was 
there. 

**  Salve  in  nomine  sancto,"  was  answered  from  without. 

'^  Salvete  et  vos,"  answered  Magdalen  Graeme. 

And  a  man  entered  in  the  ordinary  dress  of  a  nobleman's 
retainer,  wearing  at  his  girdle  a  sword  and  buckler.  '^  I 
sought  you,"  said  he,  *'my  mother,  and  him  whom  I  see 
with  you."  Then  addressing  himself  to  Eoland  Graeme,  he 
said  to  him,  *•'  Hast  thou  not  a  packet  from  George  Doug- 
las ?" 

"  I  have,"  said  the  page,  suddenly  recollecting  that  which 
had  been  committed  to  his  charge  in  the  morning,  ''but  I 
may  not  deliver  it  to  any  one  without  some  token  that  they 
have  a  right  to  ask  it." 

"  You  say  well,"  replied  the  serving-man,  and  whispered 
into  his  ear,  "  The  packet  which  I  ask  is  the  report  to  his 
father,  will  this  token  suffice  ?  " 

''It  will,"  replied  the  page,  and  taking  the  packet  from 
his  bosom,  gave  it  to  the  man. 

"  I  will  return  presently,"  said  the  serving-man,  and  left 
the  cottage. 

Roland  had  now  sufficiently  recovered  his  surprise  to  ac- 
cost his  relative  in  turn,  and  request  to  know  the  reason  why 
he  found  her  in  so  precarious  a  disguise,  and  a  place  so 
dangerous.  "You  cannot  be  ignorant,"  he  said,  "of  the 
hatred  that  the  Lady  of  Lochleven  bears  to  those  of  your — 
that  is  of  our  religion  ;  your  present  disguise  lays  you  open 
to  suspicions  of  a  different  kind,  but  inferring  no  less 
hazard ;  and  whether  as  a  Catholic,  or  as  a  sorceress,  or  as  a 
friend  to  the  unfortunate  Queen,  you  are  in  equal  danger, 
if  apprehended  within  the  bounds  of  the  Douglas ;  and  in 
the  chamberlain  who  administers  their  authority  you  have, 
for  his  own  reasons,  an  enemy,  and  a  bitter  one." 

"  I  know  it,"  said  the  matron,  her  eyes  kindling  with 
triumph  ;  "  I  know  that,  vain  of  his  schoolcraft  and  carnal 


m  WAmRLSY  NOVELS 

wisdom,  Luke  Lnndin  views  with  jealousy  and  hatred  the 
blessings  which  the  saints  have  conferred  on  my  prayers,  and 
on  the  holy  relics,  before  the  touch,  nay,  before  the  bare 
presence,  of  which  disease  and  death  have  so  often  been 
known  to  retreat.  I  know  he  would  rend  and  tear  me  :  but 
there  is  a  chain  and  a  muzzle  on  the  ban-dog  that  shall  re- 
strain his  fury,  and  the  Master^s  servant  shall  not  be  offended 
by  him  until  the  Master's  work  is  wrought.  When  that 
hour  comes,  let  the  shadows  of  the  evening  descend  on  me  in 
thunder  and  in  tempest :  the  time  shall  be  welcome  that  re- 
lieves my  eyes  from  seeing  guilt,  and  my  ears  from  listening 
to  blasphemy.  Do  thou  but  be  constant ;  play  thy  part  as 
1  have  played  and  will  play  mine  ;  and  my  release  shall  be 
like  that  of  a  blessed  martyr  whose  ascent  to  Heaven  angels 
hail  with  psalm  and  song,  while  earth  pursues  him  with  hiss 
and  with  execration." 

As  she  concluded,  the  serving-man  again  entered  the  cot- 
tage, and  said,  *'  All  is  well  I  the  time  holds  for  to-morrow 
night" 

*'  What  time  ?  what  holds  ?"  exclaimed  Eoland  Graeme. 
'*  1  trust  I  have  given  the  Douglas's  packet  to  no 
wrong '* 

*' Content  yourself,  young  man,*'  answered  the  serving- 
man  ;  "  thou  hast  my  word  and  token." 

**  I  know  not  if  the  token  be  right,"  said  the  page  ;  ''and 
I  care  not  much  for  the  word  of  a  stranger." 

*' What,"  said  the  matron,  ''although  thou  mayst  have 
given  a  packet  delivered  to  thy  charge  by  one  of  the  Queen's 
rebels  into  the  hand  of  a  loyal  subject — there  were  no  great 
mistake  in  that,  thou  hot-brained  boy  I " 

"  By  St.  Andrew,  there  were  foul  mistake,  though,"  an- 
swered the  page  ;  "  it  is  the  very  spirit  of  my  duty,  in  this 
first  stage  of  chivalry,  to  be  faithful  to  my  trust ;  and  had 
the  devil  given  me  a  message  to  discharge,  I  would  not — so  I 
had  plighted  my  faith  to  the  contrary — betray  his  counsel  to 
an  angel  of  light." 

"Now,  by  the  love  I  once  bore  thee,"  said  the  matron,  "I 
could  slay  thee  with  mine  own  hand,  when  I  hear  thee  talk 
of  a  dearer  faith  being  due  to  rebels  and  heretics  than  thou 
owest  to  thy  church  and  thy  prince  ! " 

"  Be  patient,  my  good  sister,"  said  the  serving-man  ;  "  I 
will  give  him  such  reasons  as  shall  counterbalance  the  scru- 
ples which  beset  him  :  the  spirit  is  honorable,  though  now 
it  mav  be  mistimed  and  misplaced.  Follow  me,  young 
man. 


TEE  ABBOT  295 

*'  Ere  I  go  to  call  this  stranger  to  a  reckoning,"  said  the 
page  to  the  matron,  **is  there  nothing  I  can  do  for  your 
comfort  and  safety  ?  "  * 

"Nothing,''  she  replied — "nothing,  save  what  will  lead 
more  to  thy  own  honor  :  the  saints  who  have  protected  me 
thus  far  will  lend  me  succor  as  I  need  it.  Tread  the  path 
of  glory  that  is  before  thee,  and  only  think  of  me  as  the 
creature  on  earth  who  will  be  most  delighted  to  hear  of  thy 
fame.  Follow  the  stranger  ;  he  hath  tidings  for  you  that 
you  little  expect." 

That  stranger  remained  on  the  threshold  as  if  waiting  for 
Roland,  and  as  soon  as  he  saw  him  put  himself  in  motion  he 
moved  on  before  at  a  quick  pace.  Diving  still  deeper  down 
the  lane,  Eoland  perceived  that  it  was  now  bordered  by  build- 
ings upon  the  one  side  only,  and  that  the  other  was  fenced 
by  a  high  old  wall,  over  which  some  trees  extended  their 
branches.  Descending  a  good  way  farther,  they  came  to  a 
small  door  in  the  wall.  Roland's  guide  paused,  looked 
around  for  an  instant  to  see  if  any  one  were  within  sight, 
then  taking  a  key  from  his  pocket,  opened  the  door  and  en- 
tered, making  a  sign  to  Roland  Graeme  to  follow  him.  He 
did  so,  and  the  stranger  locked  the  door  carefully  on  the  in- 
side. During  this  operation  the  pa^e  had  a  moment  to  look 
around,  and  perceived  that  he  was  in  a  small  orchard  very 
trimly  kept. 

The  stranger  led  him  through  an  alley  or  two,  shaded  by 
trees  loaded  with  summer-fruit,  into  a  pleached  arbor, 
where,  taking  the  turf-seat  which  was  on  the  one  side,  he 
motioned  to  Roland  to  occupy  that  which  was  opposite  to 
him,  and,  after  a  momentary  silence,  opened  the  conversation 
as  follows  :  "  You  have  asked  a  better  warrant  than  the  word 
of  a  mere  stranger  to  satisfy  you  that  I  have  the  authority 
of  George  of  Douglas  for  possessing  myself  of  the  packet 
entrusted  to  your  charge  ?" 

"  It  is  precisely  the  point  on  which  I  demand  reckoning 
of  you,"  said  Roland.  "  I  fear  I  have  acted  hastily  ;  if  so,  I 
must  redeem  my  error  as  I  best  may." 

"  You  hold  me  then  as  a  perfect  stranger  ?  "  said  the  man. 

"  Look  at  my  face  more  attentively,  and  see  if  the  features 
do  not  resemble  those  of  a  man  much  known  to  you  for- 
merly." 

Roland  gazed  attentively ;  but  the  ideas  recalled  to  his 
mind  were  so  inconsistent  with  the  mean  and  servile  dress  of 
the  person  before  him  that  he  did  not  venture  to  express  the 
opinion  which  he  was  irresistibly  induced  to  form. 


296  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

**  Yes,  my  son,"  said  the  stranger,  observing  his  embar- 
rassment, *'you  do  indeed  see  before  you  the  unfortunate 
Father  Anibrosius,  who  once  accounted  his  ministry  crowned 
in  your  preservation  from  the  snares  of  heresy,  but  who  is 
now  condemned  to  lament  thee  as  a  castaway  ! " 

Roland  Graeme's  kindness  of  heart  was  at  least  equal  to 
his  vivacity  of  temper  :  he  could  not  bear  to  see  his  ancient 
and  honored  master  and  spiritual  guide  in  a  situation  which 
inferred  a  change  of  fortune  so  melancholy,  but,  throwing 
himself  at  his  feet,  grasped  his  knees  and  wept  aloud. 

'*  What  mean  these  tears,  my  son  ?"  said  the  abbot  ;  ''  if 
they  are  shed  for  your  own  sins  and  follies,  surely  they  are 
gracious  showers,  and  may  avail  thee  much  ;  but  weep  not, 
if  they  fall  on  my  account.  You  indeed  see  the  superior  of 
the  community  of  St.  Mary's  in  the  dress  of  a  poor  sworder, 
who  gives  his  master  the  use  of  his  blade  and  buckler,  and, 
if  needful,  of  his  life,  for  a  coarse  livery  coat,  and  four 
marks  by  the  year.  But  such  a  garb  suits  the  time,  and,  in 
the  period  of  the  church  militant,  as  well  becomes  her  pre- 
lates as  staff,  miter,  and  crosier  in  the  days  of  the  church's 
triumph.'* 

"  By  what  fate,"  said  the  page — "  and  yet  why,"  added 
he,  checking  himself,  '^  need  I  ask  ?  Catherine  Seyton  in 
some  sort  prepared  me  for  this.  But  that  the  change  should 
be  so  absolute,  the  destruction  so  complete  ! " 

"  Yes,  my  son,"  said  the  Abbot  Ambrosius,  "  thine  own 
eyes  beheld,  in  my  unworthy  elevation  to  the  abbot's  stall, 
the  last  especial  act  of  holy  solemnity  which  shall  be  seen  in 
the  church  of  St.  Mary's,  until  it  shall  please  Heaven  to 
turn  back  the  captivity  of  the  church.  For  the  present,  the 
shepherd  is  smitten — ay,  wellnigh  to  the  earth,  the  flocks 
are  scattered,  and  the  shrines  of  saints  and  martyrs,  and 
pious  benefactors  to  church,  are  given  to  the  owls  of  nighfc 
and  the  satyrs  of  the  desert." 

**  And  your  brother,  the  Knight  of  Avenel — could  he  do 
nothing  for  your  protection  ?  " 

"  He  himself  hath  fallen  under  the  suspicion  of  the  ruling 
powers,"  said  the  abbot,  "  who  are  as  unjust  to  their  friends j 
as  they  are  cruel  to  their  enemies.  I  could  not  grieve  at  it,1 
did  I  hope  it  might  estrange  him  from  his  course  ;  but  ij 
know  the  soul  of  Halbert,  and  I  rather  fear  it  will  drive  himj 
to  prove  his  fidelity  to  their  unhappy  cause  by  some  deed) 
which  may  be  yet  more  destructive  to  the  church,  and  more] 
offensive  to  Heaven.  Enough  of  this  ;  and  now  to  the  busi- 
DOis  of  our  meeting.     I  trust  you  will  hold  it  sufficient  if  li 


THE  ABBOT  W; 

pass  my  word  to  you,  that  the  packet  of  which  you  were 
lately  the  bearer  was  designed  for  my  hands  by  George  of 
Douglas  ?'' 

''Then/'  said  the  page,  'ris  George  of  Douglas " 

*'  A  true  friend  to  his  Queen,  Roland  ;  and  will  soon,  I 
trust,  have  his  eyes  opened  to  the  errors  of  his — miscalled — 
church/' 

"  But  what  is  he  to  his  father,  and  what  to  the  Lady  of 
Lochleven,  who  has  been  as  a  mother  to  him  ?  "  said  the 
page,  impatiently. 

'"  The  best  friend  to  both,  in  time  and  through  eternity," 
said  the  abbot,  ''if  he  shall  prove  the  happy  instrument 
for  redeeming  the  evil  they  have  wrought,  and  are  still 
working/' 

''  Still,"  said  the  page,  "  I  like  not  that  good  service  which 
begins  in  breach  of  trust/' 

''I  blame  not  thy  scruples,  my  son,"  said  the  abbot; 
*'  but  the  time  which  has  wrenched  asunder  the  allegiance 
of  Christians  to  the  church,  and  of  subjects  of  their  king, 
has  dissolved  all  the  lesser  bonds  of  society ;  and,  in  such 
days,  mere  human  ties  must  no  more  restrain  our  progress 
than  the  brambles  and  briers,  which  catch  hold  of  his  gar- 
ments, should  delay  the  path  of  a  pilgrim  who  travels  to  pay 
his  vows/' 

"But,  my  father "  said  the  youth,  and  then  stopped 

short  in  a  hesitating  manner. 

"Speak  on,  my  son,"  said  the  abbot — "speak  without 
fear." 

"  Let  me  not  offend  you,  then,"  said  Roland,  "  when  I 
answer,  that  it  is  even  this  which  our  adversaries  charge 
against  us,  when  they  say  that,  shaping  the  means  accord- 
ing to  the  end,  we  are  willing  to  commit  great  moral  evil  in 
order  that  we  may  work  out  eventual  good." 

"  The  heretics  have  played  their  usual  arts  on  you,  my 
son,"  said  the  abbot ;  "  they  would  v/illingly  deprive  us  of 
the  power  of  acting  wisely  and  secretly,  though  their  pos- 
session of  superior  force  forbids  our  contending  with  them 
on  the  terms  of  equality.  They  have  reduced  us  to  a  state 
of  exhausted  weakness,  and  now  would  fain  proscribe  the 
means  by  which  weakness,  through  all  the  range  of  nature, 
supplies  the  lack  of  strength,  and  defends  itself  against  its 
potent  enemies.  As  well  might  the  hound  say  to  the  hare, 
''Use  not  these  wily  turns  to  escape  me,  but  contend  with 
me  in  pitched  battle,'  as  the  armed  and  powerful  heretic 
demand  of  the  down- trodden  and  oppressed  Catholic  to  lajr 


298  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

aside  the  wisdom  of  the  serpent,  by  which  alone  they  may 
again  hope  to  raise  up  the  Jerusalem  over  which  they  weep, 
and  which  it  is  their  duty  to  rebuild.  But  more  of  this 
hereafter.  And  now,  my  son,  I  command  thee  on  thy  faith 
to  tell  me  truly  and  particularly  what  has  chanced  to  thee 
since  we  parted,  and  what  is  the  present  state  of  thy  con- 
science. Thy  relation,  our  sister  Magdalen,  is  a  woman  of 
excellent  gifts,  blessed  with  a  zeal  which  neither  doubt  nor 
danger  can  quench  ;  but  yet  it  is  not  a  zeal  altogether  ac- 
cording to  knowledge  ;  wherefore,  my  son,  I  would  willingly 
be  myself  thy  interrogator  and  the  counselor  in  these  days  of 
darkness  and  stratagem. ■*' 

With  the  respect  which  he  owed  to  his  first  instructor, 
Roland  Graeme  went  rapidly  through  the  events  which  the 
reader  is  acquainted  with  ;  and  while  he  disguised  not  from 
the  prelate  the  impression  which  had  been  made  on  his  mind 
by  the  arguments  of  the  preacher  Henderson,  he  accident- 
ally, and  almost  involuntarily,  gave  his  father  confessor 
to  understand  the  influence  which  Catherine  Seyton  had 
acquired  over  him. 

*'  It  is  with  joy  I  discover,  my  dearest  son,''  replied  the 
abbot,  ''that  I  have  arrived  in  time  to  arrest  thee  on  the 
verge  of  the  precipice  to  which  thou  werfc  approaching. 
These  doubts  of  which  you  complain  are  the  weeds  which 
naturally  grow  up  in  a  strong  soil,  and  require  the  careful 
hand  of  the  husbandman  to  eradicate  them.  Thou  must 
study  a  little  volume,  which  I  will  impart  to  thee  in  fitting 
time,  in  which,  by  Our  Lady's  grace,  I  have  placed  in  some- 
what a  clearer  light  than  heretofore  the  points  debated  be- 
twixt us  and  these  heretics,  who  sow  among  the  wheat  the 
same  tares  which  were  formerly  privily  mingled  with  the 
good  seed  by  the  Albigenses  and  the  Lollards.  But  it  is  not 
by  reason  alone  that  you  must  hope  to  conquer  these  insinu- 
ations of  the  enemy.  It  is  sometimes  by  timely  resistance, 
but  oftener  by  timely  flight.  You  must  shut  your  ears 
against  the  arguments  of  the  heresiarch,  when  circumstances 
permit  you  not  to  withdraw  the  foot  from  his  company. 
Anchor  your  thoughts  upon  the  service  of  Our  Lady,  while 
he  is  expending  in  vain  his  heretical  sophistry.  Are  you 
unable  to  maintain  your  attention  on  Heavenly  objects, 
think  rather  on  thine  own  earthly  pleasures  than  tempt 
Providence  and  the  saints  by  giving  an  attentive  ear  to  the 
erring  doctrine  :  think  of  thy  hawk,  thy  hound,  thine 
angling-rod,  thy  sword  and  buckler — think  even  of  Cather- 
ine Seyton,  rather  than  give  thy  soul  to  the  lessons  of  the 


THE  ABBOT  299 

tempter.  Alas !  my  son,  believe  not  that,  worn  out  with 
woes,  and  bent  more  by  affliction  than  by  years,  I  have  for- 
gotten the  effect  of  beauty  over  the  heart  of  youth.  Even 
In  the  watches  of  the  night,  broken  by  thoughts  of  an  im- 
prisoned queen,  a  distracted  kingdom,  a  church  laid  waste 
and  ruinous,  come  other  thoughts  than  these  suggest,  and 
feelings  which  belonged  to  an  earlier  and  happier  course  of 
life.  Be  it  so — we  must  bear  our  load  as  we  may  ;  and  not 
in  vain  are  these  passions  implanted  in  our  breast,  since,  as 
now  in  thy  case,  they  may  come  in  aid  of  resolutions  founded 
upon  higher  grounds.  Yet  beware,  my  son — this  Catherine 
Seyton  is  the  daughter  of  one  of  Scotland's  proudest,  as  well 
as  most  worthy  barons  ;  and  thy  state  may  not  suffer  thee, 
as  yet,  to  aspire  so  high.  But  thus  it  is — Heaven  works  its 
purposes  through  human  folly ;  and  Douglas's  ambitious 
affection  as  well  as  thine  shall  contribute  alike  to  the  desired 
end.'' 

"How,  my  father,'^  srid  the  page,  "my  suspicions  are 
then  true  !     Douglas  loves '' 

"He  does;  and  with  a  love  as  much  misplaced  as  thine 
own  ;  but  beware  of  him — cross  him  not — thwart  him  not." 

"  Let  him  not  cross  or  thwart  me,"  said  the  page ;  "for  I 
will  not  yield  him  an  inch  of  way,  had  he  in  his  body  the 
soul  of  every  Douglas  that  has  lived  since  the  time  of  the 
Dark  Gray  Man."* 

"  Nay,  have  patience,  idle  boy,  and  reflect  that  your  suit 
can  never  interfere  with  his.  But  a  truce  with  these  vani- 
ties, and  let  us  better  employ  the  little  space  which  still  re- 
mains to  us  to  spend  together.  To  thy  knees,  my  son,  and 
resume  the  long- interrupted  duty  of  confession,  that,  happen 
what  may,  the  hour  may  find  in  thee  a  faithful  Catholic,  re- 
lieved from  the  guilt  of  his  sins  by  authority  of  the  Holy 
Church.  Could  I  but  tell  thee,  Eoland,  the  joy  with  whicn 
I  see  thee  once  more  put  thy  knee  to  its  best  and  fittest  use  1 
Quid  diets,  mifilif" 

*'Culpas  meaSf"  answered  the  youth;  and,  according  to 
the  ritual  of  the  Catholic  Church,  he  confessed  and  received 
absolution,  to  which  was  annexed  the  condition  of  perform- 
ing certain  enjoined  penances. 

When  this  religious  ceremony  was  ended,  an  old. man,  in 
the  dress  of  a  peasant  of  the  better  order,  approached  the 
arbor  and  greeted  the  abbot.  "  I  have  waited  the  conclu- 
sion of  your  devotions,"  he  said,  "  to  tell  you  the  youth  is 
sought  after  by  the  chamberlain,  and  it  were  well  he  should 

♦See  Note  31. 


300  WA VEBLEY  NOVELS 

appear  without  delay.  Holy  St.  Francis,  if  the  halberdiers 
were  to  seek  him  here,  they  might  sorely  wrong  my  garden- 
plot  :  they  are  in  office,  and  reck  not  where  they  tread,  were 
each  step  on  jessamine  and  clove-gillyflowers.'* 

*'  We  will  speed  him  forth,  my  brother, '*  said  the  abbot ; 
"  but,  alas  !  is  it  possible  that  such  trifles  should  live  in  your 
mind  at  a  crisis  so  awful  as  that  which  is  now  impending  ?  " 

'*  Eeverend  father,^'  answered  the  proprietor  of  the  garden, 
for  such  he  was,  *^  how  oft  shall  I  pray  you  to  keep  your 
high  counsel  for  high  minds  like  your  own  ?  What  have 
you  required  of  me,  that  I  have  not  granted  unresistingly, 
though  with  an  aching  heart  ?  " 

'*  I  would  require  of  you  to  be  yourself,  my  brother,*'  said 
the  Abbot  Ambrosius  :  '*  to  remember  what  you  were,  and 
to  what  your  early  vows  have  bound  you.*' 

"  I  tell  thee.  Father  Ambrosius,"  replied  the  gardener, 
*'  the  patience  of  the  best  saint  that  ever  said  paternoster 
would  be  exhausted  by  the  trials  to  which  you  have  put 
mine.  What  I  have  been,  it  skills  not  to  speak  at  present  : 
no  one  knows  better  than  yourself,  father,  what  I  renounced, 
in  hopes  to  find  ease  and  quiet  during  the  remainder  of  my 
days  ;  and  no  one  better  knows  how  my  retreat  has  been 
invaded,  my  fruit-trees  broken,  my  flower-beds  trodden 
down,  my  quiet  frightened  away,  and  my  very  sleep  driven 
from  my  bed,  since  ever  this  poor  Queen,  God  bless  her  ! 
hath  been  sent  to  Lochleven.  I  blame  her  not :  being  a 
prisoner,  it  is  natural  she  should  wish  to  get  out  from  so  vile 
a  hold,  where  there  is  scarcely  any  place  even  for  a  tolerable 
garden,  and  where  the  water-mists,  as  I  am  told,  blight  all 
the  early  blossoms — I  say,  I  cannot  blame  her  for  endeavor- 
ing for  her  freedom  ;  but  why  I  should  be  drawn  into  the 
scheme  ;  why  my  harmless  arbors,  that  I  planted  with  my 
own  hands,  should  become  places  of  privy  conspiracy  ;  why 
my  little  quay,  which  I  built  for  my  own  fishing-boat,  should 
have  become  a  haven  for  secret  embarkations  ;  in  short,  why 
I  should  be  dragged  into  matters  where  both  heading  and 
hanging  are  like  to  be  the  issue,  I  profess  to  you,  reverend 
father,  I  am  totally  ignorant." 

"  My  brother/'  answered  the  abbot,  ''you  are  wise,  and 
ought  to  know " 

''  I  am  not — I  am  not — I  am  not  wise,"  replied  the  horti- 
culturist, pettishly,  and  stopping  his  ears  with  his  fingers  ; 
''  I  was  never  called  wise,  but  when  men  wanted  to  engage 
me  in  some  action  of  notorious  folly. 

*'  But,  my  good  brother,"  said  the  abbot 


TBt:  ABBOT  304 

"  I  am  not  good,  neither,"  said  the  peevish  gardener — '*  I 
am  neither  good  nor  wise.  Had  I  been  wise,  you  would  not 
have  been  admitted  here  ;  and  were  I  good,  methinks  I 
should  send  you  elsewhere  to  hatch  plots  for  destroying  the 
quiet  of  the  country.  What  signifies  disputing  about  queen 
or  king,  when  men  may  sit  at  peace  sub  umbra  vitis  sui  f 
And  so  would  I  do,  after  the  precept  of  Holy  Writ,  were  I, 
as  you  term  me,  wise  or  good.  But  such  as  I  am,  my  neck 
is  in  the  yoke,  and  you  make  me  draw  what  weight  you  list. 
Follow  me,  youngster.  This  reverend  father,  who  makes  in 
his  jackman^s  dress  nearly  as  reverend  a  figure  as  I  myself, 
will  agree  with  me  in  one  thing  at  least,  and  that  is,  that 
you  have  been  long  enough  here.'' 

"  Follow  the  good  father,  Eoland,"  said  the  abbot,  '^  and 
remember  my  words — a  day  is  approaching  that  will  try  the 
temper  of  all  true  Scotsmen  ;  may  thy  heart  prove  faithful 
as  the  steel  of  thy  blade  ! " 

The  page  bowed  in  silence,  and  they  parted  ;  the  gardener, 
notwithstanding  his  advanced  age,  walking  on  before  him 
very  briskly,  and  muttering  as  he  went,  partly  to  himself, 
partly  to  his  companion,  after  the  manner  of  old  men  of 
weakened^  intellects.  '*  When  I  was  great,"  thus  ran  his 
maundering,  ''  and  had  my  mule  and  my  ambling  palfrey  at 
command,  I  warrant  you  I  could  have  as  well  flown  through 
the  air  as  have  walked  at  this  pace.  I  had  my  gout  and  my 
rheumatics,  and  an  hundred  things  besides,  that  hung  fet- 
ters on  my  heels  ;  and  now,  thanks  to  Our  Lady  and  honest 
labor,  I  can  walk  with  any  good  man  of  my  age  in  the  king- 
dom of  Fife.  Fy  upon  it,  that  experience  should  be  so  long 
in  coming  ! " 

As  he  was  thus  muttering,  his  eye  fell  upon  the  branch  of 
a  pear-tree  which  drooped  down  for  want  of  support,  and  at 
once  forgetting  his  haste,  the  old  man  stopped  and  set  seri- 
ously about  binding  it  up.  Eoland  Graeme  hath  both  readi- 
ness, neatness  of  hand,  and  good-nature  in  abundance  :  he 
immediately  lent  his  aid,  and  in  a  minute  or  two  the  bough 
was  supported,  and  tied  up  in  a  way  perfectly  satisfactory  to 
the  old  man,  who  looked  at  it  with  a  great  complaisance. 
'*  They  are  bergamots,"  he  said,  "  and  if  you  will  come 
ashore  in  autumn,  you  shall  taste  of  them  ;  the  like  are  not 
in  Lochleven  Castle.  The  garden  there  is  a  poor  pinfold, 
and  the  gardener,  Hugh  Houkham,  hath  little  skill  of  his 
craft  :  so  come  ashore.  Master  Page,  in  autumn,  when  you 
would  eat  pears.  But  what  am  I  thinking  of  ?  ere  that  time 
•ome,  they  may  have  given  thee  sour  pears  for  plums.    Take 


302  WAVERLET  NOVELS 

an  old  man's  advice,  youth,  one  who  hath  seen  many  days, 
and  sat  in  higher  places  than  thou  canst  hope  for  :  bend  thy 
sword  into  a  pruning-hook,  and  make  a  dibble  of  thy  dagger 
— thy  days  should  be  the  longer,  and  thy  health  the  better 
for  it — and  come  to  aid  me  in  my  garden,  and  I  will  teach 
thee  the  real  French  fashion  of  '  imping,^  which  the  South- 
ron call  graffing.  Do  this,  and  do  it  without  loss  of  time, 
for  there  is  a  whirlwind  coming  over  the  land,  and  only  those 
shall  escape  who  lie  too  much  beneath  the  storm  to  have 
their  boughs  broken  by  it/' 

So  saying,  he  dismissed  Roland  Graeme  through  a  different 
door  from  that  by  which  he  had  entered,  signed  a  cross  and 
pronounced  a  henedicite  as  they  parted,  and  then,  still  mut- 
tering to  himself,  retired  into  the  garden,  and  locked  t>^o 
^^v  on  the  inside. 


CHAPTER  XXIX 

Pray  God  she  prove  not  masculine  ere  long  I 

King  Henry  TV, 

Dismissed  from  the  old  man's  garden,  Eoland  Graeme  found 
that  a  grassy  paddock,  in  which  sauntered  two  cows,  the 
property  of  the  gardener,  still  separated  him  from  the  village. 
He  paced  through  it,  lost  in  meditation  upon  the  words 
of  the  abbot.  Father  Ambrosius  had,  with  success  enough, 
exerted  over  him  that  powerful  influence  which  the  guardians 
and  instructors  of  our  childhood  possess  over  our  more  ma- 
ture youth.  And  yet,  when  Eoland  looked  back  upon  what 
the  father  had  said,  he  could  not  but  suspect  that  he  had 
rather  sought  to  evade  entering  into  the  controversy  betwixt 
the  churches  than  to  repel  the  objections  and  satisfy  the 
doubts  which  the  lectures  of  Henderson  had  excited.  "  For 
this  he  had  no  time,''  said  the  page  to  himself,  ''  neither 
have  I  now  calmness  and  learning  sufficient  to  judge  upon 
points  of  such  magnitude.  Besides,  it  were  base  to  quit  my 
faith  while  the  wind  of  fortune  sets  against  it,  unless  I  were 
so  placed  that  my  conversion,  should  it  take  place,  were  free 
as  light  from  the  imputation  of  self-interest.  I  was  bred  a 
Catholic — bred  in  the  faith  of  Bruce  and  Wallace — I  will 
hold  that  faith  till  time  and  reason  shall  convince  me  that 
it  errs.  I  will  serve  this  poor  Queen  as  a  subject  should 
serve  an  imprisoned  and  wronged  sovereign.  They  who 
placed  me  in  her  service  have  to  blame  themselves : 
they  sent  me  hither,  a  gentleman  trained  in  the  paths  of 
loyalty  and  honor,  when  they  should  have  sought  out  some 
truckling,  cogging,  double-dealing  knave,  who  would  have 
been  at  once  the  observant  page  of  the  Queen  and  the  obse- 
quious spy  of  her  enemies.  Since  I  must  choose  betwixt 
aiding  and  betraying  her,  I  will  decide  as  becomes  /ler  ser- 
vant and  her  subject ;  but  Catherine  Seyton — Catherine 
Seyton,  beloved  by  Douglas,  and  holding  me  on  or  off  as  the 
intervals  of  her  leisure  or  caprice  will  permit — how  shall  I 
deal  with  the  coquette  ?  By  Heaven,  when  I  next  have  an 
opportunity,  she  shall  render  me  some  reason  for  her  con' 
duct,  or  I  will  break  with  her  forever  I  '* 

803 


804  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

As  he  formed  this  doughty  resolution,  he  crossed  the  stile 
which  led  out  of  the  little  inclosure,  and  was  almost  imme- 
diately greeted  by  Dr.  Luke  Lundin. 

*'Ha  I  my  most  excellent  young  friend/'  said  the  doctor, 
"  from  whence  come  you  ? — but  I  note  the  place.  Yes, 
neighbor  Blinkhoolie's  garden  is  a  pleasant  rendezvous,  and 
you  are  of  the  age  when  lads  look  after  a  bonny  lass  with 
one  eye  and  a  dainty  plum  with  another.  But  hey  !  you 
look  subtriste  and  melancholic  :  I  fear  the  maiden  has  proved 
cruel,  or  the  plums  unripe ;  and  surely,  I  think  neighbor 
Blinkhoolie's  damsons  can  scarcely  have  been  well  preserved 
throughout  the  winter — he  spares  the  saccharine  juice  on 
his  confects.  But  courage,  man,  there  are  more  Kates  in 
Kinross ;  and  for  the  immature  fruit,  a  glass  of  my  double 
distilled  aqua  mirahilis!  prolatum  est.'' 

The  page  darted  an  ireful  glance  at  the  facetious  physi- 
cian ;  but  presently  recollecting  that  the  name  '^  Kate," 
which  had  provoked  his  displeasure,  was  probably  but  in- 
troduced for  the  sake  of  alliteration,  he  suppressed  his 
wrath,  and  only  asked  if  the  wains  had  been  heard  of. 

"Why,  I  have  been  seeking  for  you  this  hour,  to  tell  you 
that  the  stuff  is  in  your  boat,  and  that  the  boat  waits  your 
pleasure.  Auchtermuchty  had  only  fallen  into  company 
with  an  idle  knave  like  himself,  and  a  stoup  of  aquavitae  be- 
tween them.  Your  boatmen  lie  on  their  oars,  and  there 
have  already  been  made  two  wefts  from  the  warder's  turret, 
to  intimate  that  those  in  the  castle  are  impatient  for  your 
return.  Yet  there  is  time  for  you  to  take  a  slight  repast ; 
and,  as  your  friend  and  physician,  I  hold  it  unfit  you  should 
face  the  water-breeze  with  an  empty  stomach. *' 

Koland  Graeme  had  nothing  for  it  but  to  return,  with  such 
cheer  as  he  might,  to  the  place  where  his  boat  was  moored 
on  the  beach^  and  resisted  all  offer  of  refreshment,  although 
the  doctor  promised  that  he  should  prelude  the  collation 
with  a  gentle  appetizer — a  decoction  of  herbs,  gathered  and 
distilled  by  himself.  Indeed,  as  Roland  had  not  forgotten 
the  contents  of  his  morning  cup,  it  is  possible  that  the  rec- 
ollection induced  him  to  stand  firm  in  his  refusal  of  all  food 
to  which  such  an  unpalatable  preface  was  the  preliminary. 
As  they  passed  towards  the  boat  (for  the  ceremonious  polite- 
ness of  the  worthy  chamberlain  would  not  permit  the  page 
to  go  thither  without  attendance),  Roland  Graeme,  amidst  a 
group  who  seemed  to  be  assembled  around  a  party  of  wan- 
dering musicians,  distinguished,  as  he  thought,  the  dress  of 
Catherine  Seyton.     He  shook  himself  clear  from  his  attend- 


THE  ABBOT  305 

ant,  and  at  one  spring  was  in  the  midst  of  the  crowd,  and  at  the 
side  of  the  damsel.  *'  Catherine/^  he  whispered,  *'  is  it  well 
for  you  to  be  still  here  ? — will  you  not  return  to  the  castle  ?  ** 

"  To  the  devil  with  your  Catherines  and  your  castles  \" 
answered  the  maiden,  snappishly  ;  *^  have  you  not  had  time 
enough  already  to  get  rid  of  your  follies  ?  Begone  !  I  desire 
not  your  farther  company,  and  there  will  be  danger  in  thrust- 
ing it  upon  me." 

'*Nay,  but  if  there  be  danger,  fairest  Catherine,"  replied 
Roland,  "why  will  you  not  allow  me  to  stay  and  share  it 
with  you  ?" 

"  Intruding  fool,"  said  the  maiden,  "  the  danger  is  all  on 
thine  own  side  :  the  risk  is,  in  plain  terms,  that  I  strike  thee 
on  the  mouth  with  the  hilt  of  my  dagger."  So  saying,  she 
turned  haughtily  from  him,  and  moved  through  the  crowd, 
who  gave  way  in  some  astonishment  at  the  masculine  activity 
with  which  she  forced  her  way  among  them. 

As  Roland,  though  much  irritated,  prepared  to  follow,  he 
was  grappled  on  the  other  side  by  Doctor  Luke  Lundin, 
who  reminded  him  of  the  loaded  boat,  of  the  two  wefts,  or 
signals  with  the  flag,  which  had  been  made  from  the  tower, 
of  the  danger  of  the  cold  breeze  to  an  empty  stomach,  and  of 
the  vanity  of  spending  more  time  upon  coy  wenches  and  sour 
plums.  Roland  was  thus,  in  a  manner,  dragged  back  to  his 
boat,  and  obliged  to  launch  her  forth  upon  his  return  to 
Lochleven  Castle. 

That  little  voyage  was  speedily  accomplished,  and  the  page 
was  greeted  at  the  landing-place  by  the  severe  and  caustic 
welcome  of  old  Dryfesdale.  "  So,  young  gallant,  you  are 
come  at  last,  after  a  delay  of  six  hours,  and  after  two  signals 
from  the  castle  ?  But,  I  warrant,  some  idle  junketing  had 
occupied  you  too  deeply  to  think  of  your  service  or  your 
duty.  Where  is  the  note  of  the  plate  and  household  stuff  ? 
Pray  Heaven  it  hath  not  been  diminished  under  the  sleeve- 
less care  of  so  heedless  a  gadabout  !  " 

"  Diminished  under  my  care,  sir  steward  ?"  retorted  the 
page,  angrily  ;  "  say  so  in  earnest,  and  by  Heaven  your  gray 
hair  shall  hardly  protect  your  saucy  tongue  !" 

"  A  truce  with  your  swaggering,  young  esquire,"  returned 
the  steward  ;  "  we  have  bolts  and  dungeons  for  brawlers. 
Go  to  my  lady  and  swagger  before  her,  if  thou  darest ;  she 
will  give  thee  proper  cause  of  offense,  for  she  has  waited  for 
thee  long  and  impatiently." 

"And  where  then  is  the  Lady  of  Lochleven  ?"  said  tho 
page  ;  "  for  I  conceive  it  is  of  her  thou  speakest.** 
20 


306  WAVERLET  NOVELS 

"Ay,  of  whom  else?"  replied  Dryfesdale  ;  "or  who 
besides  the  Lady  of  Lochleven  hath  a  right  to  command  in 
this  castle ! " 

**  The  Lady  of  Lochleven  is  thy  mistress/*  said  Roland 
Graeme  ;  "but  mine  is  the  Queen  of  Scotland/' 

The  steward  looked  at  him  fixedly  for  a  moment,  with  an 
air  in  which  suspicion  and  dislike  were  ill  concealed  by  an 
affectation  of  contempt.  "  The  bragging  cock-chicken,"  he 
said,  "will  betray  himself  by  his  rash  crowing.  I  have 
marked  thy  altered  manner  in  the  chapel  of  late — ay,  and 
your  changing  of  glances  at  meal- time  with  a  certain  idle 
damsel,  who,  like  thyself,  laughs  at  all  gravity  and  goodness. 
There  is  something  about  you,  my  master,  which  should  be 
looked  to.  But,  if  you  would  know  whether  the  Lady  of 
Lochleven  or  that  other  lady  hath  right  to  command  thy 
service,  thou  wilt  find  them  together  in  the  Lady  Mary^s 
ante-room.*' 

Roland  hastened  thither,  not  unwilling  to  escape  from  the 
ill-natured  penetration  of  the  old  man,  and  marveling  at 
the  same  time  what  peculiarity  could  have  occasioned  the 
Lady  of  Lochleven's  being  in  the  Queen's  apartment  at  this 
time  of  the  afternoon,  so  much  contrary  to  her  usual  wont. 
His  acuteness  instantly  penetrated  the  meaning.  "She 
wishes,*'  he  concluded,  "to  see  the  meeting  betwixt  the 
Queen  and  me  on  my  return,  that  she  may  form  a  guess 
whether  there  is  any  private  intelligence  or  understanding 
betwixt  us.     I  must  be  guarded.** 

With  this  resolution  he  entered  the  parlor,  where  the 
Queen,  seated  in  her  chair,  with  the  Lady  Fleming  leaning 
upon  the  back  of  it,  had  already  kept  the  Lady  of  Lochleven 
itanding  in  her  presence  for  the  space  of  nearly  an  hour,  to 
the  manifest  increase  of  her  very  visible  bad-humor.  Roland 
Graeme,  on  entering  the  apartment,  made  a  deep  obeisance 
to  the  Queen,  and  another  to  the  lady,  and  then  stood  still 
as  if  to  await  their  further  question.  Speaking  almost  to- 
gether, the  Lady  of  Lochleven  said,  "  So,  young  man,  you 
are  returned  at  length  ?  **  And  then  stopped  indignantly 
short,  while  the  Queen  went  on  without  regarding  her — 
"  Roland,  you  are  welcome  home  to  us  ;  you  have  proved 
the  true  dove  and  not  the  raven.  Yet  I  am  sure  I  could 
have  forgiven  you  if,  once  dismissed  from  this  water-circled 
ark  of  ours,  you  had  never  again  returned  to  us.  I  trust  you 
have  brought  back  an  olive  branch,  for  our  kind  and  worthy 
hostess  has  chafed  herself  much  on  account  of  your  long 


THE  ABBOT  m 

absence,  and  we  never  needed  more  some  symbol  of  peace 
and  reconciliation/' 

*'I  grieve  I  should  have  been  detained,  madam,"  answered 
the  page  ;  *'bnt,  from  the  delay  of  the  person  entrusted 
with  the  matters  for  which  I  was  sent,  I  did  not  receive  them 
till  late  in  the  day/' 

''  See  you  there  now/"*  said  the  Queen  to  the  Lady  Loch- 
leven  ;  '^  we  could  not  persuade  you,  our  dearest  hostess, 
that  your  household  goods  were  in  all  safe  keeping  and  surety. 
True  it  is,  that  we  can  excuse  your  anxiety,  considering  that 
these  august  apartments  are  so  scantily  furnished  that  we 
have  not  been  able  to  offer  you  even  the  relief  of  a  stool 
during  the  long  time  you  have  afforded  us  the  pleasure  of 
your  society/' 

*'The  will,  madam,"  said  the  lady — '*  the  will  to  offer  such 
accommodation  was  more  wanting  than  the  means/' 

"What! "said  the  Queen,  looking  round,  and  affecting 
surprise,  *'  there  are  then  stools  in  this  apartment — one,  two 
— no  less  than  four,  including  the  broken  one — a  royal  gar- 
niture !     We  observed  them  not ;  will  it  please  your  ladyship 

tosit?"  .  1-  J  J        F 

**  No,  madam,  I  will  soon  relieve  you  of  my  presence,'' 
replied  the  Lady  Lochleven  ;  "  and,  while  with  you,  my 
aged  limbs  can  still  better  brook  fatigue  than  my  mind  stoop 
to  accept  of  constrained  courtesy/' 

**  Nay,  Lady  of  Lochleven,  if  you  take  it  so  deeply,"  said 
the  Queen,  rising  and  motioning  to  her  own  vacant  chair, 
**  I  would  rather  you  assumed  my  seat ;  you  are  not  the  first 
of  ymir  family  who  has  done  so/' 

The  Lady  of  Lochleven  courtesied  a  negative,  but  seemed 
with  much  difficulty  to  suppress  the  angry  answer  which 
rose  to  her  lips. 

During  this  sharp  conversation,  the  page's  attention  had 
been  almost  entirely  occupied  by  the  entrance  of  Catherine 
Seyton,  who  came  from  the  inner  apartment,  in  the  usual 
dress  in  which  she  attended  upon  the  Queen,  and  with  noth- 
ing in  her  manner  which  marked  either  the  hurry  or  con- 
fusion incident  to  a  hasty  change  of  disguise  or  the  conscious 
fear  of  detection  in  a  perilous  enterprise.  Eoland  Graeme 
ventured  to  make  her  an  obeisance  as  she  entered,  but  she 
returned  it  with  an  air  of  the  utmost  indifference,  which,  in 
his  opinion,  was  extremely  inconsistent  with  the  circum- 
stances in  which  they  stood  towards  each  other.  **  Surely," 
he  thought,  "  she  cannot  in  reason  expect  to  bully  me  out 
of  the  belief  due  to  mine  own  eyes,  as  she  tried  to  do  con- 


a08  WAVSELST  NOVELS. 

cerning  the  apparition  in  the  hostelry  of  St.  Michael's.  I 
will  try  if  I  cannot  make  her  feel  that  this  will  be  but  a  vain 
task,  and  that  confidence  in  me  is  the  wiser  and  safer  course 
to  pursue." 

These  thoughts  had  passed  rapidly  through  his  mind,  when 
the  Queen,  having  finished  her  altercation  with  the  lady  of 
the  castle,  again  addressed  him — '^What  of  the  revels  at 
Kinross,  Roland  Graeme  ?  Methought  they  were  gay,  if  I 
may  judge  from  some  faint  sounds  of  mirth  and  distant 
music  which  found  their  way  so  far  as  these  grated  windows, 
and  died  when  they  entered  them,  as  all  that  is  mirthful 
must.  But  thou  lookest  as  sad  as  if  thou  hadst  come  from 
a  conventicle  of  the  Huguenots  ! " 

"  And  so  perchance  he  hath,  madam,''  replied  the  Lady 
of  Lochleven,  at  whom  this  side-shaft  was  launched.  '*  I 
trust,  amid  yonder  idle  fooleries,  there  wanted  not  some 
pouring  forth  of  doctrine  to  a  better  purpose  than  that  vain 
mirth  which,  blazing  and  vanishing  like  the  crackling  of  dry 
thorns,  leaves  to  the  fools  who  love  it  nothing  but  dust  and 
ashes." 

'^  Mary  Fleming,"  said  the  Queen,  turning  round  and 
drawing  her  mantle  about  her,  "1  would  that  we  had  the 
chimney-grate  supplied  with  a  fagot  or  two  of  these  same 
thorns  which  the  Lady  of  Lochleven  describes  so  well.  Me- 
thinks  the  damp  air  from  the  lake,  which  stagnates  in  these 
vaulted  rooms,  renders  them  deadly  cold." 

*'  Your  Grace's  pleasure  shall  be  obeyed,"  said  the  Lady 
of  Lochleven ;  "'yet  may  I  presume  to  remind  you  that  we 
are  now  in  summer  ?  " 

"  I  thank  you  for  the  information,  my  good  lady,"  said  the 
Queen  ;  "  for  prisoners  better  learn  their  calendar  from  the 
mouth  of  their  jailer  than  from  any  change  they  themselves 
feel  in  the  seasons.  Once  more,  Eoland  Graeme,  what  of  the 
revels  ?  " 

"  They  were  gay,  madam,"  said  the  page,  '^  but  of  the 
usual  sort,  and  little  worth  your  Highness's  ear." 

"0,  you  know  not,"  said  the  Queen,  ''how very  indulgent 
my  ear  has  becoifie  to  all  that  speaks  of  freedom  and  the 
pleasures  of  the  free.  Methinks  I  would  rather  have  seen 
the  gay  villagers  dance  their  ring  round  the  Maypole  than 
have  witnessed  the  most  stately  masques  within  the  precincts 
of  a  palace.  The  absence  of  stone  walls,  the  sense  that  the 
green  turf  is  under  the  foot  which  may  tread  it  free  and  un- 
restrained, is  worth  all  that  art  or  splendor  can  add  to  more 
courtly  revels." 


THE  ABBOT  309 

**  I  trust/'  said  the  Lady  Lochleven,  addressing  the  page 
in  her  turn,  *'  there  were  amongst  these  follies  none  of  the 
riots  or  disturbances  to  which  they  so  naturally  lead  ?  " 

Eoland  gave  a  slight  glance  to  Catherine  Seyton,  as  if  to 
bespeak  her  attention,  as  he  replied,  '^  I  witnessed  no  offense, 
madam,  worthy  of  marking — none  indeed  of  any  kind,  save 
that  a  bold  damsel  made  her  hand  somewhat  too  familiar 
with  the  cheek  of  a  player-man,  and  ran  some  risk  of  being 
ducked  in  the  lake/' 

As  he  uttered  these  words  he  cast  a  hasty  glance  at  Cathe- 
rine ;  but  she  sustained,  with  the  utmost  serenity  of  manner 
and  countenance,  the  hint  which  he  had  deemed  could  not 
have  been  thrown  out  before  her  without  exciting  some  fear 
and  confusion. 

^'  I  will  cumber  your  Grace  no  longer  with  my  presence,'* 
said  the  Lady  of  Lochleven,  ''  unless  you  have  aught  to  com- 
mand me/' 

*^ Nought,  our  good  hostess,"  answered  the  Queen,  ''un- 
less it  be  to  pray  you,  that  on  another  occasion  you  deem  it 
not  needful  to  postpone  your  better  employment  to  wait  so 
long  upon  us." 

*'May  it  please  you,"  added  the  Lady  Lochleven,  ''to 
command  this  your  gentleman  to  attend  us,  that  I  may  re- 
ceive some  account  of  these  matters  which  have  been  sent 
hither  for  your  Grace's  use  ?  " 

"  We  may  not  refuse  what  you  are  pleased  to  require, 
madam,"  answered  the  Queen.  "  Go  with  the  lady,  Roland, 
if  our  commands  be  indeed  necessary  to  thy  doing  so.  We 
will  hear  to-morrow  the  history  of  thy  Kinross  pleasures. 
For  this  night  we  dismiss  thy  attendance." 

Roland  Graeme  went  with  the  Lady  of  Lochleven,  who 
failed  not  to  ask  him  many  questions  concerning  what  had 
passed  at  the  sports,  to  which  he  rendered  such  answers  as 
were  most  likely  to  lull  asleep  any  suspicions  which  she 
might  entertain  of  his  disposition  to  favor  Queen  Mary, 
taking  especial  care  to  avoid  all  allusion  to  the  apparition  of 
Magdalen  Graeme  and  of  the  Abbot  Ambrosius.  At  length, 
after  undergoing  a  long  and  somewhat  close  examination,  he 
was  dismissed  with  such  expressions  as,  coming  from  the 
reserved  and  stern  Lady  of  Lochleven,  might  seem  to  ex- 
press a  degree  of  favor  and  countenance. 

His  first  care  was  to  obtain  some  refreshment,  which  was 
more  cheerfully  afforded  him  by  a  good-natured  pantler  than 
by  Dryfesdale,  who  was,  on  this  occasion,  much  disposed 
to  abide  by  the  fashion  of  Pudding-burn  House,  where 


810  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

They  who  came  not  the  first  call 
Gat  no  more  meat  till  the  next  meal* 

"When  Roland  Graeme  had  finished  his  repast,  having  his 
dismissal  from  the  Queen  for  the  evening,  and  being  little 
inclined  for  such  society  as  the  castle  afforded,  he  stole  into 
the  garden,  in  which  he  had  permission  to  spend  his  leisure 
time,  when  it  pleased  him.  In  this  place,  the  ingenuity  of 
the  contriver  and  disposer  of  the  walks  had  exerted  itself  to 
make  the  most  of  little  space,  and  by  screens,  both  of  stone 
ornamented  with  rude  sculpture  and  hedges  of  living  green, 
had  endeavored  to  give  as  much  intricacy  and  variety  as  the 
confined  limits  of  the  garden  would  admit. 

Here  the  young  man  walked  sadly,  considering  the  events 
of  the  day,  and  comparing  what  had  dropped  from  the  abbot 
with  what  he  had  himself  noticed  of  the  demeanor  of  George 
Douglas.  ''It  must  be  so,"  was  the  painful  but  inevitable 
conclusion  at  which  he  arrived — ''  it  must  be  by  his  aid  that 
she  is  thus  enabled,  like  a  phantom,  to  transport  herself  from 
place  to  place,  and  to  appear  at  pleasure  on  the  mainland  or 
on  the  islet.  It  must  be  so,"  he  repeated  once  more  ;  "  with 
him  she  holds  a  close,  secret,  and  intimate  correspondence, 
altogether  inconsistent  with  the  eye  of  favor  which  she  has 
sometimes  cast  upon  me,  and  destructive  to  the  hopes  which 
she  mnst  have  known  these  glances  have  necessarily  inspired." 
And  yet  (for  love  will  hope  where  reason  despairs)  the  thought 
rushed  on  his  mind  that  it  was  possible  she  only  encouraged 
Douglas's  passion  so  far  as  might  serve  her  mistress's  inter- 
est, and  that  she  was  of  too  frank,  noble,  and  candid  a  nature 
to  hold  out  to  himself  hopes  which  she  meant  not  to  fulfil. 
Lost  in  these  various  conjectures,  he  seated  himself  upon  a 
bank  of  turf,  which  commanded  a  view  of  the  lake  on  the 
one  side,  and  on  the  other  of  that  front  of  the  castle  along 
which  the  Queen's  apartments  were  situated. 

The  sun  had  now  for  some  time  set,  and  the  twilight  of 
May  was  rapidly  fading  into  a  serene  night.  On  the  lake, 
the  expanded  water  rose  and  fell,  with  the  slightest  and 
softest  influence  of  a  southern  breeze,  which  scarcely  dimpled 
the  surface  over  which  it  passed.  In  the  distance  was  still 
seen  the  dim  outline  of  the  island  of  St.  Serf,  once  visited  by 
many  a  sandaled  pilgrim,  as  the  blessed  spot  trodden  by  a 
man  of  God  ;  now  neglected  or  violated,  as  the  refuge  of 
lazy  priests,  who  had  with  justice  been  compelled  to  give 
place  to  the  sheep  and  the  heifers  of  a  Protestant  baron. 

As  Roland  gazed  on  the  dark  speck,  amid  the  lighter  blue 


THE  ABBOT  311 

of  the  waters  which  surrounded  it,  the  mazes  of  polemical 
discussion  again  stretched  themselves  before  the  eye  of  hii 
mind.  Had  these  men  justly  suffered  their  exile  as  licen- 
tious drones,  the  robbers,  at  once,  and  disgrace  of  the  busy 
hive  ;  or  had  the  hand  of  avarice  and  rapine  expelled  from 
the  temple  not  the  ribalds  who  polluted,  but  the  faithful 
priests  who  served,  the  shrine  in  honor  and  fidelity  ?  The 
arguments  of  Henderson,  in  this  contemplative  hour,  rose 
with  double  force  before  him,  and  could  scarcely  be  parried 
by  the  appeal  which  the  Abbot  Ambrosius  had  made  from 
his  understanding  to  his  feelings— an  appeal  which  he  had 
felt  more  forcibly  amid  the  bustle  of  stirring  life  than  now 
when  his  reflections  were  more  undisturbed.  It  required  an 
effort  to  divert  his  mind  from  this  embarrassing  topic  ;  and 
he  found  that  he  best  succeeded  by  turning  his  eyes  to  the 
front  of  the  tower,  watching  where  a  twinkling  light  still 
streamed  from  the  casement  of  Catherine  Seyton^s  apart- 
ment, obscured  by  times  for  a  moment,  as  the  shadow  of  the 
fair  inhabitant  passed  betwixt  the  taper  and  the  window. 
At  length  the  light  was  removed  or  extinguished,  and  that 
object  of  speculation  was  also  withdrawn  from  the  eyes  of 
the  meditative  lover.  Dare  I  confess  the  fact,  without  in- 
juring his  character  forever  as  a  hero  of  romance  ?  These 
eyes  gradually  became  heavy  ;  speculative  doubts  on  the 
subject  of  religious  controversy,  and  anxious  conjectures 
concerning  the  state  of  his  mistress's  affections,  became  con- 
fusedly blended  together  in  his  musings  ;  the  fatigues  of  a 
busy  day  prevailed  over  the  harassing  subjects  of  contempla- 
tion which  occupied  his  mind,  and  he  fell  fast  asleep. 

Sound  were  his  slumbers,  until  they  were  suddenly  dis- 
pelled by  the  iron  tongue  of  the  castle  bell,  which  sent  its 
deep  and  sullen  sounds  wide  over  the  bosom  of  the  lake,  and 
awakened  the  echoes  of  Bennarty,  the  hill  which  descends 
steeply  on  its  southern  bank.  Eoland  started  up,  for  this 
bell  was  always  tolled  at  ten  o'clock,  as  the  signal  for  lock- 
ing the  castle  gates,  and  placing  the  keys  under  the  charge 
of  the  seneschal.  He  therefore  hastened  to  the  wicket  by 
which  the  garden  communicated  with  the  building,  and  had 
the  mortification,  just  as  he  reached  it,  to  hear  the  bolt  leave 
its  sheath  with  a  discordant  crash,  and  enter  the  stone  groove 
of  the  door-lintel. 

"Hold — hold,"  cried  the  page,  ''and  let  me  in  ere  you 
lock  the  wicket.'' 

The  voice  of  Dryfesdale  replied  from  within,  in  his  usual 
tone  of  imbittered  sullenness,  ''  The  hour  is  past,  fair  mas- 


312  WAVEBLEY  NOVELS 

ter ;  you  like  not  the  inside  of  these  walls  ;  even  make  it  a 
complete  holiday,  a-iid  spend  the  night  as  well  as  the  day 
out  of  bounds.  *' 

*'  Open  the  door/'  exclaimed  the  indignant  page,  "  or  by 
St.  Giles  I  will  make  thy  gold  chain  smoke  for  it ! " 

*^  Make  no  alarm  here/'  retorted  the  inpenetrable  Dryfes- 
dale,  "but  keep  thy  sinful  oaths  and  silly  threats  for  those 
that  regard  them.  I  do  mine  office,  and  carry  the  keys  to 
the  seneschal.  Adieu,  my  young  master  !  the  cool  night 
air  will  advantage  your  hot  blood.'' 

The  steward  was  right  in  what  he  said  ;  for  the  cooling 
breeze  was  very  necessary  to  appease  the  feverish  fit  of  anger 
which  Roland  experienced,  nor  did  the  remedy  succeed  for 
Bome  time.  At  length,  after  some  hasty  turns  made  through 
the  garden,  exhausting  his  passion  in  vain  vows  of  vengeance, 
Roland  Graeme  began  to  be  sensible  that  his  situation  ought 
rather  to  be  held  as  matter  of  laughter  than  of  serious  resent- 
ment. To  one  bred  a  sportsman,  a  night  spent  .in  the  open 
air  had  in  it  little  of  hardship,  and  the  poor  malice  of  the 
steward  seemed  more  worthy  of  his  contempt  than  his  anger. 
*'  I  would  to  God,"  he  said,  "that  the  grim  old  man  may 
always  have  contented  himself  with  such  sportive  revenge. 
He  often  looks  as  he  were  capable  of  doing  us  a  darker  turn." 
Returning,  therefore,  to  the  turf-seat  which  he  had  formerly 
occupied,  and  which  was  partially  sheltered  by  a  trim  fence 
of  green  holly,  he  drew  his  mantle  around  him,  stretched 
himself  at  length  on  the  verdant  settle,  and  endeavored  to 
resume  that  sleep  which  the  castle  bell  had  interrupted  to  so 
little  purpose. 

Sleep,  like  other  earthly  blessings,  is  niggard  of  its  favors 
when  most  courted.  The  more  Roland  invoked  her  aid,  the 
further  she  fled  from  his  eyelids.  He  had  been  completely 
awakened,  first  by  the  sounds  of  the  bell,  and  then  by  his 
own  aroused  vivacity  of  temper,  and  he  found  it  difficult 
again  to  compose  himself  to  slumber.  At  length,  when  hif 
mind  was  wearied  out  with  a  maze  of  unpleasing  meditation, 
he  succeeded  in  coaxing  himself  into  a  broken  repose.  This 
was  again  dispelled  by  the  voices  of  two  persons  who  were 
walking  in  the  garden,  the  sound  of  whose  conversation, 
after  mingling  for  some  time  in  the  page's  dreams,  at  length 
succeeded  in  awaking  him  thoroughly.  He  raised  himself 
from  his  reclining  posture  in  the  utmost  astonishment,  which 
the  circumstance  of  hearing  two  persons  at  that  late  hour 
conversing  on  the  outside  of  the  watchfully  guarded  Castle 
of  Lochleven  was  so  well  calculated  to  excite.     His  first 


THE  ABBOT  818 

thought  was  of  supernatural  beings ;  his  next,  upon  some 
attempt  on  the  part  of  Queen  Mary's  friends  and  followers  ;  r 

his  last  was  that  George  of  Douglas,  possessed  of  the  keys,  V 

aud  having  the  means  of  ingress  and  egress  at  pleasure,  was  \ 

availing   himself   of   his   office   to  hold  a   rendezvous   with  \ 

Catherine  Seyton  in  the  castle   garden.     He    was  confirmed  \ 

in  this  opinion  by  the  tone  of  the  ^"^ice  which  asked  in  alow 
whig  per  **  Whether  all  was  ready  '( '' 


CHAPTER  XXX 

In  some  breasts  passion  lies  conceal'd  and  sileni, 
Like  war's  swart  powder  in  a  castle  vault, 
Until  occasion,  like  the  linstock,  lights  it ; 
Then  comes  at  once  the  lightning  and  the  thunder, 
And  distant  echoes  tell  that  all  is  rent  asunder. 

Old  Play. 

RoLAN'D  Gejeme,  availing  himself  of  a  breach  in  the  holly 
Bcreen,  and  of  the  assistance  of  the  full  moon,  which  was 
now  arisen,  had  a  perfect  opportunity,  himself  unobserved, 
to  reconnoiter  the  persons  and  the  motions  of  those  by  whom 
his  rest  had  been  thus  unexpectedly  disturbed  ;  and  his  ob- 
servations confirmed  his  jealous  apprehensions.  They  stood 
together  in  close  and  earnest  conversation  within  four  yards 
of  the  place  of  his  retreat,  and  he  could  easily  recognize  the 
tall  form  and  deep  voice  of  Douglas,  and  the  no  less  remark- 
able dress  and  tone  of  the  page  at  the  hostelry  of  St.  MichaeFs. 

"  I  have  been  at  the  door  of  the  page's  apartment,"  said 
Douglas,  '*  but  he  is  not  there,  or  he  will  not  answer.  It  is 
fast  bolted  on  the  inside,  as  is  the  custom,  and  we  cannot 
pass  through  it ;  and  what  his  silence  may  bode  I  know  not." 

"  You  have  trusted  him  too  far,"  said  the  other — ^'  a 
feather-headed  coxcomb,  upon  whose  changeable  mind  and 
hot  brain  there  is  no  making  an  abiding  impression." 

*'  It  was  not  I  who  was  willing  to  trust  him,"  said  Douglas; 
"  but  I  was  assured  he  would  prove  friendly  when  called 

upon,  for "     Here  he  spoke  so  low  that  Roland  lost  the 

tenor  of  his  words,  which  was  the  more  provoking  as  he  was 
fully  aware  that  he  was  himself  the  subject  of  their  conver- 
sation. 

''  Nay,"  replied  the  stranger,  more  aloud,  "  I  have  on  my 
side  put  him  off  with  fair  words,  which  make  fools  fain  ;  but 
now,  if  you  distrust  him  at  the  push,  deal  with  him  with 
your  dagger,  and  so  make  open  passage." 

*'  That  was  too  rash,"  said  Douglas  ;  ''  and  besides,  as  I 
told  you,  the  door  of  his  apartment  is  shut  and  bolted.  I 
will  essay  again  to  waken  him." 

Graeme  instantly  comprehended  that  the  ladies,  having 
b«cii  somehow  made  aware  of  his  being  in  the  garden,  had 

314 


THE  ABBOT  816 

secnred  the  door  of  the  outer  room  in  which  he  usually  slept, 
as  a  sort  of  sentinel  upon  that  only  access  to  the  Queen's 
apartments.  But  then,  how  came  Catherine  Seyton  to  he 
abroad,  if  the  Queen  and  the  other  lady  were  still  within 
their  chambers,  and  the  access  to  them  locked  and  bolted  ? 
**  I  will  be  instantly  at  the  bottom  of  these  mysteries,''  he 
said,  "  and  then  thank  Mrs.  Catherine,  if  this  be  really  she, 
for  the  kind  use  which  she  exhorted  Douglas  to  make  of  his 
dagger  ;  they  seek  me,  as  I  comprehend,  and  they  shall  not 
seek  me  in  vain." 

Douglas  had  by  this  time  re-entered  the  castle  by  the 
wicket,  which  was  now  open.  The  stranger  stood  alone  in 
the  garden  walk,  his  arms  folded  on  his  breast,  and  his  eyes 
cast  impatiently  up  to  the  moon,  as  if  accusing  her  of  be- 
traying him  by  the  magnificence  of  her  luster.  In  a  moment 
Eoland  Graeme  stood  before  him.  '*  A  goodly  night,"  he 
said,  "  Mrs.  Catherine,  for  a  young  lady  to  stray  forth  in  dis- 
guise, and  to  meet  with  men  in  an  orchard  ! " 

*'Hush!"  said  the  stranger  page — **  hush,  thou  foolish 
patch,  and  tell  us  in  a  word  if  thou  art  friend  or  foe." 

'^  How  should  I  be  friend  to  one  who  deceives  me  by  fair 
words,  and  who  would  have  Douglas  deal  with  me  with  his 
poniard  ?"  replied  Roland. 

^'  The  fiend  receive  George  of  Douglas  and  thee  too,  thou 
horn  madcap  and  sworn  marplot!"  said  the  other;  *'we 
shall  be  discovered,  and  then  death  is  the  word." 

*'  Catherine,"  said  the  page,  ''  you  have  dealt  falsely  and 
cruelly  with  me,  and  the  moment  of  explanation  is  now  come  ; 
neither  it  nor  you  shall  escape  me." 

*'  Madman  !"  said  the  stranger,  ^'  I  am  neither  Kate  nor 
Catherine  :  the  moon  shines  bright  enough  surely  to  know 
the  hart  from  the  hind." 

'*  That  shift  shall  not  serve  you,  fair  mistress,"  said  the 
page,  laying  hold  on  the  lap  of  the  stranger's  cloak ;  "  this 
time,  at  least,  I  will  know  with  whom  I  deal." 

*^  Unhand  me,"  said  she,  endeavoring  to  extricate  herself 
from  his  grasp  ;  and  in  a  tone  where  anger  seemed  to  con- 
tend with  a  desire  to  laugh,  "  Use  you  so  little  discretion 
towards  a  daughter  of  Seyton  ?  " 

But  as  Roland,  encouraged  perhaps  by  her  risibility  to  sup- 
pose his  violence  was  not  unpardonably  offensive,  kept  hold 
on  her  mantle,  she  said,  in  a  sterner  tone  of  unmixed  resent- 
ment, ^*  Madman,  let  me  go  !  there  is  life  and  death  in  this 
moment.     I  would  not  willingly  hurt  thee,  and  yet  beware  !  " 

As  she  spoke,  she  made  a  sudden  effort  to  escape,  and  in 


316  WAVERLEY  IfOVELS 

doing  so  a  pistol  which  she  carried  in  her  hands  or  about 
her  person  went  off. 

This  warlike  sound  instantly  awakened  the  well-warded 
castle.  The  warder  blew  his  horn,  and  began  to  toll  the 
castle  bell,  crying  ont  at  the  same  time,  "  Fy,  treason  !  trea- 
son !  cry  all  ! — cry  all !  " 

The  apparition  of  Catherine  Seyton,  which  the  page  had 
let  loose  in  the  first  moment  of  astonishment,  vanished  in 
darkness,  but  the  plash  of  oars  was  heard,  and  in  a  second 
or  two  five  or  six  harquebusses  and  a  falconet  were  fired  from 
the  battlements  of  the  castle  successively,  as  if  leveled  at 
some  object  on  the  water.  Confounded  with  these  incidents, 
no  way  for  Catherine's  protection  (supposing  her  to  be  in  the 
boat  which  he  had  heard  put  from  the  shore)  occurred  to  Ro- 
land, save  to  have  recourse  to  George  of  Douglas.  He  hastened 
for  this  purpose  towards  the  apartment  of  the  Queen,  whence 
he  heard  loud  voices  and  much  trampling  of  feet.  When  he 
entered,  he  found  himself  added  to  a  confused  and  astonished 
group,  which,  assembled  in  that  apartment,  stood  gazing  up- 
on each  other.  At  the  upper  end  of  the  room  stood  the  Queen, 
equipped  as  for. a  journey,  and  attended  not  only  by  the  Lady 
Fleming,  but  by  the  omnipresent  Catherine  Seyton,  dressed 
in  the  habit  of  her  own  sex,  and  bearing  in  her  hand  the 
casket,  in  which  Mary  kept  such  jewels  as  she  had  been  per- 
mitted to  retain.  At  the  other  end  of  the  hall  was  the  Lady  of 
Lochleven,  hastily  dressed,  as  one  startled  from  slumber  by 
the  sudden  alarm,  and  surrounded  by  domestics,  some  bear- 
ing torches,  others,  holding  naked  swords,  partizans,  pistols, 
or  such  other  weapons  as  they  had  caught  up  in  the  hurry  of 
a  night  alarm.  Betwixt  these  two  parties  stood  George  of 
Douglas,  his  arms  folded  on  his  breast,  his  eyes  bent  on  the 
ground,  like  a  criminal  who  knows  not  how  to  deny,  yet  con- 
tinues unwilling  to  avow,  the  guilt  in  which  he  had  been 
detected. 

*'  Speak  George  of  Douglas/' said  the  Lady  of  Lochleven — 
"  speak,  and  clear  the  horrid  suspicion  which  rests  on  thy 
name.  Say,  '  A  Douglas  was  never  faithless  to  his  trust, 
and  1  am  a  Douglas.'  Say  this,  my  dearest  son,  and  it 
is  all  I  ask  thee  to  say  to  clear  thy  name,  even  under  such  a 
foul  charge.  Say  it  was  but  the  wile  of  these  unhappy  women 
and  this  false  boy  which  plotted  an  escape  so  fatal  to  Scotland, 
80  destructive  to  thy  father's  house." 

"  Madam,"  said  old  Dryfesdale,  the  steward,  '^  this  much 
do  I  say  for  this  silly  page,  that  he  could  not  be  accessary  to 
'unlocking  the  doors,  since  I  myself  this  night  bolted  him  out 


THE  ABBOT  811 

of  the  castle.  "Whoever  limned  this  night-piece,  the  lad's 
share  in  it  seems  to  have  been  small/' 

*'  Thou  liest,  Dryfesdale/'  said  the  lady,  *'  and  woiildst 
throw  the  blame  on  thy  master's  house,  to  save  the  worthless 
life  of  a  gipsy  boy." 

*'  His  death  were  more  desirable  to  me  than  his  life," 
answered  the  steward,  sullenly;  *'but  the  t^uth  is  the 
truth." 

At  these  words,  Douglas  raised  his  head,  drew  up  his  figure 
to  its  full  height,  and  spoke  boldly  and  sedately,  as  one  whose 
resolution  was  taken.  *'  Let  no  life  be  endangered  for  me. 
I  alone " 

"Douglas,"  said  the  Queen,  interrupting  him,  "art  thou 
mad  y     Speak  not,  I  charge  you." 

"  Madam,"  he  replied,  bowing  with  the  deepest  respect, 
"gladly  would  I  obey  your  commands,  but  they  must  have 
a  victim,  and  let  it  be  the  true  one.  Yes,  madam,"  he  con- 
tinued, addressing  the  Lady  of  Lochleven,  "  I  alone  am 
guilty  in  this  matter.  If  the  word  of  a  Douglas  has  yet  any 
weight  with  you,  believe  me  that  this  boy  is  innocent ;  and 
on  your  conscience  I  charge  you,  do  him  no  wrong  ;  nor  let 
the  Queen  suffer  hardship  for  embracing  the  opportunity  of 
freedom  which  sincere  loyalty — which  a  sentiment  yet  deeper 
— offered  to  her  acceptance. — Yes  !  I  had  planned  the  escape 
of  the  most  beautiful,  the  most  persecuted  of  women  ;  and 
far  from  regretting  that  I,  for  a  while,  deceived  the  malice 
of  her  enemies,  I  glory  in  it,  and  am  most  willing  to  yield 
up  life  itself  in  her  cause." 

*'  Now,  may  God  have  compassion  on  my  age,"  said  the 
Lady  of  Lochleven,  "  and  enable  me  to  bear  their  load  of 
affliction  !  0  Princess  !  born  in  a  luckless  hour,  when  will  you 
cease  to  be  the  instrument  of  seduction  and  of  ruin  to  all  who 
approach  you  ?  0  ancient  house  of  Lochleven,  famed  so  long 
for  birth  and  honor,  evil  was  the  hour  which  brought  the 
deceiver  under  thy  roof  !  " 

"  Say  not  so,  madam,"  replied  her  grandson  ;  "  the  old 
honors  of  the  Douglas  line  will  be  outshone  when  one  of  its 
descendants  dies  for  the  most  injured  of  queens — for  the  most 
lovely  of  women." 

'  "  Douglas,"  said  the  Queen,  "  must  I  at  this  moment — 
ay,  even  at  this  moment,  when  I  may  lose  a  faithful  subject 
forever — chide  thee  for  forgetting  what  is  due  to  me  as  thy 
queen  ?" 

"  Wretched  boy,"  said  the  distracted  Lady  of  Lochleven, 
'  *'  hast  thou  fallen  even  thus  far  into  the  snare  of  this  Moab- 


S18  WAVERLET  NOVELS 

itish  woman  ? — hast  thou  bartered  thy  name,  thy  allegiance, 
thy  knightly  oath,  thy  duty  to  thy  parents,  thy  country,  and 
thy  God,  for  a  feigned  tear,  or  a  sickly  smile,  from  lips  which 
flattered  the  infirm  Francis — lured  to  death  tiie  idiot  Darnley 
— read  luscious  poetry  with  the  minion  Chastelar— mingled 
in  the  lays  of  love  which  were  sung  by  the  beggar  Kizzio — 
and  which  were  joined  in  rapture  to  those  of  the  foul  and 
licentious  Both  well?'' 

*^  Blaspheme  not,  madam!"  said  Douglas;  ''nor  you, 
fair  Queen,  and  virtuous  as  fair,  chide  at  this  moment  the 
presumption  of  thy  vassal  !  Think  not  that  the  mere  devo- 
tion of  a  subject  could  have  moved  me  to  the  part  I  have 
been  performing.  Well  you  deserve  that  each  of  your  lieges 
should  die  for  you  ;  but  I  have  done  more — have  done  that 
to  which  love  alone  could  compel  a  Douglas  :  I  have  dissem- 
bled. Farewell,  then,  queen  of  all  hearts,  and  empress  of 
that  of  Douglas  !  When  you  are  freed  from  this  vile  bond- 
age— as  freed  you  shall  be,  if  justice  remains  in  Heaven — 
and  when  you  load  with  honors  and  titles  the  happy  man 
who  shall  deliver  you,  cast  one  thought  on  him  whose  heart 
would  have  despised  every  reward  for  a  kiss  of  your  hand — 
cast  one  thought  on  his  fidelity,  and  drop  one  tear  on  his 
grave."  And  throwing  himself  at  her  feet,  he  seized  her 
hand,  and  pressed  it  to  his  lips. 

''  This  before  my  face  ! "  exclaimed  the  Lady  of  Lochleven 
— ''wilt  thou  court  thy  adulterous  paramour  before  the  eyes 
of  a  parent  ?  Tear  them  asunder,  and  put  him  under  strict 
ward  !  Seize  him,  upon  your  lives  ! "  she  added,  seeing  that 
her  attendants  looked  on  each  other  with  hesitation. 

"  They  are  doubtful,"  said  Mary.  "  Save  thyself,  Douglas, 
I  command  thee  ! " 

He  started  up  from  the  floor,  and  only  exclaiming,  "  My 
life  or  death  are  yours,  and  at  your  disposal ! "  drew  his 
sword,  and  broke  through  those  who  stood  betwixt  him  and 
the  door.  The  enthusiasm  of  his  onset  was  too  sudden  and 
too  lively  to  have  been  resisted  by  anything  short  of  the  most 
decided  opposition  ;  and  as  he  was  both  loved  and  feared  by 
his  father's  vassals,  none  of  them  would  offer  him  any  actual 
injury. 

The  Lady  of  Lochleven  stood  astonished  at  his  sudden 
escape.  "  Am  I  surrounded,"  she  said,  "  by  traitors  ?  Upon 
him,  villains  ! — pursue,  stab,  cut  him  down  ! " 

"  He  cannot  leave  the  island,  madam,"  said  Dryfesdale, 
interfering  :  "  I  have  the  key  of  the  boat-chain." 

But  two  or  three  voices  of  those  who  pursued  from  curiosity 


or  command  of  their  mistress  exclaimed  from  below,  tliat  h  e 
had  cast  himself  into  the  lake. 

^'  Brave  Douglas  still !  '*  exclaimed  the  Queen.  ''  0,  true 
and  noble  heart,  that  prefers  death  to  imprisonment  ! " 

''Fire  upon  him  ! '^  said  the  Lady  of  Lochleven  :  ''if 
there  be  here  a  true  servant  of  his  father,  let  him  shoot  the 
runagate  dead,  and  let  the  lake  cover  our  shame  ! " 

The  report  of  a  gun  or  two  was  heard,  but  they  were  prob- 
ably shot  rather  to  obey  the  lady  than  with  any  purpose  of 
hitting  the  mark  ;  and  Randal  immediately  entering,  said 
that  Master  George  had  been  taken  up  by  a  boat  from  the 
castle,  which  lay  at  a  little  distance. 

"  Man  a  barge  and  pursue  them  ! "  said  the  lady. 

"  It  were  quite  vain/^  said  Eandal  ;  '*  by  this  time  they 
are  half-way  to  shore,  and  a  cloud  has  come  over  the 
moon." 

"  And  has  the  traitor  then  escaped  ? "  said  the  lady, 
pressing  her  hands  against  her  forehead  with  a  gesture  of  de- 
spair ;  "  the  honor  of  our  house  is  forever  gone,  and  all  will 
be  deemed  accomplices  in  this  base  treachery  ! " 

"  Lady  of  Lochleven,"  said  Mary,  advancing  towards  her, 
''you  have  this  night  cut  off  my  fairest  hopes:  you  have 
turned  my  expected  freedom  into  bondage,  and  dashed  away 
the  cup  of  joy  in  the  very  instant  I  was  advancing  it  to  my 
lips  ;  and  yet  I  feel  for  your  sorrow  the  pity  that  you  deny 
to  mine.  Gladly  would  I  comfort  you  if  I  might ;  but  as  I 
may  not,  I  would  at  least  part  from  you  in  charity." 

"  Away,  proud  woman  ! "  said  the  lady  ;  "  who  ever  knew 
so  well  as  thou  to  deal  the  deepest  wounds  under  the  pre- 
tense of  kindness  and  courtesy  ?  Who,  since  the  great  trai- 
tor, could  ever  so  betray  with  a  kiss  ?  " 

*'  Lady  Douglas  of  Lochleven,"  said  the  Queen,  "  in  this 
moment  thou  canst  not  offend  me — no,  not  even  by  thy 
coarse  and  unwomanly  language,  held  to  me  in  the  presence 
of  menials  and  armed  retainers.  I  have  this  night  owed  so 
much  to  one  member  of  the  house  of  Lochleven  as  to  can- 
cel whatever  its  mistress  can  do  or  say  in  the  wildness  of  her 
passion." 

"  We  are  bounden  to  you.  Princess,"  said  Lady  Lochleven, 
putting  a  strong  constraint  on  herself,  and  passing  from  hei 
tone  of  violence  to  that  of  bitter  irony;  "our  poor  house 
hath  been  but  seldom  graced  with  royal  smiles,  and  will 
hardly,  with  my  choice,  exchange  their  rough  honesty  for 
such  court  honor  as  Mary  of  Scotland  has  now  to  bestow." 

"  They,"  replied  Mary,  "  who  knew  so  well  how  to  take 


820  WA  VEBLET  NO  VEL8 

may  think  themselves  excused  from  the  obligation  implied 
in  receiving.  And  that  I  have  now  little  to  oSer  is  the  fault 
of  the  Douglasses  and  their  allies." 

"  Fear  nothing,  madam,"  replied  the  Lady  of  Lochleven, 
in  the  same  bitter  tone,  '^  you  retain  an  exchequer  which 
neither  your  own  prodigality  can  drain  nor  your  offended 
country  deprive  you  of.  While  you  have  fair  words  and  de- 
lusive smiles  at  command,  you  need  no  other  bribes  to  lure 
youth  to  folly." 

The  Queen  cast  a  not  ungratified  glance  on  a  large  mir- 
ror, which,  hanging  on  one  side  of  the  apartment,  and  illu- 
minated by  the  torch-light,  reflected  her  beautiful  face  and 
person.  "  Our  hostess  grows  complaisant,"  she  said,  '*  my 
Fleming ;  we  had  not  thought  that  grief  and  captivity  had 
left  us  so  well  stored  with  that  sort  of  wealth  which  ladies 
prize  most  dearly." 

''  Your  Grace  will  drive  this  severe  woman  frantic,"  said 
Fleming,  in  a  low  tone.  ''  On  my  knees  I  implore  you  to 
remember  she  is  already  dreadfully  offended,  and  that  we 
are  in  her  power." 

"I  will  not  spare  her,  Fleming,"  answered  the  Queen; 
*'  it  is  against  my  nature.  She  returned  my  honest  sym- 
pathy with  insult  and  abuse,  and  I  will  gall  her  in  return. 
If  her  words  are  too  blunt  for  answer,  let  her  use  her  poniard 
if  she  dare  !  " 

"  The  Lady  Lochleven,"  said  the  Lady  Fleming  aloud, 
"would  surely  do  well  now  to  withdraw  and  to  leave  her 
Grace  to  repose." 

"Ay,"  replied  the  lady,  ''or  to  leave  her  Grace  and  her 
Grace^s  minions  to  think  what  silly  fly  they  may  next  wrap 
their  meshes  about.  My  eldest  son  is  a  widower — were  he 
not  more  worthy  the  flattering  hopes  with  which  you  have 
seduced  his  brother  [son]  ?  True,  the  yoke  of  marriage  has 
been  already  thrice  fitted  on  ;  but  the  Church  of  Rome  calls 
it  a  sacrament,  and  its  votaries  may  deem  it  one  in  which 
they  cannot  too  often  participate." 

''And  the  votaries  of  the  Church  of  Geneva,"  replied 
Mary,  coloring  with  indignation,  "as  they  deem  marriage 
no  sacrament,  are  said  at  times  to  dispense  with  the  holy 
ceremony."  Then,  as  if  afraid  of  the  consequences  of  this 
home  allusion  to  the  errors  of  Lady  Lochleven^s  early  life, 
the  Queen  added,  "  Come,  my  Fleming,  we  grace  her  too 
much  by  this  altercation  :  we  will  to  our  sleeping-apart- 
ment. If  she  would  disturb  us  again  to-night,  she  must 
cause  the  door  to  be  forced."     So  saying,  she  retired  to  her 


TEE  ABBOT  321 

bedroom,  followed  by  her  two  women.  Lady  Lochleven, 
stunned  as  it  were  by  this  last  sarcasm,  and  not  the  less 
deeply  incensed  that  she  had  drawn  it  upon  herself,  re- 
mained like  a  statue  on  the  spot  which  she  had  occupied 
when  she  received  an  affront  so  flagrant.  Dryfesdale  and 
Randal  endeavored  to  rouse  her  to  recollection  by  questions. 

*'  What  is  your  honorable  ladyship's  pleasure  in  the 
premises  ?" 

^'  Shall  we  not  double  the  sentinels,  and  place  one  npoii 
the  boats  and  another  in  the  garden  ?"  said  Randal. 

"  Would  you  that  despatches  were  sent  to  Sir  William  at 
Edinburgh,  to  acquaint  him  with  what  has  happened  V' 
demanded  Dryfesdale;  *^and  ought  not  the  place  of  Kin- 
ross to  be  alarmed,  lest  there  be  force  upon  the  shores  of  the 
lake  ? '' 

"Do  all  as  thou  wilt,"  said  the  lady,  collecting  herself, 
and  about  to  depart.  *'  Thou  hast  the  name  of  a  good  sol- 
dier, Dryfesdale,  take  all  precautions.  Sacred  Heaven  I 
that  I  should  be  thus  openly  insulted  !'' 

*' Would  it  be  your  pleasure/'  said  Dryfesdale,  hesitating, 
^*that  this  person— this  lady — be  more  severely  restrained  ?" 

**No,  vassal  !"  answered  the  lady,  indignantly,  "  my  re- 
venge stoops  not  to  so  low  a  gratification.  But  I  will  have 
more  worthy  vengeance,  or  the  tomb  of  my  ancestors  shall 
cover  my  shame  !  '* 

"  And  you  shall  have  it,  madam,''  replied  Dryfesdale. 
''Ere  two  suns  go  down,  you  shall  term  yourself  amply 
revenged." 

The  lady  made  no  answer,  perhaps  did  not  hear  his  words, 
as  she  presently  left  the  apartment.  By  the  command  of 
Dryfesdale,  the  rest  of  the  attendants  were  dismissed,  some 
to  do  the  duty  of  guard,  others  to  their  repose.  The  stew- 
ard himself  remained  after  they  had  all  departed ;  and  Ro- 
land Graeme,  who  was  alone  in  the  apartment,  was  surprised 
to  see  the  old  soldier  advance  towards  him  with  an  air  of 
greater  cordiality  than  he  had  ever  before  assumed  to  him, 
but  which  sat  ill  on  his  scowling  features. 

"  Youth,"  he  said,  "  I  have  done  thee  some  wrong  :  it  is 
thine  own  fault,  for  thy  behavior  hath  seemed  as  light  to  me 
as  the  feather  thou  wearest  in  thy  hat  ;  and  surely  thy  fan- 
tastic apparel,  and  idle  humor  of  mirth  and  folly,  have  made 
me  construe  thee  something  harshly.  But  1  saw  this  night 
from  my  casement,  as  I  looked  out  to  see  how  thou  hadst 
disposed  of  thyself  in  the  garden — I  saw,  I  say,  the  true 
efforts  which  thou  didst  make  to  detain  the  companion  of 

21 


B22  WAVEBLET  NOVELS 

the  perfidy  of  him  who  is  no  longer  worthy  to  be  called  by 
his  father's  name,  but  must  be  cut  off  from  his  house  like  a 
rotten  branch.  I  was  just  about  to  come  to  thy  assistance 
when  the  pistol  went  off  ;  and  the  warder — a  false  knave, 
whom  I  suspect  to  be  bribed  for  the  nonce — was  himself 
forced  to  give  the  alarm,  which,  perchance,  till  then  he  had 
wilfully  withheld.  To  atone,  therefore,  for  my  injustice 
towards  you,  I  would  willingly  render  you  a  courtesy,  if  you 
would  accept  of  it  from  my  hands.'" 

*'  May  I  first  crave  to  know  what  it  is?"'  replied  the 
page. 

"  Simply  to  carry  the  news  of  this  discovery  to  Holyrood, 
where  thou  mayst  do  thyself  much  grace,  as  well  with  the 
Earl  of  Morton  and  the  Regent  himself  as  with  Sir  William 
Douglas,  seeing  thou  hast  seen  the  matter  from  end  to  end, 
and  borne  faithful  part  therein.  The  making  thine  own 
fortune  will  be  thus  lodged  in  thine  own  hand,  when  I  trust 
thou  wilt  estrange  thyself  from  foolish  vanities,  and  learn  to 
walk  in  this  world  as  one  who  thinks  upon  the  next." 

"  Sir  steward,"  said  Roland  Grasme,  "  I  thank  you  for 
your  courtesy,  but  I  may  not  do  your  errand.  I  pass  that  I 
am  the  Queen's  sworn  servant,  and  may  not  be  of  counsel 
against  her.  But,  setting  this  apart,  methinks  it  were  a 
bad  road  to  Sir  William  of  Lochleven's  favor  to  be  the  first 
to  tell  him  of  his  son's  defection  ;  neither  would  the  Regent 
be  over  well  pleased  to  hear  the  infidelity  of  his  vassal,  nor 
Morton  to  learn  the  falsehood  of  his  kinsman." 

"  Um  ! "  said  the  steward,  making  that  inarticulate  sound 
which  expresses  surprise  mingled  with  displeasure.  *'Nay, 
then,  even  fly  where  ye  list ;  for,  giddy-pated  as  ye  may  be, 
you  know  how  to  bear  you  in  the  world." 

"  I  will  show  you  my  system  is  less  selfish  than  ye  think 
for,"  said  the  page;  "for  I  hold  truth  and  mirth  to  be 
better  than  gravity  and  cunning — ay,  and  in  the  end  to  be 
a  match  for  them.  You  never  loved  me  less,  sir  steward, 
than  you  do  at  this  moment.  I  know  you  will  give  me  no 
real  confidence,  and  I  am  resolved  to  accept  no  false  protes- 
tations as  current  coin.  Resume  your  old  course  :  suspect 
me  is  much  and  watch  me  as  closely  as  you  will,  I  bid  you 
defiance.     You  have  met  with  your  match." 

'*  By  Heaven,  young  man,"  said  the  steward,  with  a  look 
of  bitter  malignity,  "  if  thou  darest  to  attempt  any  treachery 
towards  the  house  of  Lochleven,  thy  head  shall  blacken  in 
the  sun  from  the  warder's  turret !  " 

"  He  cannot  commit  treachery  who  refuses  trust,"  said  the 


THE  ABBOT  323 

page  ;  ''  and  for  my  head,  it  stands  as  securely  on  mine  own 
shoulders  a,s  on  any  turret  that  ever  mason  built/' 

*'  Farewell,  thou  prating  and  speckled  pie,''  said  Dryfes- 
dale,  ''  thou  art  so  vain  of  thine  idle  tongue  and  variegated 
coat !     Beware  trap  and  lime-twig." 

"  And  fare  thee  well,  thou  hoarse  old  raven,''  answered 
the  page  ;  *'  thy  solemn  flight,  sable  hue,  and  deep  croak  are 
no  charms  against  bird-bolt  or  hail-shot,  and  that  thou 
mayst  find.  It  is  open  war  betwixt  us,  each  for  the  cause  of 
our  mistress,  and  God  show  the  right ! " 

''  Amen,  and  defend  His  own  people  ! "  said  the  steward. 
*'  I  will  let  my  mistress  know  what  addition  thou  hast  made 
to  this  mess  of  traitors.     Good  night.  Monsieur  Featherpate." 

"  Good  night.  Seignior  Sowersby,"  replied  the  page  ;  and 
when  the  old  man  departed,  he  betook  himself  to  rest. 


CHAPTER  XXXI 

Poison'd— ill  fare  I  dead,  forsook,  oast  off  I 

King  John, 

However  weary  Roland  Graeme  might  be  of  the  Castle  ox 
Lochleven,  however  much  he  might  wish  that  the  plan  for 
Mary's  escape  had  been  perfected,  I  question  if  he  ever 
awoke  with  more  pleasing  feelings  than  on  the  morning  after 
George  Douglas's  plan  for  accomplishing  her  deliverance  had 
been  frustrated.  In  the  first  place,  he  had  the  clearest  con- 
viction that  he  had  misunderstood  the  innuendo  of  the 
abbot,  and  that  the  affections  of  Douglas  were  fixed,  not  on 
Catherine  Seyton,  but  on  the  Queen  ;  and  in  the  second  place 
from  the  sort  of  explanation  which  had  taken  place  betwixt 
the  steward  and  him,  he  felt  himself  at  liberty,  without  any 
breach  of  honor  towards  the  family  of  Lochleven,  to  contrib- 
ute his  best  aid  to  any  scheme  which  should  in  future  be 
formed  for  the  Queen's  escape  ;  and,  independently  of  the 
good-will  which  he  himself  had  to  the  enterprise,  he  knew 
he  could  find  no  surer  road  to  the  favor  of  Catherine  Seyton. 
He  now  sought  but  an  opportunity  to  inform  her  that  he  had 
dedicated  himself  to  this  task,  and  fortune  was  propitious  in 
affording  him  one  which  was  unusually  favorable. 

At  the  ordinary  hour  of  breakfast,  it  was  introduced  by 
the  steward  with  his  usual  forms,  who,  as  soon  as  it  was 
placed  on  the  board  in  the  inner  apartment,  said  to  Roland 
Graeme,  with  a  glance  of  sarcastic  import,  '^  I  leave  you,  my 
young  sir,  to  do  the  oflSce  of  sewer  ;  it  has  been  too  long  ren- 
dered to  the  Lady  Mary  by  one  belonging  to  the  house  of 
Douglas.'' 

^'  Were  it  the  prime  and  principal  who  ever  bore  the 
name,"  said  Roland,  'Hhe  office  were  an  honor  to  him." 

The  steward  departed  without  replying  to  this  bravade, 
otherwise  than  by  a  dark  look  of  scorn.  Graeme,  thus  left 
alone,  busied  himself,  as  one  engaged  in  a  labor  of  love,  to 
imitate,  as  well  as  he  could,  the  grace  and  courtesy  with 
which  George  of  Douglas  was  wont  to  render  his  ceremonial 
service  at  meals  to  the  Queen  of  Scotland.  There  was  more 
than  youthful  vanity,  there  was  a  generous  devotion,  in  the 
feeling  with  which  he  took  up  the  task,  as  a  brave  soldier 

324 


THE  ABBOT  826 

assumes  the  place  of  a  comrade  who  has  fallen  in  the  front 
of  battle.  **I  am  now,'' he  said,  /'their  only  champion; 
and,  come  weal,  come  wo,  I  will  be,  to  the  best  of  my  skill 
and  power,  as  faithful,  as  trustworthy,  as  brave,  as  any 
Douglas  of  them  all  could  have  been." 

At  this  moment  Catherine  Seyton  entered  alone,  contrary 
to  her  custom  ;  and  not  less  contrary  to  her  custom,  she  en- 
tered with  her  kerchief  at  her  eyes.  Roland  Graeme  ap- 
proached her  with  beating  heart  and  with  downcast  eyes,  and 
asked  her  in  a  low  and  hesitating  voice  whether  the  Queen 
were  well. 

"  Can  you  suppose  it  ?  "  said  Catherine  ;  "  think  you  her 
heart  and  body  are  framed  of  steel  and  iron,  to  endure  the 
cruel  disappointment  of  yestereven,  and  the  infamous  taunts 
of  yonder  Puritanic  hag  ?  Would  to  God  that  I  were  a  man, 
to  aid  her  more  effectually  ! " 

"  If  those  v/ho  carry  pistols,  and  batons,  and  poniards, '^  said 
the  page,  ''are  not  men,  they  are  at  least  Amazons,  and 
that  is  as  formidable." 

"You  are  welcome  to  the  flash  of  your  wit,  sir,"  replied 
the  damsel ;  "  I  am  neither  in  spirits  to  enjoy  or  to  reply 
to  it.'' 

"Well,  then,"  said  the  page,  "list  to  me  in  all  serious 
truth.  And,  first,  let  me  say,  that  the  gear  last  night  had 
been  smoother  had  you  taken  me  into  your  counsels." 

"  And  so  we  meant ;  but  who  could  have  guessed  that 
Master  Page  should  choose  to  pass  all  night  in  the  garden, 
like  some  moon-stricken  knight  in  a  Spanish  romance,  in- 
stead of  being  in  his  bedroom,  when  Douglas  came  to  hold 
communication  with  him  on  our  project  ?  " 

"  And  why,"  said  the  page,  "  defer  to  so  late  a  moment 
BO  important  a  confidence  ?" 

"  Because  j^our  communications  with  Henderson,  and — 
with  pardon — the  natural  impetuosity  and  fickleness  of  your 
disposition,  made  us  dread  to  entrust  you  with  a  secret  of 
such  consequence  till  the  last  moment  ?" 

"And  why  at  the  last  moment  ?"  said  the  page,  offended 
at  this  frank  avowal — "  why  at  that  or  any  other  moment, 
since  I  had  the  misfortune  to  incur  so  much  suspicion  ?  " 

"\N"ayy  now  you  are  angry  again,"  said  Catherine  ;  "  and 
to  serve  you  aright  I  should  break  off  this  talk  ;  but  I  will 
be  magnanimous,  and  answer  your  question.  Know,  then, 
our  reason  for  trusting  you  was  twofold.  In  the  first  place, 
we  could  scarce  avoid  it,  since  you  slept  in  the  room  through 
rhich  we  had  to  pass.     In  the  second  place — — " 


328  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

''  Nay/*  said  the  page,  '*  you  may  dispense  with  a  second 
reason,  when  the  first  makes  your  confidence  in  me  a  case  of 
necessity/' 

"  Good  now,  hold  thy  peace,''  said  Catherine.  "  In  the 
second  place,  as  I  said  before,  there  is  one  foolish  person 
among  us  who  believes  that  Roland  Grasme's  heart  is  warm, 
though  his  head  is  giddy  ;  that  his  blood  is  pure,  though  it 
boils  too  hastily ;  and  that  his  faith  and  honor  are  true  as 
the  loadstar,  though  his  tongue  sometimes  is  far  less  than 
discreet." 

This  avowal  Catherine  repeated  in  a  low  tone,  with  her 
eyes  fixed  on  the  floor,  as  if  she  shunned  the  glance  of  Rol- 
and while  she  suffered  it  to  escape  her  lips.  *'And  this 
single  friend,"  exclaimed  the  youth  in  rapture — '^  this  only 
one  who  would  do  justice  to  the  poor  Roland  Graeme,  and 
whose  own  generous  heart  taught  her  to  distinguish  between 
follies  of  the  brain  and  faults  of  the  heart — will  you  not 
tell  me,  dearest  Catherine,  to  whom  I  owe  my  most  grate- 
ful, my  most  heartfelt  thanks  ?  " 

"  Nay,"  said  Catherine,  with  her  eyes  still  fixed  on  the 
ground,  *'  if  your  own  heart  tell  you  not " 

*'  Dearest  Catherine  ! "  said  the  page,  seizing  upon  her 
hand,  and  kneeling  on  one  knee. 

"  If  your  own  heart,  I  say,  tell  you  not,"  said  Catherine, 
gently  disengaging  her  hand,  "it  is  very  ungrateful;  for 
since  the  maternal  kindness  of  the  Lady  Fleming " 

The  page  started  on  his  feet.  ''  By  Heaven,  Catherine, 
your  tongue  wears  as  many  disguises  as  your  person  !  But 
you  only  mock  me,  cruel  girl.  You  know  the  Lady  Flem- 
ing has  no  more  regard  for  any  one  than  hath  the  forlorn 
princess  who  is  wrought  into  yonder  piece  of  old  figured 
court-tapestry." 

"  It  may  be  so,"  said  Catherine  Seyton,  "  but  you  should 
not  speak  so  loud." 

"  Pshaw  !"  answered  the  page,  but  at  the  same  time  low 
ering  his  voice,  *'  she  cares  for  no  one  but  herself  and  the 
Queen.     And  you  know,  besides,    there  is  no  one  of  you 
whose  opinion  I  value,  if  I  have  not  your  own.     No — not 
that  of  Queen  Mary  herself." 

"  The  more  shame  for  you,  if  it  be  so,"  said  Catherine, 
with  great  composure. 

'^  Nay,  but,  fair  Catherine,"  said  the  page,  "  why  will  you 
thus  damp  my  ardor,  when  I  am  devoting  myself,  body  and 
soul,  to  the  cause  of  your  mistress  ?  " 

*'  It  is  because  in  doing  so,"  said  Catherine,  ''you  debase 


THE  ABBOT  «27 

a  cause  so  noble  by  naming  along  with  it  any  lower  or  more 
selfish  motive.  Believe  me/'  she  said,  with  kindling  eyes, 
and  while  the  blood  mantled  on  her  cheek,  *'they  think 
vilely  and  falsely  of  women — I  mean  of  those  who  deserve 
the  name — who  deem  that  they  love  the  gratification  of  their 
vanity,  or  the  mean  purpose  of  engrossing  a  lover's  admira- 
tion and  affection  better  than  they  love  the  virtue  and  honor 
of  the  man  they  may  be  brought  to  prefer.  He  that  serves 
his  religion,  his  prince,  and  his  country  with  ardor  and 
devotion  need  not  plead  his  cause  with  the  commonplace  rant 
of  romantic  passion  :  the  woman  whom  he  honors  with  his 
love  becomes  his  debtor,  and  her  corresponding  affection  is 
engaged  to  repay  his  glorious  toil." 

'*  You  hold  a  glorious  prize  for  such  toil,''  said  the  youth, 
bending  his  eyes  on  her  with  enthusiasm. 

"  Only  a  heart  which  knows  how  to  value  it,"  said  Cath- 
erine. *'  He  that  should  free  this  injured  princess  from 
these  dungeons,  and  set  her  at  liberty  among  her  loyal  and 
warlike  nobles,  whose  hearts  are  burning  to  welcome  her — 
where  is  the  maiden  in  Scotland  whom  the  love  of  such  a 
hero  would  not  honor,  were  she  sprung  from  the  blood 
royal  of  the  land,  and  he  the  offspring  of  the  poorest  cot- 
tager that  ever  held  a  plow  !  " 

**I  am  determined,"  said  Roland,  ''  to  take  the  adventure. 
Tell  me  first,  however,  fair  Catherine,  and  speak  it  as  if  you 
were  confessing  to  the  priest — this  poor  Queen,  I  know  she 
is  unhappy — but,  Catherine,  do  you  hold  her  innocent  ? 
She  is  accused  of  murder." 

*'  Do  I  hold  the  lamb  guilty,  because  it  is  assailed  by  the 
wolf  ?  "  answered  Catherine.  "  Do  I  hold  yonder  sun  pol- 
luted, because  an  earth-damp  sullies  his  beams  ?  " 

The  page  sighed  and  looked  down.  ''Would  my  convic- 
tion were  as  deep  as  thine  !  But  one  thing  is  clear,  that  in 
this  captivity  she  hath  wrong.  She  rendered  herself  up  on 
a  capitulation,  and  the  terms  have  been  refused  her.  I  will 
embrace  her  quarrel  to  the  death  !  " 

"Will  you — will  you,  indeed?"  said  Catherine,  taking 
his  hand  in  her  turn.  "  0  be  but  firm  in  mind,  as  thou  art 
bold  in  deed  and  quick  in  resolution  ;  keep  but  thy  plighted 
faith,  and  after  ages  shall  honor  thee  as  the  saviour  of  Scot- 
land!" 

"  But  when  I  have  toiled  successfully  to  win  that  Leah, 
honor,  thou  wilt  not,  my  Catherine,"  said  the  page,  "  con- 
demn me  to  a  new  term  of  service  for  that  Rachel,  love  ?" 

*'  Of  that,"  said  Catherine,  again  extricating  her  hand  from 


828  WAVERLET  NOVELS 

his  grasp,  '^we  shall  have  full  time  to  speak ;  but  honor  is 
the  elder  sister,  and  must  be  won  the  first." 

"'  I  may  not  win  her,"  answered  the  page  ;  ^'  but  I  wih 
venture  fairly  for  her,  and  man  can  do  no  more.  And  know, 
fair  Catherine — for  you  shall  see  the  very  secret  thought  of 
my  heart — that  not  honor  only,  not  only  that  other  and  fairer 
sister,  whom  you  frown  on  me  for  so  much  as  mentioning, 
but  the  stern  commands  of  duty  also,  compel  me  to  aid  the 
Queen's  deliverance." 

^'  Indeed  ! "  said  Catherine  ;  ^'  you  were  wont  to  have 
doubts  on  that  matter." 

'^  Ay,  but  her  life  was  not  then  threatened,"  replied  Roland. 

"  And  is  it  now  more  endangered  than  heretofore  ?"  asked 
Catherine  Seyton,  in  anxious  terror. 

'*  Be  not  alarmed,"  said  the  page;  "  but  you  heard  the 
terms  on  which  your  royal  mistress  parted  with  the  Lady  of 
Lochleven  ?" 

'^  Too  well — but  too  well,"  said  Catherine  ;  "  alas  !  that 
she  cannot  rule  her  princely  resentment,  and  refrain  from 
encounters  like  these  !" 

''That  hath  passed  betwixt  them,"  said  Roland,  "  for  which 
woman  never  forgives  woman.  I  saw  the  lady's  brow  turn 
pale,  and  then  black,  when,  before  all  the  menzie,  and  in  her 
moment  of  power,  the  Queen  humbled  her  to  the  dust  by 
taxing  her  with  her  shame.  And  I  heard  the  oath  of  deadly 
resentment  and  revenge  which  she  muttered  in  the  ear  of  one 
who,  by  his  answer,  will,  I  judge,  be  but  too  ready  an  execu- 
tioner of  her  will." 

''You  terrify  me,"  said  Catherine. 

"  Do  not  so  take  it  up  ;  call  up  the  masculine  part  of  your 
spirit  ;  we  will  counteract  and  defeat  her  plans,  be  they 
dangerous  as  they  may.  Why  do  you  look  upon  me  thus, 
and  weep  ?  " 

"  Alas  ! "  said  Catherine,  "  because  you  stand  there  before 
me  a  living  and  breathing  man,  in  all  the  adventurous  glow 
and  enterprise  of  youth,  yet  still  possessing  the  frolic  spirits 
of  childhood — there  you  stand,  full  alike  of  generous  enter- 
prise and  childish  recklessness  ;  and  if  to-day,  to-morrow,  or 
some  such  brief  space,  you  lie  a  mangled  and  lifeless  corpse 
upon  the  floor  of  these  hateful  dungeons,  who  but  Catherine 
Seyton  will  be  the  cause  of  your  brave  and  gay  career  being 
broken  short  as  you  start  from  the  goal  ?  Alas  !  she  whom 
you  have  chosen  to  twine  your  wreath  may  too  probably  have 
to  work  your  shroud  !  " 
y     "  And  be  it  so,  Catherine,"  said  the  page,  in  the  full  glow 


THE  ABBOT  329 

of  youthful  enthusiasm;  '^and  do  thou  work  my  shroud ! 
and  if  thou  grace  it  with  such  tears  as  fall  now  at  the  thought, 
it  will  honor  my  remains  more  than  an  earFs  mantle  would 
my  living  body.  But  shame  on  this  faintness  of  heart !  the 
time  craves  a  firmer  mood.  Be  a  woman,  Catherine,  or  rather 
be  a  man  ;  thou  canst  be  a  man  if  thou  wilt.'^ 

Catherine  dried  her  tears,  and  endeavored  to  smile. 

^'  You  must  not  ask  me,"  she  said,  ''about  that  which  so 
much  disturbs  your  mind  ;  you  shall  know  all  in  time — nay, 

you  should  know  all  now,  but  that Hush  !  here  comes 

the  Queen.'^ 

Mary  entered  from  her  apartment,  paler  than  usual,  and 
apparently  exhausted  by  a  sleepless  night,  and  by  the  painful 
thoughts  which  had  ill  supplied  the  place  of  repose ;  yet  the 
languor  of  her  looks  was  so  far  from  impairing  her  beauty 
that  it  only  substituted  the  frail  delicacy  of  the  lovely  woman 
for  the  majestic  grace  of  the  Queen.  Contrary  to  her  wont, 
her  toilette  had  been  very  hastily  despatched,  and  her  hair, 
which  was  usually  dressed  by  Lady  Fleming  with  great  care, 
escaping  from  beneath  the  head-tire,  which  had  been  hastily 
adjusted,  fell,  in  long  and  luxuriant  tresses  of  nature's  own 
curling,  over  a  neck  and  bosom  which  were  somewhat  less 
carefully  veiled  than  usual. 

As  she  stepped  over  the  threshold  of  her  apartment,  Cather- 
ine, hastily  drying  her  tears,  ran  to  meet  her  royal  mistress, 
and  having  first 'kneeled  at  her  feet  and  kissed  her  hand,  in- 
stantly rose,  and  placing  herself  on  the  other  side  of  the 
Queen,  seemed  anxious  to  divide  with  the  Lady  Fleming  the 
honor  of  supporting  and  assisting  her.  The  page,  on  his 
part,  advanced  and  put  in  order  the  chair  of  state,  which  she 
usually  occupied,  and  having  placed  the  cushion  and  foot- 
stool for  her  accommodation,  stepped  back,  and  stood  ready 
for  service  in  the  place  usually  occupied  by  his  predecessor, 
the  young  seneschal.  Mary's  eye  rested  an  instant  on  him, 
and  could  not  but  remark  the  change  of  persons.  Hers  was 
not  the  female  heart  which  could  refuse  compassion,  at  least, 
to  a  gallant  youth  who  had  suffered  in  her  cause,  althougli 
he  had  been  guided  in  his  enterprise  by  a  too  presumptuous 
passion,  and  the  words  ^*  Poor  Douglas  ! "  escaped  from  her 
lips,  perhaps  unconsciously,  as  she  leant  herself  back  in  her 
chair,  and  put  the  kerchief  to  her  eyes. 

''  Yes,  gracious  madam,''  said  Catherine,  assuming  a 
cheerful  manner,  in  order  to  cheer  her  sovereign,  "  our  gal- 
lant knight  is  indeed  banished — the  adventure  was  not  re- 
served for   him  ;  but  he  has  left   behind   him  a  youthful 


330  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

esquire  as  much  devoted  to  your  Grace's  service,  and  who, 
by  me,  makes  you  tender  of  his  hand  and  sword." 

''If  they  may  in  aiight  avail  your  Grace,"  said  Koland 
Graeme,  bowing  profoundly. 

"  Alas  ! "  said  the  Queen,  "  what  needs  this,  Catherine  ? 
— why  prepare  new  victims  to  be  involved  in,  and  over- 
whelmed by,  my  cruel  fortune  ?  Were  we  not  better  cease 
to  struggle,  and  ourselves  sink  in  the  tide  without  further 
resistance,  than  thus  drag  into  destruction  with  us  every 
generous  heart  which  makes  an  effort  in  our  favor  ?  I  have 
had  but  too  much  of  plot  and  intrigue  around  me,  since  I 
was  stretched  an  orphan  child  in  my  very  cradle,  while  con- 
tending nobles  strove  which  should  rule  in  the  name  of  the 
unconscious  innocent.  Surely  time  it  were  that  all  this 
busy  and  most  dangerous  coil  should  end.  Let  me  call  my 
prison  a  convent,  and  my  seclusion  a  voluntary  sequestration 
of  myself  from  the  world  and  its  ways  ! " 

''  Speak  not  thus,  madam,  before  your  faithful  servants," 
said  Catherine,  ''to  discourage  their  zeal  at  once  and  to 
break  their  hearts.  Daughter  of  kings,  be  not  in  this  hour 
so  unkingly.  Come,  Eoland,  and  let  us,  the  youngest  of  her 
followers,  show  ourselves  worthy  of  her  cause  :  let  us  kneel 
before  her  footstool,  and  implore  her  to  be  her  own  magnani- 
mous self."  And  leading  Roland  Graeme  to  the  Queen's 
seat,  they  both  kneeled  down  before  her.  Mary  raised  her- 
self in  her  chair,  and  sat  erect,  while,  extending  one  hand 
to  be  kissed  by  the  page,  she  arranged  with  the  other  the 
clustering  locks  which  shaded  the  bold  yet  lovely  brow  of 
the  high-spirited  Catherine. 

"Alas!  ma  mignonne,"  she  said,  for  so  in  fondness  she 
often  called  her  young  attendant,  "that  you  should  thus 
desperately  mix* with  my  unhappy  fate  the  fortune  of  your 
young  lives  !  Are  they  not  a  lovely  couple,  my  Fleming  ? 
and  is  it  not  heart-rending  to  think  that  I  must  be  their 


rum 


9'' 


"  Not  so,"  said  Roland  Graeme ;  "  it  is  we,  gracious 
sovereign,  who  will  be  your  deliverers." 

'^  Bx  orihus  parvulorum  /"  said  the  Queen,  looking  up- 
ward ;  "  if  it  is  by  the  mouth  of  these  children  that  Heaven 
calls  me  to  resume  the  stately  thoughts  which  become  m}! 
birth  and  my  rights.  Thou  wilt  grant  them  Thy  protection, 
and  to  me  the  power  of  rewarding  their  zeal  ! "  Then  turn- 
ing to  Fleming,  she  instantly  added,  "  Thou  knowest,  my 
friend,  whether  to  make  those  who  have  served  me  happy 
was  not  ever  Mary's  favorite  pastime.     When  I  have  been 


THE  ABBOT  381 

rebuked  by  the  stern  preachers  of  the  Calvinistic  heresy, 
when  I  have  seen  the  fierce  countenances  of  my  nobles  avert- 
ed from  me,  has  it  not  been  because  I  mixed  in  the  harm- 
less pleasures  of  the  young  and  gay,  and,  rather  for  the 
sake  of  their  happiness  than  my  own,  have  mingled  in  the 
masque,  the  song,  or  the  dance,  with  the  youth  of  my  house- 
hold ?  "Well,  I  repent  not  of  it,  though  Knox  termed  it  sin, 
and  Morton  degradation.  I  was  happy,  because  I  saw  happi- 
ness around  me ;  and  woe  betide  the  wretched  jealousy  that 
can  extract  guilt  out  of  the  overflowings  of  an  unguarded 
gaiety  !  Fleming,  if  we  are  restored  to  our  throne,  shall  we 
not  have  one  blythesome  day  at  a  blythesome  bridal,  of  which 
we  must  now  name  neither  the  bride  nor  the  bridegroom  ? 
But  that  bridegroom  shall  have  the  barony  of  Blairgowrie,  a 
fair  gift  even  for  a  queen  to  give,  and  that  bride^s  chaplet 
shall  be  twined  with  the  fairest  pearls  that  ever  were  found 
in  the  depths  of  Loch  Lomond  ;  and  thou  thyself,  Mary 
Fleming,  the  best  dresser  of  tires  that  ever  busked  the 
tresses  of  a  queen,  and  who  would  scorn  to  touch  those  of  any 
women  of  lower  rank — thou  thyself  shalt,  for  my  love,  twine 
them  into  the  bride's  tresses.  Look  my  Fleming,  suppose 
them  such  clustered  locks  as  those  of  our  Catherine,  they 
would  not  put  shame  upon  thy  skill.'' 

So  saying,  she  passed  her  hand  fondly  over  the  head  of 
her  youthful  favorite,  while  her  more  aged  attendant  re- 
plied despondently,  "  Alas !  madam,  your  thoughts  stray 
far  from  home." 

''They  do,  my  Fleming,''  said  the  Queen;  ''but  is  it 
well  or  kind  in  you  to  call  them  back  ?  God  knows,  they 
have  kept  the  perch  this  night  but  too  closely.  Come,  I 
will  recall  the  gay  vision,  were  it  but  to  punish  them.  Yes,, 
at  that  blythesome  bridal  Mary  herself  shall  forget  the 
weight  of  sorrows  and  the  toil  of  state,  and  herself  once 
more  lead  a  measure.  At  whose  wedding  was  it  that  we 
last  danced,  my  Fleming  ?  I  think  care  has  troubled  my 
memory — yet  something  of  it  I  should  remember  ;  canst 
thou  not  aid  me  ?     I  know  thou  canst." 

"  Alas  !  madam,'^  replied  the  lady 

"What  !"said  Mary,  "  wilt  thou  not  help  us  so  far  ? 
This  is  a  peevish  adherence  to  thine  own  graver  opinion, 
which  holds  our  talk  as  folly.  But  thou  art  court-bred,  and 
wilt  well  understand  me  when  I  say,  the  Queen  commands 
Lady  Fleming  to  tell  her  where  she  led  the  last  "  branle."  ' 

With  a  face  deadly  pale,  and  a  mien  as  it  she  were  about 
to  fink  into  the  earth,  the  court-bred  dame,  no  longer  daring 


332  WAVEBLEY  NOVELS 

to  refuse  obedience,  faltered  out — ^'  Gracious  lady — if  my 
memory  err  not — it  was  at  a  masque  in  Holy  rood — at  the 
marriage  of  Sebastian." 

The  unhappy  Queen,  who  had  hitherto  listened  with  a 
melancholy  smile,  provoked  by  the  reluctance  with  which 
the  Lady  Fleming  brought  out  her  story,  at  this  ill-fated 
word  interrupted  her  with  a  shriek  so  wild  and  loud  that  the 
vaulted  apartment  rang,  and  both  Eoland  and  Catherine 
sprang  to  their  feet  in  the  utmost  terror  and  alarm.  Mean- 
time, Mary  seemed,  by  the  train  of  horrible  ideas  thus  sud- 
denly excited,  surprised  not  only  beyond  self-command,  but 
for  the  moment  beyond  the  verge  of  reason. 

*'  Traitress,"  she  said  to  the  Lady  Fleming,  '^  thou  wouldst 
slay  thy  sovereign.  Call  my  French  guards — amoi!-a  moi! 
mes  FranQais  !  I  am  beset  with  traitors  in  mine  own  palace 
— they  have  murdered  my  husband.  Eescue  ! — rescue  !  for 
the  Queen  of  Scotland  ! "  She  started  up  from  her  chair  ; 
her  features,  late  so  exquisitely  lovely  in  their  paleness,  now 
inflamed  with  the  fury  of  frenzy,  and  resembling  those  of  a 
Bellona.  "  We  will  take  the  field  ourself,"  she  said  ;  "  warn 
the  city — warn  Lothian  and  Fife — saddle  our  Spanish  barb 
and  bid  French  Paris  see  our  petronel  be  charged  !  Better 
to  die  at  the  head  of  our  brave  Scotsmen,  like  our  grandfather 
at  Floddan,  than  of  a  broken  heart  like  our  ill-starred 
father." 

"  Be  patient — be  composed,  dearest  sovereign  !  "  said  Cath- 
erine ;  and  then  addressing  Lady  Fleming  angrily,  she  added, 
*'  How  can  you  say  aught  that  reminded  her  of  her  hus- 
band?" 

The  word  reached  the  ear  of  the  unhappy  princess,  who 
caught  it  up,  speaking  with  great  rapidity.  ^'  Husband  ! — 
What  husband  ?  Not  his  most  Christian  Majesty  ;  he  is  ill 
at  ease — he  cannot  mount  on  horseback.  Not  him  of  the 
Lennox  ;  bnt  it  was  the  Duke  of  Orkney  thou  wouldst  say." 

*^'  For  God's  love,  madam,  be  patient  ! "  said  the  Lady  Flem- 
ing. 

''  But  the  Queen's  excited  imagination  could  by  no  entreaty 
be  diverted  from  its  course.  ''  Bid  him  come  hither  to  our 
aid,"  she  said,  *'and  bring  with  him  his  lambs,  as  he  calls 
them — Bowton,  Hay  of  Talla,  Black  Ormiston,  and  his  kins- 
man Hob.  Fie  !  how  swart  they  are,  and  how  they  smell  of 
sulphur  !  What !  closeted  with  Morton  ?  Nay,  if  the  Doug- 
las and  the  Hepburn  hatch  the  complot  together,  the  bird, 
when  it  breaks  the  shell,  will  scare  Scotland.  .  Will  it  not, 
my  Fleming  ?  " 


THE  ABBOT  883 

''She  grows  wilder  and  wilder/'  said  Fleming  ;  "  we  have 
too  many  hearers  for  these  strange  words." 

''  Koland/'  said  Catherine,  *'  in  the  name  of  God  begone  ! 
You  cannot  aid  us  here.  Leave  us  to  deal  with  her  alone, 
away — away  ! '' 

She  thrust  him  to  the  door  of  the  ante-room  ;  yet  even 
when  he  had  entered  that  apartment  and  shut  the  door,  he 
could  still  hear  the  Queen  talk  in  a  loud  and  determined 
tone,  as  if  giving  forth  orders,  until  at  length  the  voice  died 
away  in  a  feeble  and  continued  lamentation. 

At  this  crisis  Catherine  entered  the  ante-room.  ''  Be  not 
too  anxious,"  she  said,  ^'  the  crisis  is  now  over  ;  but  keep  the 
door  fast — let  no  one  enter  until  she  is  more  composed." 

'''In  the  name  of  God,  what  does  this  mean  ?"  said  the 
page  ;  ^'  or  what  was  there  in  the  Lady  Fleming's  words  to 
excite  so  wild  a  transport  ?" 

*'  0,  the  Lady  Fleming — the  Lady  Fleming,"  said  Cath- 
erine, repeating  the  words  impatiently — the  Lady  Fleming 
is  a  fool :  she  loves  her  mistress,  yet  knows  so  little  how  to 
express  her  love  that,  were  the  Queen  to  ask  her  for  very 
poison,  she  would  deem  it  a  point  of  duty  not  to  resist  her 
commands.  I  could  have  torn  her  starched  head-tire  from 
her  formal  head.  The  Queen  should  have  as  soon  had 
the  heart  out  of  my  body  as  the  word  '  Sebastian '  out  of 
my  lips.  That  that  piece  of  weaved  tapestry  should  be  a 
woman,  and  yet  not  have  wit  enough  to  tell  a  lie  !  " 

'^  And  what  was  this  story  of  Sebastian  ?"  said  the  page. 
"  By  Heaven,  Catherine,  you  are  all  riddles  alike." 

'^  You  are  as  great  a  fool  as  Fleming,"  returned  the  im- 
patient maiden.  ^'  Know  ye  not,  that  on  the  night  of  Henry 
barnley's  murder,  and  at  the  blowing  up  of  the  Kirk  of  Field, 
the  Queen's  absence  was  owing  to  her  attending  on  a  masque 
at  Holyrood,  given  by  her  to  grace  the  marriage  of  this  same 
Sebastian,  who,  himself  a  favored  servant,  married  one  of 
her  female  attendants,  who  was  near  to  her  person  ?  " 

'^  By  St.  Giles,"  said  the  page,  ''  I  wonder  not  at  her  pas- 
sion, but  only  marvel  by  what  forgetfulness  it  was  that  she 
could  urge  the  Lady  Fleming  with  such  a  question." 

'*  I  cannot  account  for  it,"  said  Catherine  ;  *'  but  it  seems 
as  if  great  and  violent  grief  or  horror  sometimes  obscure  the 
memory,  and  spread  a  cloud, like  that  of  an  exploding  cannon, 
over  the  circumstances  with  which  they  are  accompanied.  But 
I  may  not  stay  here,  where  I  came  not  to  moralize  with  your 
wisdom,  but  simply  to  cool  my  resentment  against  that 
unwise    Lady    Fleniing,  which   I  think    hath    now    some- 


334  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

what  abated,  so  that  I  shall  endure  her  presence  without  an\ 
desire  to  damage  either  her  curch  or  vasquine.  Meanwhile, 
keep  fast  that  door  :  I  would  not  for  my  life  that  any  ot 
these  heretics  saw  her  in  the  unhappy  state  which,  brought  on 
her  as  it  has  been  by  the  success  of  their  own  diabolical  plot- 
ting, they  would  not  stick  to  call,  in  their  snuffling  cant,  the 
judgment  of  Providence/' 

She  left  the  apartment  just  as  the  latch  of  the  outward 
door  was  raised  from  without.  But  the  bolt,  which  Roland 
had  drawn  on  the  inside,  resisted  the  efforts  of  the  person 
desirous  to  enter. 

'*  Who  is  there  ?''  said  Graeme  aloud. 

*'It  is  I,"  replied  the  harsh  and  yet  low  voice  of  th& 
steward  Dryfesdale. 

*' You  cannot  enter  now,"  returned  the  youth. 

"And  wherefore  ?  "  demanded  Dryfesdale,  "  seeing  I  comb 
but  to  do  my  duty,  and  inquire  what  mean  the  shrieks  from 
the  apartment  of  the  Moabitish  woman.  Wherefore,  I  say, 
since  such  is  mine  errand,  can  I  not  enter  ?" 

"  Simply,"  replied  the  youth,  "  because  the  bolt  is  dmwn, 
and  I  have  no  fancy  to  undo  it.  I  have  the  right  side  of  the 
door  to-day,  as  you  had  last  night." 

"Thou  art  ill-advised,  thou  malapert  boy,"  replied  the 
steward,  "to  speak  to  me  in  such  a  fashion  ;  but  I  shall  in- 
form my  lady  of  thine  insolence." 

"  The  insolence,"  said  the  page,  "is  meant  for  thee  only, 
in  fair  guerdon  of  thy  discourtesy  to  me.  For  thy  lady's  in- 
formation, I  have  answer  more  courteous  :  you  may  say  that 
the  Queen  is  ill  at  ease,  and  desires  to  be  disturbed  neither 
by  visits  nor  messages." 

"  I  conjure  you,  in  the  name  of  God,''  said  the  old  man, 
with  more  solemnity  in  his  tone  than  he  had  hitherto  used, 
'Ho  let  me  know  if  her  malady  really  gains  power  on  her  !" 

"  She  will  have  no  aid  at  your  hand  or  at  your  lady's  ; 
wherefore,  begone,  and  trouble  us  no  more  :  we  neither  want, 
nor  will  accept  of,  aid  at  your  hands." 

With  this  positive  reply,  the  steward,  grumbling  and  dis- 
satisfied, returned  downstairs. 


CHAPTEE  XXXII 

It  is  the  curse  of  kings  to  be  attended 

By  slaves,  who  take  their  humors  for  a  warrant 

To  break  into  the  bloody  house  of  life, 

And  on  the  winking  of  authority 

To  understand  a  law. 

King  John. 

The  Lady  of  Lochleven  sat  alone  in  her  chamber,  endeavor- 
ing with  sincere  but  imperfect  zeal  to  fix  her  eyes  and  her  at- 
tention on  the  black-letter  Bible  which  lay  before  her,  bound 
in  velvet  and  embroidery,  and  adorned  with  massive  silver 
clasps  and  knosps.  But  she  found  her  utmost  efforts  unable 
to  withdraw  her  mind  from  the  resentful  recollection  of 
what  had  last  night  passed  betwixt  her  and  the  Queen,  in 
which  the  latter  had  with  such  bitter  taunt  reminded  her  of 
lier  early  and  long-repented  transgression. 

'*  Why,"  she  said,  ^'  should  I  resent  so  deeply  that  another 
reproaches  me  with  that  which  I  have  never  ceased  to 
make  matter  of  blushing  to  myself  ?  And  yet,  why  should 
this  woman,  who  reaps — at  least,  has  reaped — the  fruits  of 
my  folly,  and  has  jostled  my  son  aside  from  the  throne — why 
should  she,  in  the  face  of  all  my  domestics  and  of  her  own, 
dare  to  upbraid  me  with  my  shame  ?  Is  she  not  in  my 
power  ?  Does  she  not  fear  me  ?  Ha  !  wily  tempter,  I  will 
wrestle  with  thee  strongly,  and  with  better  suggestions  than 
my  own  evil  heart  can  supply  !  " 

She  again  took  up  the  sacred  volume,  and  was  endeavor- 
ing to  fix  her  attention  on  its  contents,  when  she  was  dis- 
turbed by  a  tap  at  the  door  of  her  room.  It  opened  at  her 
command,  and  the  steward  Dryfesdale  entered,  and  stood 
before  her  with  a  gloomy  and  perturbed  expression  on  his 
brow. 

*'  What  has  chanced,  Dryfesdale,  that  thou  lookest  thus  ?" 
said  his  mistress.  '^  Have  there  been  evil  tidings  of  my  son 
or  of  my  grandchildren  ?  " 

'^No,  lady,"  replied  Dryfesdale,  ^^but  you  were  deeply  in- 
iulted  last  night,  and  I  fear  me  thou  art  as  deeply  avenged 
this  morning.     Where  is  the  chaplain  ?  " 

"What  mean  ^pu  by  ,bints  so  .4ark, .^ud  »  g[ueatiQn.flD 

.335 


336  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

sudden  ?  The  chaplain,  as  you  well  know,  is  absent  at 
Perth  upon  an  assembly  of  the  brethren." 

*'I  care  not/'  answered  the  steward  ;  "he  is  but  a  priest 
of  Baal." 

" Dryf esdale,"  said  the  lady,  sternly,  "what  meanest 
thou  ?  I  have  ever  heard  that  in  the  Low  Countries  thou 
didst  herd  with  the  Anabaptist  preachers — those  boars  which 
tear  up  the  vintage.  But  the  ministry  which  suits  me  and 
my  house  must  content  my  retainers." 

"  I  would  I  had  good  ghostly  counsel,  though,"  replied 
the  steward,  not  attending  to  his  mistresses  rebuke,  and 
seeming  to  speak  to  himself.     "  This  woman  of  Moab " 

"  Speak  of  her  with  reverence,"  said  the  lady  :  "  she  is  a 
king's  daughter." 

"  Be  it  so,"  replied  Dryfesdale  ;  "she  goes  where  there  is 
little  difference  betwixt  her  and  a  beggar's  child.  Mary  of 
Scotland  is  dying." 

"  Dying,  and  in  my  castle  ! "  said  the  lady,  starting  up  in 
alarm  ;  "  of  what  disease,  or  by  what  accident  ?" 

"  Bear  patience,  lady.     The  ministry  was  mine." 

"  Thine,  villain  and  traitor  !  how  didst  thou  dare " 

"I  heard  you  insulted,  lady — I  heard  you  demand  venge- 
ance ;  I  promised  you  should  have  it,  and  I  promised  you 
should  have  it,  and  I  now  bring  tidings  of  it." 

"  Dryfesdale,  I  trust  thou  ravest  ?"  said  the  lady. 

"  I  rave  not,"  replied  the  steward.  "  That  which  was 
written  of  me  a  million  of  years  ere  I  saw  the  light  must  be 
executed  by  me.  She  hath  that  in  her  veins  that,  I  fear  me, 
will  soon  stop  the  springs  of  life." 

"  Cruel  villain,"  exclaimed  the  lady,  "  thou  hast  not 
poisoned  her  ?  " 

"  And  if  I  had,"  said  Dryfesdale,  "  what  does  it  so  greatly 
merit  ?  Men  bane  vermin  ;  why  not  rid  them  of  their 
enemies  so  ?    In  Italy  they  will  do  it  for  a  cruizuedor." 

"  Cowardly  ruffian,  begone  from  my  sight !" 

"  Think  better  of  my  zeal,  lady,"  said  the  steward,  "  and 
judge  not  without  looking  around  you.  Lindesay,  Ruthven, 
and  your  kinsmen  Morton  poniarded  Rizzio,  and  yet  you 
riow  see  no  blood  on  their  embroidery  ;  the  Lord  Semple 
stabbed  the  Lord  of  Sanquhar — does  his  bonnet  sit  a  jot 
more  awry  on  his  brow  ?  What  noble  lives  in  Scotland  who 
has  not  had  a  share,  for  policy  or  revenge,  in  some  such 
dealing  ?  And  who  imputes  it  to  them  ?  Be  not  cheated 
with  names  :  a  dagger  or  a  draught  work  to  the  same  end, 
and  are  little  unlike — a  glass  phial  imprisons  the  one,  and  a 


THE  ABBOT  337 

leathern  sheath  the  other  ;  one  deals  with  the  hrain,  the  other 
Bluices  the  blood.     Yet,  I  say  not  I  gave  aught  to  this  lady." 

"  What  dost  thou  mean  by  thus  dallying  with  me  ?  "  said 
the  lady ;  ''as  thou  wouldst  save  thy  neck  from  the  rope  it 
merits,  tell  me  the  whole  truth  of  this  story  ;  thou  hast  long 
been  known  a  dangerous  man/' 

'^  Ay,  in  my  master's  service  I  can  be  cold  and  sharp  as 
my  sword.  Be  it  known  to  you  that,  when  last  on  shore,  I 
consulted  with  a  woman  of  skill  and  power,  called  Nicneven, 
of  whom  the  country  has  rung  for  some  brief  time  past. 
Fools  asked  for  her  charms  to  make  them  beloved,  misers 
for  means  to  increase  their  store  ;  some  demanded  to  know 
the  future — an  idle  wish,  since  it  cannot  be  altered  ;  others 
■vVould  have  an  explanation  of  the  past — idler  still,  since  it 
cannot  be  recalled.  I  heard  their  queries  with  scorn,  and 
demanded  the  means  of  avenging  myself  of  a  deadly  enemy, 
for  I  grow  old,  and  may  trust  no  longer  to  Bilboa  blade.  She 
gave  me  a  packet.  'Mix  that,'  said  she,  'with  any  liquid, 
and  thy  vengeance  is  complete."' 

'^ Villain!  and  you  mixed  it  with  the  food  of  this  im- 
prisoned lady,  to  the  dishonor  of  thy  master's  house  ?  " 

''To  redeem  the  insulted  honor  of  my  master's  house,  I 
mixed  the  contents  of  the  packet  with  the  jar  of  succory 
water.  They  seldom  fail  to  drain  it,  and  the  woman  loves 
it  over  all." 

"  It  was  a  work  of  hell,"  said  the  Lady  Lochleven,  ''  both 
the  asking  and  the  granting.  "Away,  wretched  man  let  us 
see  if  aid  be  yet  too  late  ! " 

"  They  will  not  admit  us,  madam,  save  we  enter  by  force. 
I  have  been  twice  at  the  door,  but  can  obtain  no  entrance." 

"We  will  beat  it  level  with  the  ground,  if  needful.  And 
hold — summon  Randal  hither  instantly.  Randal,  here  is  a 
foul  and  evil  chance  befallen  ;  send  off  a  boat  instantly  to 
Kinross — the  chamberlain  Luke  Lundin  is  said  to  have 
skill.  Fetch  off,  too,  that  foul  witch  Nicneven  ;  she  shall 
first  counteract  her  own  spell,  and  then  be  burned  to  ashes  in 
in  the  island  of  St.  Serf.  Away — away.  Tell  them  to  hoist 
sail  and  ply  oar,  as  ever  they  would  have  good  of  the  Doug- 
las's hand!" 

**  Mother  Nicneven  will  not  be  lightly  found,  or  fetched 
hither  on  these  conditions,"  answered  Dryfesdale. 

"  Then  grant  her  full  assurance  of  safety.  Look  to  it, 
for  thine  own  life  must  answer  for  this  lady's  recovery." 

"  I  might  have  guessed  that,"  said  Dryfesdale,  sullenly  ; 
"but  it  is  my  comfort  I  have  avenged  mine  own  cause  as 

22 


ii38  WAVEBLEY  NOVELS 

well  as  yours.  She  hath  scoffed  and  scripped  at  me,  and  en- 
couraged her  saucy  minion  of  a  page  to  ridicule  my  stiff  gait 
and  slow  speech.  I  felt  it  borne  in  upon  me  that  I  was  to 
be  avenged  on  them.'* 

^'  Go  to  the  western  turret,"  said  the  lady,  "  and  remain 
there  in  ward  until  we  see  how  this  gear  will  terminate.  I 
know  thy  resolved  disposition  :  thou  wilt  not  attempt  escape." 

*'Not  were  the  walls  of  the  turret  of  egg-shells,  and  the 
lake  sheeted  with  ice,"  said  Dryfesdale.  ^^  I  am  well  taught, 
and  strong  in  belief  that  man  does  nought  of  himself  ;  he  is 
but  the  foam  on  the  billow,  which  rises,  bubbles,  and  bursts, 
not  by  its  own  effort,  but  by  the  mightier  impulse  of  fate 
which  urges  him.  Yet,  lady,  if  I  may  advise,  amid  this  zeal 
for  the  life  of  the  Jezebel  of  Scotland,  forget  not  what  is  due 
to  thine  own  honor,  and  keep  the  matter  secret  as  you  may." 

So  saying,  the  gloomy  fatalist  turned  from  her,  and 
stalked  off  with  sullen  composure  to  the  place  of  confinement 
allotted  to  him. 

His  lady  caught  at  his  last  hint,  and  only  expressed  her 
fear  that  the  prisoner  had  partaken  of  some  unwholesome 
food,  and  was  dangerously  ill.  The  castle  was  soon  alarmed 
and  in  confusion.  Randal  was  despatched  to  the  shore  to 
fetch  off  Lundin,  with  such  remedies  as  could  counteract 
poison  ;  and  with  farther  instructions  to  bring  Mother  Nic- 
neven,  if  she  could  be  found,  with  full  power  to  pledge  the 
Lady  of  Lochleven's  word  for  her  safety. 

Meanwhile,  the  Lady  of  Lochleven  herself  held  parley  at 
the  door  of  the  Queen's  apartment,  and  in  vain  urged  the 
page  to  undo  it. 

** Foolish  boy  !"  she  said,  "thine  own  life  and  thy  lady*s 
are  at  stake.  Open,  I  say,  or  we  will  cause  the  door  to  be 
broken  down." 

*'  I  may  not  open  the  door  without  my  royal  mistress's 
orders,"  answered  Roland.  "  She  has  been  very  ill,  and  now 
she  slumbers  ;  if  you  wake  her  by  using  violence,  let  the  con- 
sequence be  on  you  and  your  followers." 

''Was  ever  woman  in  a  strait  so  fearful !"  exclaimed  the 
Lady  of  Lochleven.  "  At  least,  thou  rash  boy,  beware  that 
no  one  tastes  the  food,  but  especially  the  jar  of  succory  water." 

She  then  hastened  to  the  turret,  where  Dryfesdale  had  com- 
posedly resigned  himself  to  imprisonment.  She  found  him 
reading,  and  demanded  of  him,  '^  Was  thy  fell  potion  of 
speedy  operation  ?  " 

''  Slow,"  answered  the  steward.  "  The  hag  asked  me 
,  jdiichJ  chose  ;  I  told  her  J.  ipYeci  ,<a  slow  ..and  sure  revenger 


THE  ABBOT 


'  Kevenge/  said  I,  '  is  the  highest-flavor  draught  which  man 
tastes  upon  earth,  and  he  should  sip  it  by  little  and  little,  not 
drain  it  up  greedily  at  once/ " 

*' Against  whom,  unhappy  man,  couldst  thou  nourish  so 
fell  a  revenge  ?  " 

"  I  had  many   objects,  but  the   chief  was  that  msolent 

'^The  boy!  thou  inhuman  man,''  exclaimed  the  lady; 
''  what  could  he  do  to  deserve  thy  malice  ?"     _ 

**  He  rose  in  your  favor,  and  you  graced  him  with  your 
commissions— that  was  one  thing.  He  rose  in  that  of  George 
Douglas  also—that  was  another.  He  was  the  favorite  of  the 
Calvinistic  Henderson,  who  hated  me  because  my  spirits  dis- 
owns a  separate  priesthood.  The  Moabitish  Queen  held  him 
dear— winds  from  each  opposing  point  blew  in  his  favor  ;  the 
old  servitor  of  your  house  was  held  lightly  among  ye  ;  above 
all,  from  the  first  time  I  saw  his  face,  I  longed  to  destroy 

*'*What  fiend  have  I  nurtured  in  my  house  ! "  replied  the 
lady.  ''  May  God  forgive  me  the  sin  of  having  given  thee 
food  and  raiment ! " 

''  You  might  not  choose,  lady,''  answered  the  steward. 
"  Long  ere  this  castle  was  builded— ay,  long  ere  the  islet 
which  sustains  it  reared  its  head  above  the  blue  water- 1 
was  destined  to  be  your  faithful  slave,  and  you  to  be  my  un- 
grateful mistress.  Remember  you  not  when  I  plunged  amid 
the  victorious  French,  in  the  time  of  this  lady's  mother,  and 
brought  off  your  husband,  when  those  who  had  hung  at  the 
same  breasts  with  him  dared  not  attempt  the  rescue  ?  Re- 
member how  I  plunged  into  the  lake  when  your  grandson's 
skiff  was  overtaken  by  the  tempest,  boarded,  and  steered  her 
safe  to  the  land.  Lady,  the  servant  of  a  Scottish  baron  is 
he  who  regards  not  his  own  life  or  that  of  any  other,  save 
his  master.  And,  for  the  death  of  the  woman,  I  had  tried 
the  potion  on  her  sooner,  had  not  Master  George  been  her 
taster.  Her  death— would  it  not  be  the  happiest  news  that 
Scotland  ever  heard  ?  Is  she  not  of  the  bloody  Gr.isian  stock, 
whose  sword  was  so  often  red  with  the  blood  of  God's  saints  ? 
Is  she  not  the  daughter  of  the  wretched  tyrant  James,  whom 
Heaven  cast  down  from  his  kingdom  and  his  pride,  even  as 
the  king  of  Babylon  was  smitten  ?  " 

"  Peace,  villain  !  "  said  the  lady,  a  thousand  varied  recollec- 
tions thronging  on  her  mind  at  the  mention  of  her  roy?il 
lover's  name — ''  peace,  and  disturb  not  the  ashes  of  the  dead 
—of  the  royal,  of  the  unhappy  dead.     Read  thy  Bible ;  and 


340  WAVEELEY  NOVELS 

may  God  grant  thee  to  avail  thyself  better  of  its  contents 
than  thou  hast  yet  done  ! ''  She  departed  hastily,  and  as  she 
reached  the  next  apartment,  the  tears  rose  to  her  eyes  so 
hastily  that  she  was  compelled  to  stop  and  use  her  ker- 
chief to  dry  them.  ''  I  expected  not  this,"  she  said,  '^  no 
more  than  to  have  drawn  water  from  the  hard  flint,  or  sap 
from  a  withered  tree.  I  saw  with  a  dry  eye  the  apostacy  and 
shame  of  George  Douglas — the  hope  of  my  son^s  house,  the 
child  of  my  love ;  and  yet  I  now  weep  for  him  who  has  so 
long  lain  in  his  grave — ^for  him.  to  whom  I  owe  it  that  his 
daughter  can  make  a  scoffing  and  a  jest  of  my  name  !  But 
she  is  Ms  daughter  ;  my  heart,  hardened  against  her  for  so 
many  causes,  relents  when  a  glance  of  her  eye  places  her 
father  unexpectedly  before  me  ;  and  as  often  her  likeness  to 
that  true  daughter  of  the  house  of  Guise,  her  detested 
mother,  has  again  confirmed  my  resolution.  But  she  must 
not — must  not  die  in  my  house,  and  by  so  foul  a  practise. 
Thank  God,  the  operation  of  the  potion  is  slow,  and  may  be 
counteracted  !  I  will  to  her  apartment  once  more.  But  0  ! 
that  hardened  villain,  whose  fidelity  we  held  in  such  esteem, 
and  had  such  high  proofs  of  !  What  miracle  can  unite  so 
much  wickedness  and  so  much  truth  in  one  bosom  ! " 

The  Lady  of  Lochleven  was  not  aware  how  far  minds  of  a 
certain  gloomy  and  determined  cast  by  nature  may  be  warped 
by  a  keen  sense  of  petty  injuries  and  insults,  combining  with 
the  love  of  gain,  and  sense  of  self-interest,  and  amalgamated 
with  the  crude,  wild,  and  indigested  fanatical  opinions  which 
this  man  had  gathered  among  the  crazy  sectaries  of  Germany ; 
or  how  far  the  doctrines  of  fatalism,  which  he  had  embraced 
so  decidedly,  sear  the  human  conscience,  by  representing  our 
actions  as  the  result  of  inevitable  necessity. 

During  her  visit  to  the  prisoner,  Roland  had  communi- 
cated to  Catherine  the  tenor  of  the  conversation  he  had  had 
with  her  at  the  door  of  the  apartment.  The  quick  intel- 
ligence of  that  lively  maiden  instantly  comprehended  the 
outline  of  what  was  believed  to  have  happened,  but  hei 
prejudices  hurried  her  beyond  the  truth. 

*^They  meant  to  have  poisoned  us,"  she  exclaimed  in 
horror,  "  and  there  stands  the  fatal  liquor  which  should  have 
done  the  deed  !  Ay,  as  soon  as  Douglas  ceased  to  be  our 
taster,  our  food  was  likely  to  be  fatally  seasoned.  Thou, 
Roland,  who  should  have  made  the  essay,  wert  readily  doomed 
to  die  with  us.  0,  dearest  Lady  Fleming,  pardon — pardon 
for  the  injuries  I  said  to  you  in  my  anger  :  your  words  were 
prompted  by  Heaven  to  save  our  lives,  and  especially  that  of 


> 


THE  ABBOT  341 

the  injured  Qneen.  But  what  have  we  now  to  do  ?  That 
old  crocodile  of  the  lake  will  be  presently  back  to  shed  her 
hypocritical  tears  over  our  dying  agonies.  Lady  Fleming, 
what  shall  we  do  ?  ^' 

"  Our  Lady  help  us  in  our  need  ! "  she  replied  ;  ''  how 
should  I  tell,  unless  we  were  to  make  our  plaint  to  the 
Regent?'' 

"  Make  our  plaint  to  the  devil/'  said  Catherine,  im- 
patiently, *'  and  accuse  his  dam  at  the  foot  of  his  burning 
throne  !  The  Queen  still  sleeps  ;  we  must  gain  time.  The 
poisoning  hag  must  not  know  her  scheme  has  miscarried  ; 
the  old  envenomed  spider  has  but  too  many  ways  of  mending 
her  broken  web.  The  jar  of  succory  water,"  said  she — 
"  Roland,  if  thou  be'st  a  man,  help  me  :  empty  the  jar  on  the 
chimney  or  from  the  window  ;  make  such  waste  among  the 
viands  as  if  we  had  made  our  usual  meal,  and  leave  the  frag- 
ments on  cup'  and  porringer,  but  taste  nothing  as  thou  lovest 
thy  life.  I  will  sit  by  the  Queen,  and  tell  her,  at  her  wak- 
ing, in  what  a  fearful  pass  we  stand.  Her  sharp  wit  and 
ready  spirit  will  teach  us  what  is  best  to  be  done.  Mean- 
while, till  farther  notice,  observe,  Roland,  that  the  Queen  is 
in  a  state  of  torpor  ;  that  Lady  Fleming  is  indisposed — that 
character  (speaking  in  a  lower  tone)  will  suit  her  best,  and 
save  her  wits  some  labor  in  vain.  I  am  not  so  much  indis- 
posed, thou  understandest." 

*'  And  I,''  said  the  page. 

*'  You  ! "  replied  Catherine,  '*  you  are  quite  well ;  who 
thinks  it  worth  while  to  poison  puppy-dogs  or  pages  ?  " 

*'  Does  this  levity  become  the  time  ?''  asked  the  page. 

"It  does — it  does,''  answered  Catherine  Seyton.  "If  the 
Queen  approves,  I  see  plainly  how  this  disconcerted  attempt 
may  do  us  good  service." 

She  went  to  work  while  she  spoke,  eagerly  assisted  by 
Roland.  The  breakfast- table  soon  displayed  the  appearance 
as  if  the  meal  had  been  eaten  as  usual ;  and  the  ladies  retired 
as  softly  as  possible  into  the  Queen's  sleeping-apartment. 
At  a  new  summons  of  the  Lady  Lochleven,  the  page  undid 
the  door,  and  admitted  her  into  the  ante-room,  asking  her 
pardon  for  having  withstood  her,  alleging  in  excuse  that  the 
Queen  had  fallen  into  a  heavy  slumber  since  she  had  broken 
her  fast. 

**  She  has  eaten  and  drunken,  then  ? "  said  the  Lady  of 
Lochleven. 

"  Surely,"  replied  the  page,  "  according  to  her  grace's 
ordinary  custom^  unless  upon  the  fasts  of  the  church. 


M2  WAVER  LEY  NOVELS 

"The  jar/'  she  said,  hastily  examining  it,  ''it  is  empty  ; 
drank  the  Lady  Mary  the  whole  of  this  water  ?" 

*'  A.  large  part,  madam  ;  and  I  heard  the  Lady  Catherine 
Seyton  jestingly  upbraid  the  Lady  Mary  Fleming  with  having 
taken  more  than  a  just  share  of  what  remained,  so  that  but 
little  fell  to  her  own  lot/' 

*'  And  are  they  well  in  health  f  said  the  Lady  of  Loch- 
leven. 

*'  Lady  Fleming,"  said  the  page,  ''  complains  of  lethargy, 
and  looks  duller  than  usual ;  and  the  Lady  Catherine  of 
Seyton  feels  her  head  somewhat  more  giddy  than  is  her 
wont/' 

He  raised  his  voice  a  little  as  he  said  these  words,  to  ap- 
prise the  ladies  of  the  part  assigned  to  each  of  them,  and  not, 
perhaps,  without  the  wish  of  conveying  to  the  ears  of  Cath- 
erine the  page-like  jest  which  lurked  in  the  allotment. 

''  I  will  enter  the  Queen's  chamber,"  said  the  Lady  Loch- 
leven  ;  ''  my  business  is  express." 

As  she  advanced  to  the  door,  the  voice  of  Catherine  Sey- 
ton was  heard  from  within.  *'No  one  can  enter  here  ;  the 
Queen  sleeps." 

''I  will  not  be  controled,  young  lady,"  replied  the  Lady 
of  Lochleven ;  "  there  is,  I  wot,  no  inner  bar,  and  I  will 
enter  in  your  despite.". 

''  There  is,  indeed,  no  inner  bar,"  answered  Catherine, 
firmly,  '*  but  there  are  the  staples  where  that  bar  should  be  ; 
and  into  those  staples  have  I  thrust  mine  arm,  like  an  an- 
cestress of  your  own,  when,  better  employed  than  the 
Douglasses  of  our  days,  she  thus  defended  the  bedchamber 
of  her  sovereign  against  murderers.  Try  your  force,  then, 
and  see  whether  a  Seyton  cannot  rival  in  courage  a  maiden 
of  the  house  of  Douglas." 

''  I  dare  not  attempt  the  pass  at  such  risk,"  said  the  Lady 
of  Lochleven.  ''  Strange,  that  this  princess,  with  all  that 
justly  attaches  to  her  as  blameworthy,  should  preserve  such 
empire  over  the  minds  of  her  attendants  !  Damsel,  I  give 
thee  my  honor  that  I  come  for  the  Queen's  safety  and  ad- 
vantage. Awake  her,  if  thou  lovest  her,  and  pray  her  leave 
that  I  may  enter.     I  will  retire  from  the  door  the  whilst." 

"  Thou*^  wilt  not  awaken  the  Queen  ?  "  said  the  Lady 
Fleming. 

"  What  choice  have  we  ?"  said  the  ready-witted  maiden, 
''unless  you  deem  it  better  to  wait  till  the  Lady  Lochleven 
iierself  plays  lady  of  the  bedchamber.  Her  fit  of  patience  w^ll 
not  last  long,  and  the  Queen  must  be  prepared  to  meet  her." 


TBE  A:BB6f  ^ 

"  Bnt  tlion  wilt  bring  back  her  Grace's  fit  by  thus  disturb- 
ing her/' 

"  Heaven  forbid  ! ''  replied  Catherine  ;  "  but  if  so,  it  must 
pass  for  an  effect  of  the  poison.  I  hope  better  things,  and 
that  the  Queen  will  be  able  when  she  wakes  to  form  her  own 
judgment  in  this  terrible  crisis.  Meanwhile,  do  thou,  dear 
Lady  Fleming,  practise  to  look  as  dull  and  heavy  as  the 
alertness  of  thy  spirit  will  permit. '* 

Catherine  kneeled  by  the  side  of  the  Queen's  bed,  and, 
kissing  her  hand  repeatedly,  succeeded  at  last  in  awakening 
without  alarming  her.  She  seemed  surprised  to  find  that 
she  was  ready  dressed,  but  sate  up  in  her  bed,  and  appeared 
so  perfectly  composed  that  Catherine  Seyton,  without  farther 
preamble,  judged  it  safe  to  inform  her  of  the  predicament 
m  which  they  were  placed.  Mary  turned  pale,  and  crossed 
herself  again  and  again,  when  she  heard  the  imminent  danger 
in  which  she  had  stood.     But,  like  the  Ulysses  of  Homer — 

Hardly  waking  yet, 
Sprung  in  her  mind  the  momentary  wit, 

and  she  at  once  understood  her  situation,  with  the  dangers 
and  advantages  that  attended  it. 

*'We  cannot  do  better, '^  she  said,  after  her  hasty  confer- 
ence with  Catherine,  pressing  her  at  the  same  time  to  her 
bosom,  and  kissing  her  forehead — ''we  cannot  do  better 
than  to  follow  the  scheme  so  happily  devised  by  thy  quick 
wit  and  bold  affection.  Undo  the  door  to  the  Lady  Loch- 
loven.  She  shall  meet  her  match  in  art,  though  not  in 
perfidy.  Fleming,  draw  close  the  curtain,  and  get  thee  be- 
hind it — thou  art  a  better  tire-woman  than  an  actress  ;  do 
but  breathe  heavily,  and,  if  thou  wilt,  groan  slightly,  and  it 
will  top  thy  part.  Hark  !  they  come.  Now,  Catherine  of 
Medicis,  may  thy  spirit  inspire  me,  for  a  cold  northern  brain 
is  too  blunt  for  this  scene  ! " 

Ushered  by  Catherine  Seyton,  and  stepping  as  light  as  she 
could,  the  Lady  Lochleven  was  shown  into  the  twilight 
apartment,  and  conducted  to  the  side  of  the  couch,  where 
Mary,  pallid  and  exhausted  from  a  sleepless  night  and  the 
subsequent  agitation  of  the  morning,  lay  extended  so  list- 
lessly as  might  well  confirm  the  worst  fears  of  her  hostess. 

''Now,  God  forgive  us  our  sins  \"  said  the  Lady  of  Loch- 
leven, forgetting  her  pride,  and  throwing  herself  on  her 
knees  by  the  side  of  her  bed  ;  "  it  is  too  true — she  is 
murdered  !  '* 

"  Who  is  in  the  chamber  ?"  said  Mary,  as  if  awaking  from 


844  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

A  heavy  sleep.  ''  Seyton,  Fleming,  where  are  you  ?  I  heard 
a  strange  vdce.    Who  waits  ?     Call  Oourcelles.'^ 

"Alas  I  her  memory  is  at  Holyrood,  though  her  body  is  at 
Lochleven.  Forgive,  madam/'  continued  the  lady,  *Mf  I 
call  your  attention  to  me.  1  am  Margaret  Erskine,  of  the 
house  of  Mar,  by  marriage  Lady  Douglas  of  Lochleven." 

"  0,  our  gentle  hostess,"  answered  the  Queen,  "  who  hath 
such  care  of  our  lodgings  and  of  our  diet.  We  cumber  you 
too  much  and  too  long,  good  Lady  of  Lochleven  ;  but  we 
now  trust  your  task  of  hospitality  is  wellnigh  ended." 

*'  Her  words  go  like  a  knifo  through  my  heart,"  said  the 
Lady  of  Lochleven.  ''With  a  breaking  heart,  I  pray  your 
Grace  to  tell  me  what  is  your  ailment,  that  aid  may  be  had, 
if  there  be  yet  time  ?" 

''Nay,  my  ailment,"  replied  the  Queen,  "is  nothing  worth 
telling,  or  worth  a  leech's  notice  :  my  limbs  feel  heavy — my 
heart  feels  cold — a  prisoner's  limbs  and  heart  are  rarely 
otherwise.  Fresh  air,  methinks,  and  freedom  would  soon 
revive  me ;  but  as  the  estates  have  ordered  it,  death  alone 
can  break  my  prison  doors." 

"  Were  it  possible,  madam,''  said  the  lady,  "  that  your 
liberty  could  restore  your  perfect  health,  I  would  myself 
encounter  the  resentment  of  the  Regent — of  my  son,  Sir 
William — of  my  whole  friends,  rather  than  you  should  meet 
your  fate  in  this  castle  I " 

"  Alas  !  madam,"  said  the  Lady  Fleming,  who  conceived 
the  time  propitious  to  show  that  her  own  address  had  been 
held  too  lightly  of ;  "  it  is  but  trying  what  good  freedom 
may  work  upon  us  ;  for  myself,  I  think  a  free  walk  on  the 
greensward  would  do  me  much  good  at  heart." 

The  Lady  of  Lochleven  rose  from  the  bedside,  and  darted 
a  penetrating  look  at  the  elder  valetudinary.  *'  Are  you  so 
evil-disposed,  Lad}^  Fleming  ?" 

"  Evil-disposed  indeed,  madam,"  replied  the  court  dame, 
"  and  more  especially  since  breakfast." 

"  Help  ! — help  I "  exclaimed  Catherine,  anxious  to  break 
off  a  conversation  which  boded  her  schemes  no  good — "  help  ! 
I  say — help  !  the  Queen  is  about  to  pass  away.  Aid  her. 
Lady  Lochleven,  if  you  be  a  woman  ! ' 

The  lady  hastened  to  support  the  Queen's  head,  who,  turn- 
ing her  eyes  towards  her  with  an  air  of  great  languor,  ex- 
claimed, "Thanks,  my  dearest  Lady  of  Lochleven  ;  notwith- 
standing some  passages  of  late,  I  have  never  misconstrued  or 
misdoubted  your  affection  to  our  house.  It  was  proved,  aa 
I  have  heard,  before  I  was  born." 


THE  ABBOT  345 

The  Lady  Lochleven  sprung  from  the  floor,  on  which  she 
had  again  knelt,  and  having  paced  the  apartment  in  great 
disorder,  flung  open  the  lattice,  as  if  to  get  air. 

'^  Now,  Our  Lady  forgives  me  ! "  said  Catherine  to  herself  ; 
^'  how  deep  must  the  love  of  sarcasm  be  implanted  in  the 
breasts  of  us  women,  since  the  Queen,  with  all  her  sense, 
will  risk  ruin  rather  then  rein  in  her  wit  !  '^  She  then  ad- 
ventured, stooping  over  the  Queen's  person,  to  press  her  arm 
with  her  hand,  saying,  at  the  same  time,  ''  For  God's  sake, 
madam,  restrain  yourself  !  *' 

''  Thou  art  too  forward,  maiden,"  said  the  Queen  ;  but 
immediately  added,  in  a  low  whisper,  ^'  Forgive  me,  Cather- 
ine :  but  when  I  felt  the  hag's  murderous  hands  busy  about 
my  head  and  neck,  I  felt  such  disgust  and  hatred  that  I 
must  have  said  something  or  died.  But  I  will  be  schooled 
to  better  havior,  only  see  that  thou  let  her  not  touch  me." 

"  Now,  God  be  praised  ! "  said  the  Lady  of  Lochleven, 
withdrawing  her  head  from  the  window,  ^'  the  boat  comes  as 
fast  as  sail  and  oar  can  send  wood  through  water.  It  brings 
the  leech  and  a  female — certainly,  from  the  appearance,  the 
very  person  I  was  in  quest  of.  Were  she  but  well  out  of  this 
castle,  with  our  honor  safe,  I  would  that  she  were  on  the 
top  of  the  wildest  mountain  in  Norway  ;  or  I  would  I  had 
been  there  myself,  ere  I  had  undertaken  this  trust ! " 

While  she  thus  expressed  herself,  standing  apart  at  one 
window,  Roland  Grseme,  from  the  other,  watched  the  boat 
bursting  through  the  waters  of  the  lake,  which  glided  from 
its  side  in  ripple  and  in  foam.  He,  too,  became  sensible 
that  at  the  stern  was  seated  the  medical  chamberlain,  clad  in 
his  black  velvet  cloak  ;  and  that  his  own  relative,  Magdalen 
Graeme,  in  her  assumed  character  of  Mother  Nicneven,  stood 
in  the  bow,  her  hands  clasped  together,  and  pointed  towards 
the  castle,  and  her  attitude,  even  at  that  distance,  express- 
ing enthusiastic  eagerness  to  arrive  at  the  landing-place. 
They  arrived  there  accordingly  ;  and  while  the  supposed 
witch  was  detained  in  a  'room  beneath,  the  physician  was 
ushered  to  the  Queen's  apartment,  which  he  entered  with 
all  due  professional  solemnity.  Catherine  had,  in  the  mean- 
while, fallen  back  from  the  Queen's  bed,  and  taken  an  op- 
portunity to  whisper  to  Roland,  '*  Methinks,  from  the  infor- 
mation of  the  threadbare  velvet  cloak  and  the  solemn  beard, 
there  would  be  little  trouble  in  haltering  yonder  ass.  But 
thy  grandmother,  Roland — thy  grandmother's  zeal  will  ruin 
us,  if  she  get  not  a  hint  to  dissemble." 

Boland,  without  reply,  glided  towards  the  door  of  the  apart* 


346  WA  V:EBLEY  JVO  VELiS 

ment,  crossed  the  parlor,  and  safely  entered  iae  ani«-cham  • 
ber ;  but  when  he  attempted  to  pass  farther,  the  word 
**  Back  !  Back  ! "  echoed  from  one  to  the  other  by  two  men 
armed  with  carabines,  convinced  him  that  the  Lady  of  Loch- 
leven's  suspicions  had  not,  even  in  the  midst  of  her  alarms, 
been  so  far  lulled  to  sleep  as  to  omit  the  precaution  of  sta- 
tioning sentinels  on  her  prisoners.  He  was  compelled,  there- 
fore, to  return  to  the  parlor,  or  audience-chamber,  in  which 
he  found  the  lady  of  the  castle  in  conference  with  her  learned 
leech. 

''  A  truce  with  your  cant  phrase  and  your  solemn  foppery.. 
Lundin,''  in  such  terms  she  accosted  the  man  of  art,  *'  and 
let  me  know  instantly,  if  thou  canst  tell,  whether  this  lady 
hath  swallowed  aught  that  is  less  than  wholesome. '' 

'^Nay,  but  good  lady — honored  patroness — to  whom  I  am 
alike  bondsman  in  my  medical  and  official  capacity,  deal 
reasonably  with  me.  If  this,  mine  illustrious  patient,  will 
not  a  answer  a  question,  saving  with  sighs  and  moans ;  if 
that  other  honorable  lady  will  do  nought  but  yawn  in  my 
face  when  I  inquire  after  the  diagnostics  ;  and  if  that  othei 
young  damsel,  who  I  profess  is  a  comely  maiden " 

"  Talk  not  to  me  of  comeliness  or  of  damsels,"  said  the 
Lady  of  Lochleven  ;  "  I  say,  are  they  evil-disposed  ?  In  one 
word,  man,  have  they  taken  poison — ay  or  no  ?  " 

**  Poisons,  madam,"  said  the  learned  leech,  "are  of  va- 
rious sorts.  There  is  your  animal  poison,  as  the  Lepus  ma- 
rinus,  as  mentioned  by  Dioscorides  and  Galen  ;  there  are 
mineral  and  semi-mineral  poisons,  as  those  compounded  of 
sublimate,  regulus  of  antimony,  vitriol,  and  the  arsenical 
salts ;  there  are  your  poisons  from  herbs  and  vegetables,  as 
the  aqua  cymbalariae,  opium,  aconitum,  cantharides,  and 
the  like  ;  there  are  also " 

''Now,  out  upon  thee  for  a  learned  fool  !  And  I  myself 
am  no  better  for  expecting  an  oracle  from  such  a  log,"  said 
the  lady. 

"  Nay,  but  if  your  ladyship  will  have  patience.  If  I  knew 
what  food  they  have  partaken  of,  or  could  see  but  the  rem- 
nants of  what  they  have  last  eaten  ;  for  as  to  the  external 
and  internal  symptoms,  I  can  discover  nought  like ;  for,  a? 
Galen  saith  in  his  second  book  De  Antidotis " 

''  Away,  fool !"  said  the  lady  ;  "  send  me  that  hag  hither; 
she  shall  avouch  what  it  was  that  she  hath  given  to  the 
wretch  Dryfesdale,  or  the  pilniewinks  and  thumbikins  shall 
wrench  it  out  of  her  finger-joints  ! " 

"  Art  hath  no  enemy  unless  the  ignorant,*' said  the  morte 


THE  ABBOT  34T 

f5ed  doctor  ;  veiling,  however,  his  remark  under  the  Latin 
version,  and  stepping  apart  into  a  corner  to  watch  the  result. 

In  a  minute  or  two  Magdalen  Graeme  entered  the  apart- 
ment, dressed  as  we  have  described  her  at  the  revel,  but 
with  her  muffler  thrown  back,  and  all  affectation  of  disguise. 
She  was  attended  by  two  guards,  of  whose  presence  she  did 
not  seem  even  to  be  conscious,  and  who  followed  her  with  an 
air  of  embarrassment  and  timidity,  which  was  probably 
owing  to  their  belief  in  her  supernatual  power,  coupled  with 
the  effect  produced  by  her  bold  and  undaunted  demeanor. 
She  confronted  the  Lady  of  Lochleven,  who  seemed  to  en- 
dure with  high  disdain  the  confidence  of  her  air  and  manner. 

'' Wretched  woman  !"  said  the  lady,  after  essaying  for  a 
moment  to  bear  her  down,  before  she  addressed  her,  by  the 
stately  severity  of  her  look,  ''  what  was  that  powder  which 
thou  didst  give  to  a  servant  of  this  house,  by  name  Jasper 
Dryfesdale,  that  he  might  work  out  with  it  some  slow  and 
secret  vengeance  ?  Confess  its  nature  and  properties,  or,  by 
the  honor  of  Douglas,  I  give  thee  to  fire  and.  stake  before 
the  sun  is  lower  ! " 

'^  Alas  !*'  said  Magdalen  Graeme  in  reply,  ^'  and  when  be- 
came a  Douglas  or  a  Douglas's  man  so  unfurnished  of  his 
means  of  revenge  that  he  should  seek  them  at  the  hands  of 
a  poor  and  solitary  woman  ?  The  towers  in  which  your 
captives  pine  away  into  unpitied  graves  yet  stand  fast  on 
their  foundations  ;  the  crimes  wrought  in  them  have  not  yet 
burst  their  vaults  asunder  ;  your  men  have  still  their  cross- 
bows, pistolets,  and  daggers ;  why  need  you  seek  to  herbs  or 
charms  for  the  execution  of  your  revenges  ?  " 

"  Hear  me,  foul  hag,"  said  the  Lady  of  Lochleven — "  but 
what  avails  speaking  to  thee  ?  Bring  Dryfesdale  hither, 
and  let  them  be  confronted  together.'' 

"  You  may  spare  your  retainers  the  labor,"  replied  Mag- 
dalen Graeme.  ^'  I  came  not  here  to  be  confronted  with  a 
base  groom,  nor  to  answer  the  interrogatories  of  James's 
heretical  leman.  I  came  to  speak  with  the  Queen  of  Scot- 
land.     Give  place  there  ! " 

And  while  the  Lady  of  Lochleven  stood  confounded  at 
her  boldness,  and  at  the  reproach  she  had  cast  upon  herself, 
Magdalen  Graeme  strode  past  her  into  the  bedchamber  of  the 
Queen,  and,  kneeling  on  the  floor,  made  a  salutation  as  if, 
in  the  Oriental  fashion,  she  meant  to  touch  the  earth  with 
her  forehead. 

"  Hail,  Princess  ! "  she  said — "  hail,  daughter  of  many  a 
king,  but  graced  above  them  all  in  that  thou  art  called  to 


348  WAVERLET  NOVELS 

suffer  for  the  true  faith  ! — hail  to  thee,  the  pure  gold  of 
whose  crown  has  been  tried  in  the  seven-times-heated  furnace 
of  affliction — hear  the  comfort  which  God  and  Our  Lady 
send  thee  by  the  mouth  of  thy  unworthy  servant.  But 
first "  and  stooping  her  head  she  crossed  herself  repeat- 
edly, and,  still  upon  her  knees,  appeared  to  be  rapidly  reciting 
some  formula  of  devotion. 

*'  Seize  her  and  drag  her  to  the  massymore  !  To  the 
deepest  dunojeon  with  the  sorceress,  whose  master,  the  devil, 
could  alone  have  inspired  her  with  boldness  enough  to  insult 
the  mother  of  Douglas  in  his  own  castle  ! "  Thus  spoke  the 
incensed  Lady  of  Lochleven. 

But  the  physician  presumed  to  interpose.  *'  I  pray  of  you, 
honored  madam,  she  be  permitted  to  take  her  course  without 
Interruption.  Peradventure  we  shall  learn  something  con- 
cerning the  nostrum  she  hath  ventured,  contrary  to  law  and 
the  rules  of  art,  to  adhibit  to  these  ladies,  through  the 
medium  of  the  steward  Dryfesdale." 

'*  For  a  fool,''  replied  the  Lady  of  Lochleven,  *'  thou  hast 
counseled  wisely.  I  will  bridle  my  resentment  till  their 
conference  be  over." 

'^  God  forbid,  honored  lady,*'  said  Doctor  Lundin,  '*  that 
you  should  suppress  it  longer — nothing  may  more  endanger 
the  frame  of  your  honored  body  ;  and  truly,  if  there  be  witch- 
craft in  this  matter,  it  is  held  by  the  vulgar,  and  even  by 
solid  authors  on  demonology,  that  three  scruples  of  the  ashes 
of  the  witch,  when  she  hath  been  well  and  carefully  burned 
at  a  stake,  is  a  grand  catholicon  in  such  matter,  even  as  they 
prescribe  crinis  cam's  rahidi — a  hair  of  the  dog  that  bit  the 
patient — in  cases  of  hydrophobia.  I  warrant  neither  treat- 
ment, being  out  of  the  regular  practise  of  the  schools  ;  but, 
in  the  present  case,  there  can  be  little  harm  in  trying  the 
conclusion  upon  this  old  necromancer  and  quacksalver  :  fiat 
experimentum,  as  m'B  say,  171  corpore  vili" 

**  Peace,  fool  !  "  said  the  lady,  ''  she  is  about  to  speak." 

At  that  moment  Magdalen  Grgeme  arose  from  her  knees, 
and  turued  her  countenance  on  the  Queen,  at  the  same  time 
advancing  her  foot,  extending  her  arm,  and  assuming  the 
mien  and  attitude  of  a  sybil  in  frenzy.  As  her  gray  hair 
floated  back  from  beneath  her  coif,  and  her  eye  gleamed  fire 
from  under  its  shaggy  eyebrow,  the  effect  of  her  expressive, 
though  emaciated, "features  was  heightened  by  an  enthusiasm 
approaching  to  insanity,  and  her  appearance  struck  with 
awe  all  who  were  present.  Her  eyes  for  a  time  glanced 
wildly  around,  as  if  seeking  for  something  to  aid  her  in 


THE  ABBOT  349 

collecting  her  powers  of  expression,  and  her  lips  had  a 
nervous  and  quivering  motion,  as  those  of  one  who  would 
fain  speak,  yet  rejects  as  inadequate  the  words  which  present 
themselves.  Mary  herself  caught  the  infection  as  if  by  a 
sort  of  magnetic  influence,  and  raising  herself  from  her  bed, 
without  being  able  to  withdraw  her  eyes  from  those  of 
Magdalen,  waited  as  if  for  the  oracle  of  a  pythoness.  She 
waited  not  long  ;  for  no  sooner  had  the  enthusiast  collected 
herself  than  her  gaze  became  intensely  steady,  her  features 
assumed  a  determined  energy,  and  when  she  began  to  speak, 
the  words  flowed  from  her  with  a  profuse  fluency  which 
might  have  passed  for  inspiration,  and  which,  perhaps,  she 
herself  mistook  for  such. 

"  Arise,''  she  said,  '^  Queen  of  France  and  of  England  ! 
Arise,  lioness  of  Scotland,  and  be  not  dismayed,  though  the 
nets  of  the  hunters  have  encircled  thee  !  Stoop  not  to  feign 
with  the  false  ones,  whom  thou  shalt  soon  meet  in  the  field. 
The  issue  of  battle  is  with  the  God  of  armies,  but  by  battle 
thy  cause  shall  be  tried.  Lay  aside,  then,  the  arts  of  lower 
mortals,  and  assume  those  which  become  a  queen  !  True 
defender  of  the  only  true  faith,  the  armory  of  Heaven  is 
open  to  thee  !  Faithful  daughter  of  the  church,  take  the 
keys  of  St.  Peter,  to  bind  and  to  loose  !  Eoyal  Princess  of 
%he  land,  take  the  sword  of  St.  Paul,  to  smite  and  to  shear  I 
There  is  darkness  in  thy  destiny  ;  but  not  in  these  towers, 
-not  under  the  rule  of  their  haughty  mistress,  shall  that 
destiny  be  closed.  In  other  lands  the  lioness  may  crouch  to 
,the  power  of  the  tigress,  but  not  in  her  own  :  not  in  Scotland 
jhall  the  Queen  of  Scotland  long  remain  captive  ;  nor  is  the 
Eate  of  the  royal  Stuart  in  the  hands  of  the  traitor  Douglas, 
"jet  the  Lady  of  Lochleven  double  her  bolts  and  deepen 
ler  dungeons,  they  shall  not  retain  thee.  Each  element 
ihall  give  thee  its  assistance  ere  thou  shalt  continue  captive  : 
the  land  shall  lend  its  earthquakes,  the  water  its  waves,  the 
air  its  tempests,  the  fire  its  devouring  flames,  to  desolate  this 
house,  rather  than  it  shall  continue  the  place  of  thy  captivity. 
Hear  this  and  tremble,  all  ye  who  fight  against  the  light, 
for  she  says  it  to  whom  it  hath  been  assured  ! " 

She  was  silent,  and  the  astonished  physician  said,  ''  H 
there  was  ever  an  energumene,  or  possessed  demoniac,  in 
our  days,  there  is  a  devil  speaking  with  that  woman's 
tongue  I " 

*'  Practise,"  said  the  Lady  of  Lochleven,  recovering  her 
surprise — ''here  is  all  practise  and  imposture.  To  the 
dungeon  with  her  I " 


350  WA  VERLET  NOVELS 

'^  Lady  of  Lochleven,"  said  Mary,  arising  from  her  bed, 
and  coming  forward  with  her  wonted  dignity,  ^*^ere  you 
make  arrest  on  any  one  in  our  presence,  hear  me  but  one 
word.  I  have  done  you  some  wrong  :  I  believed  you  privy 
to  the  murderous  purpose  of  your  vassal,  and  I  deceived  you 
in  suffering  you  to  believe  it  had  taken  effect.  I  did  you 
wrong.  Lady  of  Lochleven,  for  I  perceive  your  purpose  to 
aid  me  was  sincere.  We  tasted  not  of  the  liquid,  nor  are 
we  now  sick,  save  that  we  languish  for  our  freedom." 

"  It  is  avowed  like  Mary  of  Scotland,"  said  Magdalen 
Graeme ;  ^'  and  know,  besides,  that  had  the  Queen  drained 
the  draught  to  the  dregs,  it  was  harmless  as  the  water  from 
a  sainted  spring.  Trow  ye,  proud  woman,"  she  added, 
addressing  herself  to  the  Lady  of  Lochleven,  "  that  I — I — 
would  have  been  the  wretch  to  put  poison  in  the  hands  of  a 
servant  or  vassal  of  the  house  of  Lochleven,  knowing  whom 
that  house  contained  ?  as  soon  would  I  have  furnished  drug 
to  slay  my  own  daughter  ! " 

*' Am  I  thus  bearded  in  mine  own  castle  ?"  said  the  lady  ; 
"  to  the  dungeon  with  her  !  She  shall  abye  what  is  due  to 
the  vender  of  poisons  and  practiser  of  witchcrafts. " 

*  *  Yet  hear  me  for  an  instant.  Lady  of  Lochleven,^^  said 
Mary  :  *'and  do  you,"  to  Magdalen,  ''  be  silent  at  my  com- 
mand. Your  steward,  lady,  has  by  confession  attempted 
my  life  and  those  of  my  household,  and  this  woman  hath 
done  her  best  to  save  them,  by  furnishing  him  with  what 
was  harmless,  in  place  of  the  fatal  drugs  which  he  expected. 
Methinks  I  propose  to  you  but  a  fair  exchange  when  I  say  I 
forgive  your  vassal  with  all  my  heart,  and  leave  vengeance 
to  God  and  to  his  conscience,  so  that  you  also  forgive  the 
boldness  of  this  woman  in  your  presence  ;  for  we  trust  you 
do  not  hold  it  as  a  crime  that  she  substituted  an  innocent 
beverage  for  the  mortal  poison  which  was  to  have  drenched 
our  cup  ! " 

"  Heaven  forefend,  madam,"  said  the  lady,  *'  that  I  should 
account  that  a  crime  which  saved  the  house  of  Douglas  from 
a  foul  breach  of  honor  and  hospitality  !  We  have  written  to 
our  son  touching  our  vassal's  delict,  and  he  must  abide  his 
doom,  which  will  most  likely  be  death.  Touching  this 
woman,  her  trade  is  damnable  by  Scripture,  and  is  mortally 
punished  by  the  wise  laws  of  our  ancestry  :  she  also  must 
abide  her  doom." 

"And  have  I  then,"  said  the  Queen,  ''no  claim  on  the 
house  of  Lochleven  for  the  wrong  I  have  so  nearly  suffered 
within  their  walls  ?    I  ask  but  in  requital  the  life  of  a  frail 


TBB  ABBOT  861 

and  aged  woman,  whose  brain,  as  yourself  may  judge,  seems 
somewhat  affected  by  years  and  suffering." 

**  If  the  Lady  Mary,"  replied  the  inflexible  Lady  of  Loch- 
leven,  '*  hath  been  menaced  with  wrong  in  the  house  of 
Douglas,  it  may  be  regarded  as  some  compensation  that 
her  complots  have  cost  that  house  the  exile  of  a  valued 
son." 

*'  Plead  no  more  for  me,  my  gracious  sovereign,"  said 
Magdalen  Graeme,  *'  nor  abase  yourself  to  ask  so  much  as  a 
gray  hair  of  my  head  at  her  hands.  I  knew  the  risk  at  which 
I  served  my  church  and  my  queen,  and  was  ever  prompt  to 
pay  my  poor  life  as  the  ransom.  It  is  a  comfort  to  think 
vthat  in  slaying  me,  or  in  restraining  my  freedom,  or  even  in 
injuring  that  single  gray  hair,  the  house  whose  honor  she 
boasts  so  highly  will  have  filled  up  the  measure  of  their 
shame  by  the  breach  of  their  solemn  written  assurance  of 
safety."  And  taking  from  her  bosom  a  paper,  she  handed 
it  to  the  Queen. 

'^  It  is  a  solemn  assurance  of  safety  in  life  and  limb,"  said 
Queen  Mary,  ''with  space  to  come  and  go,  under  the  hand 
and  seal  of  the  chamberlain  of  Kinross,  granted  to  Magdalen 
Graeme,  commonly  called  Mother  Nicneven,  in  consideration 
of  her  consenting  to  put  herself,  for  the  space  of  twenty-four 
hours,  if  required,  within  the  iron  gate  of  the  Castle  of 
Lochleven." 

"Knave!"  said  the  lady,  turning  to  the  chamberlain, 
■*'how  dared  you  grant  her  such  a  protection  ?" 
'  *'  It  was  by  your  ladyship's  orders,  transmitted  by  Randal, 
as  he  can  bear  witness,"  replied  Doctor  Lundin  ;  ''  nay,  I 
am  only  like  the  pharmacopolist,  who  compounds  the  drugs 
after  the  order  of  the  mediciner." 

**  I  remember — I  remember,"  answered  the  lady  ;  ''  but  I 
meant  the  assurance  only  to  be  used  in  case,  by  residing  in 
another  jurisdiction,  she  could  not  have  been  apprehended 
under  our  warrant." 

*'  Nevertheless,"  said  the  Queen,  ''  the  Lady  of  Lochleven 
is  bound  by  the  action  of  her  deputy  in  granting  the 
assurance." 

"Madam,"  replied  the  lady,  "the  house  of  Douglas  nave 
never  broken  their  safe-conduct,  and  never  will  :  too  deeply 
did  they  suffer  by  such  a  breach  of  trust,  exercised  on  them- 
selves, when  your  Grace's  ancestor,  the  second  James,  in 
defiance  of  the  rights  of  hospitality,  and  of  his  own  written 
assurance  of  safety,  poniarded  the  brave  Earl  of  Douglas  with 
his  own  hand,  and  within  two  yards  of  the  social  board  at 


352  WAVERLET  NOVELS 

which  he  had  just  before  sat  the  King  of  Scotland's  honored 
guest/' 

*'  Methinks,"  said  the  Queen,  carelessly,  '^  in  consideration 
of  so  very  recent  and  enormous  a  tragedy,  which  I  think 
only  chanced  some  six-score  years  agone,  the  Douglasses 
should  have  shown  themselves  less  tenacious  of  the  company 
of  their  sovereigns  than  you.  Lady  of  Lochleven,  seem  to  be 
of  mine/' 

''  Let  Randal,''  said  the  lady,  ''  take  the  hag  back  to 
Kinross,  and  set  her  at  full  liberty,  discharging  her  from 
our  bounds  in  future,  on  peril  of  her  head.  And  let  your 
wisdom  (to  the  chamberlain)  keep  her  company.  And  fear 
not  for  your  character,  though  I  send  you  in  such  company  ; 
for,  granting  her  to  be  a  witch,  it  would  be  a  waste  of  fagots 
to  burn  you  for  a  wizard." 

The  crestfallen  chamberlain  was  preparing  to  depart  ;  but 
Magdalen  Graeme,  collecting  herself,  was  about  to  reply, 
when  the  Queen  interposed,  saying,  ^'  Good  mother,  we 
heartily  thank  you  for  your  unfeigned  zeal  towards  our  per- 
son, and  pray  you,  as  our  liege  woman,  that  you  abstain 
from  whatever  may  lead  you  into  personal  danger  ;  and, 
further,  it  is  our  will  that  you  depart  without  a  word  of 
farther  parley  with  any  one  in  this  castle.  For  thy  present 
guerdon,  take  this  small  reliquary  ;  it  was  given  to  us  by 
our  uncle  the  Cardinal,  and  hath  had  the  benediction  of  the 
Holy  Father  himself  ;  and  now  depart  in  peace  and  in  si- 
lence. For  you,  learned  sir,"  continued  the  Queen,  ad- 
vancing to  the  doctor,  w^o  made  his  reverence  in  a  manner 
doubly  embarrassed,  by  the  awe  of  the  Queen's  presence, 
which  made  him  fear  to  do  too  little,  and  by  the  apprehension 
of  his  lady's  displeasure,  in  case  he  should  chance  to  do  too 
much — "  for  you,  learned  sir,  as  it  was  not  your  fault  though 
surely  our  own  good  fortune,  that  we  did  not  need  your  skill 
at  this  time,  it  would  not  become  us,  however  circumstanced, 
to  suffer  our  leech  to  leave  us  without  such  guerdon  as  we 
can  offer." 

With  these  words,  and  with  the  grace  which  never  forsook 
her,  though,  in  the  present  case,  there  might  lurk  under  it 
a  little  gentle  ridicule,  she  offered  a  small  embroidered  purse 
to  the  chamberlain,  who,  with  extended  hand  and  arched 
back,  his  learned  face  stooping  until  a  physiognomist  might 
hfLve  practised  the  metoposcopical  science  upon  it,  as  seen 
from  behind  betwixt  his  gambadoes,  was  about  to  accept  of 
the  professional  recompense  offered  by  so  fair  as  well  as 
illustrious  an  hand.     But  the  lady  interposed,  and,  regard- 


THE  ABBOT  353 

ing  the  cliamberlain,  said  aloud,  ''  No  servant  of  onr  house, 
without  instantly  relinquishing  that  character,  and  incurring 
withal  our  highest  displeasure,  shall  dare  receive  any  gra- 
tuity at  the  hand  of  the  Lady  Mary/' 

Sadly  and  slowly  the  chamberlain  raised  his  depressed 
stature  into  the  perpendicular  attitude,  and  left  the  apart- 
ment dejectedly,  followed  by  Magdalen  Graeme,  after,  with 
mute  but  expressive  gesture,  she  had  kissed  the  reliquary  with 
which  the  Queen  had  presented  her,  and  raising  her  clasped 
hands  and  uplifted  eyes  towards  Heaven,  had  seemed  to  en- 
treat  a  benediction  upon  the  royal  dame.  As  she  left  the 
castle,  and  went  towards  the  quay  where  the  boat  lay,  Roland 
Graeme,  anxious  to  communicate  with  her  if  possible,  threw 
himself  in  her  way,  and  might  have  succeeded  in  exchanging 
a  few  words  with  her,  as  she  was  guarded  only  by  the  de- 
jected chamberlain  and  his  halberdiers,  but  she  seemed  to 
have  taken,  in  its  most  strict  and  literal  acceptation,  the 
command  to  be  silent  which  she  had  received  from  the 
Queen  ;  for,  to  the  repeated  signs  of  her  grandson,  she  only 
replied  by  laying  her  finger  on  her  lip. 

Dr.  Lundin  was  not  so  reserved.  Regret  for  the  hand- 
some gratuity,  and  for  the  compulsory  task  of  self-denial 
imposed  on  him,  had  grieved  the  spirit  of  that  worthy  officer 
a,nd  learned  mediciner.  "  Even  thus,  my  friend,"  said  he, 
squeezing  the  page's  hand  as  he  bade  him  farewell,  ^^  is  merit 
rewarded.  I  came  to  cure  this  unhappy  lady  ;  and  I  profess 
she  well  deserves  the  trouble,  for,  say  what  they  will  of  her, 
she  hath  a  most  winning  manner,  a  sweet  voice,  a  gracious 
smile,  and  a  most  majestic  wave  of  her  hand.  If  she  was 
not  poisoned,  say,  my  dear  Master  Roland,  was  that  fault  of 
mine,  1  being  ready  to  cure  her  if  she  had  ?  and  now  I  am 
:denied  the  permission  to  accept  my  well-earned  honorarium. 
0  Galen  !  0  Hippocrates  !  is  the  graduate's  cap  and  doctor's 
scarlet  brought  to  this  pass  ?  Frustra  fatigamus  remediis 
wgros  !  " 

He  wiped  his  eyes,  stepped  on  the  gunwale,  and  the  boat 
pushed  off  from  the  shore,  and  went  merrily  across  the  lake, 
which  was  dimpled  by  the  summer  wind.* 

*  See  Supposed  Conspiracy  against  the  Life  of  Mary.    Note  22. 


CHAPTER  XXXIIL 

Death  distant  ?    No,  alas  I  he's  ever  with  us, 
And  shakes  the  dart  at  us  in  all  our  actings ; 
He  lurks  within  our  cup,  while  we're  in  health ; 
Sits  by  our  sick-bed,  mocks  our  medicines ; 
We  cannot  walk,  or  sit,  or  ride,  or  travel, 
But  Death  is  by  to  seize  us  when  he  lists. 

The  Spanish  Father. 

From  the  agitating  scene  in  the  Queen's  presence-chamber, 
the  Lady  of  Lochleven  retreated  to  her  own  apartment,  and 
ordered  the  steward  to  be  called  before  her. 

"  Have  they  not  disarmed  thee,  Dryfesdale  ?''  she  said,  on 
seeing  him  enter,  accoutered,  as  usual,with  sword  and  dagger. 

"  No  ! "  replied  the  old  man  ;  *'  how  should  they  ?  Your 
ladyship,  when  you  commanded  me  to  ward,  said  nought  of 
laying  down  my  arms  ;  '*  and,  I  think,  none  of  your  menials, 
without  your  order  or  your  son's,  dare  approach  Jasper 
Dryfesdale  for  such  a  purpose.  Shall  I  now  give  up  my 
sword  to  you  ?  It  is  worth  little  now,  for  it  has  fought  for 
your  house  till  it  is  worn  down  to  old  iron,  like  the  pantler's 
old  chipping  knife.'' 

*'You  have  attempted  a  deadly  crime — poison  under 
trust." 

''Under  trust — hem  !  I  know  not  what  your  ladyship 
thinks  of  it,  but  the  world  without  thinks  the  trust  was  given 
you  even  for  that  very  end  ;  and  you  would  have  been  well 
off  had  it  been  so  ended  as  I  proposed,  and  you  neither  the 
worse  nor  the  wiser." 

''  Wretch  ! "  exclaimed  the  lady,  '*  and  fool  as  well  as 
villain,  who  could  not  even  execute  the  crime  he  had 
planned  !" 

*'  I  bid  as  fair  for  it  as  man  could,"  replied  Dryfesdale. 
''  I  went  to  a  woman — a  witch  and  a  Papist.  If  I  found  not 
poison,  it  was  because  it  was  otherwise  predestined.  I  tried 
lair  for  it ;  but  the  half-done  job  may  be  clouted,  if  you 
will." 

''Villain  !  I  am  even  now  about  to  send  off  an  express 
messenger  to  my  son,  to  take  order  how  thou  shouldst  be 
disposed  of.     Prepare  thyself  for  death,  if  thou  canst." 

354 


I 


THE  ABBOT  365 

''He  that  looks  on  death,  lady/* answered  Dryfesdale,  "  as 
fchat  which  he  may  not  shun,  and  which  has  its  own  fixed 
and  certain  hour,  is  ever  prepared  for  it.  He  that  is  hanged 
in  May  will  eat  no  flaunes  in  midsummer — so  there  is  the 
moan  made  for  the  old  serving-man.  But  whom,  pray  I, 
send  you  on  so  fair  an  errand  ?  " 

*'  There  will  be  no  lack  of  messengers,*'  answered  his  mis- 
tress. 

*'  By  my  hand,  but  there  will,**  replied  the  old  man  : 
*'  your  castle  is  but  poorly  manned,  considering  the  watches 
that  you  must  keep,  having  this  charge.  There  is  the  warder 
and  two  others  whom  you  discarded  for  tampering  with 
Master  George ;  then  for  the  warder's  tower,  the  bailie,  the 
donjon — five  men  mount  each  guard,  and  the  rest  must  sleep 
for  the  most  part  in  their  clothes.  To  send  away  another 
man  were  to  harass  the  sentinels  to  death — unthrifty  misuse 
for  a  household.  To  take  in  new  soldiers  were  dangerous,  the 
charge  requiring  tried  men.  I  see  but  one  thing  for  it :  I 
will  do  your  errand  to  Sir  William  Douglas  myself.** 

"That  were  indeed  a  resource  !  And  on  what  day  within 
twenty  years  would  it  be  done  ?  **  said  the  lady. 

**  Even  with  the  speed  of  man  and  horse,**  said  Dryfesdale  ; 
''for  though  I  care  not  much  about  the  latter  days  of  an  old 
8erving-man*s  life,  yet  I  would  like  to  know  as  soon  as  may 
be  whether  my  neck  is  mine  own  or  the  hangman*s.** 

"  Holdest  thou  thy  own  life  so  lightly  ?**  said  the  lady. 

*'  Else  I  had  recked  more  of  that  of  others,**  said  the  pre- 
destinarian.  "  What  is  death  ?  it  is  but  ceasing  to  live. 
And  what  is  living  ?  a  weary  return  of  light  and  darkness, 
sleeping  and  waking,  being  hungered  and  eating.  Your 
dead  man  needs  neither  candle  nor  can,  neither  fire  nor 
feather-bed  ;  and  the  joiner*s  chest  serves  him  for  an  eternal 
frieze  jerkin.** 

"  Wretched  man  I  believest  thou  not  that  after  death  comes 
the  judgment  ?** 

"  Lady,**  answered  Dryfesdale,  "  as  my  mistress,  I  may 
not  dispute  your  words ;  but,  as  spiritually  speaking,  you 
are  still  but  a  burner  of  bricks  in  Egypt,  ignorant  of  the 
freedom  of  the  saints  ;  for,  as  was  well  shown  to  me  by  that 
gifted  man,  Nicolaus  Schofferbach,  who  was  martyred  by  the 
bloody  Bishop  of  Munster,  he  cannot  sin  who  doth  but  ex- 
ecute that  which  is  predestined,  since ** 

"Silence  !**  said  the  lady,  interrupting  him.  "Answer 
me  not  with  thy  bold  and  presumptuous  blasphemy,  but  hear 
me.    Thou  hast  been  long  the  servant  of  our  house- — ** 


356  WAVEBLET  NOVELS 

''  The  born  servant  of  the  Douglas ;  they  have  had  the 
best  of  me  :  I  served  them  since  I  left  Lockerbie.  I  was 
then  ten  years  old,  and  you  may  soon  add  the  threescore 
of  it/' 

"  Thy  foul  attempt  has  miscarried,  so  thou  art  guilty  only 
in  intention.  It  were  a  deserved  deed  to  hang  thee  on  the 
warders  tower ;  and  yet,  in  thy  present  mind,  it  were  but 
giving  a  soul  to  Satan.  I  take  thine  offer,  then.  Go  hence  ; 
here  is  my  packet  ;  I  will  add  to  it  but  a  line,  to  desire  him 
to  send  me  a  faithful  servant  or  two  to  complete  the  garrison. 
Let  my  son  deal  with  you  as  he  will.  If  thou  art  wise,  thou 
wilt  make  for  Lockerbie  so  soon  as  thy  foot  touches  dry  land, 
and  let  tlie  packet  find  another  bearer ;  at  all  rates,  look  it 
miscarries  not." 

'*Nay,  madam,"  replied  he,  '^I  was  born,  as  I  said,  the 
Douglases  servant,  and  I  will  be  no  corbie-messenger  in  mine 
old  age  ;  your  message  to  your  son  shall  be  done  as  truly  by 
me  as  if  it  concerned  another  man^s  neck.  I  take  my  leave 
of  your  honor." 

The  lady  issued  her  commands,  and  the  old  man  was  ferried 
over  to  the  shore,  to  proceed  on  his  extraordinary  pilgrimage. 
It  is  necessary  the  reader  should  accompany  him   on   his 

J'ourney,  which  Providence  had  determined  should  not  be  of 
ong  duration. 

On  arriving  at  the  village,  the  steward,  although  his  dis- 
grace had  transpired,  was  readily  accommodated  with  a 
horse,  by  the  chamberlain's  authority  ;  and  the  roads  being 
by  no  means  esteemed  safe,  he  associated  himself  with  Auch- 
termuchty,  the  common  carrier,  in  order  to  travel  in  his 
company  to  Edinburgh. 

The  worthy  wagoner,  according  to  the  established  custom 
of  all  carriers,  stage-coachmen,  and  other  persons  in  such 
public  authority,  from  the  earliest  days  to  the  present,  never 
wanted  good  reasons  for  stopping  upon  the  road  as  often  as 
he  would  ;  and  the  place  which  had  most  captivation  for  him 
as  a  resting-place  was  a  change-house,  as  it  was  termed,  not 
very  distant  from  a  romantic  dell,  well  known  by  the  name 
of  Keiry  Craigs.  Attractions  of  a  kind  very  different  from 
those  which  arrested  the  progress  of  John  Auchtermuchty 
and  his  wains  still  continue  to  hover  round  this  romantic  spot, 
and  none  has  visited  its  vicinity  without  a  desire  to  remain 
long  and  to  return  soon. 

Arrived  near  its  favorite  "howff,"  not  all  the  authority 
of  Dryfesdale,  much  diminished  indeed  by  the  rumors  of  his 
diggrace,  could  prevail  on  the  carrier,  obstinate  as  the  brutea 


THE  ABBOT  357 

which  he  drove,  to  pass  on  without  his  accustomed  halt,  for 
which  the  distance  he  had  traveled  furnished  little  or  no  pre- 
tense. Old  Keltic,  the  landlord,  who  had  bestowed  his  name 
on  a  bridge  in  the  neighborhood  of  his  quondam  dwelling, 
received  the  carrier  with  his  usual  festive  cordiality,  and  ad- 
journed with  him  into  the  house,  under  pretense  of  impor- 
tant business,  which,  I  believe,  consisted  in  their  emptying 
together  a  muchkin  stoup  of  usquebaugh.  While  the  wor- 
thy host  and  his  guest  were  thus  employed,  the  discarded 
steward,  with  a  double  portion  of  moroseness  in  his  gesture 
and  look,  walked  discontentedly  into  the  kitchen  of  the 
place,  which  was  occupied  but  by  one  guest.  The  stranger 
was  a  slight  figure,  scarce  above  the  age  of  boyhood,  and  in 
the  dress  of  a  page,  but  bearing  an  air  of  haughty  aristocra- 
tic boldness,  and  even  insolence,  in  his  look  and  manner 
that  might  have  made  Dryfesdale  conclude  he  had  preten- 
sions to  superior  rank,  had  not  his  experience  taught  him 
how  frequently  these  airs  of  superiority  were  assumed  by  the 
domestics  and  military  retainers  of  the  Scottish  nobility. 
**  The  pilgrim's  morning  to  you,  old  sir,''  said  the  youth  ; 
"  you  come,  as  I  think,  from  Lochleven  Castle.  What  news 
of  our  bonny  Queen  ?  A  fairer  dove  was  never  pent  up  in  so 
wretched  a  dovecot ! " 

'^  They  that  speak  of  Lochleven,  and  of  those  whom  its 
walls  contain,"  answered  Dryfesdale,  *' speak  of  what  con- 
cerns the  Douglas  ;  and  they  who  speak  of  what  concerns 
the  Douglas  do  it  at  their  peril." 

"  Do  you  speak  from  fear  of  them,  old  man,  or  would  you 
make  a  quarrel  for  them  ?  I  should  have  deemed  your  age 
might  have  cooled  your  blood." 

"  Never,  while  there  are  empty-pated  coxcombs  at  each 
corner  to  keep  it  warm." 

"The  sight  of  thy  gray  hairs  keeps  mine  cold,^^  said  the 
boy,  who  had  risen  up  and  now  sat  down  again. 

"It  is  well  for  thee,  or  I  had  cooled  it  with  this  holly  rod," 
replied  the  steward.  "  I  think  thou  be'st  one  of  those  swash- 
bucklers, who  brawl  in  ale-houses  and  taverns  ;  and  who,  if 
words  were  pikes,  and  oaths  were  Andrew  Ferraras,  would 
soon  place  the  religion  of  Babylon  in  the  land  once  more, 
and  the  woman  of  Moab  upon  the  throne." 

"  Now,  by  St.  Bennet  of  Seyton,"  said  the  youth,  "I  will 
strike  thee  on  the  face,  thou  foul-mouthed  old  railing 
heretic!" 

"  St.  Bennet  of  Seyton  ! "  echoed  the  steward  ;  "  a  proper 
warrant  is  St.  Bennet's,  and  for  a  proper  nest  of  wolf-birda 


358  WA  VERXEY  NOVELS 

like  the  Seytons  I  I  will  arrest  thee  as  a  traitor  to  King 
James  and  the  good  Regent.  Ho  !  John  Auchtermuchty, 
raise  aid  against  the  king's  traitor  ! " 

So  saying,  he  laid  his  hand  on  the  youth's  collar,  and 
drew  his  sword.  John  Auchtermuchty  looked  in,  but,  see- 
ing the  naked  weapon,  ran  faster  out  than  he  entered. 
Keltic,  the  landlord,  stood  by  and  helped  neither  party,  only 
exclaiming,  "  Gentlemen  1 — gentlemen  !  for  the  love  of 
Heaven  ! "  and  so  forth.  A  struggle  ensued,  in  which  the 
young  man,  chafed  at  Dryfesdale's  boldness,  and  unable, 
with  the  ease  he  expected,  to  extricate  himself  from  the  old 
man's  determined  grasp,  drew  his  dagger,  and,  with  the 
speed  of  light,  dealt  him  three  wounds  in  the  breast  and 
body,  the  least  of  which  was  mortal.  The  old  man  sunk  on 
the  ground  with  a  deep  groan,  and  the  host  set  up  a  piteous 
exclamation  of  surprise. 

"  Peace !  ye  bawling  hound ! "  said  the  wounded 
steward  ;  *'  are  dagger-stabs  and  dying  men  such  rarities  in 
Scotland  that  you  should  cry  as  if  the  house  were  falling  ? 
Youth,  I  do  not  forgive  thee,  for  there  is  nought  betwixt  us 
to  forgive.  Thou  hast  done  what  I  have  done  to  more  than 
one  ;  and  I  suffer  what  I  have  seen  them  suffer  :  it  was  all 
ordained  to  be  thus  and  not  otherwise.  But  if  thou  wouldst 
do  me  right,  thou  wilt  send  this  packet  safely  to  the  hands 
of  Sir  William  of  Douglas  ;  and  see  that  my  memory  suffer 
not,  as  if  I  would  have  loitered  on  mine  errand  for  fear  of  my 
life." 

The  youth,  whose  passion  had  subsided  the  instant  he 
had  done  the  deed,  listened  with  sympathy  and  attention, 
when  another  person,  muffled  in  his  cloak,  entered  the 
apartment,  and  exclaimed — '*  Good  God  !  Dryfesdale,  and 
expiring  ! " 

*'  Ay,  and  Dryfesdale  would  that  he  had  been  dead,"  an- 
swered the  wounded  man,  *'  rather  than  that  his  ears  had 
heard  the  words  of  the  only  Douglas  that  ever  was  false  ; 
but  yet  it  is  better  as  it  is.  Good  my  murderer,  and  the 
rest  of  you,  stand  back  a  little  and  let  me  speak  with  this 
unhappy  apostate.  Kneel  down  by  me.  Master  George. 
You  have  heard  that  I  failed  in  my  attempt  to  take  away 
that  Moabitish  stumbling-block  and  her  retinue  ?  I  gave 
them  that  which  I  thought  would  have  removed  the  temp- 
tation out  of  thy  path ;  and  this,  though  I  had  othe> 
reasons  to  show  to  thy  mother  and  others,  I  did  chiefly 
purpose  for  love  of  thee." 

**  For  the  love  of  me,  base  poisoner  I "  answered  Douglai, 


THE  ABBOT  859 

''wouldst  thou  have  committed  so  horrible,  so  unprovoked 
a  murder,  and  mentioned  my  name  with  it  ?  " 

"  And  wherefore  not,  George  of  Douglas  ? "  answered 
Dryfesdale.  "  Breath  is  now  scarce  with  me,  but  I  would 
spend  my  last  gasp  on  this  argument.  Hast  thou  not,  de- 
spite the  honor  thou  owest  to  thy  parents,  the  faith  that  is 
due  to  thy  religion,  the  truth  that  is  due  to  thy  king,  been 
so  carried  away  by  the  charms  of  this  beautiful  sorceress, 
that  thou  wouldst  have  helped  her  to  escape  from  her  prison- 
house,  and  lent  her  thine  arm  again  to  ascend  the  throne, 
which  she  had  made  a  place  of  abomination  ?  Nay,  stir  not 
from  me — my  hand,  though  fast  stiffening,  has  yet  force 
enough  to  hold  thee.  What  dost  thou  aim  at — to  wed  this 
witch  of  Scotland  ?  I  warrant  thee,  thou  mayst  succeed  : 
her  heart  and  hand  have  been  oft  won  at  a  cheaper  rate  than 
thou,  fool  that  thou  art,  would  think  thyself  happy  to  pay. 
But,  should  a  servant  of  thy  father's  house  have  seen  thee 
embrace  the  fate  of  the  idiot  Darnley,  or  of  the  villain  Both- 
well — the  fate  of  the  murdered  fool,  or  of  the  living  pirate 
. — while  an  ounce  of  ratsbane  would  have  saved  thee  ?  " 

''Think  on  God,  Dryfesdale, ^^  said  George  Douglas,  ''^and 
leave  the  utterance  of  those  horrors.  Repent  if  thou  canst ; 
if  not,  at  least  be  silent.  Seyton,  aid  me  to  support  this 
dying  wretch,  that  he  may  compose  himself  to  better 
thoughts,  if  it  be  possible.'^ 

"  Seyton  !  "  answered  the  dying  man — "  Seyton  !  Is  it 
by  a  Sey ton's  hand  that  I  fall  at  last  ?  There  is  something 
of  retribution  in  that,  since  the  house  had  nigh  lost  a  sister 
by  my  deed.'  Fixing  his  fading  eyes  on  the  youth,  he 
added*,  ^'  He  hath  her  very  features  and  presence  I  Stoop 
down,  youth,  and  let  me  see  thee  closer  :  I  would  know  thee 
when  we  meet  in  yonder  world,  for  homicides  will  herd  to- 
gether there,  and  I  have  been  one."  He  pulled  Sey ton's 
face,  in  spite  of  some  resistance,  closer  to  his  own,  looked  at 
him  fixedly,  and  added,  "Thou  hast  begun  young;  thy 
career  will  be  the  briefer — ay,  thou  wilt  be  met  with,  and 
that  anon  :  a  young  plant  never  throve  that  was  watered 
with  an  old  man's  blood.  Yet  why  blame  I  thee  ?  Strange 
turns  of  fate,"  he  muttered,  ceasing  to  address  Seyton,  **I 
designed  what  I  could  not  do,  and  he  has  done  what  he  did 
not  perchance  design.  Wondrous,  that  our  will  should  ever 
oppose  itself  to  the  strong  and  uncontrollable  tide  of  des- 
tiny— that  we  should  strive  with  the  stream  when  we  might 
drift  with  the  current  !  My  brain  will  serve  me  to  question 
it  no  farther.     I  would  Schofferbach  were  here.     Yet  why  f 


mo  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

1  am  on  a  course  which  the  vessel  can  hold  without  a  pilot. 
Farewell,  George  of  Douglas ;  I  die  true  to  thy  father's 
house."  He  fell  into  convulsions  at  these  words  and  shortly 
after  expired. 

Seyton  and  Douglas  stood  looking  on  the  dying  man,  and 
when  the  scene  was  closed,  the  former  was  the  first  to  speak. 
*'  As  I  live,  Douglas,  I  meant  not  this,  and  am  sorry ;  but 
he  laid  hands  on  me,  and  compelled  me  to  defend  my  free- 
dom, as  I  best  might,  with  my  dagger.  If  he  were  ten 
times  thy  friend  and  follower,  I  can  but  say  that  I  am  sorry.'' 

^'  I  blame  thee  not,  Seyton,"  said  Douglas,  '*  though  I 
lament  the  chance.  There  is  an  overruling  destiny  above 
us,  though  not  in  the  sense  in  which  it  was  viewed  by  that 
wretched  man,  who  beguiled  by  some  foreign  mystagogues, 
used  the  awful  word  as  the  ready  apology  for  whatever  he 
chose  to  do.     We  must  examine  the  packet.'*' 

They  withdrew  into  an  inner  room,  and  remained  deep  in 
consultation,  until  they  were  disturbed  by  the  entrance  of 
Keltic,  who,  with  an  embarrassed  countenance,  asked  Master 
George  Douglas's  pleasure  respecting  the  disposal  of  the 
body.  **  Your  honor  knows,"  he  added,  ^' that  I  make  my 
bread  by  living  men,  not  by  dead  corpses  ;  and  old  Mr. 
Dryfesdale,  who  was  but  a  sorry  customer  while  he  was 
alive,  occupies  my  public  room  now  that  he  is  deceased, 
and  can  neither  call  for  ale  nor  brandy." 

"  Tie  a  stone  round  his  neck,"  said  Seyton,  ^'and  when 
the  sun  is  down,  have  him  to  the  Loch  of  Ore,  heave  him 
in,  and  let  him  alone  for  finding  out  the  bottom." 

'^  Under  your  favor,  sir,"  said  George  Douglas,  '^it  shall 
not  be  so.  Keltic,  thou  arfc  a  true  fellow  to  me,  and  thy 
having  been  so  shall  advantage  thee.  Send  or  take  the  body 
to  the  chapel  at  Scotland  Well,  or  to  the  church  of  Ballingry, 
and  tell  what  tale  thou  wilt  of  his  having  fallen  in  a  brawl 
with  some  unruly  guests  to  thine.  Auchtermuchty  knows 
not  else,  nor  are  the  times  so  peaceful  as  to  admit  close  look- 
ing into  such  accounts." 

*'Nay,  let  him  tell  the  truth,"  said  Seyton,  ''so  as  it 
harms  out  our  scheme.  Say  that  Henry  Seyton  met  with  him, 
my  good  fellow.     I  care  not  a  brass  bod  die  for  the  feud." 

"  A  feud  with  the  Douglas  was  ever  to  be  feared,  how- 
ever," said  George,  displeasure  mingling  with  his  natural 
deep  gravity  of  manner. 

**  Not  when  the  best  of  the  name  is  on  my  side,"  replied 
Seyton. 

"  Alas  I  Henry,  if  thou  meanest  me,  I  am  but  half  a 


THE  ABBOT  361 

Douglas  in  this  emprize — half  head,  half  heart,  and  half  hand. 
But  I  will  think  on  one  who  can  never  he  forgotten,  and  be 
all  or  more  than  any  of  my  ancestors  was  ever.  Keltie,  say 
it  was  Henry  Seyton  did  the  deed  ;  but  beware,  not  a  word 
of  me  !  Let  Auchtermuchty  carry  this  packet  (which  he 
had  resealed  with  his  own  signet)  to  my  father  at  Edin- 
burgh ;  and  here  is  to  pay  for  the  funeral  expenses  and  thy 
loss  of  custom.'^ 

"  And  the  washing  of  the  floor,''  said  the  landlord,  '^  which 
will  be  an  extraordinary  job  ;  for  blood,  they  say,  will  scarcely 
ever  cleanse  out.'' 

''  But  as  for  your  plan,"  said  George  of  Douglas,  address- 
ing Seyton,  as  if  in  continuation  of  what  they  had  been  be- 
fore treating  of,  ''  it  has  a  good  face  ;  but,  under  your  favor, 
you  are  yourself  too  hot  and  too  young,  besides  other 
reasons  which  are  most  against  your  playing  the  part  you 
propose." 

"We  will  consult  the  father  abbot  upon  it,"  said  the 
youth.     "Do  you  ride  to  Kinross  to-night  ?" 

"  Ay,  so  I  purpose,"  answered  Douglas  ;  "  the  night  will 
be  dark,  and  suits  a  muffled  man.*  Keltie,  I  forgot,  there 
should  be  a  stone  laid  on  that  man's  grave,  according  his 
name,  and  his  only  merit,  which  was  being  a  faithful  servant 
te  the  Douglas." 

"What  religion  was  the  man  of?"  said  Seyton;  "he 
used  words  which  made  me  fear  I  have  sent  Satan  a  subject 
before  his  time." 

"  I  can  tell  you  little  of  that,"  said  George  Douglas  ;  "  he 
was  noted  for  disliking  both  Eome  and  Geneva,  and  spoke 
of  lights  he  had  learned  among  the  fierce  sectaries  of  Lower 
Germany  ;  an  evil  doctrine  it  was,  if  we  judge  by  the  fruits. 
God  keep  us  from  presumptuously  judging  of  Heaven's 
secrets  ! " 

•     "  Amen  ! "  said  the  young  Seyton,  "  and  from  meeting  any 
encounter  this  evening." 

"  It  is  not  thy  wont  to  pray  so,"  said  George  Douglas. 

"No!  I  leave  that  to  you,"  replied  the  youth,  "when 
you  are  seized  with  scruples  of  engaging  with  your  father's 
vassals.  But  I  would  fain  have  this  old  man's  blood  off  these 
hands  of  mine  ere  I  shed  more.  I  will  confess  to  the  abbot 
to-night,  and  I  trust  to  have  light  penance  for  ridding  the 
earth  of  such  a  miscreant.  All  I  sorrow  for  is,  that  he  was 
not  a  score  of  years  younger.  He  drew  steel  first,  however, 
that  is  one  comfort." 

♦  See  Note  23. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV 

Ay,  Pedro.     Come  you  here  with  mask  and  lantern. 
Ladder  of  ropes  and  other  moonshine  tools  ? 
Why,  youngster,  thou  mayst  cheat  the  old  duenna. 
Flatter  the  waiting*  woman,  bribe  the  valet ; 
But  know,  that  I  her  father  play  the  gryphon, 
Tameless  and  sleepless,  proof  to  fraud  or  bribe, 
And  guard  the  hidden  treasure  of  her  beauty. 

The  Spanish  Father. 

The  tenor  of  our  tale  carries  us  back  to  the  Castle  of  Loch- 
leven,  where  we  take  up  the  order  of  events  on  the  same 
remarkable  day  on  which  Dryfesdale  had  been  dismissed 
from  the  castle.  It  was  past  noon,  the  usual  hour  of  dinner, 
yet  no  preparations  seemed  made  for  the  Queen^s  entertain- 
ment. ■  Mary  herself  had  retired  into  her  own  apartment, 
where  she  was  closely  engaged  in  writing.  Her  attendants 
were  together  in  the  presence-chamber,  and  much  disposed  to 
speculate  on  the  delay  of  the  dinner  ;  for  it  may  be  recollected 
that  their  breakfast  had  been  interrupted.  '*  I  believe  in  my 
conscience,"  said  the  page,  "  that,  having  found  the  poison- 
ing scheme  miscarry,  by  having  gone  to  the  wrong  merchant 
for  their  deadly  wares,  they  are  now  about  to  try  how  famine 
will  work  upon  us."*' 

Lady  Fleming  was  somewhat  alarmed  at  this  surmise,  but 
comforted  herself  by  observing,  that  the  chimney  of  the 
kitchen  had  reeked  that  whole  day  in  a  manner  which  con- 
tradicted the  supposition.  Catherine  Seyton  presently  ex- 
claimed, **  They  were  bearing  the  dishes  across  the  court, 
marshaled  by  the  Lady  Lochleven  herself,  dressed  out  in  her 
highest  and  stiffest  rug,  with  her  partlet  and  sleeves  of  Cyprus, 
and  her  huge  old-fashioned  farthingale  of  crimson  velvet." 

"  I  believe,  on  my  word,"  said  the  page,  approaching  the 
window  also,  "  it  was  in  that  very  farthingale  that  she  capti- 
vated the  heart  of  gentle  King  Jamie,  which  procured  our 
poor  Queen  her  precious  bargain  of  a  brother." 

'*  That  may  hardly  be,  Mastei  Roland,^'  answered  the  Lady 
Fleming,  who  was  a  great  recorder  of  the  changes  of  fashion, 
"  since  the  farthingales  came  first  in  when  the  Queen  Re- 
gent went  to  St.  Andrews,  after  the  battle  of  Pinkie,  an4 
were  then  called  vertu-gardins ** 


THE  ABBOT  363 

She  would  have  proceeded  farther  in  this  important  dis- 
cussion, but  was  interrupted  by  the  entrance  of  the  Lady  of 
Lochleven,  who  preceded  the  servants  bearing  the  dishes, 
and  formally  discharged  the  duty  of  tasting  each  of  them. 
Lady  Fleming  regretted,  in  courtly  phrase,  that  the  Lady  of 
Lochleven  should  have  undertaken  so  troublesome  an  office. 

'^  After  the  strange  incident  of  this  day,  madam,^^  said  the 
lady,  '^  it  is  necessary  for  my  honor  and  that  of  my  son  that 
I  partake  whatever  is  offered  to  my  involuntary  guest.  Please 
to  inform  the  Lady  Mary  that  I  attend  her  commands/' 

''  Her  Majesty,'"  replied  Lady  Fleming,  with  due  emphasis 
on  the  word,  "  shall  be  informed  that  the  Lady  Lochleven 
waits.'* 

Mary  appeared  instantly,  and  addressed  her  hostess  with 
courtesy,  which  even  approached  to  something  more  cordial. 
**This  is  nobly  done.  Lady  Lochleven,"  she  said;  *^for, 
though  we  ourselves  apprehend  no  danger  under  your  roof, 
our  ladies  have  been  much  alarmed  by  this  morning's  chance, 
and  our  meal  will  be  the  more  cheerful  for  your  presence  and 
assurance.     Please  you  to  sit  down." 

The  Lady  Lochleven  obeyed  the  Queen's  commands,  and 
Eoland  performed  the  office  of  carver  and  attendant  as  usual. 
But,  notwithstanding  what  the  Queen  had  said,  the  meal 
was  silent  and  unsocial ;  and  every  effort  which  Mary  made 
to  excite  some  conversation  died  away  under  the  solemn  and 
chill  replies  of  the  Lady  of  Lochleven.  At  length  it  became 
plain  that  the  Queen,  who  had  considered  these  advances  as 
a  condescension  on  her  part,  and  who  piqued  herself  justly 
on  her  powers  of  pleasing,  became  offended  at  the  repulsive 
conduct  of  her  hostess.  After  looking  with  a  significant 
glance  at  Lady  Fleming  and  Catherine,  she  slightly  shrugged 
her  shoulders  and  remained  silent.  A  pause  ensued,  at  the 
end  of  which  the  Lady  Douglas  spoke — "  I  perceive,  madam, 
I  am  a  check  on  the  mirth  of  this  fair  company.  I  pray  you 
to  excuse  me  ;  I  am  a  widow — alone  here  in  a  most  perilous 
charge,  deserted  by  my  grandson,  betrayed  by  my  servant ; 
I  am  little  worthy  of  the  grace  you  do  me  in  offering  me  a 
seat  at  your  table,  where  I  am  aware  that  wit  and  pastime 
are  usually  expected  from  the  guests." 

'*  If  the  Lady  Lochleven  is  serious,"  said  the  Queen,  ''we 
wonder  by  what  simplicity  she  expects  our  present  meals  to 
be  seasoned  with  mirth.  If  she  is  a  widow,  she  lives  honored 
and  uncontrolled  at  the  head  of  her  late  husband's  house- 
hold. But  I  know  at  least  of  one  widowed  woman  in  the 
world  before  whom  the  words   'desertion'   and  'betrayal* 


S64  WA VERLE T  NOVELS 

ought  never  to  be  mentioned,  since  no  one  has  been  made  so 
bitterly  acquainted  with  their  import/' 

*'  I  meant  not,  madam,  to  remind  you  of  your  misfortunes 
by  the  mention  of  mine,''  answered  the  Lady  Lochleven,  and 
there  was  again  a  deep  silence. 

Mary  at  length  addressed  Lady  Fleming.  *'  We  can  com- 
mit no  deadly  sins  here,  ma  honne,  where  we  are  so  well 
warded  and  looked  to  ;  but  if  we  could,  this  Carthusian  si- 
lence might  be  useful  as  a  kind  of  penance.  If  thou  hast 
adjusted  my  wimple  amiss,  my  Fleming,  or  if  Catherine 
hath  made  a  wry  stitch  in  her  broidery  when  she  was  think- 
ing of  something  else  than  her  work,  or  if  Roland  Graeme 
hath  missed  a  wild  duck  on  the  wing,  and  broke  a  quarrell- 
pane  of  glass  in  the  turret  window,  as  chanced  to  him  a  week 
since,  now  is  the  time  to  think  on  your  sins  and  to  repent  of 
them." 

*'  Madam,  I  speak  with  all  reverence,''  said  the  Lady  Loch- 
leven ;  *'  but  I  am  old,  and  claim  the  privilege  of  age.  Me- 
thinks  your  followers  might  find  fitter  subjects  for  repentance 
than  the  trifles  you  mention,  and  so  mention — once  more,  I 
crave  your  pardon — as  if  you  jested  with  sin  and  repentance 
both.'^ 

'^  Yon  have  been  our  taster.  Lady  Lochleven,"  said  the 
Queen,  ''  I  perceive  you  would  eke  out  your  duty  with  that 
of  our  father  confessor  ;  and  since  you  choose  that  our  con- 
versation should  be  serious,  may  I  ask  you  why  the  Regent's 
promise — since  your  son  so  styles  himself — has  not  been  kept 
to  me  in  that  respect  ?  From  time  to  time  this  promise  has 
been  renewed,  and  as  constantly  broken.  Methinks  those 
who  pretend  themselves  to  so  much  gravity  and  sanctity 
should  not  debar  from  others  the  religious  succors  which 
their  consciences  require." 

^'  Madam,  the  Earl  of  Murray  was  indeed  weak  enough," 
said  the  Lady  Lochleven,  "to  give  so  far  way  to  your  unhappy 
prejudices,  and  a  religioner  of  the  Pope  presented  himself 
on  his  part  at  our  town  of  Kinross.  But  the  Douglas  is  lord 
of  his  own  castle,  and  will  not  permit  his  threshold  to  be 
darkened,  no,  not  for  a  single  moment,  by  an  emissary  belong- 
ing to  the  Bishop  of  Rome." 

"  Methinks  it  were  well,  then,"  said  Mary,  '^  that  my  Lord 
Regent  would  send  me  where  there  is  less  scruple  and  more 
charity." 

*'ln  this,  madam,"  answered  the  Lady  Lochleven,  "you 
mistake  the  nature  both  of  charity  and  of  religion.  Charitv 
giveth  to  those  who  are  in  delirium  the  medicaments  which 


THE  ABBOT  365 

may  avail  their  health,  but  refuses  those  enticing  cates  and 
liquors  which  please  the  palate  but  augment  the  disease." 

'^  This  your  charity.  Lady  Lochleven,  is  pure  cruelty  under 
the  hypocritical  disguise  of  friendly  care.  I  am  oppressed 
amongst  you  as  if  you  meant  the  destruction  both  of  my  body 
and  soul  ;  but  Heaven  will  not  endure  such  iniquity  forever, 
and  they  who  are  the  most  active  agents  in  it  may  speedily 
expect  their  reward. '* 

At  this  moment  Randal  entered  the  apartment,  with 
a  look  so  much  perturbed  that  the  Lady  Fleming  uttered  a 
faint  scream,  the  Queen  was  obviously  startled,  and  the  Lady 
of  Lochleven,  though  too  bold  and  proud  to  evince  any  marked 
signs  of  alarm,  asked  hastily  what  was  the  matter. 

"  Dryfesdale  has  been  slain,  madam,''  was  the  reply — 
''murdered  as  soon  as  he  gained  the  dry  land  by  young 
Master  Henry  Seyton," 

It  was  now  Catherine's  turn  to  start  and  grow  pale.  "  Has 
the  murderer  of  the  Douglas's  vassal  escaped  ^  "  was  the 
lady's  hasty  question. 

*'  There  was  none  to  challenge  him  but  old  Keltic  and  the 
carrier  Auchtermuchty,"  replied  Randal,  ^^  unlikely  men  to 
stay  one  of  the  frackest  youths  in  Scotland  of  his  years,  and 
who  was  sure  to  have  friends  and  partakers  at  no  great 
distance." 

''Was  the  deed  completed  ?"  said  the  lady. 

"Done,  and  done  thoroughly,"  said  Randal  :  "a  Seyton 
seldom  strikes  twice.  But  the  body  was  not  despoiled," and 
your  honor's  packet  goes  forward  to  Edinburgh  by  Auchter- 
muchty, who  leaves  Keltic  Bridge  early  to-morrow;  marry, 
he  has  drunk  two  bottles  of  aquavitae  to  put  the  fright  out 
of  his  head,  and  now  sleeps  them  off  beside  his  cart- 
avers." 

There  was  a  pause  when  this  fatal  tale  was  told.  The 
Queen  and  Lady  Douglas  looked  on  each  other,  as  if  each 
thought  how  she  could  best  turn  the  incident  to  her  own 
advantage  in  the  controversy  which  was  continually  kept 
alive  betwixt  them.  Catherine  Seyton  kept  her  kerchief  at 
her  eyes  and  wept. 

"  You  see,  madam,  the  bloody  maxims  and  practise  of  the 
deluded  Papists,"  said  Lady  Lochleven. 
.    "Nay,  madam,"  replied  the  Queen,  "say  rather  you  see 
the   deserved    judgment   of   Heaven   upon   a   Caivinistical 
poisoner." 

"  Dryfesdale  was  not  of  the  Church  of  Geneva  or  of  Scot- 
land/' said  the  Lady  Lochleven,  hastily. 


366  WAVERLET  NOVELS 

*'  He  was  a  heretic,  however/'  replied  Mary.  "  There  is 
but  one  true  and  unerring  guide  :  the  others  lead  alike  into 
error. " 

"  Well,  madam,  I  trust  it  will  reconcile  you  to  your  re- 
treat that  this  deed  shows  the  temper  of  those  who  might 
wish  you  at  liberty.  Bloodthirsty  tyrants  and  cruel  man- 
quellers  are  they  all,  from  the  Clan  Ranald  and  Clan  Tosach 
in  the  north  to  the  Fernieherst  and  Buccleuch  in  the  south, 
the  murdering  Seytons  in  the  east,  and " 

"  Methinks,  madam,  you  forget  that  I  am  a  Seyton?" 
said  Catherine,  withdrawing  her  kerchief  from  her  face, 
which  was  now  colored  with  indignation. 

"  If  I  had  forgot  it,  fair  mistress,  your  forward  bearing 
would  have  reminded  me,"  said  Lady  Lochleven. 

**  If  my  brother  has  slain  the  villain  that  would  have  poi- 
soned his  sovereign  and  his  sister,'' said  Catherine,  '*Iam 
only  so  far  sorry  that  he  should  have  spared  the  hangman 
his  proper  task.  For  aught  further,  had  it  been  the  beat 
Douglas  in  the  land,  he  would  have  been  honored  in  falling 
by  the  Sey ton's  sword." 

"  Farewell,  gay  mistress,"  said  the  Lady  of  Lochleven, 
rising  to  withdraw  ;  *'it  is  such  maidens  as  you  who  make 
giddy-fashioned  revelers  and  deadly  brawlers.  Boys  must 
needs  rise,  forsooth,  in  the  grace  of  some  sprightly  damsel, 
who  thinks  to  dance  through  life  as  through  a  French  gal- 
liard."  She  then  made  her  reverence  to  the  Queen,  and 
added,  '^  To  you  also,  madam,  fare  you  well  till  curfew  time, 
when  I  will  make,  perchance,  more  bold  than  welcome  in 
attending  upon  your  supper  board.  Come  with  me,  Randal, 
and  tell  me  more  of  this  cruel  fact." 

*''Tis  an  extraordinary  chance,"  said  the  Queen,  when 
she  had  departed  ;  *'  and,  villain  as  he  was,  I  would  this  man 
had  been  spared  time  for  repentance.  We  will  cause  some- 
thing to  be  done  for  his  soul,  if  we  ever  attain  our  liberty, 
and  the  church  will  permit  such  grace  to  an  heretic.  Bat, 
tell  me,  Catherine,  ma  mignonne — this  brother  of  thine,  who 
is  so  *  frack,^  as  the  fellow  called  him,  bears  he  the  same 
wonderful  likeness  to  thee  as  formerly  ?  " 

*'  If  your  Grace  means  in  temper,  you  know  whether  I  am 
so  frack  as  the  serving-man  spoke  him." 

"  Nay,  thou  art  prompt  enough  in  all  reasonable  con- 
science," replied  the  Queen  ;  "  but  thou  art  my  own  darling 
notwithstanding.  But  I  meant,  is  this  thy  twin-brother  as 
like  thee  in  form  and  features  as  formerly  ?  I  remember 
thy  dear  mother  alleged  it  as  a  reason  for  destining  thee  to 


THE  ABBOT  867 

the  yeil  that,  were  ye  both  to  go  at  large,  thou  wouldst  surelj 
get  the  credit  of  some  of  thy  brother's  mad  pranks/' 

*'I  believe,  madam,''  said  Catherine,  "  there  are  some  un- 
usually simple  people  even  yet  who  can  hardly  distinguish 
betwixt  us,  especially  when,  for  diversion's  sake,  my  brother 
hath  taken  a  female  dress,"  and,  as  she  spoke,  she  gave 
a  quick  glance  at  Roland  Graeme,  to  whom  this  conversa- 
tion conveyed  a  ray  of  light  welcome  as  ever  streamed  into 
the  dungeon  of  a  captive  through  the  door  which  opened 
to  give  him  freedom. 

*'  He  must  be  a  handsome  cavalier  this  brother  of  thine, 
if  he  be  so  like  you,"  replied  Mary.  *^  He  was  in  France,  I 
think,  for  these  late  years,  so  that  I  saw  him  not  at  Holy- 
rood." 

*'  His  looks,  madam,  have  never  been  much  found  fault 
with,"  answered  Catherine  Seyton  ;  '*  but  I  would  he  had 
less  of  that  angry  and  heady  spirit  which  evil  times  have 
encouraged  amongst  our  young  nobles.  God  knows,  I 
grudge  not  his  life  in  your  Grace's  quarrel,  and  love  him  for 
the  willingness  with  which  he  labors  for  your  rescue.  But 
wherefore  should  he  brawl  with  an  old  ruffianly  serving-man, 
and  stain  at  once  his  name  with  such  a  broil  and  his  hands 
with  the  blood  of  an  old  and  ignoble  wretch  ?  " 

'^'Nay,  be  patient,  Catherine  ;  I  will  not  have  thee  traduce 
my  gallant  young  knight.  With  Henry  for  my  knight,  and 
Roland  Graeme  for  my  trusty  squire,  methinks  I  am  like  a 
princess  of  romance,  who  may  shortly  set  at  defiance  the 
dungeons  and  the  weapons  of  all  wicked  sorcerers.  But 
my  head  aches  with  the  agitation  of  the  day.  Take  me  La 
Mer  lies  Histoires,  and  resume  where  we  left  off  on  Wednes- 
day. Our  Lady  help  thy  head,  girl,  or  rather  may  she  help 
thy  heart !  I  asked  thee  for  the  Sea  of  Histoires,  and  thou 
hast  brought  La  Cronique  d' Amour  !" 

Once  embarked  upon  the  Sea  of  Histoires,  the  Queen  con- 
tinued her  labors  with  her  needle,  while  Lady  Fleming  and 
Catherine  read  to  her  alternately  for  two  hours. 

As  to  Roland  Graeme,  it  is  probable  that  he  continued  in 
■ecret  intent  upon  the  Chronicle  of  Love,  notwithstanding 
th'd  censure  which  the  Queen  seemed  to  pass  upon  that 
branch  of  study.  He  now  remembered  a  thousand  circum- 
stances of  voice  and  manner,  which,  had  his  own  preposses- 
sion been  less,  must  surely  have  discriminated  the  brother 
from  the  sister  ;  and  he  felt  ashamed  that,  having  as  it  were 
by  heart  every  particular  of  Catherine's  gestures,  words,  and 
manners,  he  should  have  thought  her,  notwithstanding  her 


368  WA  VERLEY  NO  VELS 

spirits  and  levity,  capable  of  assuming  the  bold  step,  loud 
tones,  and  forward  assurance  which  accorded  well  enough 
with  her  brother's  hasty  and  masculine  character.  He  en- 
deavored repeatedly  to  catch  a  glance  of  Catherine's  eye, 
that  he  might  judge  how  she  was  disposed  to  look  upon  him 
since  he  had  made  the  discovery,  but  he  was  unsuccessful ; 
for  Catherine,  when  she  was  not  reading  herself,  seemed  to 
take  so  much  interest  in  the  exploits  of  the  Teutonic  Knights 
against  the  heathens  of  Esthonia  and  Livonia,  that  he  could 
not  surprise  her  eye  even  for  a  second.  But  when,  closing 
the  book,  the  Queen  commanded  their  attendance  in  the 
garden,  Mary,  perhaps  of  set  purpose  (for  Roland's  anxiety 
could  not  escape  so  practised  an  observer),  afforded  him  a 
favorable  opportunity  of  accosting  his  mistress.  The  Queen 
commanded  them  to  a  little  distance,  while  she  engaged 
Lady  Fleming  in  a  particular  and  private  conversation  ;  the 
subject  whereof,  we  learn  from  another  authority,  to  have 
been  the  comparative  excellence  of  the  high  standing  ruff 
and  the  falling  band.  Roland  must  have  been  duller  and 
more  sheepish  than  ever  was  youthful  lover  if  he  had  not 
endeavored  to  avail  himself  of  this  opportunity. 

'*  I  have  been  longing  this  whole  evening  to  ask  of  you, 
fair  Catherine,''  said  the  page,  *'how  foolish  and  unappre- 
hensive you  must  have  thought  me,  in  being  capable  to 
mistake  betwixt  your  brother  and  you  ?" 

*'  The  circumstance  does  indeed  little  honor  to  my  rustic 
manners,"  said  Catherine,  ''  since  those  of  a  wild  young  man 
were  so  readily  mistaken  for  mine.  But  I  shall  grow  wiser 
in  time  ;  and  with  that  view  I  am  determined  not  to  think  of 
your  follies,  but  to  correct  my  own." 

"  It  will  be  the  lighter  subject  of  meditation  of  the  two," 
said  Roland. 

^'  I  know  not  that,"  said  Catherine,  very  gravely  ;  '^  I  fear 
we  have  been  both  unpardonably  foolish." 

*'  I  have  been  mad,"  said  Roland — '^  unpardonably  mado 
But  you,  lovely  Catherine " 

"  1,"  said  Catherine,  in  the  same  tone  of  unusual  gravity, 
"  have  too  long  suffered  you  to  use  such  expressions  towards 
me.  I  fear  I  can  permit  it  no  longer,  and  I  blame  myself 
for  the  pain  it  may  give  you." 

"  And  what  can  have  happened  so  suddenly  to  change  our 
relation  to  each  other,  or  alter,  with  such  sudden  cruelty, 
your  whole  deportment  to  me  ?  " 

''  I  can  hardly  tell,"  replied  Catherine,  '^  unless  it  is  that 
the  events  of  the  day  have  impressed  on  my  mind  the  meces- 


THE  ABBOT  3d0 

sity  of  our  observing  more  distance  to  each  other.  A  chance 
similar  to  that  which  betrayed  to  you  the  existence  of  my 
brother  may  make  known  to  Henry  the  terms  you  have  used 
to  me  ;  and,  alas  !  his  whole  conduct,  as  well  as  his  deed  this 
day,  makes  me  too  justly  apprehensive  of  the  consequences/' 

^^Nay,  fear  nothing  for  that,  fair  Catherine/'  answered 
the  page,  ''  I  am  well  able  to  protect  myself  against  risks  of 
that  nature/' 

''  That  is  to  say,"  replied  she,  ''  that  you  would  fight  with 
my  twin-brother  to  show  your  regard  for  his  sister  ?  I  have 
heard  the  Queen  say,  in  her  sad  hours,  that  men  are,  in  love 
or  in  hate,  the  most  selfish  animals  of  creation  ;  and  your 
carelessness  in  this  matter  looks  very  like  it.  But  be  not 
so  much  abashed ;  you  are  no  worse  than  others." 

^'^You  do  me  injustice,  Catherine,"  replied  the  page,  "I 
thought  but  of  being  threatened  with  a  sword,  and  did  not 
remember  in  whose  hand  your  fancy  had  placed  it.  If  your 
brother  stood  before  me,  with  his  drawn  weapon  in  his  hand, 
80  like  as  he  is  to  you  in  word,  person,  and  favor,  he  might 
shed  my  life's  blood  ere  I  could  find  in  my  heart  to  resist  him 
to  his  injury." 

''  Alas  ! "  said  she,  *^^  it  is  not  my  brother  alone.  But  you 
remember  only  the  singular  circumstances  in  which  we  have 
met  in  equality,  and  I  may  say  in  intimacy.  You  think  not 
that,  whenever  I  re-enter  my  father's  house,  there  is  a  gulf 
between  us  you  may  not  pass  but  with  the  peril  of  your  life. 
Your  only  known  relative  is  of  wild  and  singular  habits,  of 
a  hostile  and  broken  clan,  the  rest  of  your  lineage  unknown  ; 
forgive  me  that  I  speak  what  is  the  undeniable  truth." 

''Love,  my  beautiful  Catherine,  despises  genealogies,"  an- 
swered Eoland  Graeme. 

''  Love  may,  but  so  will  not  the  Lord  Seyton,"  rejoined 
the  damsel. 

"  The  Queen,  thy  mistress  and  mine,  she  will  intercede. 
0  !  drive  me  not  from  you  at  the  moment  I  thought  myself 
most  happy  !  And  if  I  shall  aid  her  deliverance,  said  not 
yourself  that  you  and  she  would  become  my  debtors  ?  " 

''  All  Scotland  will  become  your  debtors,"  said  Catherine. 
''  But  for  the  active  effects  you  might  hope  from  our  grati- 
tude, you  must  remember  I  am  wholly  subjected  to  my 
father  ;  and  the  poor  Queen  is,  for  a  long  time,  more  likely 
to  be  dependent  on  the  pleasure  of  the  nobles  of  her  party 
than  possessed  of  power  to  control  them." 

''  Beit  so,"  replied  Eoland  ;  "  my  deeds  shall  control  prej- 
udice itself  :  it  is  a  bustling  world,  and  I  will  have  my  share. 


370  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

The  Knight  of  Avenel,  high  as  he  now  stands,  rose  from  as 
obscure  an  origin  as  mine." 

*'  Ay/'  said  Catherine,  "  there  spoke  the  doughty  knight 
of  romance,  that  will  cnt  his  way  to  the  imprisoned  princess 
through  fiends  and  fiery  dragons  ! " 

"  But  if  I  can  set  the  princess  at  large,  and  procure  her 
the  freedom  of  her  own  choice,''  said  the  page,  "  where,  dear- 
est Catherine,  will  that  choice  alight  ?" 

*'  Release  the  princess  from  duresse,  and  she  will  tell  you," 
said  the  damsel ;  and,  breaking  off  the  conversation  abruptly, 
she  joined  the  Queen  so  suddenly  that  Mary  exclaimed,  half- 
aloud — ' 

"  No  more  tidings  of  evil  import — no  dissension,  I  trust,  in 
my  limited  household  ?  "  Then  looking  on  Catherine's  blush- 
ing cheek  and  Roland's  expanded  brow  and  glancing  eye — 
**  No — no,"  she  said,  *'  I  see  all  is  well.  Ma  petite  mignonm, 
go  to  my  apartment  and  fetch  me  down — let  me  see — ay, 
fetch  my  pomander  box." 

And  having  thus  disposed  of  her  attendant  in  the  manner 
best  qualified  to  hide  her  confusion,  the  Queen  added,  speak- 
ing apart  to  Roland,  '^  I  should  at  least  have  two  grateful 
subjects  of  Catherine  and  you  ;  for  what  sovereign  but  Mary 
would  aid  true  love  so  willingly  ?  Ay,  you  lay  your  hand  on 
your  sword — your  petite  flamberge  a  rientheTe.  Well,  short 
time  will  show  if  all  the  good  be  true  that  is  protested  to  us. 
I  hear  them  toll  curfew  from  Kinross.  To  our  chamber ;  this 
old  dame  hath  promised  to  be  with  us  again  at  our  evening 
meal.  Were  it  not  for  the  hope  of  speedy  deliverance,  her 
presence  would  drive  me  distracted.     But  I  will  be  patient." 

"  I  profess,"  said  Catherine,  who  just  then  entered,  ^'  I 
would  I  could  be  Henry,  with  all  a  man's  privileges,  for  one 
moment :  I  long  to  throw  my  plate  at  that  confect  of  pride, 
and  formality,  and  ill-nature  ! " 

The  Lady  Fleming  reprimanded  her  young  companion  for 
this  explosion  of  impatience,  the  Queen  laughed,  and  they 
went  to  the  presence-chamber,  where  almost  immediately 
entered  supper  and  the  lady  of  the  castle  The  Queen,  strong 
in  her  prudent  resolutions,  endured  her  presence  with  great 
fortitude  and  equanimity,  until  her  patience  was  disturbed 
by  a  new  form,  which  had  hitherto  made  no  part  of  the 
ceremonial  of  the  castle.  When  the  other  attendant  had  re- 
tired, Randal  entered,  bearing  the  keys  of  the  castle  fastened 
upon  a  chain,  and,  announcing  that  the  watch  was  set  and 
the  gates  locked,  delivered  the  keys  with  all  reverence  to  the 
Lady  of  Lochleven. 


THE  ABBOT  371 

The  Queen  and  her  ladies  exchanged  with  each  other  a 
look  of  disappointment,  anger,  and  vexation  ;  and  Mary  said 
aloud,  ^'  We  cannot  regret  the  smallness  of  our  court,  when 
we  see  our  hostess  discharge  in  person  so  many  of  its  offices. 
In  addition  to  her  charges  of  principal  steward  of  our  house- 
hold and  grand  almoner,  she  has  to-night  done  duty  as 
captain  of  our  guard." 

**  And  will  continue  to  do  so  in  future,  madam,"  answered 
the  Lady  Lochleven,  with  much  gravity  ;  ^'  the  history  of 
Scotland  may  teach  me  how  ill  the  duty  is  performed  which 
is  done  by  an  accredited  deputy.  We  have  heard,  madam, 
of  favorites  of  later  date,  and  as  little  merit,  as  Oliver 
Sinclair." 

*'0,  madam,"  replied  the  Queen,  "my  father  had  hii 
female  as  well  as  his  male  favorites  :  there  were  the  Ladies 
Sandilands  and  Olifaunt,*  and  some  others,  methinks ;  but 
their  names  cannot  survive  in  the  memory  of  so  grave  a  person 
as  you ," 

The  Lady  Lochleven  looked  as  if  she  could  have  slain  the 
Queen  on  the  spot,  but  commanded  her  temper,  and  retired 
from  the  apartment,  bearing  in  her  hand  the  ponderous 
bunch  of  keys. 

'^  Now  God  be  praised  for  that  woman^s  youthful  frailty  \" 
said  the  Queen.  "  Had  she  not  that  weak  point  in  her 
character,  I  might  waste  my  words  on  her  in  vain.  But 
that  stain  is  the  very  reverse  of  what  is  said  of  the  witch's 
mark  :  I  can  make  her  feel  there,  though  she  is  otherwise  in- 
sensible all  over.  But  how  say  you,  girls — here  is  a  new  diffi- 
culty. How  are  these  keys  to  be  come  by  ?  There  is  no  de- 
ceiving or  bribing  this  dragon,  I  trow." 

"May  I  crave  to  know,"  said  Roland,  "whether,  if  your 
Grace  were  beyond  the  walls  of  the  castle,  you  could  find 
means  of  conveyance  to  the  firm  land,  and  protection  when 
you  are  there  ?  " 

"Trust  us  for  that,  Roland,"  said  the  Queen;  "for  to 
that  point  our  scheme  is  indifferent  well  laid." 

"  Then,  if  your  Grace  will  permit  me  to  speak  my  mind, 
I  think  I  could  be  of  some  use  in  this  matter." 

"  As  how,  my  good  youth  ?  Speak  on,"  said  the  Queen, 
"and  fearlessly." 

"  My  patron,  the  Knight  of  Avenel,  used  to  compel  tba 
Youth  educated  in  his  household  to  learn  the  use  of  ax  au  J 
riammer,  and  working  in  wood  and  iron  ;  he  used  to  spef  Jc 

*  The  names  of  these  ladies,  and  a  third  frail  favorite  of  James, 
«ire  prefserred  in  an  epigram  too  gaillard  for  quotation. 


372  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

of  old  northern  champions  who  forged  their  own  weapons, 
and  of  the  Highland  captain,  Donald  nan  Ord,  or  Donald  of 
the  Hammer,  whom  he  himself  knew,  and  who  used  to  work 
at  the  anvil  with  a  sledge-hammer  in  each  hand.  Some  said 
he  praised  this  art  because  he  was  himself  of  churFs  blood. 
However,  I  gained  some  practise  in  it,  as  the  Lady  Catherine 
Seyton  partly  knows  ;  for  since  we  were  here  I  wrought  her 
a  silver  brooch/' 

''Ay,"  replied  Catherine,  ''but  you  should  tell  her  Grace 
that  your  workmanship  was  so  indifferent  that  it  broke  to 
pieces  next  day,  and  I  flung  it  away." 

"Believe  her  not,  Eoland/' said  the  Queen;  "she  wept 
when  it  was  broken,  and  put  the  fragments  into  her  bosom. 
But. for  your  scheme — could  your  skill  avail  to  forge  a  sec- 
ond set  of  keys  ?  " 

"No,  madam,  because  I  know  not  the  wards.  But  I  am 
convinced  I  could  make  a  set  so  like  that  hateful  bunch 
which  the  lady  bore  off  even  now,  that,  could  they  be  ex- 
changed against  them  by  any  means,  she  would  never  dream 
she  was  possessed  of  the  wrong." 

'^  And  the  good  dame,  thank  Heaven,  is  somewhat  blind," 
said  the  Queen  ;  "  but  then  for  a  forge,  my  boy,  and  the 
means  of  laboring  unobserved  ?  " 

"  The  armorer's  forge,  at  which  I  used  sometimes  to  work 
with  him,  is  the  round  vault  at  the  bottom  of  the  turret ; 
he  was  dismissed  with  the  warder  for  being  supposed  too 
much  attached  to  George  Douglas.  The  people  are  accus- 
tomed to  see  me  busy  there,  and  I  warrant  I  shall  find  some 
excuse  that  will  pass  current  with  them  for  putting  bellows 
and  anvil  to  work." 

The  scheme   has  a  promising  face,''  said  the  Queen ; 

about  it,  my  lad,  with  all  speed,  and  beware  the  nature  of 
your  work  is  not  discovered." 

"Nay,  I  will  take  the  liberty  to  draw  the  bolt  against 
chance  visitors,  so  that  I  will  have  time  to  put  away  what  I 
am  working  upon  before  I  undo  the  door." 

"Will  not  that  of  itself  attract  suspicion,  in  a  place  where 
it  is  so  current  already  ?"  said  Catherine. 

"Not  a  whit,"  replied  Eoland  ;  "Gregory  the  armorer, 
and  every  good  hammerman,  locks  himself  in  when  he  is 
about  some  masterpiece  of  craft.  Besides,  something  must 
be  risked." 

"  Part  we  then  to-night,"  said  the  Queen,  "  and  God  bless 
you,  my  children  !  If  Mary's  head  ever  rises  above  water, 
you  shall  all  rise  along  with  her.'' 


CHAPTER  XXXV 

It  is  a  time  of  danger,  not  of  revel; 
When  churchmen  turn  to  masquers. 

Spanish  Father, 

The  enterprise  of  Roland  Graeme  appeared  to  prosper.  A 
trinket  or  two,  of  which  the  work  did  not  surpass  the  sub- 
stance (for  the  materials  were  silver,  supplied  by  the  Queen), 
were  judiciously  presented  to  those  most  likely  to  be  inquisi- 
tive into  the  labors  of  the  forge  and  anvil,  which  they  thus 
were  induced  to  reckon  profitable  to  others  and  harmless  in 
itself.  Openly,  the  page  was  seen  working  about  such 
.trifles.  In  private  he  forged  a  number  of  keys  resembling 
so  nearly  in  weight  and  in  form  those  which  were  presented 
every  evening  to  the  Lady  Lochleven,  that,  on  a  slight  in- 
spection, it  would  have  been  difficult  to  perceive  the  differ- 
ence. He  brought  them  to  the  dark  rusty  color  by  the  use 
of  salt  and  water ;  and,  in  the  triumph  of  his  art,  presented 
them  at  length  to  Queen  Mary  in  her  presence-chamber, 
about  an  hour  before  the  tolling  of  the  curfew.  She  looked 
at  them  with  pleasure,  but  at  the  same  time  with  doubt. 
*^  I  allow,''  she  said,  ''  that  the  Lady  Lochleven's  eyes, 
which  are  not  of  the  clearest,  may  be  well  deceived,  could 
we  pass  those  keys  on  her  in  place  of  the  real  implements 
of  her  tyranny.  But  how  is  this  to  be  done,  and  which  of 
my  little  court  dare  attempt  this  tour  de  jongleur  with  any 
chance  of  success  ?  Could  we  but  engage  her  in  some  earn- 
est matter  of  argument  !  but  those  which  I  hold  with  her 
always  have  been  of  a  kind  which  make  her  grasp  her  keys 
the  faster,  as  if  she  said  to  herself — '  Here  I  hold  what  sets 
me  above  your  taunts  and  reproaches.'  And  even  for  her 
liberty,  Mary  Stuart  could  not  stoop  to  speak  the  proud 
heretic  fair.  What  shall  we  do  ?  Shall  Lady  Fleming  try 
her  eloquence  in  describing  the  last  new  head-tire  from 
Paris  ?  Alas  !  the  good  dame  has  not  changed  the  fashion 
of  her  head-gear  since  Pinkie  field,  for  aught  that  I  know. 
Shall  my  mignonne  Catherine  sing  to  her  one  of  those  touch- 
ing airs  which  draw  the  very  souls  out  of  me  and  Roland 
Grasme  ?     Alas !    Dame   Margaret  Douglas  would   rather 

37« 


374  WAVERLET  NOVELS 

hear  a  Huguenot  psalm  of  Clement  Marot,  sung  to  the  tune 
of  R4veiUez-vous,  belle  endormie.  Cousins  and  liege  coun- 
selors, what  is  to  be  done,  for  our  wits  are  really  astray  in 
this  matter  ?  Must  our  man-at-arms  and  the  champion  of 
our  body,  Roland  Grasme,  manfully  assault  the  old  lady,  and 
take  the  keys  from  her  par  vote  du  fait  ?  " 

"Nay!  with  your  Grace^s  permission,"  said  Roland,  ''I 
do  not  doubt  being  able  to  manage  the  matter  with  more 
discretion ;  for  though,  in  your  Grace's  service,  I  do  not 
fear " 

**A  host  of  old  women,**  interrupted  Catherine,  '^each 
armed  with  rock  and  spindle ;  yet  he  has  no  fancy  for  pikes 
and  partizans,  which  might  rise  at  the  cry  of  *  Help  !  a 
Douglas — a  Douglas  ! ' " 

"  They  that  do  not  fear  fair  ladies'  tongues,"  continued 
the  page,  "  need  dread  nothing  else.  But,  gracious  liege,  I 
am  wellnigh  satisfied  that  I  could  pass  the  exchange  of  these 
keys  on  the  Lady  Lochleven  ;  but  I  dread  the  sentinel  who 
is  now  planted  nightly  in  the  garden,  which,  by  necessity, 
we  must  traverse." 

"Our  last  advices  from  our  friend  on  the  shore  have 
promised  us  assistance  in  that  matter,"  replied  the  Queen. 

"  And  is  your  Grace  well  assured  of  the  fidelity  and  watch- 
fulness of  those  without  ?*' 

"  For  their  fidelity  1  will  answer  with  my  life,  and  for 
their  vigilance  I  will  answer  with  my  life.  I  will  give  thee 
instant  proof,  my  faithful  Roland,  that  they  are  ingenuous 
and  trusty  as  thyself.  Come  hither.  Nay,  Catherine,  at- 
tend us  ;  we  carry  not  so  deft  a  page  into  our  private  cham- 
ber alone.  Make  fast  the  door  of  the  parlor,  Fleming,  and 
warn  us  if  you  hear  the  least  step — or  stay,  go  thou  to  the 
door,  Catherine  (in  a  whisper),  thy  ears  and  thy  wits  are 
both  sharper.  Good  Fleming,  attend  us  thyself.  (And 
again  she  whispered)  Her  reverend  presence  will  be  as  safe  a 
watch  on  Roland  as  thine  can,  so  be  not  jealous,  mignonne" 

Thus  speaking,  they  were  lighted  by  the  Lady  Fleming 
into  the  Queen's  bedroom,  a  small  apartment  enlightened  by 
a  projecting  window. 

"  Look  from  that  window,  Roland,"  she  said  ;  "  see  you 
amongst  the  several  lights  which  begin  to  kindle,  and  to 
glimmer  palely  through  the  gray  of  the  evening  from  the 
village  of  Kinross — seest  thou,  I  say,  one  solitary  spark  apart 
from  the  others,  and  nearer  it  seems  to  the  verge  of  the 
water  ?  It  is  no  brighter  at  this  distance  than  the  torch  of 
the  poor  glow-worm,  and  yet,  my  good  youth,  that  light  is 


1 


THE  ABBOT  375 

more  dear  to  Mary  Stuart  thaa  every  star  that  twinkles  in 
the  blue  vault  of  heaven.  By  that  signal,  I  know  that  more 
than  one  true  heart  is  plotting  my  deliverance  ;  and  without 
that  consciousness,  and  the  hope  of  freedom  it  gives  me,  I 
had  long  since  stooped  to  my  fate  and  died  of  a  broken 
heart.  Plan  after  plan  has  been  formed  and  abandoned ; 
but  still  the  light  glimmers,  and  while  it  glimmers  my  hope 
lives.  0  !  how  many  evenings  have  I  sat  musing  in  despair 
over  our  ruined  schemes,  and  scarce  hoping  that  I  should 
again  see  that  blessed  signal ;  when  it  has  suddenly  kindled, 
and,  like  the  lights  of  St.  Elmo  in  a  tempest,  brought  hope 
and  consolation  where  there  was  only  dejection  and  de- 
gpair ! " 

''  If  I  mistake  not,'*  answered  Roland,  ''  the  candle  shines 
from  the  house  of  Blinkhoolie,  the  mail-gardener." 

**  Thou  hast  a  good  eye,"  said  the  Queen  ;  '*it  is  there 
where  my  trusty  lieges — God  and  the  saints  pour  blessings 
on  them  ! — hold  consultation  for  my  deliverance.  The  voice 
of  a  wretched  captive  would  die  on  these  blue  waters  long 
ere  it  could  mingle  in  their  council,  and  yet  I  can  hold  com- 
munication— I  will  confide  the  whole  to  thee — I  am  about  to 
ask  thosa  faithful  friends  if  the  moment  for  the  great  attempt 
is  nigh.     Place  the  lamp  in  the  window,  Fleming." 

She  obeyed,  and  immediately  withdrew  it.  No  sooner 
had  she  done  so  than  the  light  in  the  cottage  of  the  gardener 
disappeared. 

'*  Now,  count,"  said  Queen  Mary,  ''for  my  heartbeats 
so  thick  that  I  cannot  count  myself." 

The  Lady  Fleming  began  deliberately  to  count  one,  two, 
three,  and  when  she  had  arrived  at  ten  the  light  on  the 
fshore  again  showed  its  pale  twinkle. 

"  Now,  Our  Lady  be  praised  ! "  said  the  Queen  ;  ''  it  was 
but  two  nights  since  that  the  absence  of  the  light  remained 
while  I  could  tell  thirty.  The  hour  of  deliverance  approaches. 
May  God  bless  those  who  labor  in  it  with  such  truth 
to  me  ! — alas  !  with  such  hazard  to  themselves — and  bless 
you  too,  my  children  !  Come,  we  must  to  the  audience- 
chamber  again.  Our  absence  might  excite  suspicion,  should 
they  serve  supper." 

They  returned  to  the  presence-chamber,  and  the  evening 
concluded  as  usual. 

The  next  noon,  at  dinner-time,  an  unusual  incident  oc- 
curred. While  Lady  Douglas  of  Lochleven  performed  her 
daily  duty  of  assistant  and  taster  at  the  Queen's  table,  she 
was  told  a  man-at-arms  had  arrived,  recommended  by  her 


376  WA  VEBLEY  NO VELS 

son,  but  without  any  letter  or  otiier  token  than  what  he 
brought  by  word  of  month. 

*'  Hath  he  given  you  that  token  ?  "  demanded  the  lady. 

"  He  reserved  it,  as  I  think,  for  your  ladyship's  ear/* 
replied  Randal. 

'*  He  doth  well/'  said  the  lady  ;  "  tell  him  to  wait  in  the 
halL  But  no — with  your  permission,  madam  (to  the  Queen) 
— let  him  attend  me  here/' 

*'  Since  you  are  pleased  to  receive  your  domestics  in  my 
presence,"  said  the  Queen,  *'  I  cannot  choose " 

^'  My  infirmities  must  plead  my  excuse,  madam,"  replied 
the  lady  ;  "  the  life  I  must  lead  here  ill  suits  with  the  years 
which  have  passed  over  my  head,  and  compels  me  to  waive 
ceremonial.*' 

^'  0,  my  good  lady,"  replied  the  Queen,  *'  I  would  there 
were  nought  in  this  your  castle  more  strongly  compulsive 
than  the  cobweb  chains  of  ceremony  ;  but  bolts  and  bars  are 
harder  matters  to  contend  with." 

As  she  spoke,  the  person  announced  by  Randal  entered  the 
room,  and  Roland  Graeme  at  once  recognized  in  him  the 
Abbot  Ambrosius. 

*'  What  is  your  name,  good  fellow  ?  "  said  the  lady. 

"  Edward  Glendinning,"  answered  the  abbot,  with  a 
Buitable  reverence. 

"  Art  thou  of  the  blood  of  the  Knight  of  Avenel  ?  "  said 
the  Lady  of  Lochleven. 

"  Ay,  madam,  and  that  nearly,"  replied  the  pretended 
Boldier, 

"  It  is  likely  enough,"  said  the  lady,  *' for  the  knight  is 
the  son  of  his  own  good  works,  and  has  risen  from  obscure 
lineage  to  his  present  high  rank  in  the  estate.  But  he  is  of 
sure  truth  and  approved  worth,  and  his  kinsman  is  welcome 
to  us.     You  hold,  unq[uestionably,  the  true  faith  ?  " 

"  Do  not  doubt  of  it,  madam,  said  the  disguised  church- 
man. 

''  Hast  thou  a  token  to  me  from  Sir  William  Douglas  ?" 
»aid  the  lady. 

''  I  have,  madam,"  replied  he  ;  ''  but  it  must  be  said  in 
private." 

'*  Thou  art  right,"  said  the  lady,  moving  towards  the 
tecess  of  a  window  ;  *'  say  in  what  does  it  consist  ?  " 

**  In  the  words  of  an  old  bard,"  replied  the  abbot. 

"Repeat  them,"  answered  the  lady  ;  and  he  uttered,  in  a 
low  tone,  the  lines  from  an  old  poem  called  The  Howlet  * — 

See  Note  24. 


THE  ABBOT  377 

"  O,  Douglas  !    Douglas  I 
Tender  and  true." 

"  Trusty  Sir  John  Holland ! "  said  the  Lady  Douglas, 
apostrophizing  the  poet,  "  a  kinder  heart  never  inspired  a 
rhyme,  and  the  Douglases  honor  was  ever  on  thy  harp-string  ! 
We  receive  you  among  our  followers,  Glendinning.  But, 
Randal,  see  that  he  keep  the  outer  ward  only,  till  we  shall  hear 
more  touching  him  from  our  son.  Thou  fearest  not  the  night 
air,  Glendinning  ?" 

'*  In  the  cause  of  the  lady  before  whom  I  stand,  I  fear 
nothing,  madam/^  answered  the  disguised  abbot. 

**  Our  garrison,  then,  is  stronger  by  one  trustworthy 
soldier,'"  said  the  matron.  '^  Go  to  the  buttery,  and  let  them 
make  much  of  thee.'" 

When  the  Lady  Lochleven  had  retired,  the  Queen  said  to 
Roland  Graeme,  who  was  now  almost  constantly  in  her  com- 
pany, '^  I  spy  comfort  in  that  stranger's  countenance  ;  I 
know  not  why  it  should  be  so,  but  I  am  well  persuaded  he  is 
a  friend." 

*'  Your  Grace's  penetration  does  not  deceive  you,"  answered 
the  page  ;  and  he  informed  her  that  the  abbot  of  St.  Mary's 
himself  played  the  part  of  the  newly-arrived  soldier. 

The  Queen  crossed  herself,  and  looked  upward.  ''  Un- 
worthy sinner  that  I  am,"  she  said,  '^  that  for  my  sake  a 
man  so  holy,  and  so  high  in  spiritual  office,  should  wear  the 
garb  of  a  base  sworder,  and  run  the  risk  of  dying  the  death 
of  a  traitor  !  " 

'*  Heaven  will  protect  its  own  servant,  madam,"  said  Cath- 
erine Seyton  ;  "  his  aid  would  bring  a  blessing  on  our  under- 
taking, were  it  not  already  blest  for  its  own  sake." 

"  What  I  admire  in  my  spiritual  father,"  said  Roland, 
''was  the  steady  front  with  which  he  looked  on  me,  with- 
out giving  the  least  sign  of  former  acquaintance.  I  did  not 
think  the  like  was  possible,  since  I  have  ceased  to  believe 
that  Henry  was  the  same  person  with  Catherine." 

''But  marked  you  not  how  astuciously  the  good  father," 
said  the  Queen,  "  eluded  the  questions  of  the  woman  Loch- 
leven, telling  her  the  very  truth,  which  yet  she  received  not 
as  such  ?  " 

Roland  thought  in  his  heart  that,  when  the  truth  was 
spoken  for  the  purpose  of  deceiving,  it  was  little  better  than 
a  lie  in  disguise.  But  it  was  no  time  to  agitate  such  questions 
of  conscience. 

"  And  now  for  the  signal  from  the  shore ! "  exclaimed 
Catherine ;  ''my  bosom  tells  me  we  shall  see  this  night  two 


878  WAVEELET  NOVELS 

lights  instead  of  one  gleam  from  that  garden  of  Eden.  And 
then,  Roland,  do  you  play  your  part  manfully,  and  we  will 
dance  on  the  greensward  like  midnight  fairies  ! " 

Catherine's  conjecture  misgave  not,  nor  deceived  her.  In 
the  evening  two  beams  twinkled  from  the  cottage,  instead  of 
one  ;  and  the  page  heard,  with  beating  heart,  that  the  new 
retainer  was  ordered  to  stand  sentinel  on  the  outside  of  the 
castle.  When  he  intimated  this  news  to  the  Queen  she  held 
her  hand  out  to  him  ;  he  knelt,  and  when  he  raised  it  to  his 
lips  in  all  dutiful  homage,  he  found  it  was  damp  and  cold  as 
marble.  '^  For  God's  sake,  madam,  droop  not  now — sink 
not  now  !  '* 

'^  Call  upon  Our  Lady,  my  liege,"  said  the  Lady  Fleming — 
*'call  upon  your  tutelar  sainf 

"  Call  the  spirits  of  the  hundred  kings  you  are  descended 
from  !"  exclaimed  the  page;  ''  in  this  hour  of  need,  tha 
resolution  of  a  monarch  were  worth  the  aid  of  a  hundred 
saints." 

''^  0  !  Roland  Graeme,"  said  Mary,  in  a  tone  of  deep  de- 
spondency, ''  be  true  to  me  ;  many  have  been  false  to  me. 
Alas  !  I  have  not  always  been  true  to  myself.  My  mind 
misgives  me  that  I  shall  die  in  bondage,  and  that  this  bold 
attempt  will  cost  all  our  lives.  It  was  foretold  me  by  f 
soothsayer  in  France  that  I  should  die  in  prison,  and  by  i 
violent  death,  and  here  comes  the  hour.  0,  would  to  God 
it  found  me  prepared  !  " 

*' Madam,"  said  Catherine  Seyton,  '^remember  you  are  a 
queen.  Better  we  all  died  in  bravely  attempting  to  gain  our 
freedom  than  remained  here  to  be  poisoned,  as  men  rid  them 
of  the  noxious  vermin  that  haunt  old  houses." 

**  You  are  right,  Catherine,"  said  the  Queen  ;  ''  and  Mary 
will  bear  her  like  herself.  But,  alas  !  your  young  and  buoy- 
ant spirit  can  ill  spell  the  causes  which  have  broken  mine. 
Forgive  me,  my  children,  and  farewell  for  a  while  ;  I  will 
prepare  both  mind  and  body  for  this  awful  venture." 

They  separated,  till  again  called  together  by  the  tolling 
of  the  curfew.  The  Queen  appeared  grave,  but  firm  and 
resolved ;  the  Lady  Fleming,  with  the  art  of  an  experienced 
courtier,  knew  perfectly  how  to  disguise  her  inward  tremors  ; 
Catherine's  eye  was  fired,  as  if  with  the  boldness  of  the  pro- 
ject, and  the  half-smile  which  dwelt  upon  her  beautiful 
mouth  seemed  to  contemn  all  the  risk  and  all  the  con- 
sequences of  discovery  ;  Roland,  who  felt  how  much  success 
depended  on  his  own  address  and  boldness,  summoned  to- 
gether his  whole  presence  of  mind,  and  if  he  found  his  spirits 


THE  ABBOT  8'79 

flag  for  a  moment,  cast  his  eye  upon  Catherine,  whom  he 
thought  he  had  never  seen  look  so  beautiful.  *'  I  may  be 
foiled,^'  he  thought,  "but,  with  this  reward  in  prospect, 
they  must  bring  the  devil  to  aid  them  ere  they  cross  me/^ 
Thus  resolved,  he  stood  like  a  greyhound  in  the  slips,  with 
hand  heart,  and  eye  intent  upon  making  and  seizing  op- 
portunity for  the  execution  of  their  project. 

The  keys  had,  with  the  wonted  ceremonial,  been  presented 
to  the  Lady  Lochleven.  She  stood  with  her  back  to  the 
casement,  which,  like  that  of  the  Queen^s  apartment,  com- 
manded a  view  of  Kinross,  with  the  church,  which  stands 
at  some  distance  from  the  town,  and  nearer  to  the  lake,  then 
connected  with  the  town  by  straggling  cottages.  With  her 
back  to  the  casement,  then,  and  her  face  to  the  table,  on 
which  the  keys  lay  for  an  instant  while  she  tasted  the  various 
dishes  which  were  placed  there,  stood  the  Lady  of  Lochleven, 
more  provokingly  intent  than  usual — so  at  least  it  seemed  to 
her  prisoners — upon  the  huge  and  heavy  bunch  of  iron,  the 
implements  of  their  restraint.  Just  when,  having  finished 
her  ceremony  as  taster  of  the  Queen's  table,  she  was  about 
to  take  up  the  keys,  the  page,  who  stood  beside  her,  and  had 
handed  her  the  dishes  in  succession,  looked  sidewise  to  the 
churchyard,  and  exclaimed  he  saw  corpse-candles  in  the  vault. 
The  Lady  of  Lochleven  was  not  without  a  touch,  though  a 
slight  one,  of  the  superstitions  of  the  time  :  the  fate  of  her 
sons  made  her  alive  to  omens,  and  a  corpse-light,  as  it  was 
called,  in  the  family  burial-place  boded  death.  She  turned 
her  head  towards  the  casement — saw  a  distant  glimmering — 
forgot  her  charge  for  one  second,  and  in  that  second  were 
lost  the  whole  fruits  of  her  former  vigilance.  The  page  held 
the  forged  keys  under  his  cloak,  and  with  great  dexterity 
exchanged  them  for  the  real  ones.  His  utmost  address  could 
not  prevent  a  slight  clash  as  he  took  up  the  latter  bunch. 
**  Who  touches  the  keys  ? "  said  the  lady ;  and  while  the 
page  answered  that  the  sleeve  of  his  cloak  had  stirred  them, 
she  looked  round,  possessed  herself  of  the  bunch  which  now 
occupied  the  place  of  the  genuine  keys,  and  again  turned  to 
gaze  at  the  supposed  corpse-candles. 

^  "  I  hold  these  gleams,'^  she  said,  after  a  moment's  con- 
sideration, "to  come,  not  from  the  churchyard,  but  from 
the  hut  of  the  old  gardener  Blinkhoolie.  I  wonder  what 
thrift  that  churl  drives,  that  of  late  he  hath  ever  had  light 
in  his  house  till  the  night  grew  deep.  I  thought  him  an  in- 
dustrious, peaceful  man.  If  he  turns  resetter  of  idle  com- 
panions and  night-walkers,  the  place  must  be  rid  of  him." 


380  WAVEBLEY  NOVELS 

^'  He  may  work  his  baskets,  perchance,"  said  the  page, 
desirous  to  stop  the  train  of  her  suspicion. 

"  Or  nets,  may  he  not  ?''  answered  the  lady. 

*' Ay,  madam/'  said  Eoland,  '^  for  trout  and  salmon." 

'*  Or  for  fools  and  knaves,''^  replied  the  lady  ;  ''but  this 
shall  be  looked  after  to-morrow.  I  wish  your  Grace  and 
your  company  a  good  evening.  Randal,  attend  us.''  And 
Randal,  who  waited  in  the  ante-chamber  after  having  sur- 
rendered his  bunch  of  keys,  gave  his  escort  to  his  mistress 
as  usual,  while,  leaving  the  Queen's  apartments,  she  retired 
to  her  own. 

'*  To-morrow  !*'  said  the  page,  rubbing  his  hands  with 
glee  as  he  repeated  the  lady's  last  words  ;  ^'  fools  look  to  to- 
morrow, and  wise  folk  use  to-night.  May  I  pray  you,  my 
gracious  liege,  to  retire  for  one  half-hour,  until  all  the  castle 
is  composed  to  rest  ?  I  must  go  and  rub  with  oil  these  blessed 
implements  of  our  freedom.  Courage  and  constancy,  and 
all  will  go  well,  provided  our  friends  on  the  shore  fail  not  to 
send  the  boat  you  spoke  of." 

''  Fear  them  not,"  said  Catherine,  "  they  are  true  as  steel 
— if  our  dear  mistress  do  but  maintain  her  noble  and  royal 
courage."  * 

*'  Doubt  not  me,  Catherine,"  replied  the  Queen  ;  ''  a  while 
since  I  was  overborne,  but  I  have  recalled  the  spirit  of  my 
earlier  and  more  sprightly  days,  when  I  used  to  accompany 
my  armed  nobles,  and  wish  to  be  myself  a  man,  to  know 
what  life  it  was  to  be  in  the  fields  with  sword  and  buckler, 
jack  and  knapscap  ! " 

"  0,  the  lark  lives  not  a  gayer  life,  nor  sings  a  lighter  and 
gayer  song,  than  the  merry  soldier,"  answered  Catherine. 
'^  Your  Grace  shall  be  in  the  midst  of  them  soon,  and  the 
look  of  such  a  liege  sovereign  will  make  each  of  your  host 
worth  three  in  the  hour  of  need.     But  I  must  to  my  task." 

"  We  have  but  brief  time,"  said  Queen  Mary  :  ''one  of 
the  two  lights  in  the  cottage  is  extinguished ;  that  shows 
the  boat  is  put  off." 

''  They  will  row  very  slow,"  said  the  page,  *'  or  kent  where 
depth  permits,  to  avoid  noise.  To  our  several  tasks.  I  will 
communicate  with  the  good  father." 

At  the  dead  hour  of  midnight,  when  all  was  silent  in  the 
castle,  the  page  put  the  key  into  the  lock  of  the  wicket 
which  opened  into  the  garden,  and  which  was  at  the  bottom 
of  a  staircase  that  descended  from  the  Queen's  apartment. 
"  Kow,  turn  smooth  and  softly,  thou  good  bolt,     said  he, 

*  See  Demeanor  of  Queen  Mary.    Note  86. 


THE  ABBOT  381 

•'if  ever  oil  softened  rust  I"  and  his  precautions  had  been  so 
effectual  that  the  bolt  revolved  with  little  or  no  sound  of 
resistance.  He  ventured  not  to  cross  the  threshold,  but  ex- 
changing a  word  with  the  disguised  abbot,  asked  if  the  boat 
were  ready. 

"This  half-hour/'  said  the  sentinel.  *^She  lies  beneath 
the  wall,  too  close  under  the  islet  to  be  seen  by  the  warder  ; 
but  I  fear  she  will  hardly  escape  his  notice  in  putting  off 
again.'' 

"The  darkness/'  said  the  page,  "and  our  profound 
silence,  may  take  her  off  unobserved,  as  she  came  in.  Hilde- 
brand  has  the  watch  on  the  tower — a  heavy-headed  knave, 
who  holds  a  can  of  ale  to  be  the  best  head-piece  upon  a  night- 
watch.     He  sleeps  for  a  wager." 

"  Then  bring  the  Queen,''  said  the  abbot,  "  and  I  will  call 
Henry  Seyton  to  assist  them  to  the  boat." 

On  tiptoe,  with  noiseless  step  and  suppressed  breath, 
trembling  at  every  rustle  of  their  own  apparel,  one  after 
another  the  fair  prisoners  glided  down  the  winding  stair, 
under  the  guidance  of  Koland  Graeme,  and  were  received  at 
the  wicket-gate  by  Henry  Seyton  and  the  churchman.  The 
former  seemed  instantly  to  take  upon  himself  the  whole  di- 
rection of  the  enterprise.  "  My  lord  abbot,"  he  said,  "  give 
my  sister  your  arm  ;  I  will  conduct  the  Queen,  and  that 
youth  will  have  the  honor  to  guide  Lady  Fleming." 

This  was  no  time  to  dispute  the  arrangement,  although 
it  was  not  that  which  Eoland  Graeme  would  have  chosen. 
Catherine  Seyton,  who  well  knew  the  garden  path,  tripped 
on  before  like  a  sylph,  rather  leading  the  abbot  than  receiv- 
ing assistance  ;  the  Queen,  her  native  spirit  prevailing  over 
female  fear  and  a  thousand  painful  reflections,  moved  steadily 
forward,  by  the  assistance  of  Henry  Seyton  ;  while  the  Lady 
Fleming  encumbered  with  her  fears  and  her  helplessness 
Roland  Graeme,  who  followed  in  the  rear,  and  who  bore 
under  the  other  arm  a  packet  of  necessaries  belonging  to  the 
Queen.  The  door  of  the  garden,  which  communicated  with 
the  shore  of  the  islet,  yielded  to  one  of  the  keys  of  which 
Roland  had  possessed  himself,  although  not  until  he  had 
tried  several — a  moment  of  anxious  terror  and  expectation. 
The  ladies  were  then  partly  led,  partly  carried,  to  the  side 
of  the  lake,  where  a  boat  with  six  rowers  attended  them,  the 
men  couched  along  the  bottom  to  secure  them  from  obser- 
vation. Henry  Seyton  placed  the  Queen  in  the  stern  ;  the 
abbot  offered  to  assist  Catherine,  but  she  was  seated  by  the 
Queen's  side  before  he  could  utter  his  proffer  of  help  ;  and 


382  "  WAVER  LET  NOVELS 

Roland  Graeme  was  just  lifting  Lady  Fleming  over  the  boat- 
side  when  a  thought  suddenly  occurred  to  him,  and  exclaim- 
ing, ** Forgotten — forgotten!  wait  for  me  but  one  half 
minute,^'  he  replaced  on  the  shore  the  helpless  lady  of  the 
bed-chamber,  threw  the  Queen's  packet  into  the  boat,  and 
sped  back  through  the  garden  with  the  noiseless  speed  of  a 
bird  on  the  wing. 

''  By  Heaven,  he  is  false  at  last  I"  said  Seyton  ;  "  I  evei 
feared  it ! '' 

*'He  is  as  true,"  said  Catherine,  "as  Heaven  itself,  and 
that  I  will  maintain." 

"  Be  silent,  minion,"  said  her  brother,  "for  shame,  if  not 
for  fear.     Fellows,  put  off,  and  row  for  your  lives  ! " 

"  Help  me — help  me  on  board  ! "  said  the  deserted  Lady 
Fleming,  and  that  louder  than  prudence  warranted, 

"  Put  off — put  off  !"  cried  Henry  Seyton  ;  "  leave  all  be- 
hind, so  the  Queen  is  safe." 

"  Will  you  permit  this,  madam  ?"  said  Catherine,  implor- 
ingly ;  "you  leave  your  deliverer  to  death." 

"  I  w'U  not,"  said  the  Queen.  "Seyton,  I  command  you 
to  stay  at  every  risk." 

"  Pardon  me,  madam,  if  I  disobey,"  said  the  intractable 
young  man  ;  and  with  one  hand  lifting  in  Lady  Fleming,  he 
began  himself  to  push  off  the  boat. 

She  was  two  fathoms'  length  from  the  shore,  and  the 
rowers  were  getting  her  head  round,  when  Roland  Graeme, 
arriving,  bounded  from  the  beach,  and  attained  the  boat, 
overturning  Seyton,  on  whom  he  lighted.  The  youth  swore 
a  deep  but  suppressed  oath,  and  stopping  Graeme  as  he 
stepped  towards  the  stern,  said,  "Your  place  is  not  with 
high-born  dames ;  keep  at  the  head  and  trim  the  vessel. 
Now  give  way — give  way.     Row,  for  God  and  the  Queen  I " 

The  rowers  obeyed,  and  began  to  pull  vigorously. 

"  Why  did  you  not  muffle  the  oars  ?"  said  Roland  Graeme  ; 
"the  dash  must  awaken  the  sentinel.  Row,  lads,  and  get 
out  of  reach  of  shot ;  for  had  not  old  Hildebrand,  the 
warder,  supped  upon  poppy-porridge,  this  whispering  must 
have  waked  him.' 

"  It  was  all  thine  own  delay,"  said  Seyton  ;  "  thou  shalt 
reckon  with  me  hereafter  for  that  and  other  matters." 

But  Roland's  apprehension  was  verified  too  instantly  to 
permit  him  to  reply.  The  sentinel,  whose  slumbering  had 
withstood  the  whispering,  was  alarmed  by  the  dash  of  the 
oars.  His  challenge  was  instantly  heard.  "  A  boat — a  boat  ! 
bring  to,  or  I  shoot  I "    And,  as  they  continued  to  ply  their 


THE  ABBOT  888 

oars,  he  called  aloud,  *'  Treason  ! — treason  !  '*  rung  the  bell 
of  the  castle,  and  discharged  his  harquebuss  at  the  boat. 
The  ladies  crowded  on  each  other  like  startled  wild-fowl,  at 
the  flash  and  report  of  the  piece,  while  the  men  urged  the 
rowers  to  the  utmost  speed.  They  heard  more  than  one 
ball  whiz  along  the  surface  of  the  lake,  at  no  great  distance 
from  their  little  bark  ;  and  from  the  lights,  which  glanced 
like  meteors  from  window  to  window,  it  was  evident  the 
whole  castle  was  alarmed,  and  their  escape  discovered. 

*'  Pull  !  "  again  exclaimed  Seyton  ;  ''  stretch  to  your  oars, 
or  I  will  spur  you  to  the  task  with  my  dagger ;  they  will 
launch  a  boat  immediately." 

"That  is  cared  for,"  said  Roland;  *' I  locked  gate  and 
wicket  on  them  when  I  went  back,  and  no  boat  will  stir  from 
the  island  this  night,  if  doors  of  good  oak  and  bolts  of  iron 
can  keep  men  within  stone  walls.  And  now  I  resign  my  of- 
fice of  porter  of  Lochleven,  and  give  the  keys  to  the  Kelpie's 
keeping. '^ 

As  the  heavy  keys  plunged  in  the  lake,  the  abbot,  who  till 
then  had  been  repeating  his  prayers,  exclaimed,  "  Now,  bless 
thee,  my  son  !  for  thy  ready  prudence  puts  shame  on  us 
all."  * 

"  I  knew,'^  said  Mary,  drawing  her  breath  more  freely,  as 
they  were  now  out  of  reach  of  the  musketry — "  I  knew  my 
squire's  truth,  promptitude,  and  sagacity.  I  must  have  him 
dear  friends  with  my  no  less  true  knights,  Douglas  and  Sey- 
ton ;  but  where,  then,  is  Douglas  ?  " 

'''Here,  madam,"  answered  the  deep  and  melancholy  voice 
of  the  boatman  who  sat  next  her,  and  who  acted  as  steers- 
man. 

"'Alas  !  was  it  you  who  stretched  your  body  before  me,*' 
said  the  Queen,  **  when  the  balls  were  raining  around  us  ?  " 

"Believe  you,''  said  he,  in  a  low  tone,  "that  Douglas 
would  have  resigned  to  any  one  the  chance  of  protecting  his 
Queen's  life  with  his  own  ?", 

The  dialogue  was  here  interrupted  by  a  shot  or  two  from 
one  of  those  small  pieces  of  artillery  called  falconets,  then 
used  in  defending  castles.  The  shot  was  too  vague  to  have 
any  effect,  but  the  broader  flash,  the  deeper  sound,  the  louder 
return  which  was  made  by  the  midnight  echoes  of  Bennarty 
terrified  and  imposed  silence  on  the  liberated  prisoners.  The 
boat  was  alongside  of  a  rude  quay  or  landing-place,  running 
out  from  a  garden  of  considerable  extent,  ere  any  of  them 
again  attempted   to   speak.     They   landed,  and  while  the 

*  S«e  Escape  of  Queen  Mary  from  Lochleven.    Note  26. 


884  WAVERLET  NOVELS 

abbot  returned  thanks  aloud  to  Heaven,  which  had  thus  far 
favored  their  enterprise,  Douglas  enjoyed  the  best  reward 
of  his  desperate  undertaking,  in  conducting  the  Queen  to 
the  house  of  the  gardener.  Yet,  not  unmindful  of  Roland 
Graeme,  even  in  that  moment  of  terror  and  exhaustion,  Mar^ 
expressly  commanded  Seyton  to  give  his  assistance  to  Flem 
ing,  while  Catherine  voluntarily,  and  without  bidding,  took 
the  arm  of  the  page.  Seyton  presently  resigned  Lady  Flem- 
ing to  the  care  of  the  abbot,  alleging  he  must  look  after  thejr 
horses ;  and  his  attendants,  disencumbering  themselves  of 
their  boat-cloaks,  hastened  to  assist  him. 

While  Mary  spent  in  the  gardener's  cottage  the  few 
n:>^inutes  which  were  necessary  to  prepare  the  steeds  for  their 
depvarture,  she  perceived  in  a  corner  the  old  man  to  whom 
the  gtwxden  belonged,  and  called  him  to  approach.  He  came 
as  it  weWe  with  reluctance. 

"  How,  '^brother,*'  said  the  abbot,  *'  so  slow  to  welcome  thy 
royal  Queen  v^nd  mistress  to  liberty  and  to  her  kingdom  ! " 

The  old  ma-aji^  thus  admonished,  came  forward,  and,  in 
good  terms  of  sp^^ech,  gave  her  Grace  joy  of  her  deliverance. 

The  Queen  returi-^ed  him  thanks  in  the  most  gracious  man- 
ner, and  added,  "  It  .will  remain  to  us  to  offer  some  immedi- 
ate reward  for  your  fide^iity,  for  we  wot  well  your  house  has 
been  long  the  refuge  in  wi?|ich  our  trusty  servants  have  met 
to  concert  measures  for  our  iireedom.'*  So  saying,  she  offered 
gold,  and  added,  **  We  will  CG^Jlsi(3er  your  services  more  fully 
hereafter.** 

"Kneel,  brother,"  said  the  ab-bot—'' kneel  instantly,  and 
thank  her  Grace's  kindness." 

"  Good  brother,  that  wert  once  a  fg^  steps  under  me,  and 
art  still  very  many  years  younger,  'i-eplied  the  gardener,  pet- 
tishly, '^ let  me  do  mine  acknowledgments  in  my  own  way. 
Queens  have  knelt  to  me  ere  now,  and  \-^  truth  my  knees  are 
too  old  and  stiff  to  bend  even  to  this  lovei^.f^ced  ladv.  May 
it  please  your  Grace,  if  your  Grace's  serva^^^s  have  occupied 
my  house,  so  that  I  could  not  call  it  mine  (^^^  .  ^f  ^hey  have 
trodden  down  my  flowers  in  the  zeal  of  thCi-j.  midnight  com- 
ings and  goings,  and  destroyed  the  hope  of  ^ j^g  fj.^j^  season 
by  bringing  their  war-horses  into  my  garden,  j  ^^  y^^^  ^^^^^ 
of  your  Grace  in  requital  that  you  will  choose  y^^j.  residence 
as  far  from  me  as  possible.  I  am^  an  old  ma^^  ^]-^q  would 
willingly  creep  to  my^grave  as  easily  as  I  can,  ii,  pg^ce,  good- 
will,  and  quiet  labor."  „     • -,  xi.    ^ 

''  I  promise  you  fairly,  good  man,  said  the  Qi  gen,  *'  I  will 
not  make  yonder  oastle  my  residence  again,  if  1  o^n  help  it 


THE  ABBOT  385 

But  let  me  press  on  you  this  money ;  it  will  make  some 
amends  for  the  havoc  we  have  made  in  your  little  garden  and 
orchard/' 

'  *  I  thank  your  Grace,  but  it  will  make  me  not  the  least 
amends,"  said  the  old  man.  "  The  ruined  labors  of  a  whole 
year  are  not  so  easily  replaced  to  him  who  has  perchance  but 
that  one  year  to  live  ;  and,  besides,  they  tell  m.e  I  must  leave 
this  place,  and  become  a  wanderer  in  mine  old  age — I  that 
have  nothing  on  earth  saving  these  fruit-trees,  and  a  few 
old  parchments  and  family  secrets  not  worth  knowing.  As 
for  gold,  if  I  had  loved  it,  I  might  have  remained  lord  ab- 
bot of  St.  Mary's  ;  and  yet  I  wot  not,  for  if  Abbot  Boniface 
be  but  the  poor  peasant  Blinkhoolie,  his  successor,  the  Ab- 
bot Ambrosius,  is  still  transmitted  for  the  worse  into  the 
guise  of  a  sword-and-buckler-man." 

'*  Ha  !  Is  this  indeed  the  Abbot  Boniface  of  whom  I  have 
heard  ?"  said  the  Queen.  ''It  is  indeed  I  who  should  have 
bent  the  knee  for  your  blessing,  good  father  \" 

*'  Bend  no  knee  to  me,  lady  !  The  blessing  of  an  old  man, 
who  is  no  longer  an  abbot,  go  with  you  over  dale  and  down. 
I  hear  the  trampling  of  your  horses." 

''  Farewell,  father,"  said  the  Queen.  "  When  we  are  once 
more  seated  at  Holyrood,  we  will  neither  forget  thee  nor 
thine  injured  garden." 

*'  Forget  us  both,"  said  the  Ex- Abbot  Boniface,  *'  and  may 
God  be  with  you  !" 

As  they  hurried  out  of  the  house,  they  heard  the  old  man 
talking  and  muttering  to  himself,  as  he  hastily  drew  bolt 
and  bar  behind  them. 

*'  The  revenge  of  the  Douglasses  will  reach  the  poor  old 
man,"  said  the  Queen.  ''  God  help  me,  I  ruin  every  one 
whom  I  approach  !  " 

*'  His  safety  is  cared  for,"  said  Seyton  ;  "  he  must  not  re- 
main here,  but  will  be  privately  conducted  to  a  place  of 
greater  security.  But  I  would  your  Grace  were  in  the 
saddle.     To  horse  ! — to  horse  ! " 

The  party  of  Seyton  and  of  Douglas  were  increased  to 
about  ten  by  those  attendants  who  had  remained  with  the 
horses.  The  Queen  and  her  ladies,  with  all  the  rest  who 
came  from  the  boat,  were  instantly  mounted ;  and  holding 
aloof  from  the  village,  which  was  already  alarmed  by  the 
firing  from  the  castle,  with  Douglas  acting  as  their  guide, 
they  soon  reached  the  open  ground,  and  began  to  ride  as 
last  as  was  consistent  witn  keeping  together  in  good  order. 
as 


CHAPTER  XXXVI 

He  mounted  himself  on  a  coal-black  steed. 

And  her  on  a  freckled  gray, 
With  a  bugelet  horn  hung  down  from  his  sid«. 

And  roundly  they  rode  away. 

Old  Ballad. 

The  influence  of  the  free  air,  the  rushing  of  the  horses  over 
high  and  low,  the  ringing  of  the  bridles,  the  excitation  at 
once  arising  from  a  sense  of  freedom  and  of  rapid  motion, 
gradually  dispelled  the  confused  and  dejected  sort  of  stupe- 
faction by  which  Queen  Mary  was  at  first  overwhelmed. 
She  could  not  at  last  conceal  the  change  of  her  feelings  to 
the  person  who  rode  at  her  rein,  and  'who  she  doubted  not 
was  the  Father  Ambrosius  ;  for  Seyton,  with  all  the  heady 
impetuosity  of  a  youth,  proud,  and  justly  so,  of  his  first 
successful  adventure,  assumed  all  the  bustle  and  importance 
of  commander  of  the  little  party,  which  escorted,  in  the 
language  of  the  time,  the  Fortune  of  Scotland.  He  now 
led  the  van,  now  checked  his  bounding  steed  till  the  rear 
had  come  up,  exhorted  the  leaders  to  keep  a  steady,  though 
rapid,  pace,  and  commanded  those  who  were  hindmost  of 
the  party  to  use  their  spurs,  and  allow  no  interval  to  take 
place  in  their  line  of  march  ;  and  anon  he  was  beside  the 
Queen  or  her  ladies,  inquiring  how  they  brooked  the  hasty 
journey,  and  whether  they  had  any  commands  for  him. 
But  while  Seyton  thus  busied  himself  in  the  general  cause 
with  some  advantage  to  the  regular  order  of  the  march,  and 
a  good  deal  of  personal  ostentation,  the  horseman  who  rode 
beside  the  Queen  gave  her  his  full  and  undivided  attention, 
as  if  he  had  been  waiting  upon  some  superior  being.  When 
the  road  was  rugged  and  dangerous,  he  abandoned  almost 
entirely  the  care  of  his  own  horse,  and  kept  his  hand  con- 
stantly upon  the  Queen's  bridle ;  if  a  river  or  larger  brook 
traversed  their  course,  his  left  arm  retained  her  in  the  sad- 
dle, while  his  right  held  her  palfrey's  rein. 

''I  had  not  thought,  reverend  father,''  said  the  Queen, 
when  they  reached  the  other  bank,  ''that  the  convent  bred 
such  good  horsemen."  The  person  she  addressed  sighed,  but 
made  no  other  answer.     *'  I  know  not  how  it  is/'  said  Queen 


THE  ABBOT  88t 

Mary,  "  but  either  the  sense  of  freedom,  or  the  pleasure  of 
my  favorite  exercise,  from  which  I  have  been  so  long  debarred, 
or  both  combined,  seem  to  have  given  wings  to  rae  :  no  fish 
ever  shot  through  the  water,  no  bird  through  the  air, 
with  the  hurried  feeling  of  liberty  and  rapture  with  which  I 
sweep  through  this  night- wind,  and  over  these  wolds.  Nay, 
such  is  the  magic  of  feeling  myself  once  more  in  the  saddle, 
that  I  could  almost  swear  I  am  at  this  moment  mounted  on 
my  own  favorite  Kosabelle,  who  was  never  matched  in  Scot- 
lond  for  swiftness,  for  ease  of  motion,  and  for  sureness  of 
foot/' 

'*  And  if  the  horse  which  bears  so  dear  a  burden  could 
speak,'*  answered  the  deep  voice  of  the  melancholy  George 
of  Douglas,  *'  would  she  not  reply,  who  but  Kosabelle  ought 
at  such  an  emergence  as  this  to  serve  her  beloved  mistress, 
or  who  but  Douglas  ought  to  hold  her  bridle-rein  ?'* 

Queen  Mary  started  ;  she  foresaw  at  once  all  the  evils  like 
to  arise  to  herself  and  him  from  the  deep  enthusiastic  passion 
of  this  youth  ;  but  her  feelings  as  a  woman,  grateful  at  once 
and  compassionate,  prevented  her  assuming  the  dignity  of  a 
Queen,  and  she  endeavored  to  continue  the  conversation  in 
an  indifferent  tone. 

*'  Methought,"  she  said,  **  I  heard  that,  at  the  division  of 
my  spoils,  Kosabelle  had  become  the  property  of  Lord  Mor- 
ton's paramour  and  lady-love,  Alice." 

"  The  noble  palfrey  had  indeed  been  destined  to  so  base  a 
lot,"  answered  Douglas.  ^'  She  was  kept  under  four  keys, 
and  under  the  charge  of  a  numerous  crew  of  grooms  and 
domestics  ;  but  Queen  Mary  needed  Kosabelle,  and  Kosabelle 
is  here. " 

"  And  was  it  well,  Douglas,"  said  Queen  Mary,  "  when 
such  fearful  risks  of  various  kinds  must  needs  be  encoun- 
tered, that  you  should  augment  their  perils  to  yourself  for  a 
subject  of  so  little  momemt  as  a  palfrey  ?  " 

' '  Do  you  call  that  of  little  moment,"  answered  Douglas, 
"  which  has  afforded  you  a  moment's  pleasure  ?  Did  you 
not  start  with  joy  when  I  first  said  you  were  mounted  on 
Kosabelle  ?  And  to  purchase  you  that  pleasure,  though  it 
were  to  last  no  longer  than  the  flash  of  lightning  doth,  would 
not  Douglas  have  risked  his  life  a  thousand  times  ?" 

"  0,  peace,  Douglas — peace,"  said  the  Queen,  "this  is 
unfitting  language  ;  and,  besides,  I  would  speak,"  said  she, 
recollecting  herself,  *'  with  the  abbot  of  St._  Mary's.  Nay, 
Douglas,  I  will  not  let  yon  quit  my  rein  in  displeasure." 

"  Displeaflure,  lady  I "  answered  Douglas ;  "  alas !  sorrow 


388  WA  VERLET  NOVELS 

18  all  that  I  can  feel  for  your  well- warranted  contempt.  I 
should  be  as  soon  displeased  with  Heaven  for  refusing  the 
wildest  wish  which  mortal  can  form/' 

*'  Abide  by  my  rein,  however,"  said  Mary,  "  there  is  room 
for  my  lord  abbot  on  the  other  side ;  and,  besides,  I  doubt  if 
his  assistance  would  be  so  useful  to  Rosabelle  and  me  as 
yours  has  been,  should  the  road  again  require  it/' 

The  abbot  came  up  on  the  other  side,  and  she  immediately 
opened  a  conversation  with  him  on  the  topic  of  the  state  of 
parties,  and  the  plan  fittest  for  her  to  pursue  inconsequence 
of  her  deliverance.  In  this  conversation  Douglas  look  little 
share,  and  never  but  when  directly  applied  to  by  the  Queen, 
while,  as  before,  his  attention  seemed  entirely  engrossed  by 
the  care  of  Mary's  personal  safety.  She  learned,  however, 
she  had  a  new  obligation  to  him,  since,  by  his  contrivance, 
the  abbot,  whom  he  had  furnished  with  the  family  password, 
was  introduced  into  the  castle  as  one  of  the  garrison. 

Long  before  daybreak  they  ended  their  hasty  and  perilous 
journey  before  the  gates  of  Niddrie,  a  castle  in  West  Lothian, 
belonging  to  Lord  Seyton.  When  the  Queen  was  about  to 
alight,  Henry  Seyton,  preventing  Douglas,  received  her  in 
his  arms,  and,  kneeling  down,  prayed  her  Majesty  to  enter  the 
house  of  his  father,  her  faithful  servant. 

''Your  Grace,"  he  added,  ''may  repose  yourself  here  in 
perfect  safety  :  it  is  already  garrisoned  with  good  men  for 
your  protection  ;  and  I  have  sent  a  post  to  my  father,  whose 
instant  arrival,  at  the  head  of  five  hundred  men,  may  be 
looked  for.  Do  not  dismay  yourself,  therefore,  should  your 
sleep  be  broken  by  the  trampling  of  horse  ;  but  only  think 
that  here  are  some  scores  more  of  the  saucy  Seytons  come  tp 
attend  you." 

"  And  by  better  friends  than  the  saucy  Seytons  a  Scottish 
queen  cannot  be  guarded,"  replied  Mary.  "  Rosabelle  went 
fleet  as  the  summer  breeze,  and  wellnigh  as  easy  ;  but  it  is 
long  since  I  have  been  a  traveler,  and  I  feel  that  repose  will 
be  welcome.  Catherine,  ma  mxgnone,  you  must  sleep  in  my 
apartment  to-night,  and  bid  me  welcome  to  your  noble 
father's  castle.  Thanks — thanks  to  all  my  kind  deliverers; 
thanks,  and  a  good-night  is  all  I  can  now  offer ;  but  if  I 
climb  once  more  to  the  upper  side  of  Fortune's  wheel  I  will 
not  have  her  bandage.  Mary  Stuart  will  keep  her  eyes  open, 
and  distinguish  her  friends.  Seyton,  I  need  scarcely  recom- 
mend the  venerable  abbot,  the  Douglas,  and  my  page  to 
jrour  honorable  care  and  hospitality." 

Henry  Seyton  bowed,  and  Catherine  and  Lady  Fleming 


THE  ABBOT  389 

attended  the  Queen  to  her  apartment ;  where,  acknowledge 
ing  to  them  that  she  should  have  found  it  difficult  in  that 
moment  to  keep  her  promise  of  holding  her  eyes  open,  she 
resigned  herself  to  repose,  and  awakened  not  till  the  morn- 
ing was  advanced.' 

Mary's  first  feeling  when  she  awoke  was  the  doubt  of  hei 
freedom  ;  and  the  impulse  prompted  her  to  start  from  bed, 
and  hastily  throwing  her  mantle  over  her  shoulders,  to  look 
out  at  the  casement  of  her  apartment.  0  sight  of  joy  !  in- 
stead of  the  crystal  sheet  of  Lochleven,  unaltered  save  by 
the  influence  of  the  wind,  a  landscape  of  wood  and  moor- 
land lay  before  her,  and  the  park  around  the  castle  was  oc- 
cupied by  the  troops  of  her  most  faithful  and  most  favorite 
nobles. 

*'  Kise— rise,  Catherine,'^  cried  the  enraptured  Princess — 
^'  arise  and  come  hither  !  Here  are  swords  and  spears  in  true 
hands,  and  glittering  armor  on  loyal  breasts.  Here  are  ban- 
ners, my  girl,  floating  in  the  wind,  as  lightly  as  summer 
cloud.  Great  God !  what  pleasure  to  my  weary  eyes  to 
trace  their  devices — thine  own  brave  father's — the  prince- 
ly Hamilton's  —  the  faithful  Fleming's.  See — see — they 
Jbave  caught  a  glimpse  of  me,  and  throng  towards  the 
window  ! " 

She  flung  the  casement  open,  and  with  her  bare  head, 
from  which  the  tresses  flew  back  loose  and  disheveled,  her 
fair  arm,  slenderly  veiled  by  her  mantle,  returned  by  motion 
and  sign  the  exulting  shouts  of  the  warriors,  which  echoed 
for  many  a  furlong  around.  When  the  first  burst  of  ecstatic 
joy  was  over  she  recollected  how  lightly  she  was  dressed, 
and,  putting  her  hands  to  her  face,  which  was  covered  with 
blushes  at  the  recollection,  withdrew  abruptly  from  the 
window.  The  cause  of  her  retreat  was  easily  conjectured, 
and  increased  the  general  enthusiasm  for  the  princess  who 
had  forgotten  her  rank  in  her  haste  to  acknowledge  the  serv- 
ices of  her  subjects.  The  unadorned  beauties  of  the  lovely 
woman,  too,  moved  the  military  spectators  more  than  the 
highest  display  of  her  regal  state  might ;  and  what  might 
have  seemed  too  free  in  her  mode  of  appearing  before  them 
was  more  than  atoned  for  by  the  enthusiasm  of  the  moment, 
and  by  the  delicacy  evinced  in  her  hasty  retreat.  Often  as 
the  shouts  died  away,  as  often  were  they  renewed,  till  wood 
and  hill  rung  again ;  and  many  a  deep  oath  was  made  that 
morning  on  the  cross  of  the  sword,  that  the  hand  should  not 
part  with  the  weapon  till  Mary  Stuart  was  restored  to  her 
rights.     But  what  are  promises,  what  the  hopes  of  moi*tals  f 


J90  WAVEBLET  NOVELS 

In  ten  Jays  the  gallant  and  devoted  votaries  were  slain,  were 
captives,  or  had  fled. 

Mary  flung  herself  into  the  nearest  seat,  and  still  blush- 
ing, yet  half-smiling,  exclaimed,  '^Ma  mignonne,  what  will 
they  think  of  me  ? — to  show  myself  to  them  with  my  bare 
feet  hastily  thrust  into  my  slippers — only  this  loose  mantle 
about  me — my  hair  loose  on  my  shoulders — my  arms  and 
neck  so  bare.  0,  the  best  they  can  suppose  is,  that  her 
abode  in  yonder  dungeon  has  turned  their  Queen's  brain  I 
But  my  rebel  subjects  saw  me  exposed  when  I  was  in  the 
depth  of  affliction,  why  should  I  hold  colder  ceremony  with 
these  faithful  and  loyal  men  ?  Call  Fleming,  however  ;  I 
trust  she  has  not  forgotten  the  little  mail  with  my  apparel. 
We  must  be  as  brave  as  we  can,  mignonne." 

**  Nay,  madam,  our  good  Lady  Fleming  was  in  no  case  to 
remember  anything/' 

'*You  jest,  Catherine,"  said  the  Queen,  somewhat  of- 
fended ;  *'  it  is  not  her  nature,  surely,  to  forget  her  duty  so 
far  as  to  leave  us  without  a  change  of  apparel  ?  *' 

*'  Roland  Graeme,  madam,  took  care  of  that,"  answered 
Catherine  ;  "  for  he  threw  the  mail  with  your  Highnesses 
clothes  and  jewels  into  the  boat,  ere  he  ran  back  to  lock  the 
gate.  I  never  saw  so  awkward  a  page  as  that  youth :  the 
packet  wellnigh  fell  on  my  head." 

'^  He  shall  make  thy  heart  amends,  my  girl,"  said  Queen 
Mary,  laughing,  *'  for  that  and  all  other  offenses  given.  But 
call  Fleming,  and  let  us  put  ourselves  into  apparel  to 
meet  our  faithful  lords." 

Such  had  been  the  preparations,  and  such  was  the  skill 
of  Lady  Fleming,  that  the  Queen  appeared  before  her  as- 
sembled nobles  in  such  attire  as  became,  through  it  could 
not  enchance,  her  natural  dignity.  With  the  most  winning 
courtesy,  she  expressed  to  each  individual  her  grateful 
thanks,  and  dignified  not  only  every  noble,  but  many  of  the 
lesser  barons,  by  her  peculiar  attention. 

"And  whither  now,  my  lords  ?"  she  said  ;  "  what  way  do 
your  counsels  determine  for  us  ?  " 

'*  To  Draphane  Castle,"  replied  Lord  Arbroath,  "if  your 
Majesty  is  so  pleased ,  and  thence  to  Dunbarton,  to  place 
your  Grace's  person  in  safety,  after  which  we  long  to  prove 
if  these  traitors  will  abide  us  in  the  field." 

"  And  when  do  we  journey  ?" 

"We  propose,"  said  Lord  Seyton,  "if  your  Grace's  fati 
gue  will  permit,  to  take  horse  after  the  morning's  meal." 

"  Your  pleasure,  my  lords,  is  mine/'  replied  the  Queen  » 


THE  ABBOT  891 

••  we  will  rule  our  jonrney  by  your  wisdom  now,  and  hope 
hereafter  to  have  the  advantage  of  governing  by  it  our  king- 
dom. You  will  permit  my  ladies  and  me,  my  good  lords,  to 
break  our  fast  along  with  you  ;  we  must  be  half  soldiers  our- 
selves, and  set  state  apart/' 

Low  bowed  many  a  helmeted  head  at  this  gracious  proffer, 
when  the  Queen,  glancing  her  eyes  through  the  assembled 
leaders,  missed  both  Douglas  and  Eoland  Graeme,  and  in- 
quired for  them  in  a  whisper  to  Catherine  Seyton. 

"  They  are  in  yonder  oratory,  madam,  sad  enough, *'  re- 
plied Catherine,  and  the  Queen  observed  that  her  favorite's 
eyes  were  red  with  weeping. 

"  This  must  not  be,"  said  the  Queen.  *'  Keep  the  com- 
pany amused.     I  will  seek  them,  and  introduce  them  myself. " 

She  went  into  the  oratory,  where  the  first  she  met  was 
George  Douglas,  standing,  or  rather  reclining,  in  the  recess 
of  a  window,  his  back  rested  against  the  wall  and  his  arms 
folded  on  his  breast.  At  the  sight  of  the  Queen  he  started, 
and  his  countenance  showed,  for  an  instant,  an  expression 
t)f  intense  delight,  which  was  instantly  exchanged  for  his 
usual  deep  melancholy. 

**  What  means  this  ?  "  she  said.  "  Douglas,  why  does  the 
first  deviser  and  bold  executor  of  the  happy  scheme  for  our 
freedom  shun  the  company  of  his  fellow-nobles,  and  of  the 
sovereign  whom  he  has  obliged  ?  " 

*'  Madam,''  replied  Douglas,  *'  those  whom  you  grace  with 
your  presence  bring  followers  to  aid  your  cause,  wealth  to 
support  your  state — can  offer  you  balk  in  which  to  feast, 
and  impregnable  castles  for  your  defense.  I  am  a  houseless 
and  landless  man — disinherited  by  my  [grand-]  mother,  and 
laid  under  her  malediction — disowned  by  my  name  and  kin- 
dred— who  bring  nothing  to  your  standard  but  a  single  sword, 
and  the  poor  life  of  its  owner." 

*'Do  you  mean  to  upbraid  me,  Douglas,"  replied  the 
Queen,  ^'  by  showing  what  you  have  lost  for  my  sake  ?  " 

"  God  forbid,  madam  ! "  interrupted  the  young  man, 
eagerly  ;  "  were  it  to  do  again,  and  had  I  ten  times  as  much 
rank  and  wealth,  and  twenty  times  as  many  friends  to  lose, 
my  losses  would  be  overpaid  by  the  first  step  you  made,  as  a 
free  princess,  upon  the  soil  of  your  native  kingdom." 

"  And  what  then  ails  you,  that  you  will  not  rejoice  with 
those  who  rejoice  upon  the  same  joyful  occasion  ?  "  said  the 
Queen. 

*'  Madam,"  replied  the  youth,  "though  exheridated  and 
disowned,  I  am  yet  a  Douglas :  with  most  of  yonder  nobles 


392  WAVERLET  NOVELS 

my  family  have  been  in  feud  for  ages — a  cold  reception 
amongst  them  were  an  insult,  and  a  kind  one  yet  more 
humiliating/' 

"  For  shame,  Douglas/'  replied  the  Queen,  ''  shake  off 
this  unmanly  gloom  !  I  can  make  thee  match  for  the  best 
of  them  in  title  and  fortune,  and,  believe  me,  I  will.  Go 
then  amongst  them,  I  command  you/' 

"That  word,"  said  Douglas,  **is  enough.  I  go.  This 
only  let  me  say,  that  not  for  wealth  or  title  would  I  have 
done  that  which  I  have  done.  Mary  Stuart  will  not,  and 
the  Queen  cannot,  reward  me." 

So  saying,  he  left  the  oratory,  mingled  with  the  nobles, 
and  placed  himself  at  the  table.  The  Queen  looked  after 
him,  and  put  her  kerchief  to  her  eyes. 

*'  Now,  Our  Lady  pity  me,"  she  said,  "  for  no  sooner  are 
my  prison  cares  ended  than  those  which  beset  me  as  a  wo- 
man and  a  queen  again  thicken  around  me.  Happy  Eliza- 
beth I  to  whom  political  interest  is  everything,  and  whose 
heart  never  betrays  thy  head.  And  now  must  I  seek  this 
other  boy,  if  I  would  prevent  daggers-drawing  betwixt  him 
and  the  young  Seyton." 

Koland  Grseme  was  in  the  same  oratory,  but  at  such  a  dis- 
tance from  Douglas,  that  he  could  not  overhear  what  passed 
betwixt  the  Queen  and  him.  He  also  was  moody  and 
thoughtful,  but  cleared  his  brow  at  the  Queen's  question, 
"  How  now,  Eoland  ?  you  are  negligent  in  your  attendance 
this  morning.  Are  you  so  much  overcome  with  your  night's 
ride?" 

''Not  so,  gracious  madam,"  answered  Graeme;  "but  I 
am  told  the  page  of  Lochleven  is  not  the  page  of  Niddrie 
Castle  ;  and  so  Master  Henry  Seyton  hath  in  a  manner  been 
pleased  to  supersede  my  attendance." 

"Now,  Heaven  forgive  me,"  said  the  Queen,  "how  soon 
these  cock-chickens  begin  to  spar  !  With  children  and  boys, 
at  least,  I  may  be  a  queen.  I  will  have  you  friends.  Some 
one  send  me  Henry  Seyton  hither."  As  she  spoke  the  last 
words  aloud,  the  youth  whom  she  had  named  entered  the 
apartment.  "Oome  hither,"  she  said,  "Henry  Seyton.  I 
will  have  you  give  your  hand  to  this  youth,  who  so  well  aided 
in  the  plan  of  my  escape." 

"  Willingly,  madam,"  answered  Seyton,  "  so  that  the  youth 
will  grant  me,  as  a  boon,  that  he  touch  not  the  hand  of  an- 
other Seyton  whom  he  knows  of.  My  hand  has  passed 
current  for  hers  with  him  before  now  j  and  to  win  myfriend- 
ihip,  he  must  give  up  thoughts  of  my  sister's  love/' 


THE  ABBOT  393 

"  Henry  Seyton/'  said  the  Queen,  ''does  it  become  you  to 
add  any  condition  to  my  command  ?  '* 

"  Madam/'  said  Henry,  ''  I  am  the  servant  of  your  Grace's 
throne,  son  to  the  most  loyal  man  in  Scotland.  Our  goods, 
our  castles,  our  blood,  are  yours ;  our  honor  is  in  our  own 
keeping.     I  could  say  more,  but '* 

*'  Nay,  speak  on,  rude  boy,''  said  the  Queen  ;  ''  what  avails 
it  that  1  am  released  from  Lochleven,  if  I  am  thus  enthralled 
under  the  yoke  of  my  pretended  deliverers,  and  prevented 
from  doing  justice  to  one  who  has  deserved  as  well  of  me  as 
yourself  ?  " 

**  Be  not  in  this  distemperature  of  me,  sovereign  lady," 
said  Roland,  ''  this  young  gentleman,  being  the  faithful  ser- 
vant of  your  Grace,  and  the  brother  of  Catherine  Seyton, 
bears  that  about  him  which  will  charm  down  my  passion  at 
the  hottest." 

''I  warn  thee  once  more,"  said  Henry  Seyton,  haughtily, 
*'  that  you  make  no  speech  which  may  infer  that  the  daugh- 
ter of  Lord  Seyton  can  be  aught  to  thee  beyond  what  she  is 
to  every  churl's  blood  in  Scotland." 

The  Queen  was  again  about  to  interfere,  for  Roland's  com- 
plexion rose,  and  it  became  somewhat  questionable  how  long 
his  love  for  Catherine  would  suppress  the  natural  fire  of  his 
temper.  But  the  interposition  of  another  person,  hitherto 
Unseen,  prevented  Mary's  interference.  There  was  in  the 
oratory  a  separate  shrine,  inclosed  with  a  high  screen  of 
pierced  oak,  within  which  was  placed  an  image  of  St.  Ben- 
net,  of  peculiar  sanctity.  From  this  recess,  in  which  she 
had  been  probably  engaged  in  her  devotions,  issued  suddenly 
Magdelen  Graeme,  and  addressed  Henry  Seyton  in  reply  to 
his  last  offensive  expression — ''And  of  what  clay,  then,  are 
they  molded,  these  Seytons,  that  the  blood  of  the  Graemes 
may  not  aspire  to  mingle  with  theirs  ?  Know,  proud  boy, 
that  when  I  called  this  youth  my  daughter's  child,  I  affirm 
his  descent  from  Malise  Earl  of  Strathern,  called  Malsie 
with  the  Bright  Brand ;  and  I  trow  the  blood  of  your  house 
springs  from  no  higher  source." 

"  Good  mother,"  said  Seyton,  "  methinks  your  sanctity 
should  make  you  superior  to  these  worldly  vanities  ;  and  in- 
deed it  seenis  to  have  rendered  you  somewhat  oblivious 
touching  them,  since,  to  be  of  gentle  descent,  the  father's 
name  and  lineage  must  be  as  well  qualified  as  the  mother's.'* 

"And  if  I  say  he  comes  of  the  blood  of  Avenel  by  the 
father's  side,"  replied  Magdalen  Graeme,  "  name  I  not  blood 
as  richly  colored  as  thine  own  ?  " 


394  WAVEBLET  NOVELS 

"  Of  Avenel !  *'  said  the  Queen  ;  "is  my  page  descended 
of  Avenel  ?  " 

*'  Ay,  gracious  Princess,  and  the  last  male  heir  of  that  an- 
cient house.  Julian  Avenel  was  his  father,  who  fell  in  the 
battle  against  the  Southron/* 

*'  I  have  heard  the  tale  of  sorrow,"  said  the  Queen  ;  "  it 
was  thy  daughter,  then,  who  followed  that  unfortunate  baron 
to  the  field,  and  died  on  his  body  ?  Alas  !  how  many  ways 
does  woman's  affection  find  to  work  out  her  own  misery  ! 
The  tale  has  oft  been  told  and  sung  in  hall  and  bower.  And 
thou,  Roland,  art  that  child  of  misfortune,  who  was  left 
among  the  dead  and  dying  ?  Henry  Seyton,  he  is  thine 
equal  in  blood  and  birth." 

"  Scarcely  so,"  said  Henry  Seyton,  '*  even  were  he  legiti- 
mate ;  but  if  the  tale  be  told  and  sung  aright,  Julian  Avenel 
was  a  false  knight,  and  his  leman  a  frail  and  credulous 
maiden." 

*'  Now,  by  Heaven,  thou  liest ! "  said  Roland  Graeme,  and 
laid  his  hand  on  his  sword.  The  entrance  of  Lord  Seyton, 
however,  prevented  violence. 

"  Save  me,  my  lord,"  said  the  Queen  ;  *'  and  separate  these 
wild  and  untamed  spirits." 

"How,  Henry  !"  said  the  baron,  "are  my  castle  and  the 
Queen's  presence  no  check  on  thy  insolence  and  impetuos- 
ity ?  And  with  whom  art  thou  brawling  ?  Unless  my  eyes 
spell  that  token  false,  it  is  with  the  very  youth  who  aided  me 
BO  gallantly  in  the  skirmish  with  the  Leslies.  Let  me  look, 
fair  youth,  at  the  medal  which  thou  wearest  in  thy  cap.  By 
St.  Bennet,  it  is  the  same  !  Henry,  I  command  thee  to  for- 
bear him,  as  thou  lovest  my  blessing " 

"And  as  you  honor  my  command,"  said  the  Queen;  "good 
service  hath  he  done  me." 

"  Ay, madam," replied  young  Seyton,  "as  when  he  carried 
the  billet,  inclosed  in  the  sword-sheath,  to  Lochleven. 
Marry,  the  good  youth  knew  no  more  than  a  pack-horse  what 
he  was  carrying." 

"  But  I,  who  dedicated  him  to  this  great  work,"  said  Mag- 
dalen Graeme — "  I,  by  whose  advice  and  agency  this  just  heir 
hath  been  unloosed  from  her  thraldom — I,  who  spared  not 
the  last  remaining  hope  of  a  falling  house  in  this  great  action 
— I,  at  least,  knew  and  counseled  ;  and  what  merit  may  be 
mine,  let  the  reward,  most  gracious  Queen,  descend  upon 
this  youth.  My  ministry  here  is  ended  :  you  are  free — a 
sovereign  princess  at  the  head  of  a  gallant  army,  surrounded 
by  valiant  barons.     My  service  could  avail  you  no  farther. 


THE  ABBOT  395 

but  might  well  prejudice  you  ;  your  fortune  now  rests  upon 
men's  hearts  and  men's  swords.  May  they  prove  as  trusty 
as  the  faith  of  women  !  " 

"  You  will  not  leave  us,  mother/'  said  the  Queen — '*  you 
whose  practises  in  our  favor  were  so  powerful,  who  dared  so 
many  dangers,  and  wore  so  many  disguises,  to  blind  our 
enemies  and  to  confirm  our  friends — ^you  will  not  leave  us  in 
the  dawn  of  our  reviving  fortunes,  ere  we  have  time  to  know 
and  to  thank  you  ?  " 

'^  You  cannot  know  her,"  answered  Magdalen  Graeme, 
"  who  knows  not  herself  :  there  are  times  when,  in  this 
woman's  frame  of  mine,  there  is  the  strength  of  him  of 
Gath  ;  in  this  overtoiled  brain,  the  wisdom  of  the  most  sage 
counselor  ;  and  again  the  mist  is  on  me,  and  my  strength  is 
weakness,  my  wisdom  folly.  I  have  spoken  before  princes 
and  cardinals — ay,  noble  Princess,  even  before  the  princess 
of  thine  own  house  of  Lorraine — and  I  know  not  whence  the 
words  of  persuasion  came  which  flowed  from  my  lips,  and 
were  drunk  in  by  their  ears.  And  now,  even  when  I  most 
need  words  of  persuasion,  there  is  something  which  chokes 
my  voice  and  robs  me  of  utterance." 

"  If  there  be  aught  in  my  power  to  do  thee  pleasure,"  said 
the  Queen,  "  the  barely  naming  it  shall  avail  as  well  as  all 
thine  eloquence." 

''  Sovereign  lady,"  replied  the  enthusiast,  "  it  shames  me 
that  at  this  high  moment  something  of  human  frailty  should 
cling  to  one  whose  vows  the  saints  have  heard,  whose  labors 
in  the  rightful  cause  Heaven  has  prospered.  But  it  will  be 
thus,  while  the  living  spirit  is  shrined  in  the  clay  of  mortal- 
ity. I  will  yield  to  the  folly,"  she  said,  weeping  as  she 
spoke,  *'  and  it  shall  be  the  last."  Then  seizing  Roland's 
hand,  she  led  him  to  the  Queen's  feet,  kneeling  herself  upon 
one  knee,  and  causing  him  to  kneel  on  both.  "  Mighty 
Princess,"  she  said,  '*  look  on  this  flower — it  was  found  by  a 
kindly  stranger  on  a  bloody  field  of  battle,  and  long  it  was 
ere  my  anxious  eyes  saw,  and  my  arms  pressed,  all  that  was 
left  of  my  only  daughter.  For  your  sake,  and  for  that  of 
the  holy  faith  we  both  profess,  I  could  leave  this  plant, 
while  it  was  yet  tender,  to  the  nurture  of  strangers — ay,  of 
enemies,  by  whom,  perchance,  his  blood  would  have  been 
poured  forth  as  wine,  had  the  heretic  Glendinning  known 
that  he  had  in  his  house  the  heir  of  Julian  Avenel.  Since 
then  I  have  seen  him  only  in  a  few  hours  of  doubt  and 
dread,  and  now  I  part  with  the  child  of  my  love— forever — 
forever  I    0,  for  every  weary  gtep  I  Iw^v^  wade  in  yo^i 


396  WAVEBLET  NOVELS 

rightful  canse,  m  this  and  in  foreign  lands,  give  protection 
to  the  child  whom  I  must  no  more  call  mine  ! " 

"  I  swear  to  you,  mother,"  said  the  Queen,  deeply  affected,. 
'^  that,  for  your  sake  and  his  own,  his  happiness  and  fortune 
shall  be  our  charge  ! " 

"  I  thank  you,  daughter  of  princes,"  said  Magdalen,  and 
pressed  her  lips,  first  to  the  Queen's  hand,  then  to  the  brow 
of  her  grandson.  '*  And  now,"  she  said,  drying  her  tears, 
and  rising  with  dignity,  *'  earth  has  had  its  own,  and  Heaven 
claims  the  rest.  Lioness  of  Scotland,  go  forth  and  conquer  ! 
and  if  the  prayers  of  a  devoted  votaress  can  avail  thee,  they 
will  rise  in  many  a  land,  and  from  many  a  distant  shrine. 
I  will  glide  like  a  ghost  from  land  to  land,  from  temple  to 
temple  ;  and  where  the  very  name  of  my  country  is  un- 
known, the  priests  shall  ask  who  is  the  queen  of  that  distant 
northern  clime,  for  whom  the  aged  pilgrim  was  so  fervent 
in  prayer.  Farewell  !  Honor  be  thine,  and  earthly  prosper- 
ity, if  it  be  the  will  of  God  ;  if  not,  may  the  penance  thou 
shalt  do  here  ensure  thy  happiness  hereafter  I  Let  no  one 
speak  or  follow  me — my  resolution  is  taken — my  vow  cannot 
be  canceled/' 

She  glided  from  their  presence  as  she  spoke,  and  her  last 
look  was  upon  her  beloved  grandchild.  He  would  have 
risen  and  followed,  but  the  Queen  and  Lord  Seyton  inter- 
fered. 

"  Press  not  on  her  now,'' said  Lord  Seyton,  '^  if  you  would 
not  lose  her  forever.  Many  a  time  have  we  seen  the  sainted 
mother,  and  often  at  the  most  needful  moment ;  but  to 
press  on  her  privacy,  or  to  thwart  her  purpose,  is  a  crime 
which  she  cannot  pardon.  I  trust  we  shall  yet  see  her  at 
her  need — a  holy  woman  she  is  for  certain,  and  delicated 
wholly  to  prayer  and  penance  ;  and  hence  the  heretics 
hold  her  as  one  distracted,  while  true  Catholics  deem  her 
a  saint.'* 

'*  Let  me  then  hope,"  said  the  Queen,  ''that  you,  my  lord, 
will  aid  me  in  the  execution  of  her  last  request." 

*'  What  !  in  the  protection  of  my  young  second  ? — cheer- 
fully— that  is,  in  all  that  your  Majesty  can  think  it  fitting 
to  ask  of  me.'  Henry,  give  thy  hand  upon  the  instant  to 
Roland  Avenel,  for  so  I  presume  he  must  now  be  called." 

"  And  shall  be  lord  of  the  barony,"  said  the  Queen,  ''  if 
God  prosper  our  rightful  arms." 

"It  can  only  be  to  restore  it  to  my  kind  protectress, 
who  now  holds  it,"  said  young  Avenel.  "  I  would  rather 
be  landless  all  my  life  than  she  lost  a  rood  of  ground  by  me." 


THE  ABBOT 


m 


**  Nay/'  said  the  Queen,  looking  to  Lord  Seyton,  **  his 
mind  matches  his  birth.  Henry,  thou  hast  not  yet  given 
thy  hand/' 

'^  It  is  his/'  said  Henry,  giving  it  with  some  appearance  of 
courtesy,  but  whispering  Eoland  at  the  same  time,  **  For  all 
this  thou  hast  not  my  sister's/' 

^^  May  it  please  your  Grace,"  said  Lord  Seyton,  "now  that 
these  passages  are  over,  to  honor  our  poor  meal.  Time  it 
were  that  our  banners  were  reflected  in  the  Clyde.  We 
must  to  horse  with  as  little  delay  as  may  be/' 


CHAPTER  XXXVn 

Ay,  sir — our  ancient  crown,  in  these  wild  times, 
Oft  stood  upon  a  cast ;  the  gamester's  ducat, 
So  often  staked,  and  lost,  and  then  regain'd, 
Scarce  knew  so  many  hazards. 

Hie  Spanish  Father, 

It  is  not  our  object  to  enter  into  the  historical  part  of  the 
reign  of  the  ill-fated  Mary,  or  to  recount  how,  during  the 
week  which  succeeded  her  flight  from  Lochleven,  her  par- 
tisans mustered  around  her  with  their  followers,  forming  a 
gallant  army,  amounting  to  six  thousand  men.  So  much 
light  has  been  lately  thrown  on  the  most  minute  details  of 
the  period  by  Mr.  Chalmers,  in  his  valuable  History  of 
Queen  Mary,  that  the  reader  may  be  safely  referred  to  it  for 
the  fullest  information  which  ancient  records  afford  concern- 
ing that  interesting  time.  It  is  sufficient  for  our  purpose  to 
say,  that  while  Mary's  headquarters  were  at  Hamilton,  the 
Regent  and  his  adherents  had,  in  the  King's  name,  assembled 
a  host  at  Glasgow,  inferior  indeed  to  that  of  the  Queen  in 
numbers,  but  formidable  from  the  military  talents  of  Murray, 
Morton,  the  Laird  of  Grange,  and  others,  who  had  been 
trained  from  their  youth  in  foreign  and  domestic  wars. 

In  these  circumstances,  it  was  the  obvious  policy  of  Queen 
Mary  to  avoid  a  conflict,  secure  that,  were  her  person  once 
in  safety,  the  number  of  her  adherents  must  daily  increase  ; 
whereas,  the  forces  of  those  opposed  to  her  must,  as  had  fre- 
quently happened  in  the  previous  history  of  her  reign,  have 
diminished,  and  their  spirits  become  broken.  And  so  evi- 
dent was  this  to  her  counselors,  that  they  resolved  their  first 
step  should  be  to  place  the  Queen  in  the  strong  castle  of 
Dunbarton,  there  to  await  the  course  of  events,  the  arrival 
of  succors  from  France,  and  the  levies  which  were  made  by 
her  adherents  in  every  province  in  Scotland.  Accordingly, 
orders  were  given  that  all  men  should  be  on  horseback  or  on 
foot,  appareled  in  their  armor,  and  ready  to  follow  the  Queen's 
standard  in  array  of  battle,  the  avowed  determination  being 
to  escort  her  to  the  castle  of  Dunbarton  in  defiance  of  her 
enemies. 

The  muster  waa  made  upon  Hamilton  Moor,  and  the  march 

ao6 


THE  ABBOT  899 

commenced  in  all  the  pomp  of  feudal  times.  Military  music 
Bounded,  banners  and  pennons  waved,  armor  glittered  far 
and  wide,  and  spears  glanced  and  twinkled  like  stars  in  a 
frosty  sky.  The  gallant  spectacle  of  warlike  parade  was  on 
this  occasion  dignified  by  the  presence  of  the  Queen  herself, 
who,  with  a  fair  retinue  of  ladies  and  household  attendants, 
and  a  special  guard  of  gentlemen,  amongst  whom  young 
Seyton  and  Roland  were  distinguished,  gave  grace  at  once 
and  confidence  to  the  army,  which  spread  its  ample  files  be- 
fore, around,  and  behind  her.  Many  churchmen  also  joined 
the  cavalcade,  most  of  whom  did  not  scruple  to  assume  arms, 
and  declare  their  intention  of  wielding  them  in  defense  of 
Mary  and  the  Catholic  faith.  Not  so  the  abbot  of  St,  Mary's. 
Roland  had  not  seen  this  prelate  since  the  night  of  their  es- 
cape from  Lochleven,  and  he  now  beheld  him,  robed  in  the 
dress  of  his  order,  assume  his  station  near  the  Queen's  per- 
son. Roland  hastened  to  pull  off  his  basnet,  and  beseech 
the  abbot's  blessing. 

"  Thou  hast  it,  my  son  \"  said  the  priest ;  "  I  see  thee 
now  under  thy  true  name,  and  in  thy  rightful  garb.  The 
helmet  with  the  holly-branch  befits  your  brows  well.  I  have 
long  waited  for  the  hour  thou  shouldest  assume  it." 

"  Then  you  knew  of  my  descent,  my  good  father  ?  "  said 
Roland. 

'^  I  did  so,  but  it  was  under  seal  of  confession  from  thy 
grandmother  ;  nor  was  I  at  liberty  to  tell  the  secret  till  she 
herself  should  make  it  known." 

*'Her  reason  for  such  secrecy,  my  father  ?"  said  Roland 
Avenel. 

'*Fear,  perchance,  of  my  brother — a  mistaken  fear,  for 
Halbert  would  not,  to  ensure  himself  a  kingdom,  have  offered 
wrong  to  an  orphan  ;  besides  that  your  title,  in  quiet  times, 
even  had  your  father  done  your  mother  that  justice  which  I 
well  hope  he  did,  could  not  have  competed  with  that  of  my 
brother  s  wife,  the  child  of  Julian's  elder  brother." 

''They  need  fear  no  competition  from  me,"  said  Avenel. 
"  Scotland  is  wide  enough,  and  there  are  many  manors  to 
win,  without  plundering  my  benefactor.  But  prove  to  me, 
my  reverend  father,  that  my  father  was  just  to  my  mother  ; 
show  me  that  I  may  call  myself  a  legitimate  Avenel,  and 
make  me  your  bounden  slave  forever  ! " 

"  Ay,"  replied  the  abbot,  ''I  hear  the  Seytons  hold  thee 
cheap  for  that  stain  on  thy  shield.  Something,  however,  I 
have  learnt  from  the  late  Abbot  Boniface,  which,  if  it  prore 
sooth,  may  jedeem  that  reproach.'* 


400  WA  VERLET  NOVELS 

'*  Tell  me  that  blessed  news/'  said  Roland,  ''and  the 
future  service  of  m^  life " 

"  Rash  boy  !  "  said  the  abbot,  "  I  should  but  madden  thine 
impatient  temper  b}^  exciting  hopes  that  may  never  be  ful- 
filled, and  is  this  a  time  for  them  ?  Think  on  what  perilous 
march  we  are  bound,  and  if  thou  hast  a  sin  unconfessed, 
neglect  not  the  only  leisure  which  Heaven  may  perchance 
afford  thee  for  confession  and  absolution." 

''  There  will  be  time  enough  for  both,  I  trust,  when  we 
reach  Dunbarton/'  answered  the  page. 

*'Ay,"  said  the  abbot,  *'thou  crowest  as  loudly  as  the 
rest ;  but  we  are  not  yet  at  Dunbarton,  and  there  is  a  lion 
in  the  path." 

'*  Mean  you  Murray,  Morton,  and  the  other  rebels  at  Glas- 
gow, my  reverend  father  ?  Tush  !  they  dare  not  look  on 
the  royal  banner." 

'*  Even  so,"  replied  the  abbot,  ''  speak  many  of  those  who 
are  older,  and  should  be  wiser,  than  thou.  I  have  returned 
from  the  southern  shires,  where  I  left  many  a  chief  of  name 
arming  in  the  Queen^s  interest.  I  left  the  lords  here  wise 
and  considered  men  ;  I  find  them  madmen  on  my  return  : 
they  are  willing,  for  mere  pride  and  vainglory,  to  brave  the 
enemy,  and  to  carry  the  Queen,  as  it  were  in  triumph,  past 
the  walls  of  Glasgow,  and  under  the  beards  of  the  adverse 
army.  Seldom  does  Heaven  smile  on  such  mistimed  con- 
fidence.    We  shall  be  encountered,  and  that  to  the  purpose." 

''  And  so  much  the  better,"  replied  Roland  ;  ''  the  field  of 
battle  was  my  cradle." 

*'  Beware  it  be  not  thy  dying-bed,"  said  the  abbot.  *'  But 
what  avails  it  whispering  to  young  wolves  the  dangers  of  the 
chase  ?  You  will  know,  perchance,  ere  this  day  is  out, 
what  yonder  men  are,  whom  you  hold  in  rash  contempt." 

*'  Why,  what  are  they  ? "  said  Henry  Seyton,  who  now 
joined  them.  ''  Have  they  sinews  of  wire  and  flesh  of  iron  ? 
Will  lead  pierce  and  steel  cut  them  ?  If  so,  reverend  father, 
we  have  little  to  fear." 

''They  are  evil  men,"  said  the  abbot,  "but  the  trade  of 
war  demands  no  saints.  Murray  and  Morton  are  known  to 
be  the  best  generals  in  Scotland.  No  one  ever  saw  Linde- 
say^s  or  Ruthven's  back.  Kirkcaldy  of  Grange  was  named 
by  the  Constable  Montmorency  the  first  soldier  in  Europe. 
My  brother,  too  good  a  name  for  such  a  cause,  has  been  far 
and  wide  known  for  a  leader." 

"  The  better — the  better  !  "  said  Seyton,  triumphantly  ; 
»'  we  shall  have  all  these  traitors  of  rank  and  name  in  a  fair 


I 


THE  ABBOT  401 

field  before  us.  Our  cause  is  the  best,  our  numbers  are  the 
•trongest,  our  hearts  and  limbs  match  theirs.  St.  Bennet, 
and  set  on  I " 

The  abbot  made  no  reply,  but  seemed  lost  in  reflection ; 
and  his  anxiety  in  some  measure  communicated  itself  to 
Roland  Avenel,  who  ever,  as  their  line  of  march  led  over  a 
ridge  or  an  eminence,  cast  an  anxious  look  towards  the 
towers  of  Glasgow,  as  if  he  expected  to  see  symptoms  of  the 
enemy  issiiixig  forth.  It  was  not  that  he  feared  the  fight, 
but  the  issue  was  of  such  deep  import  to  his  country  and  to 
himself  that  the  natural  fire  of  his  spirit  burned  with  a  less 
lively,  though  with  a  more  intense,  glow.  Love,  honor, 
fame,  fortune,  all  seemed  to  depend  on  the  issue  of  one 
field,  rashly  hazarded  perhaps,  but  now  likely  to  become  un- 
avoidable and  decisive. 

When,  at  length,  their  march  came  to  be  nearly  parallel 
with  the  city  of  Glasgow,  Roland  became  sensible  that  the 
high  grounds  before  them  were  already  in  part  occupied  by  a 
force,  showing,  like  their  own,  the  royal  banner  of  Scotland, 
and  on  the  point  of  being  supported  by  columns  of  infantry 
and  squadrons  of  horse,  which  the  city  gates  had  poured 
forth,  and  which  hastily  advanced  to  sustain  those  troops 
who  already  possessed  the  ground  in  front  of  the  Queen's 
forces.  Horseman  after  horseman  galloped  in  from  the  ad- 
vanced guard,  with  tidings  that  Murray  had  taken  the  field 
with  his  whole  army ;  that  his  object  was  to  intercept  the 
Queen's  march,  and  his  purpose  unquestionable  to  hazard  a 
battle.  It  was  now  that  the  tempers  of  men  were  subjected 
to  a  sudden  and  a  severe  trial ;  and  that  those  who  had  too 
presumptuously  concluded  that  they  should  pass  without 
combat  were  something  disconcerted,  when,  at  once,  and 
with  little  time  to  deliberate,  they  found  themselves  placed 
in  front  of  a  resolute  enemy.  Their  chiefs  immediately  as- 
sembled around  the  Queen,  and  held  a  hasty  council  of  war. 
Mary's  quivering  lip  confessed  the  fear  which  she  endeavored 
to  conceal  under  a  bold  and  dignified  demeanor.  But  her 
efforts  were  overcome  by  painful  recollections  of  the  disas- 
trous issue  of  her  last  appearance  in  arms  at  Carberry  Hill ; 
and,  when  she  meant  to  have  asked  them  their  advice  for 
ordering  the  battle,  she  involuntarily  inquired  whether  there 
were  no  means  of  escaping  without  an  engagement  ? 

"  Escaping  ! "  answered  the  Lord  Seyton.  "  When  I  stand 
as  one  to  ten  of  your  Highness's  enemies,  I  may  think  of 
escape,  but  never  while  I  stand  with  three  to  two  ! " 

*'  Battle  I — battle  !"  exclaimed  the  assembled  lords  ;  "  we 
26 


i02  WAVEELET  NOVELS 

will  drive  the  rebels  from  their  vantage  ground,  as  the  hound 
turns  the  hare  on  the  hillside/' 

"  Methinks,  my  noble  lords/'  said  the  abbot,  ''  it  were  as 
well  to  prevent  his  gaining  that  advantage.  Our  road  lies 
through  yonder  hamlet  on  the  brow,  and  whichever  party 
hath  the  luck  to  possess  it,  with  its  little  gardens  and  in- 
closures,  will  attain  a  post  of  great  defense." 

"The  reverend  father  is  right,"  said  the  Queen.  ''0, 
haste  thee,  Seyton — haste,  and  get  thither  before  them  ;  they 
are  marching  like  the  wind.'' 

Seyton  bowed  low,  and  turned  his  horse's  head.  ''  Youi 
Highness  honors  me,"  he  said  ;  *'  I  will  instantly  press  for- 
ward and  seize  the  pass." 

"  Not  before  me,  my  lord,  whose  charge  is  the  command 
of  the  vanguard,"  said  the  Lord  of  Arbroath. 

**  Before  you,  or  any  Hamilton  in  Scotland,"  said  the  Sey- 
ton, '^  having  the  Queen's  command.  Follow  me,  gentle- 
men, my  vassals  and  kinsmen.     St.  Bennet,  and  set  on  ! " 

''And  follow  me,"  said  Arbroath,  "my  noble  kinsmen 
and  brave  men-tenants  ;  we  will  see  which  will  first  reach  the 
post  of  danger.     For  God  and  Queen  Mary  ! " 

"Ill-omened  haste  and  most  unhappy  strife,"  said  the 
abbot,  who  saw  them  and  their  followers  rush  hastily  and 
emulously  to  ascend  the  height,  without  waiting  till  their 
men  were  placed  in  order.  "  And  you,  gentlemen,"  he 
continued,  addressing  Roland  and  Seyton,  who  were  each 
about  to  follow  those  who  hastened  thus  disorderly  to  the 
conflict,  "will  you  leave  the  Queen's  person  unguarded  ?" 

"  0,  leave  me  not,  gentlemen  ! "  said  the  Queen — "  Roland 
and  Seyton,  do  not  leave  me  ;  there  are  enough  of  arms  to 
strike  in  this  fell  combat — withdraw  not  those  to  whom  I 
trust  for  my  safety  I " 

"  We  may  not  leave  her  Grace,"  said  Roland,  looking  at 
Seyton,  and  turning  his  horse. 

"  I  ever  looked  when  thou  wouldst  find  out  that,"  rejoined 
the  fiery  youth. 

Roland  made  no  answer,  but  bit  his  lip  till  the  blood  came, 
and  spurring  his  horse  up  to  the  side  of  Catherine  Seyton's 

Ealfrey,  he  whispered  in  a  low  voice,  "  I  never  thought  to 
ave  done  aught  to  deserve  you  ;  but  this  day  I  have  heard 
myself  upbraided  with  cowardice,  and  my  sword  remained 
itill  sheathed,  and  all  for  the  love  of  you." 

"There  is  madness  among  us  all,"  said  the  damsel  :  "my 
father,  my  brother,  and  you  are  all  alike  bereft  of  reason. 
X«  should -think:  only  of  this  poor. Queen,. and  you  are  all 


THE  ABBOT  403 

inspired  by  your  own  absurd  jealousies.  The  monk  is 
the  only  soldier  and  man  of  sense  amongst  you  all.  My  lord 
abbot/'  she  cried  aloud,  ^'  were  it  not  better  we  should  draw 
to  the  westward,  and  wait  the  event  that  God  shall  send  us, 
instead  of  remaining  here  in  the  highway,  endangering  the 
Queen's  person,  and  cumbering  the  troops  in  their  advance  ?  '* 

"You  say  well,  my  daughter,"  replied  the  abbot;  "had 
we  but  one  to  guide  us  where  the  Queen's  person  may  be  in 
Bafety  !  Our  nobles  hurry  to  the  conflict,  without  casting  a 
thought  on  the  very  cause  of  the  war." 

"  Follow  me,"  said  a  knight,  or  man-at-arms,  well  mounted, 
and  accoutred  completely  in  black  armor,  but  having 
the  visor  of  his  helmet  closed,  and  bearing  no  crest  on  his 
helmet,  or  device  upon  his  shield. 

"  We  will  follow  no  stranger,"  said  the  abbot,  "  without 
some  warrant  of  his  truth." 

"  I  am  a  stranger  and  in  your  hands,"  said  the  horseman  ; 
"  if  you  wish  to  know  more  of  me,  the  Queen  herself  will  be 
your  warrant." 

The  Queen  had  remained  fixed  to  the  spot,  as  if  disabled 
by  fear,  yet  mechanically  smiling,  bowing,  and  waving  her 
hand,  as  banners  were  lowered  and  spears  depressed  before 
her,  while,  emulating  the  strife  betwixt  Seyton  and  Arbroath, 
band  on  band  pressed  forward  their  march  towards  the 
enemy.  Scarce,  however,  had  the  black  rider  whispered 
something  in  her  ear,  than  she  assented  to  what  he  said  ;  and 
when  he  spoke  aloud,  and  with  an  air  of  command,  "  Gentle- 
men, it  is  the  Queen's  pleasure  that  you  should  follow  me,*' 
Mary  uttered,  with  something  like  eagerness,  the  word 
''Yes.'' 

All  were  in  motion  in  an  instant ;  for  the  black  horse- 
man, throwing  off  a  sort  of  apathy  of  manner  which  his  first 
appearance  indicated,  spurred  his  horse,  to  and  fro,  making 
him  take  such  active  bounds  and  short  turns  as  showed  the 
rider  master  of  the  animal ;  and  getting  the  Queen's  little 
retinue  in  some  order  for  marching,  he  led  them  to  the  left, 
directing  his  course  towards  a  castle,  which,  crowning  a 
gentle  yet  commanding  eminence,  presented  an  extensive 
view  over  the  country  beneath,  and,  in  particular,  com- 
manded a  view  of  those  heights  which  both  armies  hastened 
to  occupy,  and  which  it  was  now  apparent  must  almost  in- 
stantly be  the  scene  of  struggle  and  dispute. 

"  Yonder  towers,"  said  the  abbot,  questioning  the  sabl« 
horseman,  "to  whom  do  they  belong  r  and  are  they  now  in 
the  hands  of  friends  ?" 


404  WA  VEBLEY  NOVELS 

'*  They  are  untenanted/'  replied  the  stranger,  *'  or,  at  least, 
they  have  no  hostile  inmates.  But  urge  these  youths,  sir 
abbot,  to  make  more  haste  ;  this  is  but  an  evil  time  to  satisfy 
their  idle  curiosity,  by  peering  out  upon  the  battle  in  which 
they  are  to  take  no  share/' 

"  The  worse  luck  mine,"  said  Henry  Seyton,  who  overheard 
him  ;  "I  would  rather  be  under  my  father's  banner  at  this 
moment  than  be  made  chamberlain  of  Holyrood,  for  this  my 
present  duty  of  peaceful  ward  well  and  patiently  discharged/* 

"  Your  place  under  your  father's  banner  will  shortly?  be 
right  dangerous,"  said  Roland  Avenel,  who,  pressing  his 
horse  towards  the  westward,  had  still  his  look  reverted  to  the 
armies ;  "  for  I  see  yonder  body  of  cavalry  which  presses 
from  the  eastward  will  reach  the  village  ere  Lord  Seyton  can 
gain  it/' 

**  They  are  but  cavalry,"  said  Seyton,  looking  attentively  ; 
^'  they  cannot  hold  the  village  without  shot  of  harquebuss/' 

**Look  more  closely,"  said  Roland;  "you  will  see  that 
each  of  these  horsemen  who  advance  so  rapidly  from  Glasgow 
carries  a  footman  behind  him/' 

"  Now,  by  Heaven,  he  speaks  well  ! "  said  the  black  cava- 
lier ;  "  one  of  you  two  must  go  carry  the  news  to  Lord 
Seyton  and  Lord  Arbroath,  that  they  hasten  not  their  horse- 
men on  before  the  foot,  but  advance  more  regularly/' 

"  Be  that  my  errand,"  said  Roland,  "  for  I  first  marked 
the  stratagem  of  the  enemy/' 

''  But,  by  your  leave,"  said  Seyton,  "  yonder  is  my  father's 
banner  engaged,  and  it  best  becomes  me  to  go  to  the  rescue/' 

"  I  will  stand  by  the  Queen's  decision,"  said  Roland 
Avenel. 

"What  new  appeal? — what  new  quarrel?"  said  Queen 
Mary.  "  Are  there  not  in  yonder  dark  host  enemies  enough 
to  Mary  Stuart,  but  must  her  very  friends  turn  enemies  to 
each  other  ?  " 

"Nay,  madam,"  said  Roland,  "the  young  Master  of 
Seyton  and  I  did  but  dispute  who  should  leave  your  person 
to  do  a  most  needful  message  to  the  host.  He  thought  hia 
rank  entitled  him,  and  I  deemed  that  the  person  of  least  con- 
sequence, being  myself,  were  better  periled " 

"Not  so,"  said  the  Queen  ;  "  if  one  must  leave  me,  be  it 
Seyton/' 

Henry  Seyton  bowed  till  the  white  plumes  on  his  helmet 
mixed  with  the  flowing  mane  of  his  gallant  war-horse,  then 
placed  himself  firm  in  his  saddle,  shook  his  lance  aloft  with 
an  air  of  triumph  and  determination,  and  gtriking  his  honse 


THE  ABBOT  405 

vith  the  spnrs,  made  towards  his  father's  banner,  which  waa 
still  advancing  up  the  hill,  and  dashed  his  steed  over  everj 
obstacle  that  occurred  in  his  headlong  path. 

''  My  brother  !  my  father  !  "  exclaimed  Catherine,  with  an 
expression  of  agonized  apprehension — "  they  are  in  the  midst 
of  peril,  and  I  in  safety  ! " 

''  Would  to  God,''  said  Roland,  "that  I  were  with  them, 
and  could  ransom  every  drop  of  their  blood  by  two  of  mine  ! " 

**  Do  I  not  know  thou  dost  wish  it  ? "  said  Catherine. 
^*  Can  a  woman  say  to  a  man  what  I  have  well-nigh  said  to 
thee,  and  yet  think  that  he  could  harbor  fear  or  faintness  of 
heart  ?  There  is  that  in  yon  distant  sound  of  approaching 
battle  that  pleases  me  even  while  it  affrights  me.  I  would  I 
were  a  man,  that  I  might  feel  that  stern  delight  without  the 
mixture  of  terror  ! " 

"  Ride  up — ride  up.  Lady  Catherine  Seyton,"  cried  the 
abbot,  as  they  still  swept  on  at  a  rapid  pace,  and  were  now 
close  beneath  the  walls  of  the  castle — *^  ride  up,  and  aid  Lady 
Fleming  to  support  the  Queen — she  gives  way  more  and 
more.^' 

They  halted  and  lifted  Mary  from  the  saddle,  and  were 
about  to  support  her  towards  the  castle,  when  she  said 
faintly,  '^Not  there — not  there:  these  walls  will  I  never 
enter  more ! " 

"Be  a  queen,  madam,"  said  the  abbot,  "  and  forget  that 
yon  are  a  woman." 

"  0,  I  must  forget  much — much  more,"  answered  the  un- 
fortunate Mary,  in  an  undertone,  "  ere  I  can  look  with  steady 
eyes  on  these  well-known  scenes  I  I  must  forget  the  days 
which  I  spent  here  as  the  bride  of  the  lost — the  mur- 
dered  " 

"  This  is  the  castle  of  the  Crookstone,"  said  the  Lady 
Fleming,  "  in  which  the  Queen  held  her  first  court  after  she 
was  married  to  Darnley." 

"  Heaven,"  said  the  abbot,  "  Thy  hand  is  upon  us  !  Bear 
yet  up,  madam  ;  your  foes  are  the  foes  of  Holy  Church,  and 
God  will  this  day  decide  whether  Scotland  shall  be  Catholic 
or  heretic." 

A  heavy  and  continued  fire  of  cannon  and  musketry  bore 
a  tremendous  burden  to  his  words,  and  seemed  far  more  than 
they  to  recall  the  spirits  of  the  Queen. 

'•  To  yonder  tree,"  she  said,  pointing  to  a  yew-tree  which 
grew  on  a  small  mount  close  to  the  castle  ;  "  I  know  it 
well — from  thence  you  may  see  a  prospect  wide  as  from  thi 
peaks  of  SchehaUion." 


406  WAVEBLET  NOVELS 

And  freeing  lierself  from  her  assistants,  she  walked  with 
a  determined,  yet  somewhat  wild,  step  up  to  the  stem  of  the 
noble  yew.  The  abbot,  Catherine,  and  Roland  Avenel  fol- 
lowed her,  while  Lady  Fleming  kept  back  the  inferior  persons 
of  her  train.  The  black  horseman  also  followed  the  Queen, 
waiting  on  her  as  closely  as  the  shadow  upon  the  light,  but 
ever  remaining  at  the  distance  of  two  or  three  yards  ;  he  folded 
his  arms  on  his  bosom,  turned  his  back  to  the  battle,  and 
seemed  solely  occupied  by  gazing  on  Mary  through  the  bars 
of  his  closed  visor.  The  Queen  regarded  him  not,  but  fixed 
her  eyes  upon  the  spreading  yew. 

"  Ay,  fair  and  stately  tree,^'  she  said,  as  if  at  the  sight  of 
ft  she  had  been  rapt  away  from  the  present  scene,  and  had 
overcome  the  horror  which  had  oppressed  her  at  the  first 
approach  to  Crookstone,  '*  there  thou  stand  est,  gay  and 
goodly  as  ever,  though  thou  hearest  the  sounds  of  war  in- 
stead of  the  vows  of  love.  All  is  gone  since  I  last  greeted  thee — 
love  and  lover — vows  and  vower — king  and  kingdom.  How 
goes  the  field,  my  lord  abbot  ?  with  us,  I  trust ;  yet  what 
but  evil  can  Mary^s  eyes  witness  from  this  spot  ?  " 

Her  attendants  eagerly  bent  their  eyes  on  the  field  of  bat- 
tle, but  could  discover  nothing  more  than  that  it  was 
obstinately  contested.  The  small  inclosures  and  cottage 
gardens  in  the  village,  of  which  they  had  a  full  and  command- 
ing view,  and  which  shortly  before  lay,  with  their  lines  of 
sycamore  and  ash-trees,  so  still  and  quiet  in  the  mild  light  of 
a  May  sun,  were  now  each  converted  into  a  line  of  fire,  can- 
opied by  smoke ;  and  the  sustained  and  constant  report  of 
the  musketry  and  cannon,  mingled  with  the  shouts  of  the 
meeting  combatants,  showed  that  as  yet  neither  party  had 
given  ground. 

'*  Many  a  soul  finds  its  final  departure  to  heaven  or  hell  in 
these  awful  thunders, *'  said  the  abbot ;  '^  let  those  that  be- 
lieve in  the  Holy  Church  join  me  in  orisons  for  victory  in 
^hifl  dreadful  combat. '' 

*'  Not  here — not  here,''  said  the  unfortunate  Queen — "  prav 
not  here,  father,  or  pray  in  silence  ;  my  mind  is  too  much 
torn  between  the  past  and  the  present  to  dare  to  approach 
the  Heavenly  throne.  Or,  if  ye  will  pray,  be  it  for  one  whose 
fondest  affections  have  been  her  greatest  crimes,  and  who  has 
ceased  to  be  a  queen  only  because  she  was  a  deceived  and  a 
tender-hearted  woman.'' 

**  Were  it  not  well,"  said  Roland,  "  that  I  rode  somewhat 
nearer  the  hosts,  and  saw  the  fate  of  the  day  ?  " 

**  Vo  so,  in  the  name  of  Ood,"  said  the  abbot ,  ''  for  if  our 


THE  ABBOT  407 

friends  are  scattered,  our  flight  must  be  hasty  ;  hut  beware 
thou  approach  not  too  nigh  the  conflict :  there  is  more  than 
thine  own  life  depends  on  thy  safe  return/' 

''  0,  go  not  too  nigh/'  said  Catherine  ;  *'  but  fail  not  to 
see  how  the  Seytons  fight,  and  how  they  bear  themselves." 

^'  Fear  nothing,  I  will  be  on  my  guard,'*  said  Roland 
Avenel ;  and  without  waiting  further  answer,  rode  towards 
the  scene  of  conflict,  keeping,  as  he  rode,  the  higher  and 
uninclosed  ground,  and  ever  looking  cautiously  around  him, 
for  fear  of  involving  himself  in  some  hostile  party.  As  he 
approached,  the  shots  rung  sharp  and  more  sharply  on  his 
ear,  the  shouts  came  wilder  and  wilder,  and  he  felt  that 
thick  beating  of  the  heart,  that  mixture  of  natural  apprehen- 
sion, intense  curiosity,  and  anxiety  for  the  dubious  event, 
which  even  the  bravest  experience  when  they  approach  alone 
to  a  scene  of  interest  and  of  danger. 

At  length  he  drew  so  close  that,  from  a  bank,  screened 
by  bushes  and  underwood,  he  could  distinctly  see  where  the 
struggle  was  most  keenly  maintained.  This  was  in  a  hollow 
way,  leading  to  the  village,  up  which  the  Queen's  vanguard 
had  marched,  with  more  hasty  courage  than  well-advised 
conduct,  for  the  purpose  of  possessing  themselves  of  that 
post  of  advantage.  They  found  their  scheme  anticipated, 
and  the  hedges  and  inclosures  already  occupied  by  the 
enemy,  led  by  the  celebrated  Kirkcaldy  of  Grange  and  the 
Earl  of  Morton  ;  and  not  small  was  the  loss  which  they  sus- 
tained while  struggling  forward  to  come  to  close  with  the 
men-at-arms  on  the  other  side.  But,  as  the  Queen's 
followers  were  chiefly  noblemen  and  barons,  with  their 
kinsmen  and  followers,  they  had  pressed  onward,  contemning 
obstacles  and  danger,  and  had,  when  Roland  arrived  on  the 
ground,  met  hand  to  hand  at  the  gorge  of  the  pass  with  the 
Regent's  vanguard,  and  endeavored  to  bear  them  out  of  the 
village  at  the  spear-point ;  while  their  foes,  equally  deter- 
mined to  keep  the  advantage  which  they  had  attained,  strug- 
gled with  the  like  obstinacy  to  drive  back  the  assailants. 

Both  parties  were  on  foot,  and  armed  in  proof ;  so  that, 
when  the  long  lances  of  the  front  ranks  were  fixed  in  each 
other's  shields,  corslets,  and  breastplates,  the  struggle 
resembled  that  of  two  bulls,  who,  fixing  their  frontlets  hard 
against  each  other,  remain  in  that  posture  for  hours,  until 
the  superior  strength  or  obstinacy  of  the  one  compels  the 
other  to  take  to  flight,  or  bears  him  down  to  the  earth. 
Thus  locked  together  in  the  deadly  struggle,  which  swayed 
ilowly  to  and  fro,  as  one  or  other  party  gained  the  advantage, 


406  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

those  who  fell  were  trampled  on  alike  by  friends  and  foes ; 
those  whose  weapons  were  broken  retired  from  the  front  ranks, 
and  had  their  place  supplied  by  others  ;  while  the  rearward 
ranks,  unable  otherwise  to  take  share  in  the  combat,  fired 
their  pistols,  and  hurled  their  daggers,  and  the  points  and 
truncheons  of  the  broken  weapons,  like  javelins  against  the 
enemy. 

"  God  and  the  Queen  !  "  resounded  from  the  one  party  ; 
'*  God  and  the  King  ! "  thundered  from  the  other  ;  while, 
in  the  name  of  their  sovereign,  fellow-subjects  on  both  sides 
shed  each  other^s  blood,  and,  in  the  name  of  their  Creator, 
defaced  His  image.  Amid  the  tumult  was  often  heard  the 
voices  of  the  captains  shouting  their  commands,  of  leaders 
and  chiefs  crying  their  gathering  words,  of  groans  and 
shrieks  from  the  falling  and  the  dying. 

The  strife  had  lasted  nearly  an  hour.  The  strength  of 
both  parties  seemed  exhausted  ;  but  their  rage  was  unabated, 
and  their  obstinacy  unsubdued,  when  Eoland,  who  turned 
eye  and  ear  to  all  around  him,  saw  a  column  of  infantry, 
headed  by  a  few  horsemen,  wheel  round  the  base  of  the  bank 
where  he  had  stationed  himself,  and,  leveling  their  long 
lances,  attack  the  flank  of  the  Queen's  vanguard,  closely 
engaged  as  they  were  in  conflict  on  their  front.  The  very 
first  glance  showed  him  that  the  leader  who  directed  this 
movement  was  the  Knight  of  Avenel,  his  ancient  master  ; 
and  the  next  convinced  him  that  its  effect  would  be  decisive. 
The  result  of  the  attack  of  fresh  and  unbroken  forces  upon 
the  flank  of  those  already  wearied  with  a  long  and  obstinate 
struggle  was,  indeed,  instantaneous. 

The  column  of  the  assailants,  which  had  hitherto  shown 
one  dark,  dense,  and  united  line  of  helmets,  surmounted 
with  plumage,  was  at  once  broken  and  hurled  in  confusion 
down  the  hill  which  they  had  so  long  endeavored  to  gain. 
In  vain  were  the  leaders  heard  calling  upon  their  followers 
to  stand  to  the  combat,  and  seen  personally  resisting  when 
all  resistance  was  evidently  vain.  They  were  slain,  or  felled 
to  the  earth,  or  hurried  backwards  by  the  mingled  tide  of 
flight  and  pursuit.  What  were  Roland's  thoughts  on  be- 
holding the  rout,  and  feeling  that  all  that  remained  for  him 
was  to  turn  bridle,  and  endeavor  to  insure  the  safety  of  the 
Queen's  person  !  Yet,  keen  as  his  grief  and  shame  might 
be,  they  were  both  forgotten  when,  almost  close  beneath  the 
bank  which  he  occupied,  he  saw  Henry  Seyton  forced  away 
from  his  own  party  in  the  tumult,  covered  with  dust  and 
blood,  and  defending  himself  desperately  against  several  oi 


THE  ABBOT  409 

the  enemy  who  had  gathered  around  him,  attracted  by  his 
gay  armor.  Koland  paused  not  a  moment,  but  pushing  his 
steed  down  the  bank,  leaped  him  amongst  the  hostile  party, 
dealt  three  or  four  blows  amongst  them,  which  struck  down 
two  and  made  the  rest  stand  aloof,  then  reaching  Seyton  his 
hand,  he  exhorted  him  to  seize  fast  hold  on  his  horse^s 
mane. 

'*  We  live  or  die  together  this  day,"  said  he  ;  "  keep  but 
fast  hold  till  we  are  out  of  the  press,  and  then  my  horse  is 
yours." 

Seyton  heard,  and  exerted  his  remaining  strength,  and> 
by  their  joint  efforts,  Eoland  brought  him  out  of  danger, 
and  behind  the  spot  from  whence  he  had  witnessed  the 
disastrous  conclusion  of  the  fight.  But  no  sooner  were  they 
under  shelter  of  the  trees  than  Seyton  let  go  his  hold,  and, 
in  spite  of  Roland's  efforts  to  support  him,  fell  at  length  on 
the  turf.  ''  Trouble  yourself  no  more  with  me,"  he  said, 
*'  this  is  my  first  and  my  last  battle,  and  I  have  already  seen 
too  much  of  it  to  wish  to  see  the  close.  Hasten  to  save  the 
Queen — and  commend  me  to  Catherine  ;  she  will  never  more 
be  mistaken  for  me  nor  1  for  her — the  last  sword-stroke  has 
made  an  eternal  distinction." 

*'  Let  me  aid  you  to  mount  my  horse,"  said  Roland,  eagerly, 
*'  and  you  may  yet  be  saved.  I  can  find  my  own  way  on 
foot.  Turn  but  my  horse's  head  westward,  and  he  will  carry 
you  fleet  and  easy  as  the  wind." 

''  I  will  never  mount  steed  more,"  said  the  youth  ;  ''  fare- 
well !  I  love  thee  better  dying  than  ever  I  thought  to  have 
done  while  in  life.  I  would  that  old  man's  blood  were  not 
on  my  hand  !  Sancte  Benedicte  ora  pro  me  I  Stand  hot  to 
look  on  a  dying  man,  but  haste  to  save  the  Queen  ! " 

These  words  were  spoken  with  the  last  effort  of  his  voice, 
and  scarce  were  they  uttered  ere  the  speaker  was  no  more. 
They  recalled  Roland  to  the  sense  of  the  duty  which  he  had 
well-nigh  forgotten,  but  they  did  not  reach  his  ears  only. 

"  The  Queen — where  is  the  Queen  ? "  said  Sir  Halbert 
Glendinning,  who,  followed  by  two  or  three  horsemen,  apr 
peared  at  this  instant.  Roland  made  no  answer,  but  turning 
his  horse,  and  confiding  in  his  speed,  gave  him  at  once  rein 
and  spur,  and  rode  over  height  and  hollow  towards  the  Castle 
of  Orookstone.  More  heavily  armed,  and  mounted  upon  a 
horse  of  less  speed.  Sir  Halbert  Glendinning  followed  with 
couched  lance,  calling  out  as  he  rode,  ''Sir  with  the  holly- 
branch,  halt,  and  show  your  right  to  bea,r  that  badge  :  fly 
Dot  thus  cowardly,  nor    dishonor   the  cognizance    thow 


410  WAVERLET  NOVELS 

deservest  not  to  wear  !  Halt,  sir  coward,  or,  by  Heaven,  1 
will  strike  thee  with  my  lance  on  the  back,  and  slay  thee 
like  a  dastard.  I  am  the  Knight  of  Avenel — I  am  Sir 
Halbert  Glendinning/' 

But  Roland,  who  had  no  purpose  of  encountering  his  old 
master,  and  who,  besides,  knew  the  Queen^s  safety  depended 
on  his  making  the  best  speed  he  could,  answered  not. a  word 
to  the  defiances  and  reproaches  which  Sir  Halbert  continued 
to  throw  out  against  him  ;  but  making  the  best  use  of  his 
spurs,  rode  yet  harder  than  before,  and  had  gained  about  a 
hundred  yards  upon  his  pursuer,  when,  coming  near  to  the 
yew-tree  where  he  had  left  the  Queen,  he  saw  them  already 
getting  to  horse,  and  cried  out  as  loud  as  he  could,  '*  Foes  ! — - 
foes !  Ride  for  it,  fair  ladies.  Brave  gentlemen,  do  your 
devoir  to  protect  them  ! " 

So  saying,  he  wheeled  his  horse,  and  avoiding  the  shock 
of  Sir  Halbert  Glendinning,  charged  one  of  that  knight's 
followers,  who  was  nearly  on  a  line  with  him,  so  rudely  with 
his  lance  that  he  overthrew  horse  and  man.  He  then  drew 
his  sword  and  attacked  the  second,  wnile  the  black  man-at- 
arms,  throwing  himself  in  the  way  of  Glendinning,  they 
rushed  on  each  other  so  fiercely  that  both  horses  were  over- 
thrown, and  the  riders  lay  rolling  on  the  plain.  Neither  was 
able  to  arise,  for  the  black  horseman  was  pierced  through 
with  Glendinning's  lance,  and  the  Knight  of  Avenel,  op- 
pressed with  the  weight  of  his  own  horse,  and  sorely  bruised 
besides,  seemed  in  little  better  plight  than  he  whom  he  had 
mortally  wounded. 

*'  Yield  thee,  Sir  Knight  of  Avenel,  rescue  or  no  rescue,*' 
said  Roland,  who  had  put  a  second  antagonist  out  of  con- 
dition to  combat,  and  hastened  to  prevent  Glendinning  from 
renewing  the  conflict. 

*'  I  may  not  choose  but  yield,'*  said  Sir  Halbert,  "  since  I 
can  no  longer  fight ;  but  it  shames  me  to  speak  such  a  word 
to  a  coward  like  thee  ! " 

*'  Call  me  not  coward,"  said  Roland,  lifting  his  visor,  and 
helping  his  prisoner  to  rise,  '*  since  but  for  old  kindness  at 
thy  hand,  and  yet  more  at  thy  lady's,  I  had  met  thee  as  a 
brave  man  should." 

"  The  favorite  page  of  my  wife!"  said  Sir  Halbert,  as- 
tonished. '*  Ah  !  wretched  boy,  I  have  heard  of  thy  treason 
at  Lochleven." 

"Reproach  him  not,  my  brother,"  said  the  abbot,  *'he 
If  as  but  an  agent  in  the  hands  of  Heaven." 

'*  To  horse — to  horse  I "  said  Catherin*  Seyton ;  "  mount 


THE  ABBOT  411 

and  be  gone,  or  we  are  all  lost.  I  see  our  gallant  army  fly* 
ing  for  many  a  league.  To  horse,  my  lord  abbot !  To  horse, 
Roland  !  My  gracious  liege,  to  horse  !  Ere  this,  we  should 
have  ridden  a  mile." 

"Look  on  these  features,"  said  Mary,  pointing  to  the 
dying  knight,  who  had  been  unhelmed  by  some  compassion- 
ate hand — "  look  there,  and  tell  me  if  she  who  ruins  all  who 
love  her  ought  to  fly  a  foot  farther  to  save  her  wretched 
life!" 

The  reader  must  have  long  anticipated  the  discovery  which 
the  Queen^s  feelings  had  made  before  her  eyes  confirmed  it. 
a  was  the  features  of  the  unhappy  George  Douglas,  on  which 
death  was  stamping  his  mark. 

'*  Look — look  at  him  well,"  said  the  Queen,  ''thus  has  it 
been  with  all  that  loved  Mary  Stuart !  The  royalty  of 
Francis,  the  wit  of  Chastelar,  the  power  and  gallantry  of  the 
gay  Gordon,  the  melody  of  Rizzio,  the  portly  form  and 
youthful  grace  of  Darnley,  the  bold  address  and  courtly 
manners  of  Bothwell,  and  now  the  deep-devoted  passion  of 
the  noble  Douglas — naught  could  save  them  :  they  looked 
on  the  wretched  Mary,  and  to  have  loved  her  was  crime 
enough  to  deserve  early  death  !  No  sooner  had  the  victim 
formed  a  kind  thought  of  me  than  the  poisoned  cup,  the  ax 
and  block,  the  dagger,  the  mine  were  ready  to  punish  them 
for  casting  away  affection  on  such  a  wretch  as  I  am  I  Im- 
portune me  not :  I  will  fly  no  farther.  I  can  die  but  once, 
and  I  will  die  here." 

While  she  spoke,  her  tears  fell  fast  on  the  face  of  the  dy- 
ing man,  who  continued  to  fix  his  eyes  on  her  with  an  eager- 
ness of  passion  which  death  itself  could  hardly  subdue. 
*'  Mourn  not  for  me,"  he  said  faintly,  '*  but  care  for  your 
own  safety.  I  die  in  mine  armor  as  a  Douglas  should,  and 
I  die  pitied  by  Mary  Stuart ! " 

He  expired  with  these  words,  and  without  withdrawing 
his  eyes  from  her  face  ;  and  the  Queen,  whose  heart  was  of 
that  soft  and  gentle  mold  which  in  domestic  life,  and  with 
a  more  suitable  partner  than  Darnley,  might  have  made  her 
happy,  remained  weeping  by  the  dead  man,  until  recalled  to 
herself  by  the  abbot,  who  found  it  necessary  to  use  a  style 
of  unusual  remonstrance.  "We  also,  madam,"  he  said — 
"  we,  your  Grace's  devoted  followers,  have  friends  and  rela- 
tives to  weep  for.  I  leave  a  brother  in  imminent  jeopardy — 
the  husband  of  the  Lady  Fleming — the  father  and  brother 
of  the  Lady  Catherine,  are  all  in  yonder  bloody  field,  slain, 
it  is  to  be  feared,  or  prisoners.     We  forget  the  fate  of  our 


412  Wa  Vebley  ifoVisLS 

own  nearest  and  dearest  to  wait  on  our  Queen,  and  she  is  too 
much  occupied  with  her  own  sorrows  to  give  one  thought  to 
ours/' 

*'I  deserve  not  your  reproach,  father,"  said  the  Queen, 
checking  her  tears  ;  *'  but  I  am  docile  to  it.  Where  must 
we  go  ?  what  must  we  do  ?  '* 

"  We  must  fly,  and  that  instantly,"  said  the  abbot ; 
"  whither  is  not  so  easily  answered,  but  we  may  dispute  it 
upon  the  road.     Lift  her  to  her  saddle,  and  set  forward.''* 

They  set  off  accordingly.  Koland  lingered  a  moment  to 
command  the  attendants  of  the  Knight  of  Avenel  to  convey 
their  master  to  the  Castle  of  Crookstone,  and  to  say  that  he 
demanded  from  him  no  other  condition  of  liberty  than  his 
word  that  he  and  his  followers  would  keep  secret  the  direc- 
tion in  which  the  Queen  fled.  As  he  turned  his  rein  to  de- 
part, the  honest  countenance  of  Adam  Woodcock  stared  upon 
him  with  an  expression  of  surprise  which,  at  another  time, 
would  have  excited  his  hearty  mirth.  He  had  been  one  c' 
the  followers  who  had  experienced  the  weight  of  Roland  a 
arm,  and  they  now  knew  each  other,  Roland  having  put  up 
his  visor,  and  the  good  yeoman  having  thrown  away  his 
barret-cap,  with  the  iron  bars  in  front,  that  he  might  the 
more  readily  assist  his  master.  Into  this  barret-cap,  as  it 
lay  on  the  ground,  Roland  forgot  not  to  drop  a  few  gold 
pieces  (fruits  of  the  Queen's  liberality),  and  with  a  signal  of 
kind  recollection  and  enduring  friendship,  he  departed  at 
full  gallop  to  overtake  the  Queen,  the  dust  raised  by  her 
train  being  already  far  down  the  hill. 

"  It  is  not  fairy  money,"  said  honest  Adam,  weighing  and 
handling  the  gold.  ''And  it  was  Master  Roland  himself, 
that  is  a  certain  thing.  '  The  same  open  hand,  and  by  Our 
Lady  !  (shrugging  his  shoulders)  the  same  ready  fist  !  My 
lady  will  hear  of  this  gladly,  for  she  mourns  for  him  as  if  he 
were  her  son.  And  to  see  how  gay  he  is  !  But  these  light 
lads  are  as  sure  to  be  uppermost  as  the  froth  to  be  on  the 
top  of  the  quart-pot.  Your  man  of  solid  parts  remains  ever 
a  falconer.  So  saying,  he  went  to  aid  his  comrades,  who 
had  now  come  up  in  greater  numbers,  to ;  carry  his  master 
into  the  Castle  of  Crookstone. 

•  See  Battle  of  Langside.    Note  27. 


CHAPTEK  XXXVIII 


My  native  land,  good-night  I 

Byron. 


.Many  a  bitter  tear  was  shed  during  the  hasty  flight  of  Queei» 
'Mary,  over  fallen  hopes,  future  prospects,  and  slaughtered 
friends.  The  deaths  of  the  brave  Douglas  and  of  the  fiery 
but  gallant  young  Seyton  seemed  to  affect  the  Queen  as 
much  as  the  fall  from  the  throne,  on  which  she  had  so  nearly 
been  again  seated.  Catherine  Seyton  devoured  in  secret  her 
own  grief,  anxious  to  support  the  broken  spirits  of  her  mis- 
tress ;  and  the  abbot,  bending  his  troubled  thoughts  upon 
futurity,  endeavored  in  vain  to  form  some  plan  which  had  a 
shadow  of  hope.  The  spirit  of  young  Koland — for  he  also 
mingled  in  the  hasty  debates  held  by  the  companions  of  the 
Queen's  flight — continued  unchecked  and  unbroken. 

'*  Your  Majesty,"  he  said,  ^*  has  lost  a  battle.  Your  an- 
cestor Bruce  lost  seven  successively,  ere  he  sat  triumphant 
on  the  Scottish  throne,  and  proclaimed  with  the  voice  of  a 
victor,  in  the  field  of  Bannockburn,  the  independence  of  his 
pountry.  Are  not  these  heaths,  which  we  may  traverse 
at  will,  better  than  the  locked,  guarded,  and  lake-moated 
Castle  of  Lochleven  ?  We  are  free  ;  in  that  one  word  there 
is  comfort  for  all  our  losses." 

He  struck  a  bold  note,  but  the  heart  of  Mary  made  no 
response. 

,  ''Better,"  she  said,  "I  had  still  been  in  Lochleven  than 
.seen  the  slaughter  made  by  rebels  among  the  subjects  who 
offered  themselves  to  death  for  my  sake.  Speak  not  to  me 
.pf  further  efforts  ;  they  would  only  cost  the  lives  of  you,  the 
friends  who  recommend  them  !  I  would  not  again  undergo 
what  I  felt  when  I  saw  from  yonder  mount  the  swords  of  the 
fell  horsemen  of  Morton  raging  among  the  faithful  Seytons 
and  Hamiltons,  for  their  loyalty  to  their  Queen  ;  I  would  not 
again  feel  what  I  felt  when  Douglas's  life-blood  stained  my 
mantle  for  his  love  to  Mary  Stuart — not  to  be  empress  of  all 
that  Britain's  seas  inclose.  Find  for  me  some  place  where  I 
can  hide  my  unhappy  head,  which  brings  destruction  on  all 

413 


414  WAVERLET  NOVELS 

who  love  it ;  it  is  the  last  favor  that  Mary  asks  of  her  faith- 
ful followers." 

In  this  dejected  mood,  hnt  still  pursuing  her  flight  with 
unahated  rapidity,  the  unfortunate  Mary,  after  having  been 
joined  by  Lord  Herries  and  a  few  followers,  at  length  halted, 
for  the  first  time,  at  the  Abbey  of  Dundrennan,  nearly  sixty 
miles  distant  from  the  field  of  battle.  In  this  remote  corner 
of  Galloway,  the  reformation  not  having  yet  been  strictly  en- 
forced against  the  monks,  a  few  still  lingered  in  their  cells 
unmolested ;  and  the  prior,  with  tears  and  reverence, 
received  the  fugitive  Queen  at  the  gate  of  his  convent. 

"  I  bring  you  ruin,  my  good  father,"  said  the  Queen,  as 
she  was  lifted  from  her  palfrey. 

**  It  is  welcome,"  said  the  prior,  "  if  it  comes  in  the  train 
of  duty." 

Placed  on  the  ground,  and  supported  by  her  ladies,  the 
Queen  looked  for  an  instant  at  her  palfrey,  which,  jaded  and 
drooping  its  head,  seemed  as  if  it  mourned  the  distresses  of 
its  mistress. 

*'  Good  Roland,"  said  the  Queen,  whispering,  'Met  Rosa- 
belle  be  cared  for  :  ask  thy  heart,  and  it  will  tell  thee  why  I 
make  this  trifling  request  even  in  this  awful  hour." 

She  was  conducted  to  her  apartment,  and  in  the  hurried 
consultation  of  her  attendants  the  fatal  resolution  of  the 
retreat  to  England  was  finally  adopted.  In  the  morning  it 
received  her  approbation,  and  a  messenger  was  despatched  to 
the  English  warden,  to  pray  him  for  safe  conduct  and  hos- 
pitality, on  the  part  of  the  Queen  of  Scotland.  On  the  next 
day,  the  Abbot  Ambrose  walked  in  the  garden  of  the  abbey 
with  Roland,  to  whom  he  expressed  his  disapprobation  of  the 
course  pursued.  * '  It  is  mad  ness  and  ruin,"  he  said  :  "better 
commit  herself  to  the  savage  Highlanders  or  wild  Bordermen 
than  to  the  faith  of  Elizabeth.  A  woman  to  a  rival  woman 
a  presumptive  successor  to  the  keeping  of  a  jealous  and 
— childless  queen  !  Roland,  Herries  is  true  and  loyal,  but 
his  counsel  has  ruined  his  mistress." 

"  Ay,  ruin  follows  us  everywhere,"  said  an  old  man,  with 
a  spade  in  his  hand,  and  dressed  like  a  lay-brother,  of  whose 
presence,  in  the  vehemence  of  his  exclamation,  the  abbot 
had  not  been  aware.  "  Gaze  not  on  me  with  such  wonder  ! 
I  am  he  who  was  the  Abbot  Boniface  at  Kennaquhair,  who 
was  the  gardener  Blinkhoolie  at  Lochleven,  hunted  round  to 
the  place  in  which  I  served  my  noviciate,  and  now  ye  are 
come  to  rouse  me  up  again  !  A  weary  life  I  have  had,  for 
one  to  whom  peace  was  ever  the  dearest  blessing  ! " 


THE  ABBOT  4U 

"  We  will  soon  rid  you  of  our  company,  good  father,"  said 
the  abbot ;  **  and  the  Queen  will,  I  fear,  trouble  your  retreat 
no  more." 

''  Nay,  you  said  as  much  before,"  said  the  querulous  old 
man,  ''and  yet  I  was  put  forth  from  Kinross,  and  pillaged 
by  troopers  on  the  road.  They  took  from  me  the  certificate 
that  you  wot  of — that  of  the  baron  ;  ay,  he  was  a  moss-trooper 
like  themselves.  You  asked  me  of  it,  and  I  could  never  find 
it,  but  they  found  it ;  it  showed  the  marriage  of — of — my 
memory  fails  me.  Now  see  how  men  differ  !  Father  Nico- 
las would  have  told  you  an  hundred  tales  of  the  Abbot  Ingel- 
ram,  on  whose  soul  God  have  mercy  !  He  was,  I  warrant 
you,  fourscore  and  six,  and  I  am  not  more  than — let  me 
see " 

"  Was  not  '  Avenel '  the  name  you  seek,  my  good  father  ?" 
said  Roland,  impatiently,  yet  moderating  his  tone  for  fear  of 
alarming  or  offending  the  infirm  old  man. 

"  Ay,  right — Avenel — Julian  Avenel.  You  are  perfect  in 
the  name.  I  kept  all  the  special  confessions,  judging  it  held 
with  my  vow  to  do  so.  I  could  not  find  it  when  my  succes- 
sor, Ambrosius,  spoke  on't  ;  but  the  troopers  found  it,  and 
the  knight  who  commanded  the  party  struck  his  breast  till 
his  hauberk  clattered  like  an  empty  watering-can." 

"St.  Mary! "said  the  abbot,  "in  whom  could  such  a 
paper  excite  such  interest  ?  What  was  the  appearance  of 
the  knight,  his  arms,  his  colors  ?  " 

"  Ye  distract  me  with  your  questions.  I  dared  hardly 
look  at  him  ;  they  charged  me  with  bearing  letters  for  the 
Queen,  and  searched  my  mail.  This  was  all  along  of  your 
doings  at  Lochleven." 

"  I  trust  in  God,"  said  the  abbot  to  Roland,  who  stood 
beside  him,  shivering  and  trembling  with  impatience,  "the 

gaper  has  fallen  into  the  hands  of  my  brother.  I  heard  he 
ad  been  with  his  followers  on  the  scout  betwixt  Stirling  and 
Glasgow.  Bore  not  the  knight  a  holly-bough  in  his  helmet  ? 
Canst  thou  not  remember  ?  " 

"0,  remember — remember,"  said  the  old  man,  pettishly  ; 
"  count  as  many  years  as  I  do,  if  your  plots  will  let  you,  and 
see  what,  and  how  much,  you  remember.  Why,  I  scarce 
remember  the  pearmains  which  I  graffed  here  with  my  own 
hands  some  fifty  years  since." 

At  this  moment  a  bugle  sounded  loudly  from  the  beach. 

"It  is  the  death-blast  to  Queen  Mary's  royalty  ! "  said 
Ambrosius  :  "  the  English  warden's  answer  has  been  received 
—•favorable,  doubtlen,  for  when  was  the  door  of  the  trap 


ild  WAVEBLEY  NOVELS 

closed  against  the  prey  which  it  was  set  for  ?  Droop  not, 
Roland,  this  matter  shall  be  shifted  to  the  bottom  ;  but  we 
must  not  now  leave  the  Queen.  Follow  me  ;  let  us  do  our 
duty,  and  trust  the  issue  with  God.  Farewell,  good  father  ; 
I  will  visit  thee  again  soon.'' 

He  was  about  to  leave  the  garden,  followed  by  Roland, 
with  half -reluctant  steps.     The  ex-abbot  resumed  his  spade. 

*'  I  could  be  sorry  for  these  men,"  he  said,  ^'  ay,  and  for 
that  poor  queen,  but  what  avail  earthly  sorrows  to  a  man  of 
fourscore  ?  and  it  is  a  rare  dropping  morning  for  the  early 
colewort.'* 

*^  He  is  stricken  with  age,''  said  Ambrosius,  as  he  dragged 
Roland  down  to  the  sea-beach  ;  *'  we  must  let  him  take  his 
time  to  collect  himself.  Nothing  now  can  be  thought  on  but 
the  fate  of  the  Queen." 

They  soon  arrived  where  she  stood,  surrounded  by  her 
little  train,  and  by  her  side  the  sheriff  of  Cumberland,  a 
gentleman  of  the  house  of  Lowther,  richly  dressed,  and  ac- 
companied by  soldiers.  The  aspect  of  the  Queen  exhibited 
a  singular  mixture  of  alacrity  and  reluctance  to  depart.  Her 
language  and  gestures  spoke  hope  and  consolation  to  her 
attendants,  and  she  seemed  desirous  to  persuade  even  herself 
that  the  step  she  adopted  was  secure,  and  that  the  assurance 
she  had  received  of  kind  reception  was  altogether  satisfac- 
tory ;  but  her  quivering  lip  and  unsettled  eye  betrayed  at 
once  her  anguish  at  departing  from  Scotland  and  her  fears 
of  confiding  herself  to  the  doubtful  faith  of  England. 

''  Welcome,  my  lord  abbot,"  she  said,  speaking  to  Ambro- 
sius, **  and  you,  Roland  Avenel,  we  have  joyful  news  for  you  : 
our  loving  sister's  officer  proffers  us,  in  her  name,  a  safe 
asylum  from  the  rebels  who  have  driven  us  from  our  own  ; 
only  it  grieves  me  we  must  here  part  from  you  for  a  short 
space." 

"  Part  from  us,  madam  !  "  said  the  abbot.  "  Is  your  wel- 
come in  England,  then,  to  commence  with  the  abridgement 
of  your  train  and  dismissal  of  your  counselors  ?  " 

**  Take  it  not  thus,  good  father,"  said  Mary  ;  '^  the  warden 
and  the  sheriff,  faithful  servants  of  our  royal  sister,  deem  it 
necessary  to  obey  her  instructions  in  the  present  case,  even 
to  the  letter,  and  can  only  take  upon  them  to  admit  me  with 
my  female  attendants.  An  express  will  instantly  be  des- 
patched from  London,  assigning  me  a  place  of  residence  ; 
and  I  will  speedily  send  to  all  of  you  whenever  my  court  shall 
be  formed." 
.  '*  Your  court  formed  in  England  I  and  while  Elizabeth 


I 


THE  ABBOT  417 

lives  and  reigns  ?**  said  the  abbot ;  ''that  will  be  when  we 
shall  see  two  suns  in  one  heaven  !  '^ 

''  Do  not  think  so,"  replied  the  Queen  ;  ''we  are  well  as- 
sured of  our  sister's  good  faith.  Elizabeth  loves  fame  ;  and 
not  all  that  she  has  won  by  her  power  and  her  wisdom  will 
equal  that  which  she  will  acquire  by  extending  her  hospital- 
ity to  a  distressed  sister  ;  not  all  that  she  may  hereafter  do  of 
good,  wise,  and  great,  would  blot  out  the  reproach  of  abus- 
ing our  confidence.  Farewell,  my  page — now  my  knight — 
farewell  for  a  brief  season.  I  will  dry  the  tears  of  Catherine, 
or  I  will  weep  with  her  till  neither  of  us  can  weep  longer/' 
She  held  out  her  hand  to  Eoland,  who,  flinging  himself  on 
his  knees,  kissed  it  with  much  emotion.  He  was  about  to 
render  the  same  homage  to  Catherine,  when  the  Queen,  as- 
suming an  air  of  sprightliness,  said,  "  Her  lips  thou  foolish 
boy  !  and,  Catherine,  coy  it  not ;  these  English  gentlemen 
should  see  that,  even  in  our  cold  clime,  beauty  knows  how 
to  reward  bravery  and  fidelity  ! " 

"  We  are  not  now  to  learn,  the  force  of  Scottish  beauty>  or 
the  mettle  of  Scottish  valor,''  said  the  sheriff  of  Cumberland, 
courteously.  "I  would  it  were  in  my  power  to  bid  these 
attendants  upon  her  who  is  herself  the  mistress  of  Scottish 
beauty  as  welcome  to  England  as  my  poor  cares  would  make 
them.  But  our  Queen's  orders  are  positive  in  case  of  such 
an  emergence,  and  they  must  not  be  disputed  by  her  subject. 
May  I  remind  your  Majesty  that  the  tide  ebbs  fast  ?  " 

The  sheriff  took  the  Queen's  hand,  and  she  had  already 
placed  her  foot  on  the  gangway  by  which  she  was  to  enter 
the  skiff,  when  the  abbot,  starting  from  a  trance  of  grief  and 
astonishment  at  the  words  of  the  sheriff,  rushed  into  the 
water,  and  seized  upon  her  mantle. 

"  She  foresaw  it  t— she  foresaw  it ! "  he  exclaimed — ''  she 
foresaw  your  flight  into  her  realm  ;  and,  foreseeing  it,  gave 
orders  you  should  be  thus  received.  Blinded,  deceived, 
doomed  princess  !  your  fate  is  sealed  when  you  quit  this  strand. 
Queen  of  Scotland  thou  shalt  not  leave  thine  heritage  ! "  he 
continued,  holding  a  still  firmer  grasp  upon  her  mantle ; 
"  true  men  shall  turn  rebels  to  thy  will,  that  they  may  save 
thee  from  captivity  or  death.  Fear  not  the  bills  and  bows 
whom  that  gay  man  has  at  his  beck  :  we  will  withstand  him 
by  force.  0,  for  the  arm  of  my  warlike  brother  !  Koland 
Avenel,  draw  thy  sword  ! " 

The  Queen  stood  irresolute  and  frightened — one  foot  upon 
the  plank,  the  other  on  the  sand  of  her  native  shore,  which 
ahe  was  quitting  forever.  »'^>ni  azr. 

«7 


418  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

"  What  needs  this  violence,  sir  priest  ?  "  said  the  sheriff  of 
Cumberland.  *'  I  came  hither  at  your  Queen's  command, 
to  do  her  service  ;  and  I  will  depart  at  her  least  order,  if  she  re- 
jects such  aid  as  I  can  offer.  No  marvel  is  it  if  our  Queen's 
wisdom  foresaw  that  such  chance  as  this  might  happen  amidst 
the  turmoils  of  yon  unsettled  state ;  and,  while  willing  to 
afford  fair  hospitality  to  her  royal  sister,  deemed  it  wise  to 
prohibit  the  entrance  of  a  broken  army  of  her  followers  into 
the  English  frontier." 

**  You  hear,"  said  Queen  Mary,  gently  unloosing  her  robe 
from  the  abbot's  grasp,  "that  we  exercise  full  liberty  of 
choice  in  leaving  this  shore  ;  and,  questionless,  the  choice  will 
remain  free  to  us  in  going  to  France,  or  returning  to  our 
own  dominions,  as  we  shall  determine.  Besides,  it  is  too  late. 
Your  blessing,  father,  and  God  speed  thee  ! " 

"  May  He  have  mercy  on  thee.  Princess,  and  speed  thee 
also  ! "  said  the  abbot,  retreating.  *'  But  my  soul  tells  me  1 
look  on  thee  for  the  last  time  ! " 

The  sails  were  hoisted,  the  oars  were  plied,  the  vessel  went 
freshly  on  her  way  through  the  firth,  which  divides  the  shores 
of  Cumberland  from  those  of  Galloway  ;  but  not  till  the 
vessel  diminished  to  the  size  of  a  child's  frigate  did  the  doubt- 
ful, and  dejected,  and  dismissed  followers  of  the  Queen  cease 
to  linger  on  the  sands  ;  and  long,  long  could  they  discern  the 
kerchief  of  Mary,  as  she  waved  the  oft-repeated  signal  of 
adieu  to  her  faithful  adherents  and  to  the  shores  of  Scotland. 


If  good  tidings  of  a  private  nature  could  have  consoled 
Roland  for  parting  with  his  mistress,  and  for  the  distresses 
of  his  sovereign,  he  received  such  comfort  some  days  subse- 
quent to  the  Queen's  leaving  Dundrennan.  A  breathless 
post — ^no  other  than  Adam'  Woodcock — brought  despatches 
from  Sir  Halbert  Glendinning  to  the  abbot,  whom  he  found 
with  Roland,  still  residing  at  Dundrennan,  and  in  vain  tor- 
turing Boniface  with  fresh  interrogations.  The  packet  bore 
an  earnest  invitation  to  his  brother  to  make  Avenel  Castle 
for  a  time  his  residence.  **  The  clemency  of  the  Regent," 
said  the  writer,  *'  has  extended  pardon  both  to  Roland  and 
to  you,  upon  condition  of  your  remaining  a  time  under  my 
wardship.  And  I  have  that  to  communicate  respecting  the 
parentage  of  Roland  which  not  only  you  will  willmgly  listen 
to,  but  which  will  be  also  found  to  afford  me,  as  the  husband 
of  his  nearest  relative,  some  interest  in  the  future  course  of 
hit  life/' 


THE  ABBOT  41Q 

The  abbot  read  this  letter,  and  paused,  as  if  considering 
what  were  best  for  him  to  do.  Meanwhile,  Woodcock  took 
Eoland  aside,  and  addressed  him  as  follows  :  *'  Now  look. 
Master  Roland,  that  you  do  not  let  any  Papistrie  nonsense 
lure  either  the  priest  or  you  from  the  right  quarry.  See  you, 
you  ever  bore  yourself  as  a  bit  of  a  gentleman.  Read  that, 
and  thank  God  that  threw  old  Abbot  Boniface  in  our  way, 
as  two  of  the  Sey ton's  men  were  conveying  him  towards 
Dundrennan  here.  We  searched  him  for  intelligence  con- 
cerning that  fair  exploit  of  yours  at  Lochleven,  that  has  cost 
many  a  man  his  life,  and  me  a  set  of  sore  bones,  and  we 
found  what  is  better  for  your  purpose  than  ours." 

The  paper  which  he  gave  was,  indeed,  an  attestation  by 
Father  Philip,  subscribing  himself  unworthy  sacristan  and 
brother  of  the  house  of  St.  Mary's,  stating,  *'  That  under  a 
vow  of  secrecy  he  had  united,  in  the  holy  sacrament  of  mar- 
riage, Julian  Avenel  and  Catherine  Graeme  ;  but  that  Julian 
having  repented  of  his  union,  he.  Father  Philip,  had  been 
sinfully  prevailed  on  by  him  to  conceal  and  disguise  the  same 
according  to  a  complot  devised  betwixt  him  and  the  said 
Julian  Avenel,  whereby  the  poor  damsel  was  induced  to  be- 
lieve that  the  ceremony  had  been  performed  by  one  not  in 
holy  orders,  and  having  no  authority  to  that  effect ;  which 
sinful  concealment  the  undersigned  conceived  to  be  the  cause 
why  he  was  abandoned  to  the  misguiding  of  a  water  fiend, 
whereby  he  had  been  under  a  spell,  which  obliged  him  to 
answer  every  question,  even  touching  the  most  solemn  mat- 
ters, with  idle  snatches  of  old  songs,  besides  being  sorely 
afflicted  with  rheumatic  pains  ever  after.  Wherefore  he  had 
deposited  this  testificate  and  confession,  with  the  day  and 
date  of  the  said  marriage,  with  his  lawful  superior,  Boniface, 
abbot  of  St.  Mary's,  suh  sigillo  confessionis." 

It  appeared  by  a  letter  from  Julian,  folded  carefully  up 
with  the  certificate,  that  the  Abbot  Boniface  had,  in  effect, 
bestirred  himself  in  the  affair,  and  obtained  from  the  baron 
&  promise  to  avow  his  marriage  ;  but  the  death  of  both  Julian 
and  his  injured  bride,  together  with  the  abbot's  resignation, 
his  ignorance  of  the  fate  of  their  unhappy  offspring,  and, 
above  all,  the  good  father's  listless  and  inactive  disposition, 
had  suffered  the  matter  to  become  totally  forgotten,  until  it 
was  recalled  by  some  accidental  conversation  with  the  Abbot 
Ambrosius  concerning  the  fortunes  of  the  Avenel  family. 
At  the  request  of  his  snccessor,  the  quondam  abbot  made 
search  for  it ;  but,  as  he  would  receive  no  assistance  in  look- 
ing among  the  few  records  of  spiritual  experiences  and  im- 


42Q  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

portant  conffessions  which  he  had  conscientiously  treasnred, 
it  might  have  remained  forever  hidden  amongst  them  but 
for  the  more  active  researches  of  Sir  Halbert  Glendinning. 

'*  So  that  you  are  like  to  be  heir  of  Avenel  at  last,  Master 
Roland,  after  my  lord  and  lady  have  gone  to  their  place," 
said  Adam ;  ''  and  as  I  have  but  one  boon  to  ask,  I  trust  you 
will  not  nick  me  with  nay/' 

.  :  ;5'  .Not  if  it  be  in  my  power  to  say  '  yes,'  my  trusty  friend." 
.  j.f.f  Why  then,  I  must  needs,  if  I  live  to  see  that  day,  keep 
on  feeding  the  eyases  with  unwashed  flesh,"  said  "Woodcock, 
sturdily,  yet  as  if   doubting  the  reception  that  his  request 
might  meet  with. 

*^  Thou  shalt  feed  them  with  what  you  list  for  me,"  said 
Roland,  laughing  ;  ''  I  am  not  many  months  older  than  when 
I  left  the  castle,  but  I  trust  I  have  gathered  wit  enough  to 
cross  no  man  of  skill  in  his  own  vocation." 

"  Then  I  would  not  change  places  with  the  King's  falco- 
ner^" said  Adam  Woodcock,  "  nor  with  the  Queen's  neither; 
but  they  say  she  will  be  mewed  up,  and  never  need  one.;  I 
see  it  grieves  you  to  think  of  it,  and  I  could  grieve  for  com- 
pany ;  but  what  help  for  it  ?  Fortune,  will  fly  her  own 
flight,  let  a  man  halloo  himself  hoarse." 

The  abbot  and  Roland  journeyed  to,  Avenel,  where  the 
former  was  tenderly  received  by  his  brother,  while  the  lady 
wept  for  joy  to  find  that  in  her  favorite  orphan  she  had  pro- 
tected the  sole  surviving  branch  of  her  own  family.  Sir 
Halbert  Glendinning  and  his  household  were  not  a  little  sur- 
prised at  the  change  which  a  brief  acquaintance  with  the 
world  had  produced  in  their  former  inmate,  and  ^-ejoiced  to 
find  in  the  pettish,  spoiled,  and  presuming  page  a  modest 
and  unassuming  young  man,  too  much  acquainted  with  his 
own  expectations  and. character  to.  be  hot  or  petulant  in  de- 
manding the  consideration'  which  was  readily  and  voluntarily 
yielded  to  him.  The  old  major-domo  Wingate  was,  the  first 
to  sing  his  praises,  to  which  Mrs.  Lilias  bore  a  loud  echo, 
always  hoping  that  God  would  teach  him  the  true  Gospel. 

To  the  true  Gospel  the  heart  of  Roland  had  secretly  long 
inclined,  and  the  departure  of  the  good  abbot  for  France, 
with  the  purpose  of  entering  into  some  house  of  his  order  in 
that  kingdom,  removed  his  chief  objection  to  renouncing  the 
Cotholic  faith.  Another  might  have  existed  in  the  duty 
which  he  owed  to  Magdalen  Graeme,  both  by  birth  and  from 
gratitude.  But  he  learned,  ere  he  had  been  long  a  resident 
in  Avenel,  that  his  grandmother  had  died  at  Cologne,  in  the 
performance  of  a  penance  too  severe  tqr  her  age,  which  she 


THE  ABBOT  421  j 

had  taken  upon  herself  in  behalf  of  the  Queen  and  Church 
of  Scotland,  so  soon  as  she  heard  of  the  defeat  at  Langside. 
The  zeal  of  the  Abbot  Ambrosius  was  more  regulated  ;  but  he 

retired  into  the  Scottish   convent   of- ,  and  so  lived  there 

that  the  fraternity  were  inclined  to  claim  for  him  the  honors 
of  canonisation.  But  he  guessed  their  purpose,  and  prayed 
them  on  his  death-bed  to  do  no  honors  to  the  body  of  one 
as  sinful  as  themselves  ;  but  to  send  his  body  and  his  heart 
to  be  buried  in  Avenel  burial-aisle,  in  the  Monastery  of  St. 
Mary's,  that  the  last  abbot  of  that  celebrated  house  of  devo- 
tion might  sleep  among  its  ruins.* 

Long  before  that  period  arrived,  Koland  Avenel  was  wedded 
to  Catherine  Seyton,  who,  after  two  years'  residence  with  her 
unhappy  mistress,  was  dismissed,  upon  her  being  subjected 
to  closer  restraint  than  had  been  at  first  exercised.  She  re- 
turned to  her  father's  house  and  as  Koland  was  acknowledged 
for  the  successor  and  lawful  heir  of  the  ancient  house  of 
Avenel,  greatly  increased  as  the  estate  was  by  the  providence 
of  Sir  Halbert  Glendinning,  there  occurred  no  objections  to 
the  match  on  the  part  of  her  family.  Her  mother  was  re- 
cently dead  when  she  first  entered  the  convent ;  and  her 
father,  in  the  unsettled  times  which  followed  Queen  Mary's 
flight  to  England,  was  not  averse  to  an  alliance  with  a  youth 
who,  himself  loyal  to  Queen  Mary,  still  held  some  influence, 
through  means  of  Sir  Halbert  Glendinning,  with  the  party 
in  power. 

Eoland  and  Catherine,  therefore,  were  united,  spite  of 
their  differing  faiths  ;  and  the  White  Lady,  whose  appari- 
tion had  been  infrequent  when  the  house  of  Avenel  seemed 
verging  to  extinction,  was  seen  to  sport  by  her  haunted  well, 
with  a  zone  of  gold  around  her  bosom  as  broad  as  the  bal- 
drick  of  an  earl. 

*  See  Burial  of  the  Abbot's  Heart  in  the  Avenel  Aisle.    Note  28, 


KOTES  TO  THE  ABBOT 


Note  1.— Glendonwynk  of  Glkndonwynk,  p.  26 

Tms  was  a  house  of  ancient  descent  and  superior  consequence,  including  per- 
sons who  fought  at  Bannockburn  and  Otterburu,  and  closely  connected  by  alli- 
ance and  friendship  with  the  great  Earls  of  Douglas.  The  knight  in  the  story 
argues  as  most  Scotsms  .  would  do  in  his  situation,  for  all  of  the  same  clan  are 
popularly  considered  as  descended  from  the  same  stock,  and  as  having  a  right 
to  the  ancestral  honor  of  the  chief  branch.  This  opinion,  though  sometimes 
ideal,  is  so  strong,  even  at  this  day  of  innovation,  that  it  may  be  observed  as  a 
national  difference  between  ray  countrymen  and  the  English.  If  you  ask  an 
Englishman  of  good  birth  whether  a  person  of  the  same  name  be  connected 
with  him,  he  answers,  if  in  dubio,  "  No,  he  is  a  mere  namesake."    Ask  a  similar 

auestion  of  a  Scot— I  mean  a  Scotsman— he  replies,  "  He  is  one  of  our  clan  ;  I 
aresay  there  is  a  relationship,  though  I  do  not  know  how  distant."  The  Eng- 
lishman thinks  of  discountenancing  a  species  of  rivalry  in  Society ;  the  Scots 
nuin's  answer  is  grounded  on  the  ancient  idea  of  strengthening  the  cla». 

Note  2.— Bao  for  Hawks'  Meat,  p.  64 

This  same  bag,  like  everything  belonging  to  falconry,  was  esteemed  an  honor- 
able distinction,  and  worn  often  hy  the  nobility  and  gentry.  One  of  the  Somer- 
villes  of  Camnethan  was  called  Sir  John  with  the  Red  Bag,  because  it  was  his 
wont  to  wear  his  hawking-pouch  covered  with  satin  of  that  color. 

Note  8.— Cell  of  St.  Cuthbert,  p.  68 

I  may  here  observe,  that  this  is  entirely  an  ideal  scene.  St.  Cuthbert,  a  per 
son  of  established  sanctity,  had,  no  doubt,  several  places  of  worship  on  the 
Borders,  where  he  flourished  whilst  living  ;  but  Tilmouth  Chapel  is  the  only  one 
which  bears  some  resemblance  to  the  hermitage  described  in  the  text.  It  has, 
indeed,  a  well,  famous  for  gratifying  three  wishes  for  every  worshiper  who 
shall  quaff  the  fountain  with  sufficient  belief  in  its  efficacy.  At  this  spot  the 
saint  is  said  to  have  landed  in  his  stone  coffin,  in  which  he  sailed  down  the  Tweed 
from  Melrose,  and  here  the  stone  coffin  long  lay,  in  evidence  of  the  fact.  The 
late  Sir  Francis  Blake  Delaval  is  said  to  have  taken  the  exact  measure  of  the 
coffin,  and  to  have  ascertained,  by  hydrostatic  principles,  that  it  might  have 
«;tually  swum.  A  profane  farmer  in  the  neighborhood  announced  his  intention 
of  converting  this  last  bed  of  the  saint  into  a  trough  for  his  swine  ;  but  the  pro- 
fanation was  rendered  impossible,  either  by  the  samt  or  by  some  pious  votary  in 
his  behalf,  for  on  the  following  morning  the  stone  sarcophagus  was  found  broken 
in  two  fragments. 

Tilmouth  Chapel,  with  these  points  of  resemblance,  lies,  however,  in  exactly 
the  opposite  direction  as  regards  Melrose  which  the  supposed  cell  of  St.  Cuth- 
bert is  said  to  have  borne  towards  Kennaquhair. 

Note  4.— Qoss-hawk,  p.  81 

The  comparison  is  taken  from  some  beautiful  verses  in  an  old  ballad,  entitled 
"  Fause  Foodrage,"  published  in  the  Minstrelsy  of  the  Scottish  Border.  A  de- 
posed queen,  to  preserve  her  infant  son  from  the  traitors  who  have  slain  his 
father,  exchanges  him  with  the  female  offspring  of  a  faithful  friend,  and  goe« 
on  to  direct  the  education  of  the  children,  and  the  private  signals  by  which  tb« 
parents  are  to  hear  news  each  of  her  own  offspring. 

423 


4a^  NOTES  TO  THE  ABBOT 

And  ye  maun  learn  my  gay  goss-hawk 

Right  weal  to  breast  a  steed  ; 
And  1  sail  learn  your  turtle  dow, 

As  weel  to  write  and  read. 

And  ye  maun  learn  my  gay  goss-hawk 

To  wield  both  bow  and  brand  ; 
And  1  sail  learn  your  turtle  dow. 

To  lay  gowd  wi'  her  hand. 

At  kirk  and  market  when  we  meet. 

We'll  dare  make  nae  avowe, 
But,  "■  Dame,  how  does  my  gay  goss-hawk  f  ** 

"Madame,  how  does  my  dow  ?" 

Note  5.— Nunneey  of  St.  Bridget,  p.  101 

This,  like  the  cell  of  St.  Cuthbert,  is  an  imaginary  scene;  but  I  took  one  or 
iwo  ideas  of  the  desolation  of  the  interior  from  a  story  told  me  by  my  father. 
In  his  youth— it  may  be  near  eighty  years  since,  as  he  was  born  in  1729— he  had 
occasion  to  visit  an  old  lady  who  resided  in  a  Border  castle  of  considerable  re- 
nown. Only  one  very  limited  portion  of  the  extensive  ruins  sufficed  for  the  ac- 
commodation of  the  inmates,  and  my  father,  amused  .himself  by  wandering 
through  the  part  that  was  untenanted.  In  a  dining  apartment,  having  a  roof 
riclily  adorned  with  arches  and  drops,  there  was  deposited  a  large  stack  of  hay, 
to. which  calves  were  helping  themselves  from  opposite  sides.  As  my  father 
was  scaling  a  dark,  ruinous  turnpike  staircase,  his  greyhound  ran  up  before 
him,  and  probably  was  the  means  of  saving  his  life,  for  the  animal  fell  through 
a  trap-door,  or  aperture  in  the  stair,  thus  warning  the  owner  of  the  danger  of 
the  ascent.  As  the  dog  continued  howling  from  a  great  depth,  my  father  got 
the  old  butler,  who  alone  knew  most  of  the  localities  about  the  castle,  to  unlock 
a  sort  of  stable,  in  which  Killbuck  was  found  safe  and  sound,  the  place  being 
filled  with  the  same  commodity  which  littered  the  stalls  of  Augeas,  and  whicn 
had  rendered  the  dog's  fall  an  easy  one. 

Note  6.— Nun  of  Kent,  p.  106 

A  fanatic  nun,  called  the  Holy  Maid  of  Kent,  who  pretended  to  the  gift  of  proph- 
ecy and  power  of  miracles.  Having  denounced  the  doom  of  speedy  death 
against  Henry  VIII.  for  his  marriage  with  Anne  Bol'eyn,  the  prophetess  was  at- 
tainted in  Parliament,  and  executed,  with  her  accomplices.  Her  imposture  wag 
for  a  time  so  successful  that  even  Sir  Thomas  More  was  disposed  to  be  a  believer 

Note  7.— Hunting  Mass,  p.  114 

In  Catholic  countries,  in  order  to  reconcile  the  pleasures  of  the  great  with  the 
observances  of  religion,  it  was  common,  when  a  party  was  bent  for  the  chase,  to 
celebrate  mass,  abridged  and  maimed  of  its  rites,  called  a  hunting  mass,  the 
brevity  of  which  was  designed  to  correspond  with  the  impatience  of  the  audi- 
ence. 

Note  8.— Abbot  of  Unreason,  p.  116. 

We  learn,  from  no  less  authority  than  that  of  Napoleon  Bonaparte,  that  there 
is  but  a  single  step  between  the  sublime  and  ridiculous  ;  and  it  is  a  transition 
from  one  extreme  to  another  so  very  easy  that  the  vulgar  of  every  degree  are 
peculiarly  captivated  with  it.  Thus  the  inclination  to  laUgh  becomes  uncon- 
trollable when  the  solemnity  and  gravity  of  time,  place,  and  circumstances  ren- 
der it  peculiarly  improper.  Some  species  of  general  license,  like  that  which 
inspired  the  ancient  Saturnalia,  or  the  modern  Carnival,  has  been  commonly 
indulged  to  the  people  at  all  times,  and  in  almost  all  countries.  But  it  was,  I 
think,  peculiar  to  the  Roman  Catholic  Church  that,  while  they  studied  how  to 
render  their  church  rites  imposing  and  magnificent,  by  all  that  pomp,  music, 
architecture,  and  external  display  could  add  to  them,  they  nevertheless  con- 
nived, upon  special  occasions,  at  the  frolics  of  the  rude  vulgar,  who,  in  almost 
all  Catholic  countries,  enjoyed,  or  at  least  assumed,  the  privilege  of  making 
some  lord  of  the  revels,  who,  under  the  name  of  the  Abbot  of  Unreason,  the 
Boy  Bishop,  or  the  President  of  Fools,  occupied  the  churches,  profaned  the  holy 

g laces  by  a  mock  imitation  of  the  sacred  rites,  and  sung  indecent  parodies  on 
ymns  of  the  church.    The  indifference  of  the  clergy,  even  when  their  powef 
WMgreateat,  to  the  indecent  exhibitions  which  they  always  tolerated,  andsona^ 


If^OTES  TO  THE  ABBOT  42o 

times  encouraged,  forms  a  strong  contrast  to  the  sensitiveness  with  which  they 
regarded  any  serious  attempt,  by  preaching  or  writing,  to  impeach  any  of  the 
doctrines  of  the  church.  It  could  only  be  compared  to  the  singular  apathy 
with  which  they  endured,  and  often  admired,  the  gross  novels  which  Chaucer, 
Dunbar,  Boccaccio,  Bandello,  and  others  composed  upon  the  bad  morals  of  the 
clergy.  It  seems  as  if  the  churchmen  in  both  instances  had  endeavored  to 
compromise  with  the  laity,  and  allowed  them  occasionallyto  gratify  their  coarse 
humor  by  indecent  satire,  provided  they  would  abstain  from  any  grave  questioii 
concerning  the  foundation  of  the  doctrines  on  which  was  erected  such  an  Im- 
mense fabric  of  ecclesiastical  power. 

But  the  sports  thus  licensed  assumed  a  very  different  appearance  so  soon  as 
the  Protestant  doctrines  began  to  prevail ;  and  the  license  which  their  fore- 
lathers  had  exercised  in  mere  gaiety  of  heart,  and  without  the  least  intention  of 
dishonoring  religion  by  their  frolics,  was  now  persevered  in  by  the  common 
people  as  a  mode  of  testifying  their  utter  disregard  for  the  Roman  priesthood 
and  its  ceremonies. 

I  may  observe,  for  example,  the  case  of  an  apparitor  sent  to  Borthwick  from 
the  Primate  of  St.  Andrews,  to  cite  the  lord  of  that  castle,  who  was  opposed  by 
an  Abbot  of  Unreason,  at  whose  command  the  officer  of  the  spiritual  court  was 
appointed  to  be  ducked  in  a  mill-dam,  and  obliged  to  eat  up  his  parchment 
citation. 

The  reader  may  be  amused  with  the  following  whimsical  details  of  this  inci- 
dent, which  took  place  in  the  castle  of  Borthwick,  in  the  year  1547.  It  appears 
that,  in  consequence  of  a  process  betwixt  Master  George  Hay  de  Minzeane  and 
the  Lord  Borthwick,  letters  of  excommunication  had  passed  against  the  latter, 
on  account  of  the  contumacy  of  certain  witnesses.  William  Langlands,  an  ap- 
paritor or  macer  (bacularius)  of  the  see  of  St,  Andrews,  presented  these  letters 
to  the  curate  of  the  church  of  Borthwick,  requiring  him  to  publish  the  same  at 
the  service  of  high  mass.  It  seems  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  castle  were  at 
this  time  engaged  in  the  favorite  sport  of  enacting  the  Abbot  of  Unreason,  a 
species  of  high  jinks,  in  which  a  mimic  prelate  was  elected,  who,  like  the  Lord 
of  Misrule  in  England,  turned  all  sort  of  lawful  authority,  and  particularly  the 
church  ritual,  into  ridicule.  This  frolicsome  person,  with  his  retinue,  notwith- 
standing of  the  apparitor's  character,  entered  the  church,  seized  lypon  the 
Primate's  officer  without  hesitation,  and,  dragging  him  to  the  mill-dam  on  the 
south  side  of  the  castle,  compelled  him  to  leap  into  the  water.  Not  contented 
with  this  partial  immersion,  the  Abbot  of  Unreason  pronounced  that  Mr.  Wil- 
liam Langiands  was  not  yet  sufficiently  bathed,  and  therefore  caused  his  assist- 
ants to  lay  him  on  his  back  in  the  stream,  and  duck  him  in  the  most  satisfactory 
and  perfect  manner.  The  unfortunate  apparitor  was  then  conducted  back  to 
the  church,  where,  for  his  refreshment  after  his  bath,  the  letters  of  excommuni- 
cation were  torn  to  pieces,  and  steeped  in  a  bowl  of  wine  ;  the  mock  abbot  being 
probably  of  opinion  that  a  tough  parchment  was  but  dry  eating,  Langlands  was 
compelled  to  eat  the  letters  and  swallow  the  wine,  and  dismissed  by  the  Abbot  of 
Unreason,  with  the  comfortable  assurance  that,  if  any  more  such  letters  should 
arrive  during  the  continuance  of  his  office,  "  they  should  a'  gang  the  same  gate," 
i.e.  go  the  same  road. 

A  similar  scene  occurs  betwixt  a  sumner  of  the  Bishop  of  Rochester  and  Har- 

Bool,  the  servant  of  Lord  Cobham,  in  the  old  play  of  Sir  John  Oldcastle,  whem 
le  former  compels  the  church-officer  to  eat  his  citation.  The  dialogue  contains 
most  of  the  jests  which  may  be  supposed  appropriate  to  such  an  extraordinary 
occasion. 

Harpool.    Marry,  sir,  is  this  process  parchment  t 

Sumner.    Yes,  marry  is  it. 

Harpool,    And  this  seal  wax  ? 

Biimner.    It  is  so. 

Harpool.  If  this  be  parchment,  and  this  be  wax,  eat  you  this  parchment  and 
wax,  or  I  will  make  parchment  of  your  skin,  and  beat  your  brains  Into  wax. 
Sirrah  Sumner,  despatch — devour,  sirrah,  devour. 

Sumner.  I  am  my  Lord  of  Rochester's  sumner ;  I  came  to  do  my  office,  and 
thou  Shalt  answer  it. 

Harpool.  Sirrah,  no  railing,  but  betake  thyself  to  thy  teeth.  Thou  shalt  eat 
no  worse  than  thou  bringest  with  thee.  Thou  bringest  it  for  my  lord  ;  and  wilt 
thou  bring  my  lord  worse  than  thou  wilt  eat  thyself  ? 

Sumner.    Sir,  I  brought  it  not  my  lord  to  eat. 

Harpool.    O,  do  you  Sir  me  now  ?    All's  one  for  that ;  I'll  make  you  eat  it  for 
bringing  it. 
.  Sumner.    I  cannot  eat  it, 

Harpool.  Can  you  not?  'Sblood,  I'll  beat  you  till  you  have  a  stomach: 
{B^ats  him.] 

Sumner.    Oh,  hold,  hold,  good  Mr.  Serving-man  ;  I  will  eat  it. 


426  NOTES  TO  THE  ABBOT 

Harpool.  Be  champing,  be  chewing,  sir,  or  I  will  chew  you,  you  rogu«.  Tough 
wax  is  the  purest  of  the  honey. 

Sumner.    The  purest  of  the  honey  !    O  Lord,  sir  1  oh  I  oh  1 

Harpool.  Feed,  feed  ;  'tis  wholesome,  rogue— wholesome.  Cannot  you,  like 
an  honest  sumner,  walk  with  the  devil  your  brother,  to  fetch  in  your  bailiff's 
rents,  but  you  must  come  to  a  nobleman's  house  with  process  ?  If  the  seal  were 
as  broad  as  the  lead  which  covers  Rochester  Church,  thou  shouldst  eat  it. 

Sumner.    Oh,  I  am  almost  choked— I  am  almost  choked  1 

Harpool.  Who's  within  there  ?  will  you  shame  my  lord  ?  is  there  no  beer  in 
the  house  ?    Butler,  I  say. 

Enter  Butlbr. 

Butler.    Here— here. 

Harpool.    Give  him  beer.    Tough  old  sheep-skin's  but  dry  meat. 

First  Part  of  Sir  John  Oldcastle,  Act  IL  Scene  1. 

Note  9.— The  Hobbt-horse,  p.  117 

This  exhibition,  the  play-mare  of  Scotland,  stood  high  among  holyday  gam- 
bols.  It  must  be  carefully  separated  from  the  wooden  chargers  which  furnish 
out  our  nurseries.    It  gives  rise  to  Hamlet's  ejaculation — 

But  oh,  but  oh,  the  hobby-horse  is  forgot  I 

There  is  a  very  comic  scene  in  Beaumont  and  Fletcher's  play  of  Women  Pleased, 
where  Hope-on-high  Bomby,  a  Puritan  cobbler,  refuses  to  dance  with  the  hobby- 
horse.  There  was  much  difficulty  and  great  variety  in  the  motions  which  the 
hobby-horse  was  expected  to  exhibit. 

The  learned  Mr.  Douce,  who  has  contributed  so  much  to  the  illustration  of  our 
theatrical  antiquities,  has  given  us  a  full  account  of  this  pageant,  and  the  bur- 
lesque horsemanship  which  it  practised. 

"  The  hobby-horse,"  says  Mr.  Douce,  "  was  represented  by  a  man  equipped 
with  as  nmch  pasteboard  as  was  sufficient  to  form  the  head  and  hinder  parts  of 
a  horse,  the  quadru  pedal  defects  being  concealed  by  a  long  mantle  or  foot-cloth 
that  nearly  touched  the  ground.  The  performer,  on  this  occasion,  exerted  all 
his  skill  in  burlesque  horsemanship.  In  Sampson's  play  of  the  Vow-breaker,  1636, 
a  miller  personates  the  hobby-horse,  and  being  angry  that  the  mayor  of  the  city 
is  put  in  competition  with  him,  exclaims,  "  Let  the  major  [mayor]  play  the 
hobby-horse  among  his  brethren,  an  he  will ;  I  hope  our  town-lads  cannot  want 
a  hobby-horse.  Have  I  practised  my  reins,  my  careers,  my  pranckers,  my  ambles, 
my  false  trots,  my  smooth  ambles,  and  Canterbury  paces,  and  shall  master  major 

Eut  me  besides  the  hobby-horse  ?  Have  I  borrowed  the  forehorse  bells,  his  plumes, 
is  braveries  ;  nay,  had  his  mane  new  shorn  and  frizzled,  and  shall  the  major  put 
me  besides  the  hobby-horse  "  ' — Douce's  Illustrations,  vol.  ii.  p.  468. 

Note  10. — Representation  op  Robin  Hood  and  Little  John,  p.  118 

The  representation  of  Robin  Hood  was  the  darling  May-game  both  in  England 
and  Scotland,  and  doubtless  the  favorite  personification  was  often  revived,  when 
the  Abbot  of  Unreason,  or  other  pretenses  of  frolic,  gave  an  unusual  degree  of 
license.  » 

The  Protestant  clergy,  who  had  formerly  reaped  advantage  from  the  oppor- 
tunities which  these  sports  afforded  them  of  directing  their  own  satire  and  the 
ridicule  of  the  lower  orders  against  the  Catholic  Church,  began  to  find  that 
when  these  purposes  were  served,  their  favorite  pastimes  deprived  them  of  the 
wish  to  attend  divine  worship,  and  disturbed  the  frame  of  mind  in  which  it  can 
be  attended  to  advantage.  The  celebrated  Bishop  Latimer  gives  a  very  naive 
account  of  the  manner  in  which,  bishop  as  he  was,  he  found  himself  compelled 
to  give  place  to  Robin  Hood  and  his  followers. 

"  I  came  once  myselfe  to  a  place  riding  on  a  journey  homeward  from  London, 
and  I  sent  word  over  night  into  the  towne  that  I  would  preach  there  in  the  morn- 
ing, because  it  was  holiday,  and  methought  it  was  a  holidayes  worke.  The  church 
gtood  in  my  way,  and  I  tooke  my  horse  and  my  company,  and  went  thither  (I 
thought  I  should  have  found  a  great  company  in  the  church),  and  when  I  came 
there  the  church  doore  was  fast  locked.  I  tarryed  there  halfe  an  houre  and 
more.  At  last  the  key  was  found,  and  one  of  the  parish  comes  to  me,  and  says, 
"  Sir,  this  is  a  busle  day  with  us,  we  cannot  heare  you  ;  it  is  Robin  Hood's  day. 
The  parish  are  gone  abroad  to  gather  for  Robin  Hood.  I  pray  you  let  them  not." 
I  was  faine  there  to  give  place  to  Robin  Hood.  I  thought  my  rochet  should  have 
been  regarded  though  I  was  not  but  it  would  not  serve,  it  was  faine  to  give  place 
to  Robin  Hood's  men.  It  is  no  laughing  matter,  my  friends  ;  it  is  weeping  matter, 
a  heavy  matter— a  heavy  matter.    Under  the  pretense  for  gathering  for  Kobia 


NOTES  TO  THE  ABBOT  4'21 

Hood,  a  traytour  and  a  theafe,  to  put  out  a  preacher,  to  have  his  office  lease 
esteemed,  to  preferre  Robin  Hood  before  the  ministration  of  God's  Word  ;  and 
all  this  hath  come  of  unpreaching  prelates.  This  realme  hath  been  ill  provided 
for,  that  it  hath  had  sucn  corrupt  judgments  in  it,  to  preferre  Robin  Hood  to 
God's  Word." — Bishop  Latimer'' s  Sixth  Sermon  before  King  Edward  VI. 
While  the  English  Protestants  thus  preferred  the  outlaw's  pageant  to  the 

g reaching  of  their  excellent  bishop,  the  Scottish  Calvinistic  clergy,  with  the  cele- 
rated  John  Knox  at  their  head,  and  backed  by  the  authority  of  the  magistrates 
of  Edinburgh,  who  had  of  late  been  chosen  exclusively  from  this  party,  found  it 
impossible  to  control  the  rage  of  the  populace,  when  they  attempted  to  deprive 
them  of  the  privilege  of  presenting  their  pageant  of  Robin  Hood. 

(1561).  "Vponthe  xxi  day  of  Julij  Archibalde  Dowglas  of  Kilspindie,  Provest 
of  Edr.,  David  Symmer  and  Adame  FuUartoun,  bailies  of  the  samyne,  causit  ana 
cordinare  servant,  callit  James  Gillioun  [or  Killone],  takin  of  befoir,  for  playing 
in  Edr.  with  Robene  Hude,  to  wnderly  the  law,  and  put  him  to  the  knawlege  of 
ane  assyize,  qlk  yaij  haid  electit  of  yair  f avoraris,  quha  with  schort  deliberatioun 
condemnit  hmi  to  be  hangit  for  ye  said  cryme.  And  the  deaconis  of  ye  craftis- 
man,  fearing  vproare,  maid  great  solistatiouns  at  ye  handis  of  ye  said  provest 
and  baillies,  and  als  requirit  John  Knox,  minister,  for  eschewing  of  tumult,  to 
superceid  ye  executioun  of  him,  vnto  ye  tyme  yai  suld  adverteis  my  Lord  Duke 
yairof.  And  yan,  if  it  wes  his  mynd  and  will  yat  he  should  be  disponit  vpoun,  ye 
said  deaconis  and  craftisman  sould  convey  him  yaire  ;  quha  answerit,  yat  yai 
culd  na  way  stope  ye  executioun  of  justice.  Quhan  ye  time  of  ye  said  pouer  mans 
hanging  approchit,  and  yat  he  hangman  wes  cum  to  ye  jibbat  with  ye  ledder, 
vpoune  ye  qlk  ye  said  cordinare  should  have  bene  hangit,  ane  certaine  and  rem- 
anent craftischilder,  quha  wes  j)ut  to  ye  home  with  ye  said  Gillione,  flfor  ye  said 
Robene  Hiude's  pZaj/es,  and  vyris  yair  assistaris  and  favoraris,  past  to  wappinis, 
and  yai  brak  down  ye  said  jibbat,  and  yan  chacit  ye  said  provest,  baillies,  and 
Alexr.  Guthrie,  in  ye  said  Alexander's  writing-buith,  and  held  yame  yairin  ;  and 
yairefter  past  to  ye  tolbuyt,  and  becaus  the  samyne  was  steikit,  and  onnawayes 
culd  get  the  keyes  thairof ,  thai  brake  the  said  tolbuith  dore  with  f  oure  hamberis 
per  force  (the  said  provest  and  baillies  luikand  thairon),  and  not  onlie  put  thar 
the  said  Gillone  to  f  redome  and  libertie,  and  brocht  him  f  urth  of  the  said  tolbuit, 
bot  alsua  the  remanent  presonaris  being  thairintill.  And  this  done,  the  said 
craftismen's  servands,  with  the  said  condempnit  cordonar,  past  doun  to  the 
Nethirbow,  to  have  past  furth  thairit ;  bot  becaus  the  samyne  on  thair  coming 
thairto  wes  closit,  thai  past  vp  agane  the  Hie  Streit  of  the  said  bourghe  to  the 
Castell  hill,  and  in  this  menetyme  the  saidis  provest  and  baillies  and  thair  assist- 
aris being  in  the  writting-buith  of  the  said  Alexr.  Guthrie,  past  and  enterit  in  the 
said  tolbuyt,  and  in  the  said  servandis  passage  vp  the  Hie  Streit,  then  schote 
furth  thairof  at  thame  ane  dog,  and  hvrt  ane  servand  of  the  said  childer.  This 
being  done,  thair  wes  nathing  vthir  but  the  one  partie  schuteand  out  and  castand 
stanis  furth  of  the  said  tolbuyt,  and  the  vther  pairtie  schuteand  hagbuttis  in  the 
same  agane.  And  sua  the  craftismen's  servandis,  abone  written,  held  and  inclosit 
the  said  provest  and  baillies  continewallie  in  the  said  tolbuyth,  frae  three  houris 
ef  ternone  quhil  aught  houris  at  even,  and  na  man  of  the  said  town  preusit  [sterit] 
to  relieve  thair  said  provest  and  bailies.  And  than  thai  send  to  the  maist-ers  of 
the  Castell  [craftismen],  to  caus  tham  if  thai  mycht  stay  the  said  servandis,  quha 
maid  ane  maner  to  doe  the  same,  bot  thai  could  not  bring  the  same  to  ane  flnall 
end,  flfor  the  said  servand  wold  on  nowayes  stay  fra,  quhill  thai  had  revengit  the 
hurting  of  ane  of  them  ;  and  thairefter  the  constable  of  the  Castell  come  down 
thairfra.  and  he  with  the  said  maisters  treatit  betwix  the  said  pties  in  this  maner : 
—That  the  said  provest  and  baillies  sail  reniit  [discharge]  to  the  said  craftischilder 
all  actioun,  crvme,  and  oflfens  that  thai  had  committit  aganes  thame  m  any  tyme 
bygane;  and  band  oblast  thame  nevir  to  pussew  them  thairfor  ;  and  als  com- 
mandit  thair  maisters  to  resaue  them  agane  in  thair  services,  as  thai  did  befoir. 
And  this  being  proclamit  at  the  mercat  crow,  thai  scalit,  and  the  said  provest  and 
baillies  come  furth  of  the  same  tolbuyth,"  etc.  etc.  etc. 

John  Knox,  who  writes  at  large  upon  this  tumult,  informs  us  it  was  inflamed 
by  the  deacons  of  crafts,  who,  resenting  the  superiority  assumed  over  them  by 
the  magistrates,  would  yield  no  assistance  to  put  down  the  tumult.  '  They  will 
be  magistrates  alone,"  said  the  recusant  deacons,  "e'en  let  them  rule  the  popu- 
lace alone  "  ;  and  accordingly  they  passed  quietly  to  take  their  "  four-hours 
penny,"  and  left  the  magistrates  to  help  themselves  as  they  could.  Many  persons 
were  excommunicated  for  this  outrage,  and  not  admitted  to  church  ordinances 
till  they  had  made  satisfaction. 

Note  11.— "The  Paip,  that  Pagan,"  p.  128 

These  rude  rhymes  are  taken,  with  trifling  alterations,  from  a  ballad  called 
"Trim-go-trix."    It  occurs  in  a  singular  collection,  entitled  Ane  Compendious 


428  NOTES  TO  THE  ABBOT 

Booke  of  Godly  and  Spirituall  Songs,  CoUectit  out  of  Sundrie  Parts  of  the  Serin, 
ture,  with  Sundrie  of  other  Ballates  Changed  out  of  Prophaine  Sanges,  for 
Avoyding  of  Sinne  and  Harlotrie,  with  Augmentation  of  Sundrie  Gude  and  Godly 
Ballates.  Edinburgh,  printed  by  Andro  Hart.  This  curious  collection  has  been 
reprinted  in  Mr.  John  Graham  Dalyell's  Scottish  Poems  of  the  16th  Century. 
Edin.  1801. 

Note  12.— Inability  of  Evil  Spirits  to  enter  a  House  uninvited,  p.  144 

There  is  a  popular  belief  respecting  evil  spirits,  that  they  cannot  enter  an  in- 
habited house  unless  invited,  nay,  dragged  over  the  threshold.  There  is  an  in- 
stance of  the  same  superstition  in  the  Tales  of  the  Genii,  where  an  enchanter  is 
supposed  to  have  intruded  himself  into  the  divan  of  the  sultan. 

" '  Thus,'  said  the  illustrious  Misnar,  '  let  the  enemies  of  Mahomet  be  dis- 
mayed !  but  inform  me,  O  ye  sages  !  under  the  semblance  of  which  of  your 
brethren  did  that  foul  enchanter  gain  admittance  here  ? '  '  May  the  lord  of  my 
heart,'  answered  Bahilu,  the  hermit  of  the  faithful  from  Queda,'  triumph  over 
all  his  foes  I  As  I  travelled  on  the  mountains  fi-om  Queda,  and  saw  neither  the 
footsteps  of  beasts,  nor  the  flights  of  birds,  behold,  I  chanced  to  pass  through  a 
cavern,  in  whose  hollow  sides  I  found  this  accursed  sage,  to  whom  I  unfolded  the 
invitation  of  the  Sultan  of  India,  and  we,  joining,  journeyed  toward  the  divan  ; 
but  ere  we  entered,  he  said  unto  me,  '  Put  thy  hand  forth,  and  pull  me  toward 
thee  into  the  divan,  calling  on  the  name  of  Mahomet,  for  the  evil  spirits  are  on 
me,  and  vex  me.'  " 

I  have  understood  that  many  parts  of  these  fine  tales,  and  in  particular  that  of 
the  Sultan  Misnar,  were  taken  from  genuine  Oriental  sources  by  the  edik)r,  Mr. 
James  Ridley. 

But  the  most  picturesque  use  of  this  popular  belief  occurs  in  Coleridge's  beau- 
tiful and  tantalizing  fragment  of  Christabel.  Has  not  our  own  imaginative  poet 
cause  to  fear  that  future  ages  will  desire  to  summon  him  from  his  place  of  rest, 
as  Milton  longed 

To  call  up  him,  who  left  half  told 
The  story  of  Cambuscan  bold  ? 

The  verses  I  refer  to  are  when  Christabel  conducts  into  her  father's  castle  a  mys- 
terious and  malevolent  being,  under  the  guise  of  a  distressed  female  strhE^er 

They  cross'd  the  moat,  and  Christabel 

Took  the  key  that  fitted  well ; 

A  little  door  she  open'd  straight. 

All  in  the  middle  of  the  gate ; 

The  gate  that  was  iron'd  within  and  without. 

Where  an  army  in  battle  array  had  march'd  out. 

The  lady  sank,  belike  thro'  pain, 
And  Christabel  with  might  and  main 
Lifted  her  up,  a  weary  weight, 
Over  the  threshold  of  the  gate  : 
Then  the  lady  rose  again. 
And  moved  as  she  were  not  in  pain. 

So  free  from  danger,  free  from  fear, 

They  cross'd  the  court :— right  glad  they  were. 

And  Christabel  devoutly  cried 

To  the  lady  by  her  side  : 

*'  Praise  we  the  Virgin,  all  divine. 

Who  hath  rescued  thee  from  thy  distress."' 

"Alas,  alas  !  "  said  Geraldine, 

"  I  cannot  speak  for  weariness." 

So  free  from  danger,  free  from  fear, 

Thay  cross'd  the  court :— right  glad  they  were. 

Note  13.— Seyton,  or  Seton,  p.  161 

George,  fifth  Lord  Seyton,  was  immovably  faithful  to  Queen  Mary  during  all 
the  mutabilities  of  her  fortune.  He  was  grand  master  of  the  household,  in  which 
capacity  he  had  a  picture  painted  of  himself  with  his  official  baton,  and  the  fol- 
lowing motto ; 

In  adversitate  patiens : 

In  prosperitate  benevolus. 

BUward,  yet  forward. 


NOTES  TO  THE  ABBOT  429 

On  various  parts  of  his  castle  he  inscribed,  as  expressing  Lis  religious  and 

political  creed,  the  legend 

Un  Diku,  UN  FoY,  UN  Roy,  un  Loy. 

He  declined  to  be  promoted  to  an  earldom,  which  Queen  Mary  offered  him  at 
the  same  time  when  she  advanced  her  natural  brother  to  be  Earl  of  Mar,  and 
afterwards  of  Murray. 

On  his  refusing  this  honor,  Mary  wrote,  or  caused  to  be  written,  the  following 
lines  in  Latin  and  French  : — 

Sunt  comites;  ducesque  alii,  sunt  denique  reges ; 
Sethoni  dominum  sit  satis  esse  mihi. 


C' 


a  des  comptes,  des  roys,  des  dues  ;  ainsi 

est  assez  pour  moy  d'estre  Seigneur  de  Seton. 


Which  may  be  thus  rendered  :— 

Earl  ,duke,  or  king,  be  thou  that  list  to  be  ; 
Seton,  thy  lordship  is  enough  for  me. 

This  distich  reminds  us  of  the  "  pride  which  aped  humility  "  in  the  motto  of  the 
house  ^}t  Couci : 

Je  suis  ni  roy,  ni  prince  aussi ; 
Je  suis  le  Seigneur  de  Coucy. 

After  the  battle  of  Langside,  Lord  Seton  was  obliged  to  retire  abroad  for  safety, 
and  was  an  exile  for  two  years,  during  which  he  was  i-educed  to  the  necessity  of 
driving  a  wagon  in  Flanders  for  his  subsistence.  He  rose  to  favor  in  James  VI. 's 
reign,  and  resuming  his  paternal  property,  had  hii  :self  painted  in  his  wagoner's 
dress,  and  in  the  act  of  driving  a  wain  with  four  horses,  on  the  north  end  of  a 
stately  gallery  at  Seton  Castle.  He  appears  to  have  been  fond  of  the  arts  ;  for 
there  exists  a  beautiful  family-piece  of  him  in  the  center  of  his  family.  Mr. 
Pinkerton,  in  his  Scottish  Iconographia  [1797],  published  an  engraving  of  this 
curious  portrait.  The  original  is  the  property  of  Lord  Somerville,  nearly  con- 
nected with  the  Seton  family,  and  is  at  present  at  his  lordship's  flshing-villa  of 
the  Pavilion,  near  Melrose. 

Note  14.— Fanfarona,  p.  162 

A  name  given  to  the  gold  chains  worn  by  the  military  men  of  the  period.  It  is 
of  Spanish  origin  ;  for  the  fashion  of  wearing  these  costly  ornaments  was  much 
followed  amongst  the  conquerors  of  the  New  World. 

Note  15.— Maiden  of  Morton,  p.  167 

A  species  of  guillotine  which  the  Regent  Morton  brought  down  from  Halifax,, 
certainly  at  a  period  considerably  later  than  intimated  in  the  tale.  He  was  him^ 
self  the  first  that  suffered  by  the  engine.— 

This  instrument,  which  is  preserved  in  the  Antiquarian  Museum  of  Edinburgh, 
was  brought  to  Scotland  several  years  earlier  than  popular  tradition  assigns,  and 
is  said  to  have  been  used  for  the  execution  of  criminals  about  twenty  years  be- 
fore the  Earl  of  Morton  was  beheaded,  in  1582  (Laing). 

Note  16.— The  Resignation  of  Queen  Mary,  p.  236 

The  details  of  this  remarkable  event  are,  as  given  in  chapter  xxii.,  imaginary  ; 
but  the  outline  of  the  events  is  historical.  Sir  Robert  Lindesay  [Melville],  brother 
to  the  author  of  the  Memoirs,  was  at  first  entrusted  with  the  delicate  commission 
of  persuading  the  imprisoned  Queen  to  resign  her  crown.  As  he  flatly  refused 
to  interfere,  they  determined  to  send  the  Lord  Lindesay,  one  of  the  rudest  and 
most  violent  of  their  own  faction,  with  instructions,  first' to  use  fair  persuasions, 
and  if  these  did  not  succeed,  to  enter  into  harder  terms.  Knox  associates  Lord 
Ruthven  with  Lindesay  in  this  alarming  commission.  He  was  the  son  of  that 
Lord  Ruthven  who  was  prime  agent  in  the  murder  of  Rizzio  ;  and  little  mercy 
was  to  be  expected  from  his  conjunction  with  Lindesay. 

The  employment  of  such  rude  tools  argued  a  resolution  on  the  part  of  those 
who  had  the  Queen's  person  in  their  power  to  proceed  to  the  utmost  extremities, 
should  they  find  Mary  obstinate.  To  avoid  this  pressing  danger.  Sir  Robert  Mel- 
Tille  was  despatched  by  them  to  Lochleven,  carrying  with  him,  concealed  in  the 


430  NOTES  TO  THE  ABBOT 

scabbard  of  his  sword,  letters  to  the  Queen  from  the  Earl  of  Athole,  Maitland  of 
Lethington,  and  even  from  Throgmorton,  the  English  ambassador,  who  was  then 
favorable  to  the  unfortunate  Mary,  conjuring  her  to  yield  to  the  necessity  of  the 
times,  and  to  subscribe  such  deeds  as  Lindesay  should  lay  before  her,  without 
being  startled  by  their  tenor  ;  and  assuring  her  that  her  doing  so,  in  the  state  of 
captivity  under  which  she  was  placed,  would  neither,  in  law,  honor,  or  conscience, 
be  binding  upon  her  when  she  should  obtain  her  hberty.  Submitting,  by  the 
advice  of  one  part  of  her  subjects,  to  the  menace  of  the  others,  and  learning  that 
Lindesay  was  arrived  in  a  boasting,  that  is,  threatening,  humor,  the  Queen, 
"with  some  reluctancy,  and  with  tears,"  saith  Knox,  subscribed  one  deed  resign- 
ing her  crown  to  her  infant  son,  and  another  establishing  the  Earl  of  Murray 
regent.  It  seems  agreed  by  historians  that  Lindesay  behaved  with  great  brutality 
on  the  occasion.    The  deeds  were  signed  24th  July  1569. 

^OTK  17.— Ganelon,  p.  258 

Gan,  Gano,  or  Ganelon  of  Mayence,  is,  in  the  romances  on  the  subject  of  Char- 
lemagne and  his  Paladi'is,  always  represented  as  the  traitor  by  whom  the 
Christian  champion::  are  betrayed. 

Note  18.— Scottish  Fairs,  p.  271 

At  Scottish  fairs,  the  bailie,  or  magistrate,  deputed  by  the  lord  in  whose  name 
the  meeting  is  held,  attends  the  fair  with  his  guard,  decides  trifling  disputes,  and 
punishes  on  the  spot  any  petty  delinquencies.  His  attendants  are  usually  armed 
with  halberds,  and,  sometimes  at  least,  escorted  by  music.  Thus,  in  the  Life 
and  Death  of  Habbie  Simpson,  we  are  told  of  that  famous  minstrel— 

At  fairs  he  play'd  before  the  spear-men. 
And  gaily  graithed  in  their  gear-men  ; — 
Steel  bonnets,  jacks,  and  swords  shone  clear  then, 

Like  ony  bead. 
Now  wha  shall  play  before  sic  weir-men, 

Since  Habbie's  dead  1 

Note  19.— Kiery  Craigs,  p.  278 

Lord  Chief -Commissioner  Adam,  in  the  year  1817,  formed  what  was  called  a 
Blair- Adam  Club,  consisting  of  Sir  Walter  Scott  and  a  few  other  friends,  who 
assembled  once  a-year  at  Blair-Adam  House,  near  the  shores  of  Lochleven.  In 
his  Reminiscences,  the  Lord  Chief -Commissioner,  when  referring  to  the  anony- 
mous publication  of  the  Waverley  Novels,  records  the  following  anecdote  :— 
"  What  confirmed,  and  was  certainly  meant  to  disclose  to  me  the  author,  was 
the  mention  of  the  Kiery  Craigs,  a  picturesque  piece  of  scenery  in  the  grounds 
of  Blair-Adam,  as  being  in  the  vicinity  of  Kelty  Bridge,  the  howff  of  Auchter- 
muchty,  the  Kinross  carrier.  It  was  only  an  intimate  friend  of  the  family  .  .  . 
who  could  know  anything  of  the  KieryCraigs  or  its  name ;  and  both  the  scenery 
and  the  name  had  attractions  for  Sir  Walter. 

"  At  our  first  meeting  after  the  publication  of  the  Abbot,  when  the  party  was 
assembled  on  the  top  of  the  rock,  the  Chief-Baron  Shepherd,  looking  Sir  Walter 
full  in  the  face,  and  stamping  his  staff  on  the  ground,  said,  '  Now,  Sir  Walter,  I 
think  we  be  upon  the  top  of  the  Kiery  Craigs.'  Sir  Walter  preserved  profound 
silence  ;  but  there  was  a  conscious  looking  down,  and  a  considerable  elongation 
of  hia  upper  lip."— Blair-Adam  Tracts,  1834,  p,  xxxv.,  and  Lockhart's  Life  of 
Scott,  vol.  vi.  p.  264  (Laing). 

Note  20.— Mother  Nicneven,  p.  278 

This  was  the  name  given  to  the  grand  Mother  Witch,  the  very  Hecate  of  Scot- 
tish popular  superstition.  Her  name  was  bestowed,  in  one  or  two  instances, 
upon  sorceresses,  who  were  held  to  resemble  her  by  their  superior  skill  in 
"Hell's  black  grammar." 

Note  21.— Dark  Grey  Man,  p.  299 

By  an  ancient,  though  improbable,  tradition  the  Douglasses  are  said  to  have 
derived  their  name  from  a  champion  who  had  greatly  distinguished  himself  in 
an  action.  When  the  king  demanded  by  whom  the  battle  had  been  won,  the 
attendants  are  said  to  have  answered,  "  Sholto  Douglas,  sir  ;  "  which  is  said  to 
mean,  "  Yonder  dark  gray  man."  But  the  name  is  undoubtedly  territorial,  and 
token  from  Douglas  river  and  dale. 


NOTES  TO  THE  ABBOT  431 

Note  32.— Supposed  Conspiracy  against  the  Life  of  Mary,  p,  358 

A  romancer,  to  use  a  Scottish  phrase,  wants  but  a  hair  to  make  a  tether  of. 
The  whole  detail  of  the  steward's  supposed  conspiracy  against  the  life  of  Mary 
is  grounded  upon  an  expression  in  one  of  her  letters,  which  aflBrms  that  Jasper 
Dryfesdale  [James  Drysdale],  one  of  the  Laird  of  Lochleven's  servants,  had 
threatened  to  murder  William  Douglas  (for  his  share  in  the  Queen's  escape), 
and  averred  that  he  would  plant  a  dagger  In  Mary's  own  heart. — Chalmers's 
Life  of  Queen  Mary  [1822],  vol.  i.  p.  278 

Note  23. — Muffled  Man,  p.  361 

Generally  a  diguised  man  ;  originally  one  who  wears  his  cloak  or  mantle 
muffled  round  the  lower  part  of  the  face  to  conceal  his  countenance.  I  have  on 
an  ancient  piece  of  iron  the  representation  of  a  robber  thus  accoutred,  endeavor- 
ing to  make  his  way  into  a  house,  and  opposed  by  a  mastiff,  to  whom  he  in  vain 
offers  food.  The  motto  is  Spernit  dona  fides.  It  is  part  of  a  fire-grate  said  to 
have  belonged  to  Archbishop  Sharp. 

Note  24— THE  HOWLET,  p.  376 

Sir  John  Holland's  poem  of  The  Howlet  is  known  to  collectors  by  the  beautiful 
edition  presented  to  the  Bannatyne  Club  by  Mr.  David  Laing.— 

The  preface  contains  remarks  by  Sir  Walter  Scott,  who  was  president  of  the 
club.  The  poem  was  composed  about  the  middle  of  the  15th  century,  and  has 
generally  been  supposed  to  be  a  satire  on  James  II.  of  Scotland  {Laing). 

Note  25.— Demeanor  of  Queen  Mary,  p.  380 

In  the  dangerous  expedition  to  Aberdeenshire,  Randolph,  the  English  ambas- 
sador, gives  Cecil  the  following  account  of  Queen  Mary's  demeanor  :— 

"  In  all  these  garboiles,  I  assure  you,  I  never  saw  her  [the  Queen]  merrier, 
never  dismayed  ;  nor  never  thought  that  so  much  to  be  in  her  that  I  find.  She 
repented  nothing  but,  when  the  lords  and  others,  at  Inverness,  came  in  the 
morning  from  the  watch,  that  she  was  not  a  man  to  know  what  life  it  was  to  lie 
all  night  in  the  fields,  or  to  walk  on  the  causeway  with  a  jack  and  a  knapschalle, 
a  Glasgow  buckler,  and  a  broadsword."— Randolph  to  Cecil,  September  18,  1562. 

The  writer  of  the  above  letter  seems  to  have  felt  the  same  impression  which 
Catherine  Seyton,  in  the  text,  considered  as  proper  to  the  Queen's  presence 
among  her  armed  subjects. 

"  Though  we  neither  thought  nor  looked  for  other  than  on  that  day  to  have 
fought  or  never— what  desperate  blows  would  net  have  been  given,  when  every 
man  should  have  fought  in  the  sight  of  so  noble  a  queen,  and  so  many  fair 
ladies,  our  enemies  to  have  taken  them  from  us,  and  we  to  save  our  honors,  not 
to  be  reft  of  them,  your  honor  can  easily  judge  1  ''—The  same  to  the  same  [con- 
densed], September  23, 1562. 

Note  26.— Escape  of  Queen  Mary  from  Lochleven,  p.  388 

It  is  well  known  that  the  escape  of  Queen  Mary  from  Lochleven  was  effected 
by  George  Douglas,  the  youngest  brother  of  Sir  William  Douglas,  the  lord  of  the 
castle  ;  but  the  minute  circumstances  of  the  event  have  been  a  good  deal  con- 
fused, owing  to  two  agents  having  been  concerned  in  it  who  bore  the  same  name. 
It  has  been  always  supposed  that  George  Douglas  was  induced  to  abet  Mary's 
escape  by  the  ambitious  hope  that,  by  such  service,  he  might  merit  her  hand. 
But  his  purpose  was  discovered  by  his  brother  Sir  William,  and  he  was  expelled 
from  the  castle.  He  continued,  notwithstanding,  to  hover  in  the  neighborhood, 
and  maintain   a   correspondence   with   the   royal   prisoner   and  others   in  the 


If  we  believe  the  English  ambassador  Drury,  the  Queen  was  grateful  to  George 
Douglas,  and  even  proposed  a  marriage  with  him— a  scheme  which  could  hardlv 
be  serious,  since  she  was  still  the  wife  of  Bothwell,  but  which,  if  suggested  at  all, 
might  be  with  a  purpose  of  gratifying  the  Regent  Murray's  ambition,  and  pro- 
pitiating his  favor ;  since  he  was,  it  must  be  remembered,  the  brother  uterine 
of  George  Douglas,  for  whom  such  high  honor  was  said  to  be  designed. 

The  proposal,  if  seriously  made,  was  treated  as  inadmissible,  and  Mary  again 
resumed  her  purpose  of  escape.  Her  failure  in  her  first  attempt  has  some  pic- 
turesque particulars,  which  might  have  been  advantageously  introduced  in  ficti- 
tious narrative.     Drury  sends  Cecil  the  following  account  of  the  matter  :— 

'*  But  after,  upon  the  25th  of  the  last  (April  1567),  she  enterprised  an  escape,  and 
was  the  rather  nearer  effect,  through  her  accustomed  long  lying  m  bed  all  the 


432  NOTES  TO  THE  ABBOT 

morning.  The  manner  of  it  was  thus :  there  cometh  in  to  her  the  laundress  early 
as  other  times  before  she  was  wonted,  and  the  Queen  according  to  such  a  secret 
practise  putteth  on  her  the  weed  of  the  laundress,  and  so  with  the  fardel  of 
cloathes  and  her  muffler  upon  her  face,  passeth  out  and  entreth  the  boat  to  pass 
the  loch  ;  which,  after  some  space,  one  of  them  that  rowed  said  merrily,  "  Let  us 
see  what  manner  of  dame  this  is,"  and  therewith  offered  to  pull  down  her  muf. 
fler,  which,  to  defend,  she  put  up  her  hands,  which  they  spied  to  be  very  fair  and 
white  ;  wherewith  they  entered  into  suspicion  whom  she  was,  beginning  to  won- 
der at  her  enterprise.  Whereat  she  was  little  dismayed,  but  charged  them,  upon 
danger  of  their  lives,  to  row  her  over  to  the  shore,  whch  they  nothing  regarded, 
but  eftsoons  rowed  her  back  again,  promising  her  that  it  should  be  secreted,  and 
especially  from  the  lord  of  the  house,  under  whose  guard  she  lyeth.  It  seemeth 
she  knew  her  refuge,  and  where  to  have  found  it  if  she  had  once  landed  ;  for  there 
did,  and  yet  do  linger,  at  a  little  village  called  Kinross,  hard  at  the  loch  side,  the 
same  George  Douglas,  one  Sempil,  and  one  Beton,  the  which  two  were  sometime 
her  trusty  servants,  and,  as  yet  appeareth,  they  mind  her  no  less  affection. ■"— 
Bishop  Keith's  History  of  the  Affairs  of  Church  and  State  in  Scotland,  p.  470. 

Notwithstanding  this  disappointment,  little  spoke  of  by  historians,  Mary  re- 
newed her  attempts  to  escape.  There  was  in  the  Castle  of  Lochleven  a  lad  named 
William  Douglas,  some  relation  probably  of  the  baron,  and  about  eighteen  years 
old.  This  youth  proved  as  accessible  to  Queen  Mary's  prayers  and  promises  as 
was  the  brother  of  his  patron,  George  Douglas,  from  whom  this  William  must  be 
carefully  kept  distinct.  It  was  young  William  who  played  the  part  commonly 
assigned  to  his  superior,  George,— stealing  the  keys  of  the  castle  from  the  table 
on  which  they  lay,  while  his  lord  was  at  supper.  He  let  the  Queen  and  a  wait- 
ing-woman out  of  the  apartment  where  they  were  secured,  and  out  of  the  tower 
itself,  embarked  with  them  in  a  small  skiff,  and  rowed  them  to  the  shore.  To 
prevent  instant  pursuit,  he,  for  precaution's  sake,  locked  the  iron  grated  door  of 
the  tower,  and  threw  the  keys  into  the  lake.  They  found  George  Douglas  and 
the  Queen's  servant,  Beaton  [Betoun],  waiting  for  them,  and  Lord  Seyton  and 
James  Hamilton  of  Orbieston  in  attendance,  at  the  head  of  a  party  of  faithful 
followers,  with  whom  they  fled  to  Niddrie  Castle,  and  from  thence  to  Hamilton. 

In  narrating  this  romantic  story,  both  history  and  tradition  confuse  the  two 
Douglasses  together,  and  coiu'er  on  George  the  successful  execution  of  the  escape 
from  the  castle,  the  merit  of  which  belongs  in  reality  to  the  boy  called  William, 
or,  more  frequently,  the  Little  Douglas,  either  from  his  youth  or  his  slight  stature. 
The  reader  will  observe,  that  in  the  romance  the  part  of  the  Little  Douglas  has 
been  assigned  to  Roland  Graeme.  In  another  case,  it  would  be  tedious  to  point 
out  in  a  work  of  amusement  such  minute  points  of  historical  fact ;  but  the  gen- 
eral interest  taken  in  the  fate  of  Queen  Mary  renders  everything  of  consequence 
which  connects  itself  with  her  misfortunes. 

Note  27.— Battle  of  Langside,  p.  413 

I  am  informed  In  the  most  polite  manner  by  D.  MacVean,  Esq.,  of  Glasgow, 
that  I  have  been  incorrect  in  my  locality,  in  giving  an  account  of  the  battle  of 
Langside.  Crookstone  Castle,  he  observes,  lies  four  miles  west  from  the  field  of 
battle,  and  rather  in  the  rear  of  Murray's  army.  The  real  place  from  which 
Mary  saw  the  rout  of  her  last  army  was  Cathcart  Castle,  which,  being  a  mile  and 
a  half  east  from  Langside,  was  situated  in  the  rear  of  the  Queen's  own  army.  I 
was  led  astray  in  the  present  case  by  the  authority  of  my  deceased  friend,  James 
Grahame,  the  excellent  and  amiable  author  of  the  Sabbath,  in  his  drama  on  the 
subject  of  Queen  Mary  ;  and  by  a  traditionary  report  of  Mary  having  seen  the 
battle  from  the  Castle  of  Crookstone,  which  seemed  so  much  to  increase  the  in- 
terest of  the  scene  that  I  have  been  unwilling  to  make,  in  this  particular  instance, 
the  fiction  give  way  to  the  fact,  which  last  is  undoubtedly  in  favor  of  Mr.  Mac- 
Vean's  system. 

It  is  singular  how  tradition,  which  is  sometimes  a  sure  guide  to  truth,  is,  in 
other  cases,  prone  to  mislead  us.  In  the  celebrated  field  of  battle  at  Killiecrankie, 
the  traveler  is  struck  with  one  of  those  rugged  pillars  of  rough  stone,  which  in- 
dicate the  scenes  of  ancient  conflict.  A  friend  of  the  Author,  well  acquainted 
with  the  circumstances  of  the  battle,  was  standing  near  this  large  stone,  and  look- 
ing on  the  scene  around,  when  a  Highland  shepherd  hurried  down  from  the  hill 
to  offer  his  services  as  cicerone,  and  proceeded  to  inform  him  that  Dundee  was 
slain  at  that  stone,  which  was  raised  to  his  memory.  "  Fie,  Donald,"  answered 
my  friend,  "  how  can  you  tell  such  a  story  to  a  stranger  ?  I  am  sure  you  know 
well  enough  that  Dundee  was  killed  at  a  considerable  distance  from  this  place, 
near  the  house  of  Fascally,  and  that  this  stone  was  here  long  before  the  battle,  in 
1688."  "  Oich  !— oich  1 "  said  Donald,  no  way  abashed,  "  and  your  honor's  in  the 
right,  and  I  see  you  ken  a'  about  it.  And  he  wasna  killed  on  the  spot  neither,  but 
lived  till  the  next  morning  ;  but  a'  the  Saxon  gentlemen  like  best  to  hear  he  was 


NOTES  TO  THE  ABBOT  433 

Wiled  at  the  great  stane."    It  is  on  the  same  principle  oft  pleasing  my  readers 
that  I  retain  Crookstone  Castle  instead  of  Cathcart. 

If,  however,  the  Author  has  taken  a  liberty  jn  removing  the  actual  field  of  bat- 
tle somewhat  to  the  eastward,  he  has  been  tolerably  strict  in  adhering  to  the  in- 
cidents of  the  engagement,  as  will  appear  from  a  comparison  of  events  in  the 
novel  with  the  following  account  from  an  old  writer, 

"  The  Regent  was  out  on  foot  and  all  his  company,  except  the  Laird  of  Grange, 
Alexander  Hume  of  Manderston,  and  some  Borderers  to  the  number  of  two 
hundred.  The  Laird  of  Grange  had  already  viewed  the  ground,  and  with  all  im^ 
aginable  diligence  caused  every  horseman  to  take  behind  him  a  footman  of  the 
Regent's,  to  guard  behind  them,  and  rode  with  speed  to  the  head  of  the  Langside 
Hill,  and  set  down  the  sett  footmen  with  their  culverings  at  the  head  of  a  strait, 
lane,  where  there  were  some  cottage  houses  and  yards  of  great  advantage. 
Which  soldiers  with  their  continual  shot  killed  divers  of  the  vaunt-guard, 
led  by  the  Hamiltouns,  who,  couragiously  and  fiercely  ascending  up  the  hill, 
were  already  out  of  breath,  when  the  Regent's  vaunt-guard  joined  with  them. 
Where  the  worthy  Lord  Hume  fought  on  foot  with  his  pike  in  his  hand  very  man- 
fully, assisted  by  the  Laird  of  Cesfoord,  his  brother-in-law,  who  helped  him  up 
again  when  he  was  strucken  to  the  ground  by  many  stroaks  upon  his  face,  by  the 
throwing  pistols  at  him  after  they  had  been  discharged.  He  was  also  wounded 
with  staves,  and  had  many  stroaks  of  spears  through  his  legs  ;  for  he  and  Grange, 
at  the  joining,  cried  to  let  their  adversaries  first  lay  down  their  spears,  to  bear 
up  theirs  ;  which  spears  were  so  thick  fixed  in  the  others'  jacks,  that  some  of  the 
patois  and  great  staves  that  were  thrown  by  them  which  were  behind,  might  be 
seen  lying  upon  the  spears. 

"  Upon  the  Queen's  side  the  Earl  of  Arguile  commanded  the  battle,  and  the 
Lord  of  Arbroth  the  vaunt-guard.  But  the  Regent  committed  to  the  Laird  of 
Grange  the  special  care,  as  being  an  experimented  captain,  to  oversee  every  dan- 
ger, and  to  ride  to  every  wing,  to  encourage  and  make  help  where  greatest  need 
was.  He  perceived,  at  the  first  joining,  the  right  wing  of  the  Regent's  vaunt- 
guard  put  back,  and  like  to  fly,  whereof  the  greatest  part  were  commons  of  the 
barony  of  Renfrew  ;  whereupon  he  rode  to  them,  and  told  them  that  their  enemy 
was  already  turning  their  backs,  requesting  them  to  stay  and  debate  till  he  should 
bring  them  fresh  men  forth  of  'le  battle.  Whither  at  full  speed  he  did  ride 
alone,  and  told  the  Regent  that  tlu^  enemy  were  shaken  and  flying  away  behind 
the  little  village,  and  desired  a  few  number  of  fresh  men  to  go  with  him.  Where 
he  found  enough  willing,  as  the  Lord  Lindesay,  the  Laird  of  Lochleven,  Sir  James 
Balfour,  and  all  the  Regent's  servants,  who  followed  him  with  diligence,  and  re- 
inforced that  wing  which  was  beginning  to  fly  ;  which  fresh  men  with  their  loose 
weapons  struck  the  enemies  in  their  flanks  and  faces,  which  forced  them  incon- 
tinent to  give  place  and  turn  back  aiter  long  fighting  and  pushing  others  to  and 
fro  with  their  spears.  There  were  not  many  horsemen  to  pursue  after  them,  and 
the  Regent  cried  to  save  and  not  to  kill,  and  Grange  was  never  cruel,  so  that 
there  were  few  slain  and  taken.  And  the  only  slaughter  was  at  the  first  ren- 
counter by  the  shot  of  the  soldiers,  which  Grange  had  planted  at  the  lane-head 
behind  some  dikes." 

It  is  remarkable  that,  while  passing  through  the  small  town  of  Renfrew,  some 
partizans,  adherents  of  the  house  of  Lennox,  attempting  to  arrest  Queen  Mary 
and  her  attendants,  were  obliged  to  make  way  for  her,  not  without  slaughter.— 

The  Castle  of  Rutherglen  was  demolished  immediately  after  the  battle  by  the 
Regent's  party. 

The  suburban  district  of  Glasgow  towards  the  south,  named  Cathcart,  takes  its 
name  from  the  old  castle,  and,  owing  to  the  growth  of  the  city  in  this  direction, 
the  site  of  the  battle  of  Langside  is  brought  contiguous  to  the  southeast  side  of 
the  Queen's  Park.  On  the  west  of  this  park  the  site  of  the  Regent  Murray's  camp 
is  commemorated  by  the  "  Camp  Hill,"  and  at  the  village  of  Langside  there  is  a 
cottage  which  goes  by  the  name  of  "  Queen  Mary's  Cottage."  The  Queen's  Park 
is  in  a  direct  line  with  Glasgow  Bridge,  from  which  it  is  three  miles  distant  in  a 
straight  line  (Laing), 

Note  28.— Burial  op  the  Abbot's  Heart  in  the  Avenel  Aisle,  p.  421 

This  was  not  the  explanation  of  the  incident  of  searching  for  the  heart,  men- 
tioned in  the  introduction  to  the  tale,  which  the  Author  originally  intended.  It 
was  designed  to  refer  to  the  heart  of  Robert  Bruce.  It  is  generally  known  that 
that  great  monarch,  being  on  his  death-bed,  bequeathed  to  the  good  Lord  James 
of  Douglas  the  task  of  carrying  his  heart  to  the  Holy  Land,  to  fulfil  in  a  certain 
degree  his  own  desire  to  perform  a  crusade.  Upon  Douglas's  death,  fighting 
against  the  Moors  in  Spain,  a  sort  of  military  hors  d'ceuvre  to  which  he  could  have 
28 


434  yOTES  rO  THE  ABBOT 

Sleadtd  no  regular  call  of  duty,  his  followers  brought  back  the  Bruce's  heart,  and 
eposited  it  in  the  abbey  church  of  Melrose,  the  Kennaquhair  of  the  tale. 

This  abbey  had  been  always  particularly  favored  by  the  Bruce.  We  have  al- 
ready seen  nis  extreme  anxiety  that  each  of  the  reverend  brethren  should  be 
daily  supplied  with  a  service  of  boiled  almonds,  rice  and  milk,  pease,  or  the  like, 
to  be  called  the  "  king's  mess,"  and  that  without  the  ordinary  service  of  their 
table  being  either  disturbed  in  quantity  or  quality.  But  this  was  not  the  only 
mark  of  the  benignity  of  good  King  Robert  towards  the  monks  of  Melrose,  since, 
by  a  charter  of  the  date  29th  May  1326,  he  conferred  on  the  Abbot  of  Melrose  the 
sum  of  £2000  sterling,  for  rebuilding  the  Church  of  St.  Mary's,  ruined  by  the 
English  ;  and  there  is  little  or  no  doubt  that  the  principal  part  of  the  remains 
which  now  display  such  exc^uisite  specimens  of  Gothic  architecture,  at  its  very 
purest  period,  had  their  origin  in  this  munificent  donation.  The  money  was  to 
be  paid  out  of  crown  lands,  estates  forfeited  to  the  King,  and  other  property  or 
demesnes  of  the  crown. 

A  very  curious  letter,  written  to  his  son  about  three  weeks  before  his  death, 
has  been  pointed  out  to  me  by  my  friend  Mr.  Thomas  Thomson,  Deputy-Register 
for  Scotland.  It  enlarges  so  mucn  on  the  love  of  the  royal  writer  to  the  com- 
munity of  Melrose,  that  it  is  well  worthy  of  being  inserted  in  a  work  connected 
in  some  degree  with  Scottish  history. 

LiTERA  Domini  Regis  Roberti  ad  filium  Sudu  David 
"Robertus  dei  gratia  rex  Scottorum,  David  precordialissimo  filio  suo,  ac 
ceteris  successoribus  suis,  Salutem,  et  sic  ejus  precepta  tenere,  ut  cum  sua 
benedictione  possint  regnare.  Fill  carissime,  digne  censeri  videtur  filius,  qui, 
paternos  in  bonis  mores  imitans,  piam  ejus  nititur  exequi  voluntatem,  nee  pro- 
prie  sibi  sumit  nomen  heredis,  qui  salubribus  predecessoris  affectibus  non 
adherit ;  cupientes  igitur,  ut  piam  affectionem  et  scineram  dilectioncm,  quam 
erga  monasterium  de  Melros,  ubi  cor  nostrum  ex  speciali  devotione  dlsposuimus 
tumulandum,  et  erga  religiosos  ibidem  Deo  servientes,  ipsorum  vita  sanctissima 
nos  ad  hoc  excitante,  concepimus  ;  tu  ceterique  successores  mei  pia  scinceritate 
prosequamini,  ut,  ex  vestre  dilectionis  affectu  dictis  religiosis  nostri  causa  post 
mortem  nostram  ostenso,  ipsi  pro  nobis  ad  orandum  fervencius  et  forcias  animen- 
tur.  Vobis  precipimus  quantum  possumus,  instanter  supplicamus,  3t  ex  toto 
corde  in jungimus,  quatinus  assignacionibus  quas  eisdem  viris  relip-iosis  et  f abrica 
ecclesie  sue  de  novo  fecimus  ac  eciam  omnibus  aliis  donacionibus  nostris,  ipsos 
libere  gaudere  permittans,  easdem  potius  si  necesse  fuerit  au:  mentantes  quam 
diminuentes,  ipsorum  peticiones  auribus  benevolis  admittentes,  ac  ipsos  contra 
suos  invasores  et  emulos  pia  defensione  protegentes.  Hanc  autem  exhortaci- 
onem  supplicacionem  et  preceptum  tu,  fill  ceterique  successores  nostri,  prestanti 
animo  complere  curetis,  si  nostram  benedictionem  habere  velitis,  ui.a  cum  bene- 
dictione flliisummi  regis,  qui  Alios  docuit  patrum  voluntates  in  bono  perficere. 
asserens  in  mundum  se  venisse  non  ut  suam  voluntatem  faceret  sed  paternam. 
In  testimonium  autem  nostre  devotionis  erga  locum  predictum  sic  a  nobis  dilec- 
turn  et  electum  concepte,  presentem  literam  religiosis  predictis  dimittimus,  nos- 
tris successoribus  in  posterum  ostendendam.  Data  apud  Cardros,  undecimo 
die  Maij,  anno  regni  nostri  vicessimo  quarto." 

If  this  charter  be  altogether  genuine,  and  there  is  no  appearance  of  forgery, 
It  gives  rise  to  a  curious  doubt  in  Scottish  history.  The  letter  announces  that 
the  King  had  already  destined  his  heart  to  be  deposited  at  Melrose.  The  resolu- 
tion to  send  it  to  Palestine,  under  the  charge  of  Douglas,  must  have  been  adopted 
betwixt  11th  May  1329,  the  date  of  the  letter,  and  7th  June  of  the  same  year, 
when  the  Bruce  died  ;  or  else  we  must  suppose  that  the  commission  of  Douglas 
extended  not  only  to  taking  the  Bruce's  heart  to  Palestine,  but  to  bring  it  safe 
back  to  its  final  place  of  deposit  in  the  Abbey  of  Melrose. 

It  would  not  be  worth  inquiring  by  what  caprice  the  Author  was  induced  to 
throw  the  incident  of  the  Bruce's  heart  entirely  out  of  the  story,  save  merely  to 
say,  that  he  found  himself  unable  to  fill  up  the  canvas  he  had  sketched,  and  in- 
disposed  to  prosecute  the  management  of  the  supernatural  machinery  with 
which  his  plan,  when  it  was  first  rough-hewn,  was  concerted  and  combined- 


GLOSSARY 


OF 


VVORDS,  PHRASES,  AND  ALLUSIONS 


A  by,  abye,  to  suffer, 
endure 

Ad  unguem,  at  the  fingers' 
ends 

Alexipharmics,  antidotes 
to  poisons,  etc. 

A  mot  !  mes  Franqais  ! 
Hither  1  my  French 
guard 

Anastasius,  or  Memoirs  of 
a  Greek  written  at  the 
Close  of  the  Eighteenth 
Century  (1819 ),  by 
Thomas  Hope,  a  member 
of  a  wealthy  Anglo- 
Dutch  family 

Andrea  Ferrara,  a  Scot- 
tish broadsword 

Anilities,  old  women's 
follies,  acts  of  dotage 

Aqua,  etc.  (p.  304),  won- 
derful water  1  it  has  been 
proved 

Argute,  sharp,  acute 

Aristarch,  a  severe  critic, 
after  Aristarchus  the 
most  celebrated  critic  of 
antiquity,  who  lived  at 
Alexandria  before  and 
after  200  b.  c. 

Aries,  earnest  money 

Atrowling,  a-roUing 

Aver,  a  draught  horse 

Awmous,  alms 

Bacharac,  or  Bacharach, 
on  the  Rhine,  in  the 
wine-growing  region.  It 
is  nearly  100  miles  W.  of 
Wilrzburg 

Bachelor  Samson  Car- 
rasco.  See  Don  Quixote, 
Pt.  II.  chap.  xiv. 

Back-sword,  sword  with 
only  one  sharp  edge 

Bailie,  or  Bailey,  the  outer 
courtyard  of  a  feudal 
castle 

Banders,  confederates 

Bangsters,  bullies,  disor- 
derly persons 

Barnbougle,  a  ruined 
cflistle  in  Dalmeny  Park, 
on  the  Firth  of  Forth, 
belonging  to  the  Earl  of 


Rosebery  ;  it  was  rebuilt 
in  1880 

Bayes's  tragedy.  The  Re- 
hearsal (1672),  by  George 
Villiers,  Duke  of  Buck- 
ingham,  Bayes  being  a 
character  in  the  piec; 
intended  to  satirize 
Dryden.  The  play  (a 
comedy)  concludes  with 
a  battle  between  soldiers 
and  hobby-horses 

Bears  are  you  there  with, 
a  proverbial  expression 
indicative  of  the  repeti- 
tion of  an  annoyance.  A 
man,  disliking  a  sermon 
on  Elisha  and  the  bears, 
went  the  next  Sunday  to 
a  different  church,  but 
there  the  sermon  was 
from  the  same  text,  and 
he  exclaimed,  "  Are  you 
there  again  with  your 
bears  ?  " 

Beef-brewis,  beef-broth 

Bello  na,  the  ancient 
Romans'  goddess  of  war 

Benedicite,  bless  you  I  a 
blessing 

Benedicti,  etc.  (p.  84), 
Blessed  are  they  who 
come  in  the  name  of  the 
Loi'd 

Benedictus,  etc.  (p.  290), 
Blessed  be  he  who  comes 
in  the  name  of  the  Lord, 
condemned  he  who 
comes  in  the  name  of  the 
enemy 

Bield,  shelter,  refuge 

Bilbo,  bilboa,  a  sword 
made  at  Bilboa  in  North 
Spain 

Birlit,  made  a  whirring 
noise,  spun  away 

Black-jack,  a  drinking- 
vessel  or  ale-pitcher 
made  of  waxed  leather 

Bl  ack  Ormiston,  con- 
cerned in  the  murder  of 
Darnley 

Bleeding  heart,  the  badge 

of  the  Douglas  family, 

from  Good  Earl  James 

435 


having  carried  Bruce^i 
heart  to  Palestine 

Bodle,  a  small  copper 
coin  =  l-6th  of  a  penny 
English 

Boll,  or  bow,  a  dry 
measure  =6  bushels 

Bolt  head,  a  hollow  glass 
globe  with  a  long  neck, 
used  in  distillation 

Border  doom,  hanging 

Bow,  boll,  an  old  Scotch 
measure  -=  6  bushels 

Bowton,  Hepburn  ofy  a 
relative  of  Bothwell,  an 
agent  in  the  murder  of 
Darnley 

Brag,  proudly  defy,  chal- 
lenge 

Bran,  the  dog  of  Fingal  in 
Ossian^s  Poems 

Brancher,  a  young  bird 
able  to  leave  the  nest 
and  hop  about  on  the 
branches 

Brandy-wine,  brandy 

Branle,  dance 

Bravade,  boast 

Brent  brow,  smooth,  high 
forehead 

Broken  clan,  one  that  had 
no  chief  able  to  find 
security  for  their  good 
behaviour,  as  the 
Graemes  of  the  Debate- 
able  Land 

Broumie,  a  gnome.  See 
El  she  in  the  Black 
Dwarf 

Bumbasted,  or  bombasted^ 
stuffed  with  ootton- 
wool,  etc. 

Caleb  Williams  (ITM),  by 

William  Godwin,  father 

of  Shelley's  wife 
Caliburn,    the    sword    of 

King  Arthur 
Calipolis,     wife     of     the 

Moorish  prince  in  Peels'*! 

play     The     Battle    of 

Alcazar 
CalloVs   Temptations,  the 

masterpiece  of  Jacques 

Callot,    a  17th   century 


WAVERLET  NOVELS 


engraver  of  Nancy, 
whose  plates  witness  to 
a  most  fantastic  and 
grotesque  imagination 

Calm  sough,  a  quiet 
tongue 

Cambuscan,  king  of  Sarra 
in  Tartary,  the  model  of 
kinj^ly  virtues,  figures  in 
Chaucer's  Squire^s  Tale 
and  in  Spenser's  Faerie 
Queene,  Bk.  iv. 

Cantharides,  Spanish  flies, 
used  to  raise  blisters — an, 
animal  not  a  vegetable 
poison 

Cardinal  ,  (p.  352).  See 
Uncle  the  Cardinal 

Carrasco  Bachelor  Sam- 
son. See  BacJielor  Sam- 
son Carrasco 

Carslogie,  laird  of,  the 
head  of  the  Clephane 
family;  the  house  stands 
1  1-2  miles  from  Cupar 
in  Fife 

Gates,  delicacies,  fancy 
confectionery 

Catholicouy  universal 
remedy 

Celsus,  a  physician  of  the 
1st  century  a.  d.,  wrote 
in  Latin  a  history  of 
medicine  as  practised  in 
ancient  Alexandria 

Change-house,  alehouse 

Chiragra,  gout  in  the  hand 

Christian  Majesty, 
Francis  II.,  king  of 
France  ;  His  Very  (:!hris- 

'  tian  Majesty  was  the 
usual  title-designate  of 
the  king  of  France 

Churchill,  a  satiric  poet 
of  the  18th  century.  See 
Boswell's  Life  of  John- 
son, under  the  year  1763 

Clout,  a  mark  in  the  very 
middle  of  the  target 

Clouted,  mended 

Cock  of  the  North,  Earl  of 
Huntly 

Cog,  to  cheat,  deceive, 
wheedle 

Coif,  woman's  cap  or 
covering  for  the  head 

Colewort,  any  kind  of 
greens 

Colman''s  drama.  The  Iron 
Chest,  a  three-act  drama 
founded  on  Godwin's 
Caleb  Williams,  was 
written  bv  George  Col- 
man,    junior,    and   pro- 

.  duced  in  1796 

Commendator,  lay  holder 
of  a  benefice 

Conquraverunt,  etc.  (p. 
87),  The  princes  have 
conspired  among  them- 
selves, saying,  Let  us 
aMit  His  cords  from  us 


Corbie,  raven ;  corbie- 
messenger,  one  that  re- 
turns too  late  or  not  at 
all.  an  allusion  to  Noah's 
raven 

Cordinare,  cordwaiuer, 
shoemaker,  leather- 
worker 

Coronach,  dirge 

Couranto,  a  lively,  rapid 
dance 

Courcelles,  French  am- 
bassador in  Scotland, 
1586-87 

Crack-hemp,  crack-halter, 
one  fated  to  come  to  the 
gallows 

Crafteschilder,  servants, 
etc.,  of  craftsmen,  arti- 
zans 

Crowd,  a  fiddle 

Crown  of  the  sun,  old 
French  gold  coin  of 
Louis  XI.  and  Charles 
VIII.,  with  the  sun 
shown  above  the  crown 
=  14s. 

Cruizuedor,  or  cruzade 
d'or,  a  Portuguese  gold 
coin  worth  about  half-a- 
crown 

Cubicular,  groom  of  the 
bedchamber,  chamber- 
lain 

Cuittle,  to  tickle,  wheedle 

Culpas  meas,  my  sins 

Curch,  woman's  cap 

Cut,  a  gelding,  a  term  of 
reproach 

Cyprus,  thin  black  stuff 

Dalmatique,  a  loose,  long 
ecclesiastical  robe,  with 
wide  sleeves 

Danske,  Danish 

Dark  Grey  Man  (Douglas). 
See  Note  21,  p.  430 

Darnaway  (Castle),  the 
seat  of  the  Earl  of  Mur- 
ray, near  Forres  in 
Elginshire 

Debateable  Land,  between 
the  rivers  Sark  and  Esk, 
on  the  borders  of  Cum- 
berland and  Dumfries 

D  es  Rodomontades  Es- 
pagnolles,  a  collection  of 
tales,  anecdotes,  etc.,  of 
Spanish  boasting,  taken 
from  various  authors  by 
Jacques  Gautier,  or 
Gaultier  (Rouen,  1612)    ' 

Diascordium,  confection 
of  scordium,  the  water! 
germander  J 

Dight  your  gabs,  wipe 
your  mouths,  be  silent 

Dink,  to  deck,  adorn 

Discernit,  etc.  (p.  285),  The 
wise  man  discriminates 
things  which  the  fool 
confounds 


Disponitupon,  disposed  of 
Doom,  judgment,  verdict 
Dortour,  a  dormitory 
Douce,  sober,  sedate 
Douglas  lady  of  the  hou^e 
of   (p.    342).    Catherine 
Douglas   endeavored  to 
keep  out  the  murderers 
of  James  I.  of  Scotland 
by   thrusting  her    arm 
through  the  staple  of  the 
door  (1437) 
Do   veniamy    1   give    you 

leave 
Dow,  dove 

Draphane,  or  Draffan,  a 
castle   belonging  to  the 
Hamiltons  in  Fifeshire ; 
but  Mary  proceeded  to 
Hamilton  Park  when  she 
left  Niddrie  Castle 
Drawncansir,  a  blustering 
braggart  in  The  Rehear- 
sal (1672),  hyQ.    Villiers 
Duke  of  Buckingham 
Dreadour,  dread,  fear 
Dudgeon-dagger,  a  small 
dagger    with   an    orna- 
mental wooden  haft 
Duenna,    an    old    woman 
who     watches     that    a 
younger    observes    the 
rules  of  decorum 
Duke    of   Orkney,    James 
Hepburn,  Earl  of  Both- 
well 
Duncansbay  Head,  in  the 
extreme  north  of  Scot- 
land 

Earn,  or  erne,  an  eagle 

Electuary,  a  medical  con 
fection  or  paste 

En  champ  clos,  in  an  in- 
closed field 

Erne,  or  earn,  eagle 

Everiche,  every 

Exheridated,  or  exhere- 
dated,  disinherited 

Ex  oribus  parvulorum. 
Out  of  the  mouths  of 
babes 

Fades  hijypocratica,  hip«- 
pocratic  or  sickly  coun- 
tenance 

Farthingale,  a  hoop  petti* 
coat 

Fash,  trouble,  concern 

Fell,  skin  ;  cruel 

Fiat  experimentum,  etc. 
(p.  348),  Let  the  experi- 
ment be  made  upon  A 
common  body 

Flaunes,  or  flams,  pan- 
cakes 

Fleech,  to  flatter,  cajole 

Four  e-hammer,  sledge* 
hammer 

Four-hours''  penny,  four 
o'clock  meal— a  phraoe 
used  by  Knox 


GLOSSARY 


4S7 


F  o  X,  an  old  -  fashioned 
broadsword 

Frack,  bold,  prompt  and 
resolute 

French  Paris,  or  Nicholas 
Hubert,  a  servant  of 
Bothwell,  sometime  also 
of  Mary,  assisted  in  the 
murder  of  Darnley 

Frounce,  a  distemper  in 

F^u^tra,  etc.  (p.  353),  In 
vain  we  vex  the  sick 
with  remedies 

Gaillard,  wanton 

Galliard,  a  lively  dance ; 
a  gay  youth 

Galloway  nag,  a  small 
strong  breed  of  Gallo- 
way, the  south-west  ex- 
tremity of  Scotland 

Oalopin,  scullion,  cook's 
boy 

Gambade,  gambol,  leap, 
spring 

Gambadoes,  gaiters,  leg- 
gings 

Garboiles,  broils,  confu- 
sions 

Gazehound,  a  hound  that 
pursues  by  sight,  grey- 
hound 

Gear,  matter,  business 

Gear-men,  men  in  armor 

Gestic  lore,  knowledge  of 
dancing 

Gled,  a  kite 

Gleg,  quick,  sharp,  keen 

Gordon,  Sir  John,  fourth 
son  of  the  Earl  of  Hunt- 
ly,  and  one  of  Queen 
Mary's  lovers,  was  be- 
headed at  Aberdeen  for 
treason  in  1562 

Gospellers,  Reforaiers 

Gou^ty,  dreary,  desolate 

Gowd,  to  lay,  to  embroider 
in  gold 

Graithed,  equipped, 
decked 

Graysteil,  Sir  Greysteil, 
a  metrical  romance  in 
which  are  narrated  the 
exploits  of  a  brave 
knight.  Sir  Greysteil. 
To  call  a  man  by  this 
title,  as  James  V.  did 
Archibald  Douglas  of 
Kilspindie,  was  esteemed 
a  choice  compliment. 
See  Sir  Eger 

Guises,  Mary's  mother 
was  of  this  powerful 
French  (Lorraine)f  amily 

Guy  of  Warwick,  the  hero 
of  a  mediaeval  romance, 
slew  a  fierce  Dun  Cow  on 
Dunsmore  Heath,  near 
Rugby 

Backit,  or  hawkit,  white- 
faced 


Hagg,  or  hag,  a  pit  or 
break  in  a  morass 

Haggard,  a  wild  hawk  that 
has  been  tamed 

Halidome,  land  held  under 
a  religious  house 

Harquebuss,  an  ancient 
firelock 

Harry  groat,  a  groat=4d., 
of  Henry  VIII. 

Hawick  to  Hermitage  Cas- 
tle. Mary  rode  in  one 
day  from  Jedburgh  (not 
Hawick)  to  Hermitage 
Castle,  near  the  Border, 
and  back,  a  total  dis- 
tance of  40  miles,  to  visit 
the  Earl  of  Bothwell, 
who  had  been  wounded 
in  a  Border  fight 

Hay  of  Luacarty,  the  an- 
cestor of  three  noble 
Scottish  families— Errol, 
Tweeddale,  and  Kinnoul 
—was  originally  a  pea- 
sant, who  saved  the  Scot- 
tish army  from  defeat  by 
the  Danes  shortly  before 
the  year  994 

Hay  of  Talla,  a  Borderer, 
concerned  in  the  murder 
of  Darnley 

Herling,  young  of  the  sea- 
trout 

Heywood,  Thomas,  drama- 
tist and  actor  of  the  first 
half  of  the  17th  century 

Hicjacet,  etc.  (p.  Ill),  Here 
lies  Abbot  Eustace 

Hob  (Ormiston),  uncle  of 
the  Black  Laird  of  Ormi- 
ston, concerned  in  the 
murder  of  Darnley 

Hobby,  a  strong,active  nag 

Hodden-grey,  rough  cloth, 
the  natural  color  of  the 
wool 

Holyrood  Palace  was  re- 
built in  the  reign  of 
Charles  II.,  not  Charles 
I.,  namely,  between  1671 
and  1679 

Hoodie,  or  hooded,  crow, 
the  carrion  crow 

Horn,  put  to.  See  Put  to 
horn 

Hors  d''ceuvre,  digression 

Hours,  a  Roman  Catholic 
book  of  prayers  for  pri- 
vate devotions 

Howff,  a  haunt,  resort 

Howlet,  the  owl 

Ilk,  the  same  ;  ilka,  every 

In  adversitate,  etc.  (p. 
428),  Patient  in  adver- 
sity, benevolent  in  pros- 
perity 

In  dubio,  in  doubt 

Injeer,  or  ingere,  to  insin- 
uate, force  oneself  in  in- 
sidiously 


"  In  my  school-days,''*  etc. 
(p.  xii).  See  Merchau  t  oj 
Venice,  Act  i.  sc.  1 

Inter  nos,  between  our- 
selves 

Intrate,  met  filii.  Enter 
my  sons 

Jack-a-lent  visages,  long, 
serious  faces,  like  peni- 
tents in  Lent 

Jeddart  staff,  a  species  of 
battle-axe  formerly  used 
by  the  men  of  Jedburgh 
or  Jeddart 

Jerking,  a  beating,  whip- 
ping 

Jesses,  straps  fastened 
round  the  legs  of  a  hawk 

Jester,  celebrated,  (p.  120). 
Howleglass,  the  German 
Till  Eulenspiegel  (i.e. 
Owl-Glass) 

Je  suis,  etc.  (p.  429),  I  am 
neither  king  nor  prince  ; 
I  am  the  Lord  of  Coucy 

Jibbat,  gibbet 

Jiggeting,  behaving  in  an 
affected  manner,  flaunt- 
ing 

Jouk,  stoop,  duck  down ; 
jouk  and  let  the  jaw 
gang  by,  stoop  and  let 
the  wave  pass 

Jour  de  jeune,  a  fast-day 

Julep,  a  sweet  drink,  cor- 
dial 

Kail,  colewort,  cabbage 
Kain-fowls,  fowls  paid  as 

part  of  rent 
Kelpie,  a  water-spirit 
Kent,    to   propel    a   boat 
by  pushing  a  long   pole 
against  the  bottom  of  the 
lake 
Kerrs,    of    Cessford    and 
Fernieherst,      powerful 
Border  chieftains,  Cath- 
olics and  supporters  of 
Mary  Queenot  Scots 
King    Candaules,    of    an- 
cient    Lvdia     in     Asia 
Minor,  who  exposed  his 
wife  to  Gyges,  in  the  6th 
century  b.c.    The  lady 
persuaded  Gyges  to  slay 
her  husband,  and  then 
married  the  slayer 
Kim-milk,  butter-milk 
Kittle,  ticklish,  difficult 
Knapscap  knapschalle,  or 
knapscull,  head- piece  or 
helmet 

Ladies  Sandilands  and 
Olifaunt.  The  third 
dame  of  the  trio  was 
named  Weir.  See  Allan 
Ramsay's  Evergreen 
(1724),  vol.  i. 

La  Mer  de»  lIi$tQire$,  % 


433 


WA  yjSMLET  NOVELS 


universal  history  or 
chronicle,  translated 
(1848)  from  the  Mare 
Historiarum  of  John 
C  o  1  o  n  n  a,  Dominican, 
who  in  1255  was  made 
Archbishop  of  Messina, 
Sicily 

Landward  town,  rural,  in- 
land farmstead 

Lanercost,  an  ancient 
abbey  in  Cumberland, 
close  beside  the  Roman 
Wall 

Lavolta,  a  lively  dance 
with  a  leaping  step 

hawing,,  tavern-bill 

Lea^t  penny,  a  worthless 
person 

Lennox,  a  former  county 
of  Scotland,  embracing 
Dumbarton  and  parts  of 
Stirling,  Perth,  and  Ren- 
frew 

Lennox,  him  of  the,  Henry 
Darnley,  eldest  son  of 
the  Earl  of  Lennox 

Lenten-kail,  broth  made 
without  meat 

Let,  retard,  hinder 

Licitum  ait^  It  may  be  al- 
lowed 

Lictor,  an  "vncient  Roman 
executi\  ^*  officer 

Limbo  lake,  where  unbap- 
tized  children  and  good 
heathens  were  believed 
by  the  Roman  Catholic 
Church  to  spend  their 
eternity 

Ling,  thin,  long  grass ; 
heather 

Lither,  lazy 

Loaning,  lane,  meadow 

Lockeram,  coarse  linen 

Lords  of  the  Congregation, 
leaders  of  the  Reforma- 
tion in  Scotland 

Loretto,  on  the  Italian 
coast  of  the  Adriatic,  15 
miles  from  Ancona ;  a 
church  there  contains 
the  (reputed)  house  in 
which  the  Virgin  Mary 
lived  at  Nazareth 

Luath,  the  dog  of  Cuthul- 
lin,  in  0ssian''8  Poems : 
"Fingal " 

lAinga  roba  corta  scienzia. 
Long  robe  but  little 
knowledge 

Lunt,  lighted  match,  torch 

Jjurdane,  worthless  fellow, 
blockhead 

Mail,  baggage 

Mail-gardener,  one  who 
cultivates  fruit,  etc.,  on 
land  for  which  he  pays 
rent 

Mair,  more 

Malvolio,  the  steward  in 


Shakespeare's  Twelfth 
Night 

Ma  mignonne,  my  darling 

Maries,  four,  young  ladies 
of  noble  birth,  attend- 
ants of  the  Queen- 
Mary  Livingstone,  Mary 
Fleming,  Mary  Seatoun, 
and  Mary  Beatoun 

Mark,  a  Scotch  coin=ls. 
lid.  ;  a  Dutch  coin= 
about  Is.  6d. 

Marot,  Clement,  poet, 
translated  the  Psalms 
into  French  verse  (1541), 
which  were  very  popular 
at  court,  and  usually 
sung  to  secular  airs 

Massymoore,  a  dungeon,  a 
word  of  Moorish  origin, 
introduced  probably 
during  the  crusading  era 

Mazzard  the  head,  skull 

Medicamentum,  medicine 

Menzie,  the  entire  estab- 
lishment 

Mercat  crow,  market  cross 

Messan,  a  small  dog,  lap- 
dog  ;  messan-page,  cur 
of  a  page 

Metoposcopical,  physio 
gnomical 

Mew,  to  confine  ;  cage  for 
hawks 

Mickle,  great,  big 

Minion  a  favorite  ;  pert, 
saucy  woman 

Mint,  to  aim  at 

Mirror  of  Knighthood, 
with  fuller  title.  The  Mir- 
ror of  Princely  Deeds 
and  Knighthood  etc. 
translated  out  of  the 
Spanish  by  Margaret 
Tyler  and  R.  P.  (1586- 
1601) 

Mithridate,  an  antidote  to 
poison 

More  Scotico,  in  Scotch 
fashion 

Morisco  bells,  used  in  a 
morris  dance 

Mumchance,  an  old  game 
at  cards  or  dice,  in  which 
silence  was  absolutely 
necessary 

Mungo  in  the  Padlock, 
a  play  (1768)  by  Isaac 
Biclcerstaffe,  the  plot 
being  based  upon  Cer- 
vantes's  novel  The  Jeal- 
ous Husband 

Munster,  Bishop  of,  sup- 
pressed with  violence 
the  fanatic  and  impious 
proceedings  of  the  Ana- 
baptists in  Miinster,  the 
capital  of  Westphalia,  in 

Mutchkin,  a   liquid  mea- 

sure=3-4  pint 
Jdy  rebel  subjects  saw  me. 


etc.  (p.  890),  an  allusion 
to  the  condition  in  which 
Mary  was  led  into  Edin- 
burgh after  the  battle  of 
Carberry  Hill,  and  the 
scenes  that  followed  in 
the  Provost's  house 
Mystagogue,  interpreter 
of  mysteries 

Ne  accesseris,  etc.  (p. 
5J65),  Go  not  into  the 
council-chamber  unless 
invited 

Neighbored  ill,  agreed  ill, 
disagreed 

Nick  with  nay,  disappoint 
by  denying 

Nicol  Forest,  a  Border  dis- 
trict of  Cumberland 

Oblast,  obliged,  engaged  to 
Ov  €7   Heaven's  forbode. 
Heaven    forbid  ;    over 
God's  forbode,  God  for- 
bid 

Pairmain,  a  variety  of 
apple 

Pajon,  Henri,  a  Parisian 
lawyer.  Prince  Soly  was 
published  in  1740 

Palinuru^,  the  steersman 
of  ^neas.  See  Virgil's 
^neid,  v. 

Pantler,  keeper  of  pantry, 
one  in  charge  or  provi- 
sions 

Pantoufle,  slipper 

Parcel  poet,  a  bit  of  a 
poet,  mdifferent  poet 

Parent,  relative 

Partlet,  a  portion  of  dress, 
as  a  kerchief,  for  a  lady's 
neck  and  shoulders 

Par  voie  du  fait,  by  vio- 
lence, actual  force 

Pasche,  Easter 

Patch,  paltry  fellow,  fool 

Paven,  or  pavan,  a  slow, 
stately  dance 

Pearlin  muffler,  a  lace  veil 

Peel-house,  a  small  square 
tower  of  refuge 

Pestis,  the  plague 

Petite  Flamberge  a  rien, 
useless  little  sword 

Petronel,  horseman's  large 
pistol 

Pickthank,  an  officious  in 
termeddler,  toady 

Pie,  magpie 

Pilniewinks,  instruments 
for  torturing  the  fingers 

Plack,  a  small  copper  coin 
-=  1-3  of  a  penny  English 

Pleach,  to  interweave, 
plash 

Poculum  mane,  etc.  (p. 
273),  A  cup  drained  in 
the  morning  restores  ex- 
hausted nature 


439 


Podagra,  gout  In  the  foot 

Pomander-box,  a  box  of 
perfume 

Popinjay,  parrot 

Portioner,  one  possessing 
or  inheriting  part  of  a 
property 

Pottle,  pottle-pot,  a  vessel 
holding  2  quarts,  tank- 
ard 

Prcemia  cum,  etc.  (p.  275), 
The  doctor  is  the  devil 
when  he  asks  for  his 
fees 

Praetor,  a  Roman  magis- 
trate 

Pragmatic,  meddlesome, 
officious 

Propale,  to  publish 

Proud  peat,  a  person  of 
insufferable  pride 

Pudding  -  burn  House,  a 
stronghold  of  the  Arm- 
strongs in  Liddesdale. 
See  the  circumstances 
alluded  to  in  Scott's 
Minstrelsy  of  the  Scot- 
tish Border :  "  Dick  o' 
the  Cow,"  vol.  ii.  pp.  63- 
75 

Puir,  poor 

Put  to  horn,  publicly  call 
upon  one  to  pay  a  debt 
under  claim  of  being 
proclaimed  guilty  of 
treason 

Pyet,  magpie 

Quarrel-pane,  a  diamond- 
shaped  pane,  formed 
like  a  quarrel,  the  head 
of  the  arrow  of  a  cross- 
bow 

Ouean,  wench 

Queen  Regent,  Marjr  of 
Guise  (or  Lorraine), 
mother  of  Mary  Queen 
of  Scots 

Quhele,  wheel 

Quhill,  till 

Quid  dicis,  mi  fill.  What 
dost  thou  say,  my  son  ? 

Quousque  Domine  f  how 
long,  O  Lord  ? 

Raymond  Lullius,  a  13th 
century  philosopher,  a 
native  of  Majorca,  who 
invented  a  system  of 
mechanical  logic  with 
which  he  tried  to  con- 
vert the  Mohammedans 
to  Christianity 

Redder''s  lick,  the  blow 
that  so  often  falls  on 
one  who  interferes  in  a 
quarrel 

Redd  up,  tidy,  put  in  order 

Rede,  to  counsel,  advise ; 
advice 

Regality,  lord  of,  one  hold- 
ing territorial  jurisdic- 


tion conferred  by  the 

king 

Resetter,  one  who  harbors 
loose  characters  and 
criminals 

Reveillez-vous,  etc.  (p.  374), 
Awake,  fair  sleeper 

Rifler,  a  hawk  that  catches 
Its  prey  by  the  feathers 
only 

Rive,  to  rend,  tear 

Rock,  distaff 

Roke,  a  rock 

Roseberry  Topping,  a  con- 
spicuous hill  in  Cleve- 
land, North  Riding  of 
Yorkshire 

Rosewal  and  Lilian,  a 
popular  metrical  ro- 
mance thait  was  still 
sung  in  the  streets  of 
Edinburgh  as  late  as 
1770.  See  Laing,  Early 
Metrical  Tales  (1826) 

Rowan  •  tree,  in  popular 
superstition  a  charm 
against  witches 

Ruffle,  to  play  the  bully, 
quarrel 

Rung,  club,  cudgel 


Sabcea,  properly  Sabra, 
daughter  of  Ptolemy, 
king  of  Egypt,  the 
maiden  who  was  rescued 
from  the  Dragon  by  St. 
George 

St.  James  of  Covipostella, 
a  celebrated  resort  of 
pilgrims,  at  Santiago,  80 
miles  from  Corunna,  in 
the  north  of  Spain 

St,  Martin  of  Bullions,  the 
St.  Swithin  or  weeping 
saint  of  Scotland.  If  his 
festival  (4th,  i.e.  15th, 
July)  prove  wet,  forty 
days  of  rain  are  ex- 
pected 

Salerno,  school  of,  ranked 
as  the  first  medical 
school  in  Europe  during 
the  early  Middle  Ages 

Salve  in  nomine  sancto. 
Hail  in  the  holy  name  ; 
Salvete  et  vos.  Hail  also 
to  you 

Sampson^s  VoW-BREAK- 
ER,  or  the  Fair  Maid  of 
Clifton  (1636),  by  Wil- 
liam Sampson 

Samyne,  same 

Sancte  Benedicte,  ora  pro 
me,  St.  Benet,  pray  for 
me 

Scalit,  dispersed,  sepa- 
rated 

Scaur,  a  precipitous  bank 
or  rock 

Scott,  Michael,  the  magi- 
cian,  who   figures    in 


Scott's  Lay  of  the  Last 

Minstrel 

Scrip,  to  mock,  gibe 

Sexton's  pound,  the  grave 

Sinclair,  Oliver,  an  un- 
worthy favorite  of 
James  v. 

Sir  Eger  one  of  the  heroes 
of  the  popular  16th  cen- 
tury Scottish  romance 
Sir  Eger,  Sir  Grahame, 
and  Sir  Greystil,  or  Sir 
Edgar  and  Sir  Grime 

Sir  Grime.    See  Sir  Eger 

Skeely,  skilful,  cunning  in 
simples,  etc. 

Sniggling,  smirking 

Snood,  a  fillet  with  which 
a  maiden  binds  her  hair 

Snottreth,  bubbles 

Snug  the  joiner,  a  charac- 
ter in  Midsummer 
NighVs  Dream 

Soltra  Edge,  or  Soutra 
Hill,  the  westernmost 
ridge  of  the  Lammer- 
moor  Hills  in  Lothian 

Spae-wife,  fortune-teller 

Spernit  dona  fides,  the 
faithful  (dog)  despises 
bribes 

Springald,  a  stripling 

Squab,  short  and  thick, 
squat 

Stammel,  red  linsey-wool- 
sey 

Staving  and  tailing,  strik- 
ing the  bear  with  a  staff 
and  pulling  the  dog  by 
the  tail 

Steikit,  shut 

Stentor,  the  Greek  herald 
in  the  Trojan  War, 
whose  voice  was  equal 
to  those  of  any  fifty  men 

Stoop  (of  a  falcon),  swoop, 
darting  down  on  its  prey 

Stoup,  a  vessel  or  measure 
for  liquids 

Sub  sigillo  confessionis, 
under  the  seal  of  con- 
fession 

Subtriste,  somewhat  sad 

Sub  umbra  vitis  sui,  under 
the  shade  of  his  own 
vine 

Succory,  chicory 

Sup€rceid,to  suspend, 
postpone 


Tace  is  Latin  for  a  candle, 

silence  is  the  word 
Tale-Pyet,  a  tell-tale 
Tent,  attend,  tend 
Tercel  gentle,    a   trained 

male  falcon 
Testificate,  certificate 
Testoon,  or  teston,  a  silver 

coin  —  Is. 
Theban,  learned,  a  learned 

man— a      Shakspearian 


MO 


WAVERLEY  NOVELS 


phrase  (Lear,  Act  iii.  sc. 

4) 
Thespis,  the  originator  of 

the  ancient  Greek  drama 
Thumbikins,     thumb- 
screws,   instrument    of 

torture 
Tilbury,  a  gig 
Tillyvalley,    nonsense  I   a 

fig  for— —1 
To  call  up  him,  etc.   (p. 

428),   from    Milton's    H 

Fenseroso 
Tolbooth,  jail 
Totus  mundus,  etc.  (p.  278), 

The  whole  world  acts  the 

player 
Tour  de  jongleur,  juggler^s 

trick 
Trangam,  or  trangram,  a 

trinket,  trumpery  orna- 
ment 
Tron,  a  church  on  the  High 

Street  of  Edinburgh 
Tussis,  a  cough 
Tuto,  cito,  jucunde,  safely, 

quickly,  pleasantly 
Two   and  a  plack,  two 

Scotch    pennies    and    a 

plack  =  1-3.  EngUsh 


Uncle  the  Cardinal. 


Charles  of  Guise, 
brother  to  Mary's 
mother,  was  the  real 
ruler  of  France  during 
the  reign  of  Mary's  first 
husband,  the  feeble 
Francis  II. 

Un  Dieu,  etc.  (p.  429),  one 
God,  one  faith,  one  king, 
one  law 

Usquebaugh,  whisky 

Vasquine,     or     basquine, 

fown  or  petticoat,  worn 
y  Basque  and  Spanish 
women 

Vendisse,  or  vendace,  a 
rare  kind  of  white  fish, 
whose  flesh  is  accounted 
a  great  delicacy 

Vertu-gardin,  a  hoop  pet- 
ticoat 

Vin-de-pays,  the  common 
wine  of  the  country 

Vivers,  victuals 

Vix  licitum,  scarcely  al- 
lowable 

Wanton,  with  a,  with  a 
vengeance,  the  devil  1 

Wap,  flap,  stroke  of  a 
wing 

Warlock,  a  wizard 


Waur,  worse 

Weft,  or  waft,  a  waving, 
beckoning,  signaling 

Weird,  fate,  destiny 

Weir-men,  war-men,  sol- 
diers 

Welted,  furnished  with  a 
hem  or  border 

Whaup,  curlew 

Whilly,  to  gull,  wheedle 

White-boy,  petted  favor- 
ite, darling 

Wimple,  a  veil 

Wi7ie  and  bush.  Vintners 
and  tavern-keepers  used 
in  the  Middle  Ages  to 
hang  out  a  bush  or 
bunch  of  ivy  to  indicate 
that  their  house  was  an 
inn  ;  hence  the  proverb, 
"  Good  wine  needs  no 
bush  " 

Witch  of  Berkley.  See 
Southey 's  ballad  The  Old 
Woman  of  Berkeley 

Wonot,  will  not 

Wrath  you  not,  do  not  get 
wroth 

Wylie-coat,  under  vest 


Yoldring,  or  yorlin,  a  yel- 
low-hammer, bird 


INDEX  TO  THE  ABBOT 


4BB0r,  the  Novel,  v. 

Abbot  of  Unreason,  116,  119,  424.  See 
also  Woodcock,  Adam 

Ambrosius,  Abbot,  controversy  with 
Warden,  3;  elected  abbot,  113;  con- 
fronts the  revelers,  120 ;  meeting 
with  his  brother,  134 ;  admonishes 
Roland  at  Kinross,  295  ;  at  Lochleven 
Castle,  382 ;  at  Langside,  399  ;  pro- 
tests against  Mary  going  to  England, 
417  ;  his  last  days,  421 

Arbroath,  Lord,  390  ;  hot  zeal  at  Lang- 
side,  402 

Auchtermuchty,  the  carrier,  356 

Author,  his  Introduction,  v ;  Epistle  to 
to  Captain  Clutterbuck,  xi ;  anecdote 
of  his  father,  423 

Avenel,  Lady  of,  her  lonely  life,  3  ;  wit- 
nesses Roland's  accident,  6  ;  her  affec- 
tion for  him,  8,  17;  interview  with 
Magdalen  Graeme,  12 

Barton,  Elizabeth,  Nun  of  Kent,  106, 424 
Blinkhoolie.    See  Boniface,  Abbot 
Boniface,  Abbot,  at  Kinross,  300, 384  ;  at 

Dundrennan,  414 
Bridget,  Abbess,  84 ;  her  fanaticism,  98 ; 

chides  Catherine,  103 
Bruce,  and  Melrose,  433 

Chalmers's  Life  of  Queen  Mary, 

quoted,  431 
Clutterbuck,  Captain,  Author's  Epistle 

to,  xi 
Coleridge's  Christabel,  quoted,  428 
Crookstone  Castle,  405,  432 

Dan  of  the  Howlethirst.    See  Dragon 

Dark  Gray  Man  (Douglas),  299,  430 

Darnley's  murder,  150,  332 

Donee's  Illustrations  to  Shakspeare, 
quoted,  426 

Douglas,  George,  221 ;  his  talk  with  Ro- 
land on  the  loch,  253 ;  confesses  his 
treachery,  316  ;  at  Dryf esdale's  death, 
858 ;  protects  Mary  against  the  bullets, 
883  ;  nis  care  for  her  on  the  ride,  387  ; 
his  pride,  391 ;  watches  over  Mary  at 
Langside,  403  ;  his  death,  410  ;  the  his- 
torical person,  431 

Douglas,  William,  432 

Dragon,  at  Kennaquhair,  117  ;  strips  off 
his  disguise,  129 

Drury,  his  reports  to  Cecil,  431 

Dryf  esdale,  Jasper,  245  ^  locks  out  Ro 


441 


land,  311  ;  asks  him  to  carry  the  tid 
ings,  321 ;  attempts  to  poison  Mary, 
335  ;  his  fatalism,  339,  359  ;  himself 
bears  the  tidings,  355  ;  slain  by  Henry 
Seyton,  358 
Dundrennan  Abbey,  Mary  at,  414 

Edinburgh,  approach   to,  148 ;  streets 

of,  151 
Evil  spirits,  superstition  regarding,  139, 


Fairs,  Scottish,  271,  430 

Fanfarona,  162,  429 

"  Fause  Foodrage,"  423 

Fisher,  Ralph,  57 

Fleming.    Dame     Mary,    214 ;    remon- 

strates  with  Catherine,  243;  leaving 

Lochleven  Castle,  381 
Flemings  and  Hollanders,  24 

Ganelon,  the  traitor,  258,  430 

Glendinning,  Edward.  -See  Ambrosius, 
Abbot 

Glendinning,  Sir  Halbert,  his  position, 
1  ;  returns  to  Avenel  Castle,  20 ;  de- 
scription of,  22  ;  his  lineage,  26,  433  ; 
his  coldness  to  Roland,  28  ;  interrupts 
the  revelers,  128 ;  takes  Roland  into 
his  service,  133 ;  meeting  with  his 
brother,  134  ;  pursues  Roland  at 
Langside,  409 

Glendonwyne  lineage,  26,  423 

Glossary.  435 

Goss-hawk,  81,  423.  See  also  "Fause 
Foodrage  " 

Graeme,  Magdalen,  interview  with  Lady 
Avenel,  12;  meets  Roland  at  St.  Cuth- 
bert's,  69  ;  guides  him,  75  ;  gets  ad- 
mittance into  the  nunnery,  84  ;  her 
fanaticism,  98,  105 ;  takes  Roland  to 
Abbey  of  St.  Mary's,  108 ;  her  indig- 
nation at  the  revelers,  121,  124  ;  gives 
her  permission  to  Roland,  136;  her 
injunctions  to  him,  141 ;  as  Mother 
Nicneven,  275  ;  upbraids  Roland,  293  ; 
brought  to  Lochleven  Castle,  345 ; 
her  enthusiasm  for  Mary,  349  ;  an- 
nounces Roland's  descent,  393  ;  the 
name  Mother  Nicneven,  430 

Graeme,  Roland,  rescued  by  Wolf,  6; 
taken  into  Lady  Avenel's  service,  12 ; 
shrinks  from  Sir  Halbert,  28  ;  his  posi- 
tion at  Avenel  Castle,  80;  knocks 
down  the  falconer,  34;  goes  out  of  th« 


442 


INDEX  TO  THE  ABBOT 


chapel,  43 ;  expelled  the  castle,  49 ; 
encounter  with  Ralph  Fisher,  57  ;  as- 
sisted by  Woodcock,  62  ;  meets  Mag- 
dalen Graeme,  09 ;  his  attachment  to 
Roman  Catholic  Church,  76  ;  first  sees 
Catherine,  87 ;  finds  her  in  the  cow- 
stable,  101 ;  on  the  road  with  Magda- 
len, 108 ;  stabs  the  Abbot  of  Unreason, 
124  ;  enters  Sir  Halbert's  service,  133  ; 
sets  off  for  Edinburgh,  144  ;  aids  the 
Seytons,  153  ;  pursues  Catherine,  156; 
invades  Lord  Seyton's  house,  158  ;  in 

Sresence  of  Murray,  170 ;  at  St. 
Michael's  hostelry,  181  ;  recognizes 
Catherine  as  a  page,  185  ;  accepts  the 
sword,  188  ;  appointed  page  to  Mary, 
198  ;  arrives  at  Lochleven  Castle,  210 ; 
draws  Lord  Seyton's  sword,  232 ;  at- 
tends upon  Dame  Fleming  and  Cathe- 
rine, 240 ;  listens  to  Henderson's  in- 
structions, 249 ;  thoughts  of  leaving 
Lochleven,  251 ;  oonndes  in  George 
Douglas,  253 ;  upbraided  by  Cather- 
ine, 256 ;  warned  by  Henderson,  261  ; 
visits  Kinross,  269  ;  in  company  with 
Dr.  Ludin,  271  ;  recognizes  Catherine 
(Henry)  again,  284 ;  makes  love  to  her 
(him),  285  ;  follows  her  (him)  to  Mother 
Nicneven's,290;  upbraided  by  Mother 
Nicneven,  291  ;  interview  with  Abbot 
Ambrosius,  295:  altercation  with 
Dryfesdale,  305  ;  locked  out,  311 ;  con- 
fronts Henry  Seyton  in  the  garden, 
315  ;  declines  to  carry  the  tidings,  321 ; 
won  over  by  Catherine,  325  ;  matters 
cleared  up  with  Catherine,  368  ;  forges 
false  keys,  372  ;  steals  the  real  keys, 
379 ;  locks  the  castle  doors  behind 
him,  382  ;  disputes  with  Henry  Sey- 
ton, 393 ;  approaches  the  battle  at 
Langside,  "107  ;  rescues  Henry  Seyton, 
409  ;  his  lineage,  419  ;  his  marriage, 
421 

Hawks,  for  falconry,  33 ;  bag  for  their 

meat,  64,  423 
Henderson,  the  chaplain,  246 ;  his  talk 

with  Roland,  261  ;  conversation  with 

Mary,  265 
Hobby-horse,  117,426 
Hollanders  and  Flemings,  34 
Holyrood  House,  time  of  tale,  163 
Howleglas.    See  Abbot  of  Unreason 
Howlet,  poem,  376,  431 
Hunting  mass,  114,  424 
Hyndman,  the  usher,  169, 172 

Introduction,  Author's,  v ;  Epictle  to 
Captain  Clutterbuck,  xl 

Kerry  Craigs,  278,  856,  480 
Keltic,  Old,  the  landlord,  357 
Kennaquhair,  monastery  of,  108 
Kinross,  revels  at,  271,  279 
Kirk  of  Field,  150,  832 

Lanolands,  William,  the  apparitor,  425 
Langside,  battle  of,  401,  432 
Latimer,  Bishop,  quoted,  426 
Leslie,  skirmish  with  the  Seytons,  152 
Lilias,  the  waiting-maid,  11,  18,  81,  4C ; 


informs  upon  Roland,  37;  discussM 

him  with  Wingate,  36,  52 
Lindesay,  Lord,  201 ;  reception  of,  by 

Mary,  219  ;  his  brutal  rudeness  to  her, 

236,429 
"  Listneth,  gode  people,  everiche  one," 

281 
Lochleven,  Lady  of,  209  ;  sends  Roland 

to    Kinross,  264 ;    in    attendance   on 

Mary,  307  ;  learns  of  George  Douglas's 

treachery,  316  ;  is  told  by  Dryfesdale 

of  his  attempt  to  poison  Mary,  335 ; 

her  anxiety,  o38 ;    acts  as  steward, 

363  ;  taunted  by  Mary,  368 ;  the  keys 

stolen  from  her,  379 
Lochleven  Castle,  205 ;  Mary's  life  at, 

247  ;  her  escape  from,  380 
Lundin,  Dr.  Luke,  271  ;  brought  to  Loch- 

leven  Castle,  345 

Maiden  of  Morton,  167,  429 

Mary  Queen  of  Scots,  her  situation,  148 ; 
description  of,  211  ;  emotion  on  hear- 
ing Lindesay 's  voice,  215  ;  receives  the 
deputation,  218  ;  abdicates  the  throne 
255,  429  ;  her  life  at  Lochleven,  247  ; 
interview  with  Henderson,  265 ;  de- 
tected in  flight,  316  ;  accepts  Roland's 
devoted  offer,  830  ;  reminded  of  Darn- 
ley's  murder,  332 ;  the  attempt  to 
poison  her,  335  ;  acts  the  sick  person, 
344  ;  supposed  conspiracy  against  her, 
353,  431  ;  taunts  Lady  of  Lochleven, 
368  ;  her  escape,  380,  431  ;  her  de- 
meanor and  bearing,  380,  431  ;  shows 
herself  to  her  adherents,  389 ;  inter- 
poses between  Roland  and  Henry 
Seyton,  392 ;  at  the  battle  of  Lang- 
side, 401  ;  takes  refuge  in  England, 
416 

Mass,  hunting,  114,  424 

Melrose  Abbey,  434.  See  also  Kennaqu- 
hair 

Melville,  Sir  Robert,  202,  429  ;  at  Loch- 
leven, 218  ;  advises  Mary,  237 

Morton,  Earl  of,  his  interviews  with 
Murray,  173,  200 

Muffled  man,  361,  431 

Murray,  the  Regent,  170  ;  in  conference 
with  Morton,  173,  200  ;  instructions  to 
Roland,  198 

Nicneven,  Mother.    See  Graeme,  Mag- 
dalen 
Nicolas,  Father,  his  grave,  111 
Niddrie  Castle,  Queen  Mary  at,  388 
Nun  of  Kent,  106,  424 

Play,  open-air,  at  Kinross,  279 
Peter  Bridge-Ward,  144 
Physicians,  pedantry  of,  272 

Randal,  retainer  of  Lochleven,  210, 337, 

365 
Rizzio,  place  of  his  assassination,  168 ; 

Ruthven's  part  in,  223 
Robin  Hood  and  Little  John,  118,  436 
Rosabelle,  Mary's  horse,  387 
Ruthven,  Lord,  at  Lochleven,  221 

St.  Bridget,  nunnery  of,  102,  424 
St.  Cuthbert's  cell,  65,  423 


INDEX  TO  THE  ABBOT 


443 


St.  Michael's  hostelry,  182 

St.  Serf's  Island,  310 

Scotland,  condition  of,  time  of  tale,  55, 
148  398 

Sottish  fairs,  271,  430 

Seyton,  Catherine,  87;  first  talk  with 
Koland,  90 ;  discovered  in  the  cow- 
stable,  101  ;  espied  by  Roland  in  Edin- 
burgh, 156 ;  in  attendance  on  Queen 
Mary,  223  ;  teazes  Roland,  239 ;  up- 
braids hini,  256 ;  wins  him  to  the 
Queen,  325  ;  her  anger  at  Lady  Flem- 
ing, 333  ;  clears  up  matters  with  him, 
368 ;  pledges  herself  for  Roland's 
fidelity,  382 ;  at  Langside,  403 ;  mar- 
riage, 421 

Seyton,  Henry,  at  St.  Michael's  hostelry, 
285 ;  gives  Roland  the  sword,  188 ; 
switches  Woodcock,  190 ;  in  disguise 
at  Kinross,  282 ;  mistaken  for  Cath- 
erine, 284,  followed  by  Roland,  290; 
confronted  by  him,  315 ;  stabs  Dryfes- 
dale,  358 ;  assists  Mary  to  escape,  381  ; 
his  dispute  with  Roland,  393  ;  goes  to 
his  father's  aid,  405;  rescued  by 
Roland,  ano  ieath,  409 

Seyton,  Lord,  fight  with  the  Leslies, 
152  :  rewards  Roland,  162  ;  his  advice 
to  Mary,  232  ;  at  Niddrie  Castle,  391  ; 
at  Langside,  4  ;  his  fidelity  to  Mary, 
429 

Sheriff  of  Cumberland,  416 

Sir  John  Oldcastle,  quoted,  425 

Spirits,  evil,  superstition  regarding, 428 

Talea  of  the  Genii,  quoted,  4S8 


"  The  friars  of  Fail  drank  berry-browa 

ale,"  146 
"  The  Paip,  that  pagan  full  of  prid«,»« 

128,  427 
Tilmouth  Chapel,  423 
''  Trim-go-trix,"  128,  146,  427 
Trout,  Scotch,  254 

Unreason,  Abbot  of,  116,  424 

Warden,  Henry,  3 ;  reproves  Lady 
Avenel,  8,  39  ;  dislike  to  Roland,  31  ; 
sermon  against  him,  41 

White  Lady  of  Avenel,  421 

Wingate,  the  steward,  29  ;  his  policy, 
35 ;  summoned  before  Lady  Avenel, 
38  ;  discusses  Roland  with  Lilias,  53  ; 
political  speculations,  64 

Wing-the-Wind,  Michael,  164  ;  conducts 
Roland  to  Murray,  168  ;  awakens  him 
with  a  commission,  194 

Wolf,  the  staghound,  5 ;  rescues  Roland, 
6  ;  jealousy  of  him,  8 ;  delight  at  see- 
ing Sir  Halbert,  27 

Woodcock,  Adam,  the  falconer,  33 ; 
knocked  down  by  Roland,  34  ;  assists 
him,  62  ;  acts  Aboot  of  Unreason,  116, 
119  :  his  identity  discovered,  130  ;  at- 
tends Roland,  148 ;  recognized  by 
Wing-the-Wind,  164  ;  carouses  at  St. 
Michael's  hostlery,  182  ;  switched  by 
Henry  Seyton,  190 ;  emotion  at  part- 
ing from  Roland,  195 ;  at  Langside, 
412;   carries  despatches  to  Roland, 


7f 


INTRODUCTION  TO   KENILWORTH. 

A  CERTAIN  degrees  of  success,  real  or  supposed,  in  the  de- 
lineation of  Queen  Mary,  naturally  induced  the  Author  to 
attempt  something  similar  respecting  "  her  sister  and  her 
foe,"  the  celebrated  Elizabeth.  He  will  not,  however,  pre- 
tend to  have  approached  the  task  with  the  same  feelings;  for 
the  candid  Kobertson  himself  confesses  having  felt  the  preju- 
dices with  which  a  Scottishman  is  tempted  to  regard  the  sub- 
ject; and  what  so  liberal  a  historian  avows,  a  poor  romance- 
writer  dares  not  disown.  But  he  hopes  the  influence  of  a 
prejudice  almost  as  natural  to  him  as  his  native  air  will  not 
be  found  to  have  greatly  affected  the  sketch  he  has  attempted 
of  England's  Elizabeth.  I  have  endeavored  to  describe  her 
as  at  once  a  high-minded  sovereign  and  a  female  of  pas- 
sionate feelings,  hesitating  betwixt  the  sense  of  her  rank  and 
the  duty  she  owed  her  subjects  on  the  one  hand,  and  on  the 
other  her  attachment  to  a  nobleman  who,  in  external  quali- 
fications at  least,  amply  merited  her  favor.  The  interest  of 
the  story  is  thrown  upon  that  period  when  the  sudden  death 
of  the  first  Countess  of  Leicester  seemed  to  open  to  the  ambi- 
tion of  her  husband  the  opportunity  of  sharing  the  crown  of 
his  sovereign. 

It  is  possible  that  slander,  which  very  seldom  favors  the 
memories  of  persons  in  exalted  stations,  may  have  blackened 
the  character  of  Leicester  with  darker  shades  than  really  be- 
longed to  it.  But  the  almost  general  voice  of  the  times 
attached  the  most  foul  suspicions  to  the  death  of  the  unfor- 
tunate countess,  more  especially  as  it  took  place  so  very  oppor- 
tunely for  the  indulgence  of  her  lover's  ambition.  If  we  can 
trust  Ashmole's  "  Antiquities  of  Berkshire,"  there  was  but  toe 
much  ground  for  the  traditions  which  charge  Leicester  with 
the  murder  of  his  wife.  In  the  following  extract  of  the  pass- 
age the  reader  will  find  the  authority  I  had  for  the  story  of 
the  romance: 

At  the  west  end  of  the  church  is  the  rnins  of  a  manor,  anciently  belonging 
(as  a  cell,  or  place  of  removal,  as  some  report)  to  the  monks  of  Abington.     At 

the  Dissolution,  the  said  manor,  or  lordship,  was  conveyed  to  one Owen 

(I  believe),  the  possessor  of  Godstow  then.  i. 

In  the  hall,  over  the  chimney,  I  find  Abington  arms  cat  in  stone,   rig, 

m. 


IT  INTROBUOTION  TO  KENILWORTH. 

a  patonee  between  four  martletts ;  and  also  another  escotcheon,  viz.  a  lion 
rampant,  and  several  miters  cut  in  stone  about  the  house.  There  is  also  in 
the  said  house  a  chamber  called  Dudley's  chamber,  where  the  Earl  of  Leices- 
ter's wife  was  murdered,  of  which  this  is  the  story  following  : — 

Robert  Dudley,  Earl  of  Leicester,  a  very  goodly  personage,  and  singularly 
well  featured,  being  a  great  favourite  to  Queen  Elizabeth,  it  was  thought,  and 
commonly  reported,  that,  had  he  been  a  batchelor  or  widower,  the  Queen 
would  have  made  him  her  husband  ;  to  this  end,  to  free  himself  of  all  obsta- 
cles, he  commands,  or  perhaps,  with  fair,  flattering  intreaties,  desires  his  wife 
to  repose  herself  here  at  his  servant  Anthony  Forster's  house,  who  then  lived 
in  the  aforesaid  manor-house  ;  and  also  prescribed  to  Sir  Richard  Varney  (a 
prompter  to  this  design),  at  his  coming  hither,  that  he  should  first  attempt  to 
poison  her,  and  if  that  did  not  take  effect,  then  by  any  other  way  whatsoever 
to  dispatch  her.  This,  it  seems,  was  proved  by  the  report  of  Dr.  Walter 
Bayly,  sometime  fellow  of  New  College,  then  living  in  Oxford,  and  professor 
of  physic  in  that  university  ;  who,  because  he  would  not  consent  to  take  away 
her  life  by  poison,  the  earl  endeavoured  to  displace  him  from  the  court.  This 
man,  it  seems,  reported  for  most  certain  that  there  was  a  practice  in  Cumnor 
among  the  conspirators  to  have  poisoned  this  poor  innocent  lady  a  little 
before  she  was  killed,  which  was  attempted  after  this  manner  : — They  seeing 
the  good  lady  sad  and  heavy  Tai  one  that  well  knew  by  her  other  handling 
that  her  death  was  not  far  off),  began  to  perswade  her  that  her  present  disease 
was  abundance  of  melancholy  and  other  humours,  etc.,  and  therefore  would 
needs  counsel  her  to  take  some  potion,  which  she  absolutely  refusing  to  do, 
as  still  suspecting  the  worst ;  whereupon  they  sent  a  messenger  on  a  day  (una- 
wares to  her)  for  Dr.  Bayly,  and  intreated  him  to  perswade  her  to  take  some 
little  potion  by  his  direction,  and  they  would  fetch  the  same  at  Oxford  ;  mean- 
ing to  have  added  something  of  their  own  for  her  comfort,  as  the  doctor  upon 
just  cause  and  consideration  did  suspect,  seeing  their  great  importunity,  and 
the  small  need  the  lady  had  of  physic,  and  therefore  he  peremptorily  denied 
iheif  request ;  misdoubting  (as  he  afterwards  reported)  least,  if  they  had  poi- 
soned her  under  the  name  of  his  potion,  he  might  after  have  been  hanged  for 
a  colour  of  their  sin,  and  the  doctor  remained  still  well  assured  that,  this  way 
taking  no  effect,  she  would  not  long  escape  their  violence,  which  afterwards 
happened  thus.  For  Sir  Richard  Varney  above-said  (the  chief  projector  in 
this  design),  who,  by  the  earl's  order,  remained  that  day  of  her  death  alone 
with  her,  with  one  man  only  and  Forster,  who  had  that  day  forcibly  sent  away 
all  her  servants  from  her  to  Abington  market,  about  3  miles  distant  from 
this  place — they  (I  say,  whether  first  stifling  her  or  else  strangling  her)  after- 
wards flung  her  down  a  pair  of  stairs  and  broke  her  neck,  using  much  violence 
upon  her ;  but,  however,  though  it  was  vulgarly  reported  that  she  by  chance 
fell  downstairs  (but  yet  without  hui'ting  her  hood  that  was  upon  her  head), 
yet  the  inhabitants  will  tell  you  there  that  she  was  conveyed  from  her  usual 
chamber  where  she  lay  to  another  where  the  bed's  head  of  the  chamber  stood 
close  to  a  privy  postern  door,  where  they  in  the  night  came  and  stifled  her  in 
her  bed,  bruised  her  head  very  much,  broke  her  neck,  and  at  length  flung  her 
downstairs,  thei-eby  believing  the  world  would  have  thought  it  a  mischance, 
and  so  have  blinded  their  villany.  But  behold  the  mercy  and  justice  of  God 
in  revenging  and  discovering  this  lady's  murder,  for  one  of  the  persons  that 
was  a  coadjutor  in  this  murder  was  afterwards  taken  for  a  felony  in  the 
marches  of  Wales,  and  offering  to  publish  the  manner  of  the  aforesaid  mur- 
der, was  privately  made  away  in  the  prison  by  the  earl's  appointment ;  and 
Sir  Richard  Varney,  the  other,  dying  about  the  same  time  in  London,  cried 
miserably,  and  blasphemed  God,  and  said  to  a  person  of  note  (who  hath  re- 
lated the  same  to  others  since),  not  long  before  his  denth,  that  all  the  devils 
in  hell  did  tear  him  in  pieces.  Forster,  likewise,  after  this  fact,  being  a  man 
formerly  addicted  to  hospitality,  company,  mirth,  and  music,  was  afterwards 
observed  to  forsake  all  this,  [and]  with  much  melancholy  and  pensiveness 
(some  say  with  madness)  pined  and  drooped  away.  The  wife  also  of  Bald 
Butter,  kinsman  to  the  earl,  gave  out  the  whole  fact  a  little  before  her  death. 
Neither  are  these  following  passages  to  be  forgotten,  that  as  soon  as  ever  she 
WM  murdered,  tbey  made  great  haste  to  bury  ber  before  the  coroner  had  given 


INTRODUCTION  TO  KENILWORTH.  ▼ 

in  hli  Inqnest  (which  the  earl  himself  condemned  ai  not  done  advisedly), 
which  her  father,  or  Sir  John  Robertsett  (as  I  suppose),  hearing  of,  cam* 
with  all  speed  hither,  caused  her  corps  to  be  taken  up,  the  coroner  to  sit 
upon  her,  and  further  inquiry  to  be  made  concerning  this  business  to  the 
full ;  but  it  was  generally  thought  that  the  earl  stopped  his  mouth,  and  made 
up  the  business  betwixt  them  ;  and  the  good  earl,  to  make  plain  to  the  world 
the  great  love  he  bare  to  her  while  alive,  what  a  grief  the  loss  of  so  virtuous  a 
lady  was  to  his  tender  heart,  caused  (though  the  thing,  by  these  and  other 
means,  was  beaten  into  the  heads  of  the  principal  men  of  the  University  of 
Oxford)  her  body  to  be  reburied  in  St.  Maries  church  in  Oxford  with  great 
pomp  and  solemnity.  It  was  remarkable,  when  Dr.  Babington  (the  earl'B 
chaplain)  did  preach  the  funeral  sermon,  he  tript  once  or  twice  in  his  speech, 
by  recommending  to  their  memories  that  virtuous  lady  so  pitifully  murdered^ 
instead  of  saying  pitifully  slain.  This  earl,  after  all  his  murders  and  poison- 
ings, was  himself  poisoned  by  that  which  was  prepared  for  others  (some  say 
by  his  wife)  at  Cornbury  Lodge  before  mentioned  (though  Baker  in  his  chron- 
icle would  have  it  at  Killingworth),  anno  1588.* 

The  same  accusation  has  been  adopted  and  circulated  by 
the  author  of  "  Leicester's  Commonwealth,"  a  satire  f  writ- 
ten directly  against  the  Eari  of  Leicester,  which  loaded  him 
with  the  most  horrid  crimes,  and,  among  the  rest,  with  the 
murder  of  his  first  wife.  It  was  alluded  to  in  the  "  York- 
shire Tragedy,''  a  play  erroneously  ascribed  to  Shakspere, 
where  a .  baker,  who  determines  to  destroy  all  his  family, 
throws  his  wife  downstairs,  with  this  allusion  to  the  sup- 
posed murder  of  Leicester's  lady: 

The  onlv  way  to  charm  a  woman's  tongue 
Is,  break  her  neck— a  politician  did  it. 

The  reader  will  find  I  have  borrowed  several  incidents  as 
well  as  names  ij:  from  Asihmole  and  the  more  early  authori- 
ties; but  my  first  acquaintance  with  the  history  was  through 
the  more  pleasing  medium  of  verse.  There  is  a  period  in 
youth  when  the  mere  power  of  numbers  has  a  more  strong 
effect  on  ear  and  imagination  than  in  more  advanced  life. 
At  this  season  of  immature  taste  the  Author  was  greatly  de- 
lighted with  the  poems  of  Mickle  and  Langhorne,  poets  who, 
though  by  no  means  deficient  in  the  higher  branches  of  their 
art,  were  eminent  for  their  powers  of  verbal  melody  above 
most  who  have  practiced  this  department  of  poetry.  One  of 
those  pieces  of  Mickle,  which  the  Author  was  particularly 

•  Ashmole's  "  Antiquities  of  Berkshire,"  vol.  i.  p.  149.  The  tradition  as  to  Leiceeter's 
death  was  thns  commnnicated  by  Ben  Jonaon  to Drnmmond  of  Hawthornden :  " The 
Earl  of  Leicester  gave  a  bottle  of  liqnor  to  his  lady,  which  he  willed  her  to  use  in  any 
faintness,  which  she,  after  his  return  from  court,  not  knowing  it  was  poison,  gave  him, 
and  so  he  died."— Ben  Jonson's**  Information  to  Drummond  of  Hawthornden,"  MS. 
Sir  Robert  Sibliald's  copy. 

tThis  satire  was  written  by  the  notorious  Jesuit,  Robert  Parsons,  and  was  largely 
copied  by  Ashmole  in  his  "  Antiquities."  These  authorities  were  perhaps  too  much 
relied  upon  by  the  Author.— Zain<7. 

t  See  Lockhart's  "  Life  of  Scott,"  vol.  vi.  pp.  268,  294. 


vili  nfTRODTIGTION  TO  KENILWORTK 

The  death-bell  thrice  was  heard  to  ring, 
An  aerial  voice  was  heard  to  call. 


And  thrice  the  raven  flapp'd  its  wine 
Around  the  towers  of  Cumnor  Hall. 

The  mastiff  liowl'd  at  villap:e  door, 
The  oaks  vv<r<5  slnitterM  on  the  green; 

Woe  was  the  liour— for  never  more 
That  hapless  countess  e'er  was  seenl 

And  in  that  manor  now  no  more 
Is  cheerful  feast  and  sprightly  ball; 

For  ever  since  that  dreary  hour 
Have  spirits  haunted  Cumnor  Hall. 

The  village  maids,  with  fearful  glance. 
Avoid  the  ancient  moss-grown  wall  • 

Nor  ever  lead  the  merry  dance, 

Among  the  groves  of  Cumnor  Hall. 

Poll  many  a  traveler  oft  hath  sigh'd. 

And  pensive  wept  the  countees'  fall, 
As  wand'rmg  onwards  they've  espied 

The  haunted  towers  of  Cumnor  T 


ikBBOTsroRD,  l$t  March^  1881. 


KENILWORTH, 


CHAPTER  I. 

I  am  an  innkeeper,  and  know  my  gronnds, 
And  study  them— brain  o'  man,  I  study  them. 
I  must  have  jovial  guests  to  drive  my  plows, 
And  whistling  boys  to  bring  my  harvest  home, 
Or  I  shall  hear  no  flails  thwack. 

—  The  New  Inn. 

It  is  the  privilege  of  tale-tellers  to  open  their  story  in  an 
inn,  the  free  rendezvous  of  all  travelers,  and  where  the  humor 
of  each  displays  itself  without  ceremony  or  restraint.  This  is 
specially  suitable  when  the  scene  is  laid  during  the  old  days  of 
merry  England,  when  the  guests  were  in  some  sort  not  merely 
the  inmates,  but  the  messmates  and  temporary  companions, 
of  mine  host,  who  was  usually  a  personage  of  privileged  free- 
dom, comely  presence,  and  good  humor.  Patronized  by  him, 
the  characters  of  the  company  were  placed  in  ready  contrast; 
and  they  seldom  failed,  during  the  emptying  of  a  six-hooped 
pot,  to  throw  off  reserve,  and  present  themselves  to  each  other 
and  to  their  landlord  with  the  freedom  of  old  acquaintance. 

The  village  of  Cumnor,  within  three  or  four  miles  of  Ox- 
ford, boasted,  during  the  eighteenth  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  an 
excellent  inn  of  the  old  stamp,  conducted,  or  rather  ruled,  by 
Giles  Gosling,  a  man  of  a  goodly  person  and  of  somewhat 
round  belly,  fifty  years  of  age  and  upwards,  moderate  in  his 
reckonings,  prompt  in  his  payments,  having  a  cellar  of  sound 
liquor,  a  ready  wit,  and  a  pretty  daughter.  Since  the  days  of 
old  Harry  Baillie  of  the  Tabard  in  Southwark,  no  one  had 
excelled  Giles  Gosling  in  the  power  of  pleasing  his  guests  of 
every  description;  and  so  great  was  his  fame,  that  to  have 
been  in  Cumnor  without  wetting  a  cup  at  the  bonny  Black 
Bear  would  have  been  to  avouch  one's  self  utterly  indifferent 
to  reputation  as  a  traveler.  A  country  fellow  might  as  well 
return  from  London  without  looking  in  the  face  of  majesty. 
The  men  of  Cumnor  were  proud  of  their  host,  and  their  host 
was  proud  of  his  house,  his  liquor,  his  daughter,  and  himself. 


S  WA  YEBLET  NO  VEL8. 

It  was  in  the  courtyard  of  the  inn  which  called  this  honest 
fellow  landlord  that  a  traveler  alighted  in  the  close  of  the 
evening,  gave  his  horse,  which  seemed  to  have  made  a  long 
journey,  to  the  hostler,  and  made  some  inquiry,  which  pro- 
duced the  following  dialogue  betwixt  the  myrmidons  of  the 
bonny  Black  Bear: 

"What,  ho!  John  Tapster/' 

"At  hand.  Will  Hostler,"  replied  the  man  of  the  spigot, 
showing  himself  in  his  costume  of  loose  jacket,  linen  breeches, 
and  green  apron,  half  within  and  half  without  a  door,  which 
appeared  to  descend  to  an  outer  cellar. 

"  Here  is  a  gentleman  asks  if  you  draw  good  ale,"  continued 
the  hostler. 

"  Beshrew  my  heart  else,"  answered  the  tapster,  "  since 
there  are  but  four  miles  betwixt  us  and  Oxford.  Marry,  if 
my  ale  did  not  convince  the  heads  of  the  scholars,  they  would 
soon  convince  my  pate  with  the  pewter  flagon." 

"  Call  you  that  Oxford  logic  ?  "  said  the  stranger,  who  had 
now  quitted  the  rein  of  his  horse,  and  was  advancing  toward 
the  inn  door,  when  he  was  encountered  by  the  goodly  form  of 
Giles  Gosling  himself. 

"  Is  it  logic  you  talk  of,  sir  guest?  "  said  the  host;  "why, 
then,  have  at  you  with  a  downright  consequence: 

*'  The  horse  to  the  rack, 
And  to  fire  with  the  sack." 

**  Amen!  with  all  my  heart,  my  good  host,"  said  the  stran- 
ger; "let  it  be  a  quart  of  your  best  Canaries,  and  give  me 
your  good  help  to  drink  it." 

"  Nay,  you  are  but  in  your  accidence  yet,  sir  traveler,  if  you 
call  on  your  host  for  help  for  such  a  sipping  matter  as  a  quart 
of  sack;  were  it  a  gallon,  you  might  lack  some  neighborly  aid 
at  my  hand,  and  yet  call  yourself  a  toper." 

"  Fear  me  not,"  said  the  guest,  "  I  will  do  my  devoir  as  be- 
comes a  man  who  finds  himself  within  five  miles  of  Oxford; 
for  I  am  not  come  from  the  field  of  Mars  to  discredit  myself 
amongst  the  followers  of  Minerva." 

As  he  spoke  thus,  the  landlord,  with  much  semblance  of 
hearty  welcome,  ushered  his  guest  into  a  large  low  chamber, 
where  several  persons  were  seated  together  in  different  parties 
— some  drinking,  some  playing  at  cards,  some  conversing,  and 
some,  whose  business  called  them  to  be  early  risers  on  the 
morrow,  concluding  their  evening  meal,  and  conferring  with 
the  chamberlain  about  their  night's  quarters. 


KBNILWORTH.  *3 

The  entrance  of  a  stranger  procured  him  that  general  and 
careless  sort  of  attention  which  is  usually  paid  on  such  occa- 
sions, from  which  the  following  results  were  deduced:  The 
guest  was  one  of  those  who,  with  a  well-made  person,  and 
features  not  in  themselves  unpleasing,  are  nevertheless  so  far 
from  handsome  that,  whether  from  the  expression  of  their 
features,  or  the  tone  of  their  voice,  or  from  their  gait  and 
manner,  there  arises,  on  the  whole,  a  disinclination  to  their 
society.  The  stranger's  address  was  bold,  without  being 
frank,  and  seemed  eagerly  and  hastily  to  claim  for  him  a  de- 
gree of  attention  and  deference,  wMch  he  feared  would  be 
refused,  if  not  instantly  vindicated  as  his  right.  His  attire 
was  a  riding-cloak,  which,  when  open,  displayed  a  handsome 
jerkin  overlaid  with  lace,  and  belted  with  a  buff  girdle,  which 
sustained  a  broadsword  and  a  pair  of  pistols. 

^^  You  ride  well  provided,  sir,"  said  the  host,  looking  at  the 
weapons  as  he  placed  on  the  table  the  mulled  sack  which  the 
traveler  had  ordered.  *- 

"  Yes,  mine  host;  I  have  found  the  use  on't  in  dangerous 
times,  and  I  do  not,  like  your  modem  grandees,  turn  off  my 
followers  the  instant  "they  are  useless." 

"Aye,  sir?"  said  Giles  Gosling;  "then  you  are  from  the 
Low  Countries,  the  land  of  pike  and  caliver?  " 

"  I  have  been  high  and  low,  my  friend,  broad  and  wide,  far 
and  near.  But  here  is  to  thee  in  a  cup  of  thy  sack;  fill  thy- 
self another  to  pledge  me;  and,  if  it  is  less  than  superlative, 
e'en  drink  as  you  have  brewed." 

"Less  than  superlative!"  said  Giles  Gosling,  drinking  off 
the  cup,  and  smacking  his  lips  with  an  air  of  ineffable  relish 
— "  I  know  nothing  of  superlative,  nor  is  there  such  a  wine  at 
the  Three  Cranes,  in  the  Vintry,  to  my  knowledge;  but  if  you 
find  better  sack  than  that  in  the  Sheres,  or  in  the  Canaries 
either,  I  would  I  may  never  touch  either  pot  or  penny  more. 
"Why,  hold  it  up  betwixt  you  and  the  light,  you  shall  see  the 
little  motes  dance  in  the  golden  liquor  like  dust  in  the  sun- 
beam. But  I  would  rather  draw  wine  for  ten  clowns  than 
one  traveler.     I  trust  your  honor  likes  the  wine?  " 

"  It  is  neat  and  comfortable,  mine  host;  but  to  know  good 
liquor  you  should  drink  where  the  vine  grows.  Trust  me, 
your  Spaniard  is  too  wise  a  man  to  send  you  the  very  soul  of 
the  grape.  Why,  this  now,  which  you  account  so  choice, 
were  counted  but  as  a  cup  of  bastard  at  the  Groyne  or  at  Port 
St.  Mary's.  You  should  travel,  mine  host,  if  you  would  be 
deep  in  the  mysteries  of  the  butt  and  pottle-pot." 


4  WAVBRLET  NOVELS. 

*'  In  troth.  Signer  Guest/'  said  Giles  Gosling,  "  if  I  were  to 
travel  only  that  I  might  be  discontented  with  that  which  I 
can  get  at  home,  methinks  I  should  go  but  on  a  fool's  errand. 
Besides,  I  warrant  you,  there  is  many  a  fool  can  turn  his  nose 
up  at  good  drink  without  ever  having  been  out  of  the  smoke 
of  Old  England;  and  so  ever  gramercy  mine  own  fireside." 

"  This  is  but  a  mean  mind  of  yours,  mine  host,"  said  the 
stranger.  "  I  warrant  me,  all  your  townsfolk  do  not  think  so 
basely.  You  have  gallants  among  you,  I  dare  imdertake, 
that  have  made  the  Virginia  voyage,  or  taken  a  turn  in  the 
Low  Countries  at  least.  Come,  cudgel  your  memory.  Have 
you  no  friends  in  foreign  parts  that  you  would  gladly  have 
tidings  of?  " 

"  Troth,  sir,  not  1"  answered  the  host,  "  since  ranting 
Eobin  of  Drysandf  ord  was  shot  at  the  siege  of  the  Brill.  The 
devil  take  the  caliver  that  fired  the  ball,  for  a  blither  lad 
never  filled  a  cup  at  midnight!  But  he  is  dead  and  gone,  and 
I  know  not  a  soldier,  or  a  traveler,  who  is  a  soldier's  mate, 
that  I  would  give  a  peeled  codling  for." 

"  By  the  mass,  that  is  strange.  What!  so  many  of  our 
brave  English  hearts  are  abroad,  and  you,  who  seem  to  be  a 
man  of  mark,  have  no  friend,  no  kinsman,  among  them?  " 

"Nay,  if  you  speak  of  kinsmen,"  answered  Gosling,  "I 
have  one  wild  slip  of  a  kinsman,  who  left  us  in  the  last  year 
of  Queen  Mary;  but  he  is  better  lost  than  found." 

"  Do  not  say  so,  friend,  unless  you  have  heard  ill  of  him 
lately.  Many  a  wild  colt  has  turned  out  a  noble  steed.  His 
name,  I  pray  you?  " 

"  Michael  Lamboume,"  answered  the  landlord  of  the  Black 
Bear,  "  a  son  of  my  sister's;  there  is  little  pleasure  in  recollect- 
ing either  the  name  or  the  connection." 

"  Michael  Lambourne! "  said  the  stranger,  as  if  endeavor- 
ing to  recollect  himself,  "  what,  no  relation  to  Michael  Lam- 
boume, the  gallant  cavalier  who  behaved  so  bravely  at  the 
siege  of  Venlo  that  Grave  Maurice  thanked  him  at  the  head 
of  the  army?  Men  said  he  was  an  EngHsh  cavalier,  and  of 
no  high  extraction." 

"  It  could  scarcely  be  my  nephew,"  said  Giles  Gosling,  "  for 
he  had  not  the  courage  of  a  hen-partridge  for  aught  but 
ondschief." 

"  Oh,  many  a  man  finds  courage  in  the  wars,"  replied  the 
stranger. 

"  It  may  be,"  said  the  landlord;  "  but  I  would  have  thought 
our  Mike  more  likely  to  lose  the  little  he  had." 


KENILWORTK  M 

"Tlie  Michael  Lamboume  whom  I  knew,"  continued  the 
traveler,  "was  a  likely  fellow:  went  always  gay  and  well- 
attired,  and  had  a  hawk's  eye  after  a  pretty  wench." 

"  Our  Michael,"  replied  the  host,  "  had  the  look  of  a  dog 
with  a  bottle  at  its  tail,  and  wore  a  coat  every  rag  of  which 
was  bidding  good-day  to  the  rest." 

"  Oh,  men  pick  up  good  apparel  in  the  wars,"  replied  the 
guest. 

"  Our  Mike,"  answered  the  landlord,  "  was  more  like  to 
pick  it  up  in  a  frippery  warehouse,  while  the  broker  was  look- 
ing another  way;  and,  for  the  hawk's  eye  you  talk  of,  his  was 
always  after  my  stray  spoons.  He  was  tapster's  boy  here  in 
this  blessed  house  for  a  quarter  of  a  year;  and  between  mis- 
reckonings,  miscarriages,  mistakes,  and  misdemeanors,  had 
he  dwelt  with  me  for  three  months  longer,  I  might  have 
pulled  down  sign,  shut  up  house,  and  given  the  devil  the  key 
to  keep." 

"You  would  be  sorry,  after  all,"  continued  the  traveler, 
"were  I  to  tell  you  poor  Mike  Lamboume  was  shot  at  the 
head  of  his  regiment  at  the  taking  of  a  sconce  near 
Maestricht?  " 

"  Sorry!  it  would  be  the  blithest  news  I  ever  heard  of  him, 
since  it  would  insure  me  he  was  not  hanged.  But  let  him 
pass,  I  doubt  his  end  will  never  do  such  credit  to  his  friends; 
were  it  so,  I  should  say  [taking  another  cup  of  sack],  '  Here's 
God  rest  him,'  with  all  my  heart." 

"  Tush,  man,"  replied  the  traveler,  "  never  fear  but  you 
will  have  credit  by  your  nephew  yet;  especially  if  he  be  the 
Michael  Lamboume  whom  I  knew  and  loved  very  nearly,  or 
altogether,  as  well  as  myself.  Can  you  tell  me  no  mark  by 
which  I  could  judge  whether  they  be  the  same?  " 

"  Faith,  none  that  I  can  think  of,"  answered  Giles  Gosling, 
"unless  that  our  Mike  had  the  gallows  branded  on  his  left 
shoulder  for  stealing  a  silver  caudle-cup  from  Dame  Snort  of 
Hogsditch." 

"  Nay,  there  you  lie  like  a  knave,  uncle,"  said  the  stranger, 
slipping  aside  his  ruff,  and  turning  down  the  sleeve  of  his 
doublet  from  his  neck  and  shoulder;  "  by  this  good  day,  my 
shoulder  is  as  unscarred  as  thine  own." 

"  What,  Mike,  boy — Mike!  "  exclaimed  the  host;  "  and  is  it 
thou  in  good  earnest?  Nay,  I  have  judged  so  for  this  half- 
hour,  for  I  knew  no  other  person  -vfould  have  ta'en  half  the 
interest  in  thee.  But,  Mike,  an  thy  shoulder  be  unscathed  as 
thou  sayest,  thou  must  own  that  Goodman  Thong,  the  hang- 


IP  WA VEBLET  NOVELS. 

man,  was  merciful  in  his  office,  and  stamped  thee  with  a  cold 
iron." 

"  Tush,  uncle,  truce  with  your  jests.  Keep  them  to  season 
your  sour  ale,  and  let  us  see  what  hearty  welcome  thou  wilt 
give  a  kinsman  who  has  rolled  the  world  around  for  eighteen 
years;  who  has  seen  the  sun  set  where  it  rises,  and  has  traveled 
till  the  west  has  hecome  the  east." 

"  Thou  hast  brought  back  one  traveler's  gift  with  thee, 
Mike,  as  I  well  see;  and  that  was  what  thou  least  didst  need  to 
travel  for.  I  remember  well,  among  thine  other  qualities, 
there  was  no  crediting  a  word  which  came  from  thy 
mouth." 

"  Here's  an  unbelieving  pagan  for  you,  gentlemen! "  said 
Michael  Lamboume,  turning  to  those  who  witnessed  this 
strange  interview  betwixt  uncle  and  nephew,  some  of  whom, 
being  natives  of  the  village,  were  no  strangers  to  his  juvenile 
wildness.  "  This  may  be  called  slaying  a  Cumnor  fatted  calf 
for  me  with  a  vengeance.  But,  uncle,  I  come  not  from  the 
husks  and  the  swine-trough,  and  I  care  not  for  thy  welcome 
or  no  welcome;  I  carry  that  with  me  will  make  me  welcome, 
wend  where  I  will." 

So  saying,  he  pulled  out  a  purse  of  gold,  indifferently  well 
filled,  the  sight  of  which  produced  a  visible  effect  upon  the 
company.  Some  shook  their  heads,  and  whispered  to  each 
other,  while  one  or  two  of  the  less  scrupulous  speedily  began 
to  recollect  him  as  a  school-companion,  a  townsman,  or  so 
forth.  On  the  other  hand,  two  or  three  grave,  sedate-looking 
persons  shook  their  heads,  and  left  the  inn,  hinting  that,  if 
Giles  Gosling  wished  to  continue  to  thrive,  he  should  turn  his 
thriftless,  godless  nephew  adrift  again  as  soon  as  he  could. 
Gosling  demeaned  himself  as  if  he  were  much  of  the  same 
opinion;  for  even  the  sight  of  the  gold  made  less  impression 
on  the  honest  gentleman  than  it  usually  doth  upon  one  of  his 
calling. 

"  Kinsman  Michael,"  he  said,  "  put  up  thy  purse.  My  sis- 
ter's son  shall  be  called  to  no  reckoning  in  my  house  for  sup- 
per or  lodging;  and  I  reckon  thou  wilt  hardly  wish  to  stay 
longer,  where  thou  art  e'en  but  too  well  known." 

"For  that  matter,  uncle,"  replied  the  traveler,  "I  shall 
consult  my  own  needs  and  conveniences.  Meantime,  I  wish 
to  give  the  supper  and  sleeping-cup  to  those  good  townsmen: 
who  are  not  too  proud  to  remember  Mike  Lambourne,  the 
tapster's  boy.  If  you  will  let  me  have  entertainment  for  my 
money,  soj  if  not,  it  is  but  a  short  two  minutes'  walk  to  the 


KENILWORTH.  7 

Hare  and  Tabor,  and  I  trust  our  neighbors  will  not  grndge 
going  thus  far  with  me." 

"  Nay,  Mike,"  replied  his  uncle,  "  as  eighteen  years  have 
gone  over  thy  head,  and  I  trust  thou  art  somewhat  amended 
in  thy  conditions,  thou  shalt  not  leave  my  house  at  this  hour, 
and  shalt  e'en  have  whatever  in  reason  you  list  to  call  for. 
But  I  would  I  knew  that  that  purse  of  thine,  which  thou 
vaporest  of,  were  as  well  come  by  as  it  seems  well  filled." 

"  Here  is  an  infidel  for  you,  my  good  neighbors! "  said 
Lambourne,  again  appealing  to  the  audience.  "  Here's  a  fel- 
low will  rip  up  his  kinsman's  follies  of  a  good  score  of  years' 
standing.  And  for  the  gold,  why,  sirs,  I  have  been  where  it 
grew,  and  was  to  be  had  for  the  gathering.  In  the  New 
World  have  I  been,  man — in  the  Eldorado,  where  urchins 
play  at  cherry-pit  with  diamonds,  and  country  wenches  thread 
rubies  for  necklaces,  instead  of  rowan-tree  berries;  where  the 
pantiles  are  made  of  pure  gold,  and  the  paving-stones  of 
virgin  silver." 

"  By  my  credit,  friend  Mike,"  said  young  Laurence  Gold- 
thred,  the  cutting  mercer  of  Abingdon,  "  that  were  a  likely 
coast  to  trade  to.  And  what  may  lawns,  cypruses,  and 
ribands  fetch  where  gold  is  so  plenty?  " 

"  Oh,  the  profit  were  unutterable,"  replied  Lambourne, 
**  especially  when  a  handsome  young  merchant  bears  the  pack 
himself;  for  the  ladies  of  that  clime  are  bona-robas,  and  being 
themselves  somewhat  sunburnt,  they  catch  fire  like  tinder  at 
a  fresh  complexion  like  thine,  with  a  head  of  hair  inclining  to 
be  red." 

"I  would  I  might  trade  thither,"  said  the  mercer,  chuckling. 

"  Why,  and  so  thou  mayst,"  said  Michael;  "  that  is,  if  thou 
art  the  same  brisk  boy  who  was  partner  with  me  at  robbing 
the  abbot's  orchard:  'tis  but  a  little  touch  of  alchemy  to  de- 
coct thy  house  and  land  into  ready  money,  and  that  ready 
money  into  a  tall  ship,  with  sails,  anchors,  cordage,  and  all 
things  conforming;  then  clap  thy  warehouse  of  goods  under 
hatches,  put  fifty  good  fellows  on  deck,  with  myself  to  com- 
mand them,  and  so  hoist  topsails,  and  hey  for  the  New 
World! " 

*^  Thou  hast  taught  him  a  secret,  kinsman,"  said  Giles  Gos- 
ling, *'  to  decoct,  an  that  be  the  word,  his  p'ound  into  a  penny, 
and  his  webs  into  a  thread.  Take  a  fool's  advice,  neighbor 
Goldthred.  Tempt  not  the  sea,  for  she  is  a  devourer.  Let 
cards  and  cockatrices  do  their  worst,  thy  father's  bales  may 
bide  a  banging  for  a  year  or  two,  ere  thou  comest  to  the  spital; 


8  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

but  the  sea  hath  a  bottomless  appetite:  she  would  swallow  the 
wealth  of  Lombard  Street  in  a  morning  as  easily  as  I  would  a 
poached  Qgg  and  a  cup  of  clary;  and  for  my  kinsman^s  Eldo- 
rado, never  trust  me  if  I  do  not  believe  he  has  found  it  in  the 
pouches  of  some  such  gulls  as  thyself.  But  take  no  snuff  in 
the  nose  about  it;  fall  to  and  welcome,  for  here  comes  the  sup- 
per, and  I  heartily  bestow  it  on  all  that  will  take  share,  in 
honor  of  my  hopeful  nephew's  return,  always  trusting  that 
he  has  come  home  another  man.  In  faith,  kinsman,  thou  art 
as  Hke  my  poor  sister  as  ever  was  son  to  mother.'' 

"  Not  quite  so  like  old  Benedict  Lambourne  her  husband, 
though,"  said  the  mercer,  nodding  and  winking.  "Dost  thou 
remember,  Mike,  what  thou  saidst  when  the  schoolmaster's 
ferule  was  over  thee  for  striking  up  thy  father's  crutches? 
*  It  is  a  wise  child,'  saidst  thou,  *  that  knows  its  own  father.' 
Dr.  Bricham  laughed  till  he  cried  again,  and  his  crying  saved 
yours." 

"  Well,  he  made  it  up  to  me  many  a  day  after,"  said  Lam- 
bourne; "  and  how  is  the  worthy  pedagogue?  " 

"  Dead,"  said  Giles  Gosling,  "  this  many  a  day  since." 

"  That  he  is,"  said  the  clerk  of  the  parish;  "  I  sat  by  his 
bed  the  whilst.  He  passed  away  in  a  blessed  frame,  '  Morior 
— mortuus  sum  vel  fui — mori ' — these  were  his  latest  words, 
and  he  just  added,  *  My  last  verb  is  conjugated.'  " 

"  Well,  peace  be  with  him,"  said  Mike,  "  he  owes  me  noth- 
ing." 

"  No,  truly,"  replied  Goldthred;  "  and  every  lash  which  he 
laid  on  thee,  he  always  was  wont  to  say,  he  spared  the  hang- 
man a  labor." 

"  One  would  have  thought  he  left  him  little  to  do  then," 
said  the  clerk;  "  and  yet  Goodman  Thong  had  no  sinecure  of 
it  with  our  friend,  after  all." 

"  Voto  a  Dios  I "  exclaimed  Lambourne,  his  patience  ap- 
pearing to  fail  him,  as  he  snatched  his  broad  slouched  hat 
from  the  table  and  placed  it  on  his  head,  so  that  the  shadow 
gave  the  sinister  expression  of  a  Spanish  bravo  to  eyes  and 
features  which  naturally  boded  nothing  pleasant.  "  Harkee, 
my  masters,  all  is  fair  among  friends,  and  under  the  rose,  and 
I  have  already  permitted  my  worthy  uncle  here,  and  all  of 
you,  to  use  your  pleasure  with  the  frolics  of  my  nonage.  But 
1  carry  sword  and  dagger,  my  good  friends,  and  can  use  them 
lightly  too  upon  occasion.  I  have  learned  to  be  dangerous 
upon  points  of  honor  ever  since  I  served  the  Spaniard,  and  I 
would  not  have  you  provoke  me  to  the  degree  of  falling  foul." 


KBNILWORTH.  t 

**  Why,  what  would  you  do?  "  said  the  clerk. 

"  Aye,  sir,  what  would  you  do?  "  said  the  mercer,  bustling 
up  on  the  other  side  of  the  table. 

"  Slit  your  throat  and  spoil  your  Sunday's  quavering,  sir 
clerk,"  said  Lamboume  fiercely;  '^  cudgel  you,  my  worshipful 
dealer  in  flimsy  sarsenets,  into  one  of  your  own  bales." 

"  Come — come,"  said  the  host,  interposing,  "  I  will  have  no 
swaggering  here.  Nephew,  it  will  become  you  best  to  show 
no  haste  to  take  offense;  and  you,  gentlemen,  will  do  well  to 
remember  that,  if  you  are  in  an  inn,  still  you  are  the  inn- 
keeperis  guests,  and  should  spare  the  honor  of  his  family.  I 
protest  your  silly  broils  make  me  as  oblivious  as  yourself;  for 
yonder  sits  my  silent  guest,  as  I  call  him,  who  hath  been  my 
two  days'  inmate,  and  hath  never  spoken  a  word,  save  to  ask 
for  his  food  and  his  reckoning;  gives  no  more  trouble  than  a 
very  peasant;  pays  his  shot  like  a  prince  royal;  looks  but  at 
the  sum  total  of  the  reckoning,  and  does  not  know  what  day 
he  shall  go  away.  Oh,  'tis  a  jewel  of  a  guest!  and  yet,  hang- 
dog that  I  am,  I  have  suffered  him  to  sit  by  himself  like  a 
castaway  in  yonder  obscure  nook,  without  so  much  as  asking 
him  to  take  bite  or  sup  along  with  us.  It  were  but  the  right 
guerdon  of  my  incivility  were  he  to  set  off  to  the  Hare  and 
Tabor  before  the  night  grows  older." 

With  his  white  napkin  gracefully  arranged  over  his  left 
arm,  his  velvet  cap  laid  aside  for  the  moment,  and  his  best  sil- 
ver flagon  in  his  right  hand,  mine  host  walked  up  to  the  soli- 
tary guest  whom  he  mentioned,  and  thereby  turned  upon  him 
the  eyes  of  the  assembled  company. 

He  was  a  man  aged  betwixt  twenty-five  and  thirty,  rather 
above  the  middle  size,  dressed  with  plainness  and  decency, 
yet  bearing  an  air  of  ease  which  almost  amounted  to  dignity, 
and  which  seemed  to  infer  that  his  habit  was  rather  beneath 
his  rank.  His  countenance  was  reserved  and  thoughtful, 
with  dark  hair  and  dark  eyes — the  last,  upon  any  momentary 
excitement,  sparkled  with  uncommon  luster,  but  on  other 
occasions  had  the  same  meditative  and  tranquil  cast  which 
was  exhibited  by  his  features.  The  busy  curiosity  of  the 
little  village  had  been  employed  to  discover  his  name  and 
quality,  as  well  as  his  business  at  Cumnor;  but  nothing  had 
transpired  on  either  subject  which  could  lead  to  its  gratifica- 
tion. Giles  Gosling,  head-borough  of  the  place,  and  a  steady 
friend  to  Queen  Elizabeth  and  the  Protestant  religion,  was  at 
one  time  inclined  to  suspect  his  guest  of  being  a  Jesuit,  or 
seminary  priest,  of  whom  Rome  and  Spain  sent  at  this  time  so 


10  WA  VBRLEY  NO  VEL8. 

many  to  grace  the  gallows  in  England.  But  it  was  scarce 
possible  to  retain  such,  a  prepossession  against  a  guest  who 
gave  so  Uttle  trouble,  paid  his  reckoning  so  regularly,  and 
who  proposed,  as  it  seemed,  to  make  a  considerable  stay  at 
the  bonny  Black  Bear. 

"Papists,"  argued  Giles  Gosling,  "are  a  pinching,  close- 
fisted  race,  and  this  man  would  have  found  a  lodging  with  the 
wealthy  squire  at  Bessellsley,  or  with  the  old  knight  at  Woot- 
ton,  or  in  some  other  of  their  Roman  dens,  instead  of  living 
in  a  house  of  public  entertainment,  as  every  honest  man  and 
good  Christian  should.  Besides,  on  Friday,  he  stuck  by  the 
salt  beef  and  carrot,  though  there  were  as  good  spitchcocked 
eels  on  the  board  as  ever  were  ta'en  out  of  the  Isis." 

Honest  Giles,  therefore,  satisfied  himself  that  his  guest  was 
no  Roman,  and  with  all  comely  courtesy  besought  the  stran- 
ger to  pledge  him  in  a  draught  of  the  cool  tankard,  and 
honor  with  his  attention  a  small  collation  which  he  was  giv- 
ing to  his  nephew  in  honor  of  his  return,  and,  as  he  verily 
hoped,  of  his  reformation.  The  stranger  at  first  shook  his 
head  as  if  declining  the  courtesy;  but  mine  host  proceeded  to 
urge  him  with  arguments  founded  on  the  credit  of  his  house, 
and  the  construction  which  the  good  people  of  Cumnor  might 
put  upon  such  an  unsocial  humor. 

"By  my  faith,  sir,"  he  said,  "it  touches  my  reputation 
that  men  should  be  merry  in  my  house,  and  we  have  ill 
tongues  amongst  us  at  Cumnor — as  where  be  there  not? — who 
put  an  evil  mark  on  men  who  pull  their  hat  over  their  brows 
as  if  they  were  looking  back  to  the  days  that  are  gone,  instead 
of  enjoying  the  blithe  sunshiny  weather  which  God  has  sent 
us  in  the  sweet  looks  of  our  sovereign  mistress.  Queen  EUza- 
beth,  whom  Heaven  long  bless  and  preserve! " 

"Why,  mine  host,"  answered  the  stranger,  "there  is  no 
treason,  sure,  in  a  man's  enjoying  his  own  thoughts  under  the 
shadow  of  his  own  bonnet?  You  have  lived  in  the  world 
twice  as  long  as  I  have,  and  you  must  know  there  are  thoughts 
that  will  haunt  us  in  spite  of  ourselves,  and  to  which  it  is  in 
vain  to  say,  '  Begone,  and  let  me  be  merry.' " 

"  By  my  sooth,"  answered  Giles  Gosling,  "  if  such  trouble- 
some thoughts  haunt  your  mind,  and  will  not  get  them  gone 
for  plain  English,  we  will  have  one  of  Father  Bacon's  pupils 
from  Oxford  to  conjure  them  away  with  logic  and  with  He- 
brew. Or,  what  say  you  to  laying  them  in  a  glorious  red  sea 
of  claret,  my  noble  guest?  Come,  sir,  excuse  my  freedom. 
I  am  an  old  host,  and  must  have  my  talk.     This  peevish  hu- 


KEmLWOBTS.  11 

mor  of  melancholy  sits  ill  upon  you:  it  suits  not  with  a  sleek 
boot,  a  hat  of  a  trim  block,  a  fresh  cloak,  and  a  full  purse.  A 
pize  on  it!  send  it  off  to  those  who  have  their  legs  swathed 
with  a  haywisp,  their  heads  thatched  with  a  felt  bonnet,  their 
jerkin  as  thin  as  a  cobweb,  and  their  pouch  without  ever  a 
cross  to  keep  the  fiend  Melancholy  from  dancing  in  it.  Cheer 
up,  sir!  or,  by  this  good  liquor,  we  will  banish  thee  from  the 
joys  of  blithesome  company  into  the  mists  of  melancholy  and 
the  land  of  little-ease.  Here  be  a  set  of  good  fellows  willing 
to  be  merry;  do  not  scowl  on  them  like  the  devil  looking  over 
Lincoln." 

"  You  say  well,  my  worthy  host,"  said  the  guest,  with  a 
melancholy  smile,  which,  melancholy  as  it  was,  gave  a  very 
pleasant  expression  to  his  countenance — "you  say  well,  my 
jovial  friend;  and  they  that  are  moody  like  myself  should  not 
disturb  the  mirth  of  those  who  are  happy.  I  will  drink  a 
round  with  your  guests  with  all  my  heart,  rather  than  be 
termed  a  mar-feast." 

So  saying,  he  arose  and  joined  the  company,  who,  encour- 
aged by  the  precept  and  example  of  Michael  Lamboume,  and 
consisting  chiefly  of  persons  much  disposed  to  profit  by  the 
opportunity  of  a  merry  meal  at  the  expense  of  their  landlord, 
had  already  made  some  inroads  upon  the  limits  of  temper- 
ance, as  was  evident  from  the  tone  in  which  Michael  inquired 
after  his  old  acquaintances  in  the  town,  and  the  bursts  of 
laughter  with  which  each  answer  was  received.  Giles  Gos- 
ling himself  was  somewhat  scandalized  at  the  obstreperous 
nature  of  their  mirth,  especially  as  he  involuntarily  felt  some 
reject  for  his  unknown  guest.  He  paused,  therefore,  at 
some  distance  from  the  table  occupied  by  these  noisy  revelers, 
and  began  to  make  a  sort  of  apology  for  their  license. 

"  You  would  think,"  he  said,  "  to  hear  these  fellows  talk, 
that  there  was  not  one  of  them  who  had  not  been  bred  to  live 
by  '  Stand  and  deliver ';  and  yet  to-morrow  you  will  find  them 
a  set  of  as  painstaking  mechanics,  and  so  forth,  as  ever  cut 
an  inch  short  of  measure,  or  paid  a  letter  of  change  in  light 
crowns  over  a  counter.  The  mercer  there  wears  his  hat  awry, 
over  a  shagged  head  of  hair,  that  looks  like  a  curly  water- 
dog's  back,  goes  unbraced,  wears  his  cloak  on  one  side,  and 
affects  a  ruffianly,  vaporing  humor;  when  in  his  shop  at 
Abingdon,  he  is,  from  his  flat  cap  to  his  glistening  shoes,  as 
precise  in  his  apparel  as  if  he  was  named  for  mayor.  He 
talks  of  breaking  parks,  and  taking  the  highway,  in  such 
fashion  that  you  would  think  he  haunted  every  night  betwixt 


la  WAVERLET  N0VEL8. 

Hounslow  and  London,  when  in  fact  he  may  be  found  sound 
asleep  on  his  feather-bed,  with  a  candle  placed  beside  him  on 
one  side,  and  a  Bible  on  the  other,  to  fright  away  the  goblins." 

"And  your  nephew,  mine  host — this  same  Michael  Lam- 
boume,  who  is  lord  of  the  feast — ^is  he  too  such  an  would-be 
ruffler  as  the  rest  of  them?  " 

"Why,  there  you  push  me  hard,"  said  the  host;  "my 
nephew  is  my  nephew,  and  though  he  was  a  desperate  Dick  of 
yore,  yet  Mike  may  have  mended  like  other  folks,  you  wot. 
And  I  would  not  have  you  think  all  I  said  of  him  even  now 
was  strict  gospel:  I  knew  the  wag  all  the  while,  and  wished  to 
pluck  his  plumes  from  him.  And  now,  sir,  by  what  name 
shall  I  present  my  worshipful  ^est  to  these  gallants?  " 

"  Marry,  mine  host,"  replied  the  stranger,  "  you  may  call 
me  Tressilian." 

"  Tressilian!  "  answered  mine  host  of  the  Bear,  "  a  worthy 
name,  and,  as  I  think,  of  Cornish  lineage;  for  what  says  the 
south  proverb: 

*«  By  Pol,  Tre,  and  Pen, 
You  may  know  the  Cornish  men. 

Shall  I  say  the  worthy  Mr.  Tressilian  of  Cornwall?  " 

"  Say  no  more  than  I  have  given  you  warrant  for,  mine 
host,  and  so  shall  you  be  sure  you  speak  no  more  than  is  true. 
A  man  may  have  one  of  those  honorable  prefixes  to  his  name, 
yet  be  born  far  from  St.  Michael's  Mount." 

Mine  host  pushed  his  curiosity  no  farther,  but  presented 
Mr.  Tressilian  to  his  nephew's  company,  who,  after  exchange 
of  salutations,  and  drinking  to  the  health  of  their  new  com- 
panion, pursued  the  conversation  in  which  he  found  them  en- 
gaged, seasoning  it  with  many  an  intervening  pledge. 


CHAPTER  n. 

Talk  you  of  young  Master  Lancelot  ? 

—Merchant  of  Venice. 

After  some  brief  interval,  Master  Goldthred,  at  the  ear- 
nest instigation  of  mine  host,  and  the  joyous  concurrence  of 
his  guests,  indulged  the  company  with  the  following  morsel 
of  melody: 

"  Of  all  the  bird!  on  bnsh  or  tree, 

Commend  me  to  the  owl, 
Since  he  may  best  ensample  be 

To  those  the  cup  that  trowl. 
For  when  the  sun  hath  left  the  west, 
He  chooses  the  tree  that  he  loves  the  best. 
And  he  whoops  out  his  song,  and  he  laughs  at  hii  j«ii  \ 
Then  though  hours  be  late,  and  weather  foul, 
We'll  drink  to  the  health  of  the  bonny,  bonny  owL 

"  The  lark  is  but  a  bumpkin  fowl, 
He  sleeps  in  his  nest  till  morn  ; 
But  my  blessing  upon  the  jolly  owl, 
That  all  night  blows  his  horn. 
Then  up  with  your  cup  till  you  stagger  in  speech, 
And  match  me  this  catch  till  you  swagger  and  screech, 
And  drink  till  you  wink,  my  merry  men  each  ; 
For  though  hours  be  late,  and  weather  be  foul, 
We'll  drink  to  the  health  of  the  bonny,  bonny  owl." 

"  There  is  savor  in  this,  my  hearts,"  said  Michael,  when  the* 
mercer  had  finished  his  song,  "  and  some  goodness  seems  left 
among  you  yet;  but  what  a  bead-roll  you  have  read  me  of  old 
comrades,  and  to  every  man's  name  tacked  some  ill-omened 
motto!  And  so  Swashing  Will  of  Wallingford  hath  bid  us 
good-night?  " 

"  He  died  the  death  of  a  fat  buck,"  said  one  of  the  party, 
'^  being  shot  with  a  cross-bow  bolt,  by  old  Thatcham,  the 
Duke's  stout  park-keeper  at  Donnington  Castle." 

"  Aye,  aye,  he  always  loved  venison  well,"  replied  Michael, 
"  and  a  cup  of  claret  to  boot;  and  so  here's  one  to  his  memory. 
Do  me  right,  my  masters." 

When  the  memory  of  this  departed  worthy  had  been  duly 
honored,  Lambourne  proceeded  to  inquire  after  Prance  of 
Padworth. 

"Pranced  off — ^made  immortal  ten  years  since,"  said  the 

11 


14  ^A  VEBLEY  NO  VELS, 

mercer;  '*  marry,  sir,  Oxford  Castle  and  Goodman  Thong,  and 
a  tenpenny-worth  of  cord,  best  know  how." 

"What,  so  they  hung  poor  Prance  high  and  dry?  So  much 
for  loving  to  walk  by  moonlight!  A  cup  to  his  memory,  my 
masters;  all  merry  fellows  like  moonlight.  What  has  become 
of  Hal  with  the  Plume?  he  who  lived  near  Yattendon,  and 
wore  the  long  feather — I  forget  his  name." 

"What,  Hal  Hempseed?"  replied  the  mercer,  "why,  you 
may  remember  he  was  a  sort  of  a  gentleman,  and  would 
meddle  in  state  matters,  and  so  he  got  into  the  mire  about  the 
Duke  of  Norfolk's  affair  these  two  or  three  years  since,  fled 
the  country  with  a  pursuivant's  warrant  at  his  heels,  and  has 
never  since  been  heard  of." 

"  Nay,  after  these  balks,"  said  Michael  Lambourne,  "  I 
need  hardly  inquire  after  Tony  Foster;  for  when  ropes,  and 
cross-bow  shafts,  and  pursuivants'  warrants,  and  such-like 
gear  were  so  rife,  Tony  could  hardly  'scape  them." 

"  Which  Tony  Foster  mean  you?  "  said  the  innkeeper. 

"Why,  he  they  called  Tony  Fire-the-Fagot,  because  he 
brought  a  light  to  kindle  the  pile  round  Latimer  and  Eidley, 
when  the  wind  blew  out  Jack  Thong's  torch,  and  no  man  else 
would  give  him  light  for  love  or  money." 

"  Tony  Foster  lives  and  thrives,"  said  the  host.  "  But, 
kinsman,  I  would  not  have  you  call  him  Tony  Fire-the-Fagot 
if  you  would  not  brook  the  stab." 

"How!  is  he  grown  ashamed  on't?"  said  Lambourne, 
"  why,  he  was  wont  to  boast  of  it,  and  say  he  liked  as  well  to 
see  a  roasted  heretic  as  a  roasted  ox." 

"  Aye,  but,  kinsman,  that  was  in  Mary's  time,"  replied  the 
landlord,  "  when  Tony's  father  was  reeve  here  to  the  abbot  of 
Abingdon.  But  since  that,  Tony  married  a  pure  precisian, 
and  is  as  good  a  Protestant,  I  warrant  you,  as  the  best." 

"  And  looks  grave,  and  holds  his  head  high,  and  scorns  his 
old  companions,"  said  the  mercer. 

"  Then  he  hath  prospered,  I  warrant  him,"  said  Lam- 
bourne; "  for  ever  when  a  man  hath  got  nobles  of  his  own  he 
keeps  out  of  the  way  of  those  whose  exchequers  lie  in  other 
men's  purchase." 

"  Prospered,  quotha!  "  said  the  mercer;  "why,  you  remem- 
ber Cumnor  Place,  the  old  mansion-house  beside  the  church- 
yard?" 

"By  the  same  token,  I  robbed  the  orchard  three  times — 
what  of  that?  It  was  the  old  abbot's  residence  when  there 
was  plague  or  sickness  at  Abingdon." 


KEmLWORTH. 


IS 


'*  Aye/*  said  the  host,  '^  but  that  has  been  long  over;  and 
Anthony  Foster  hath  a  right  in  it,  and  lives  there  by  some 
grant  from  a  great  courtier,  who  had  the  church  lands  from 
the  crown;  and  there  he  dwells,  and  has  as  little  to  do  with 
any  poor  wight  in  Cumnor  as  if  he  were  himself  a  belted 
knight." 

"Nay,"  said  the  mercer,  "it  is  not  altogether  pride  in 
Tony  neither:  there  is  a  fair  lady  in  the  case,  and  Tony  will 
scarce  let  the  light  of  day  look  on  her." 

"  How! "  said  Tressilian,  who  now  for  the  first  time  inter- 
fered in  their  conversation,  "  did  ye  not  say  this  Foster  was 
married,  and  to  a  precisian?  " 

"  Married  he  was,  and  to  as  bitter  a  precisian  as  ever  eat 
flesh  in  Lent;  and  a  cat-and-dog  life  she  led  with  Tony,  as 
men  said.  But  she  is  dead,  rest  be  with  her,  and  Tony  hath 
but  a  slip  of  a  daughter;  so  it  is  thought  he  means  to  wed 
this  stranger,  that  men  keep  such  a  coil  about." 

"And  why  so?  I  mean,  why  do  they  keep  a  coil  about 
her?  "  said  Tressilian. 

"Why,  I  wot  not,"  answered  the  host,  "except  that  men 
say  she  is  as  beautifuras  an  angel,  and  no  one  knows  whence 
she  comes,  and  everyone  wishes  to  know  why  she  is  kept  so 
closely  mewed  up.  For  my  part,  I  never  saw  her;  you  have, 
I  think,  Master  Goldthred?" 

"  That  I  have,  old  boy,"  said  the  mercer.  "  Look  you,  I 
was  riding  hither  from  Abingdon — I  passed  under  the  east 
oriel  windows  of  the  old  mansion,  where  all  the  old  saints  and 
histories  and  such-like  are  painted.  It  was  not  the  common 
path  I  took,  but  one  through  the  park;  for  the  postern  door 
was  upon  the  latch,  and  I  thought  I  might  take  the  privilege 
of  an  old  comrade  to  ride  across  through  the  trees,  both  for 
shading,  as  the  day  was  somewhat  hot,  and  for  avoiding  of 
dust,  because  I  had  on  my  peach-colored  doublet,  pinked  out 
with  cloth  of  gold." 

"Which  garment,"  said  Michael  Lamboume,  "thou 
wouldst  willingly  make  twinkle  in  the  eyes  of  a  fair  dame. 
Ah,  villain!  thou  wilt  never  leave  thy  old  tricks." 

"  Not  so — not  so,"  said  the  mercer,  with  a  smirking  laugh 
— "not  altogether  so;  but  curiosity,  thou  knowest,  and  a 
strain  of  compassion  withal,  for  the  poor  young  lady  sees 
nothing  from  mom  to  even  but  Tony  Foster,  with  his  scowl- 
ing black  brows,  his  bull's  head,  and  his  bandy  legs." 

"  And  thou  wouldst  willingly  show  her  a  dapper  body,  in 
A  silken  jerkin;  a  limb  Uke  a  short-legged  hen's,  in  a  cordovan 


W  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

boot;  and  a  round,  simpering,  what-d'ye  lack  sort  of  a  coun- 
tenance, set  off  with  a  velvet  bonnet,  a  Turkey  feather,  and  a 
gilded  brooch?  Ah,  jolly  mercer!  they  who  have  good  wares 
are  fond  to  show  them!  Come,  gentles,  let  not  the  cup  stand 
— here's  to  long  spurs,  short  boots,  full  bonnets,  and  empty 
skulls! " 

"  Nay,  now  you  are  jealous  of  me,  Mike,"  said  Goldthred; 
*'  and  yet  my  luck  was  but  what  might  have  happened  to  thee, 
or  any  man." 

"  Marry,  confound  thine  impudence,"  retorted  Lamboume; 
"thou  wouldst  not  compare  thy  pudding  face  and  sarsenet 
manners  to  a  gentleman  and  a  soldier?  " 

"  Nay,  my  good  sir,"  said  Tressihan,  "  let  me  beseech  you 
will  not  interrupt  the  gallant  citizen;  methinks  he  tells  his 
tale  so  well,  I  could  hearken  to  him  till  midnight." 

"It's  more  of  your  favor  than  of  my  desert,"  answered 
Master  Goldthred;  "but  since  I  give  you  pleasure,  worthy 
Master  Tressilian,  I  shall  proceed,  mauger  all  the  gibes  and 
quips  of  this  valiant  soldier,  who,  peradventure,  hath  had 
more  cuffs  than  crowns  in  the  Low  Countries.  And  so,  sir, 
as  I  passed  under  the  great  painted  window,  leaving  my  rein 
loose  on  my  ambling  palfrey's  neck,  partly  for  mine  ease,  and 
partly  that  I  might  have  the  more  leisure  to  peer  about,  I 
hears  me  the  lattice  open;  and  never  credit  me,  sir,  if  there 
did  not  stand  there  the  person  of  as  fair  a  woman  as  ever 
crossed  mine  eyes;  and  I  think  I  have  looked  on  as  many 
pretty  wenches,  and  with  as  much  judgment,  as  other  folks." 

"  May  I  ask  her  appearance,  sir?  "  said  Tressilian. 

"  Oh,  sir,"  replied  Master  Goldthred,  "  I  promise  you,  she 
was  in  gentlewoman's  attire — a  very  quaint  and  pleasing 
dress,  that  might  have  served  the  Queen  herself;  for  she  had  a 
forepart  with  body  and  sleeves,  of  ginger-colored  satin,  which, 
in  my  judgment,  must  have  cost  by  the  yard  some  thirty  shil- 
lings, lined  with  murrey  taffeta,  and  laid  down  and  guarded 
with  two  broad  laces  of  gold  and  silver.  And  her  hat,  sir, 
was  truly  the  best-fashioned  thing  that  I  have  seen  in  these 
parts,  being  of  tawny  taffeta,  embroidered  with  scorpions  of 
Venice  gold,  and  having  a  border  garnished  with  gold  fringe 
— I  promise  you,  sir,  an  absolute  and  all-surpassing  device. 
Touching  her  skirts,  they  were  in  the  old  pass-devant 
fashion." 

"  I  did  not  ask  you  of  her  attire,  sir,"  said  Tressilian,  who 
had  shown  some  impatience  during  this  conversation,  "  but  of 
^ejr  complexion,  the  cplor  of  her  hair,  her  features," 


KBNILWORTH.  11 

"  Touching  her  complexioii/'  answered  the  mercer,  '*  I  am 
not  so  special  certain;  but  I  marked  that  her  fan  had  an  ivory 
handle,  curiously  inlaid;  and  then,  again,  as  to  the  color  of 
her  hair,  why,  I  can  warrant,  he  its  hue  what  it  might,  that 
she  wore  above  it  a  net  of  green  silk,  parcel  twisted  with  gold." 

"  A  most  mercer-like  memory,"  said  Lambourne:  "  the  gen- 
tleman asks  him  of  the  lady's  beauty,  and  he  talks  of  her  fine 
clothes! " 

"  I  tell  thee,''  said  the  mercer,  somewhat  disconcerted,  "  I 
had  little  time  to  look  at  her;  for  just  as  I  was  about  to  give 
her  the  good  time  of  day,  and  for  that  purpose  had  puckered 
my  features  with  a  smile " 

^'  Like  those  of  a  jackanape  simpering  at  a  chestnut,"  said 
Michael  Lambourne. 

— "  Up  started  of  a  sudden,"  continued  Goldthred,  without 
heeding  the  interruption,  "  Tony  Foster  himself,  with  a  cud- 
gel in  his  hand " 

"And  broke  thy  head  across,  I  hope,  for  thine  imperti- 
nence," said  his  entertainer. 

"  That  were  more  easily  said  than  done,"  answered  Gold' 
thred,  indignantly;  "  no,  no — there  was  no  breaking  of  heads; 
it's  true,  he  advanced  his  cudgel,  and  spoke  of  lajdng  on,  and 
asked  why  I  did  not  keep  the  public  road,  and  such-like;  and 
I  would  have  knocked  him  over  the  pate  handsomely  for  his 
pains,  only  for  the  lady's  presence,  who  might  have  swooned, 
for  what  I  know." 

"  Now,  out  upon  thee  for  a  faint-spirited  slave!  "  said  Lam- 
bourne; "  what  adventurous  knight  ever  thought  of  the  lady's 
terror  when  he  went  to  thwack  giant,  dragon,  or  magician  in 
her  presence,  and  for  her  deliverance?  But  why  talk  to  thee 
of  dragons,  who  would  be  driven  back  by  a  dragon-fly? 
There  thou  hast  missed  the  rarest  opportunity! " 

"  Take  it  thyself  then,  bully  Mike,"  answered  Goldthred. 
"Yonder  is  the  enchanted  manor,  and  the  dragon,  and  the 
lady,  all  at  thy  service,  if  thou  darest  venture  on  them." 

"  Why,  so  I  would  for  a  quartern  of  sack,"  said  the  soldier. 
"  Or,  stay — I  am  foully  out  of  linen — wilt  thou  bet  a  piece  of 
Hollands  against  these  five  angels  that  I  go  not  to  the  hall 
to-morrow  and  force  Tony  Foster  to  introduce  me  to  his  fair 
guest?" 

"I  accept  your  wager,"  said  the  mercer;  "and  I  think, 
though  thou  hadst  even  the  impudence  of  the  devil,  I  shall 
gain  on  thee  this  bout.  Our  landlord  here  shall  hold  stakes, 
and  I  will  stake  down  gold  till  I  send  the  linen." 


18  WA  VERLEY  NO  VEL8. 

"I  will  hold  stakes  on  no  such  matter,"  said  Gosling. 
"  Good  now,  my  kinsman,  drink  your  wine  in  quiet,  and  let 
such  ventures  alone.  I  promise  you.  Master  Foster  hath 
interest  enough  to  lay  you  up  in  lavender  in  the  castle  at  Ox- 
ford, or  to  get  your  legs  made  acquainted  with  the  town- 
stocks." 

"  That  would  be  but  renewing  an  old  intimacy;  for  Mike's 
shins  and  the  town's  wooden  pinfold  have  been  vjell  known  to 
each  other  ere  now,"  said  the  mercer;  "  but  he  shall  not  budge 
from  his  wager,  unless  he  means  to  pay  forfeit." 

"  Forfeit!  "  said  Lambourne;  "  I  scorn  it.     I  value  Tony 

Foster's  wrath  no  more  than  a  shelled  pea-cod;  and  I  will  visit 

his  Lindabrides,  by  St.  George,  be  he  willing  or  no! " 

^  "  I  would  gladly  pay  your  halves  of  the  risk,  sir,"  said  Tres- 

silian,  "  to  be  permitted  to  accompany  you  on  the  adventure." 

"  In  what  would  that  advantage  you,  sir?  "  answered  Lam- 
boume. 

"In  nothing,  sir,"  said  Tressilian,  "unless  to  mark  the 
skill  and  valor  with  which  you  conduct  yourself.  I  am  a 
traveler,  who  seeks  for  strange  rencounters  and  uncommon 
passages,  as  the  knights  of  yore  did  after  adventures  and  feats 
of  arms." 

"  Nay,  if  it  pleasures  you  to  see  a  trout  tickled,"  answered 
Lambourne,  "  I  care  not  how  many  witness  my  skill.  And 
so  here  I  drink  success  to  my  enterprise;  and  he  that  will  not 
pledge  me  on  his  knees  is  a  rascal,  and  I  will  cut  his  legs  off 
by  the  garters! " 

The  draught  which  Michael  Lambourne  took  upon  this 
occasion  had  been  preceded  by  so  many  others  that  reason 
tottered  on  her  throne.  He  swore  one  or  two  incoherent 
oaths  at  the  mercer,  who  refused,  reasonably  enough,  to 
pledge  him  to  a  sentiment  which  inferred  the  loss  of  his  own 
wager. 

"  Wilt  thou  chop  logic  with  me,"  said  Lambourne,  "  thou 
knave,  with  no  more  brains  than  are  in  a  skein  of  raveled 
silk?  By  Heaven,  I  will  cut  thee  into  fifty  yards  of  galloon 
lace! " 

But,  as  he  attempted  to  draw  his  sword  for  this  doughty 
purpose,  Michael  Lambourne  was  seized  upon  by  the  tapster 
and  the  chamberlain,  and  conveyed  to  his  own  apartment, 
there  to  sleep  himself  sober  at  his  leisure. 

The  party  then  broke  up,  and  the  guests  took  their  leave; 
much  more  to  the  contentment  of  mine  host  than  of  some  of 
the  company,  who  were  unwilling  to  quit' good  Liquor,  when 


KENILWORTH.  1« 

it  was  to  be  had  for  free  cost,  so  long  as  they  were  able  to  sit 
by  it.  They  were,  however,  compelled  to  remove;  and  go  at 
length  they  did,  leaving  Gosling  and  Tressilian  in  the  empty 
apartment. 

"  By  my  faith,''  said  the  former;  "  I  wonder  where  our 
great  folks  find  pleasure,  when  they  spend  their  means  in 
entertainments,  and  in  playing  mine  host  without  sending  in 
a  reckoning.  It  is  what  I  but  rarely  practice;  and  whenever 
I  do,  by  St.  Julian,  it  grieves  me  beyond  measure.  Each  of 
these  empty  stoups  now,  which  my  nephew  and  his  drunken 
comrades  have  swilled  off,  should  have  been  a  matter  of  profit 
to  one  in  my  line,  and  I  must  set  them  down  a  dead  loss.  I 
cannot,  for  my  heart,  conceive  the  pleasure  of  noise,  and  non- 
sense, and  drunken  freaks,  and  drunken  quarrels,  and  smut, 
and  blasphemy,  and  so  forth,  when  a  man  loses  money  instead 
of  gaining  by  it.  And  yet  many  a  fair  estate  is  lost  in  up- 
holding such  an  useless  course,  and  that  greatly  contributes 
to  the  decay  of  publicans;  for  who  the  devil  do  you  think 
would  pay  for  drink  at  the  Black  Bear,  when  he  can  have  it 
for  nothing  at  my  lord's  or  the  squire's?  " 

Tressilian  perceived  that  the  wine  had  made  some  impres- 
sion even  on,  the  seasoned  brain  of  mine  host,  which  was 
chiefiy  to  be  inferred  from  his  declaiming  against  drunken- 
ness. As  he  himself  had  carefully  avoided  the  bowl,  he 
would  have  availed  himself  of  the  frankness  of  the  moment 
to  extract  from  Gosling  some  further  information  upon  the 
subject  of  Anthony  Foster,  and  the  lady  whom  the  mercer 
had  seen  in  his  mansion-house;  but  his  inquiries  only  set  the 
host  upon  a  new  theme  of  declamation  against  the  wiles  of 
the  fair  sex,  in  which  he  brought,  at  full  length,  the  whole 
wisdom  of  Solomon  to  re-enforce  his  own.  Finally,  he 
turned  his  admonitions,  mixed  with  much  objurgation,  upon 
his  tapsters  and  drawers,  who  were  employed  in  removing  the 
relics  of  the  entertainment  and  restoring  order  to  the  apart- 
ment; and  at  length,  joining  example  to  precept,  though  with 
no  good  success,  he  demolished  a  salver  with  half  a  score  of 
glasses,  in  attempting  to  show  how  such  service  was  done  at 
the  Three  Cranes,  in  the  Vintry,  then  the  most  topping  tavern 
in  London.  This  last  accident  so  far  recalled  him  to  his 
better  self  that  he  retired  to  his  bed,  slept  sound,  and  awoke 
a  new  man  in  the  morning. 


CHAPTER  III. 

Nay,  I'll  hold  touch,  the  game  shall  be  play'd  out : 
It  ne'er  shall  stop  for  me,  this  merry  wager. 
That  which  I  say  when  gamesome,  I'll  avouch 
In  my  most  sober  mood,  ne'er  trust  me  else. 

—  The  Hazard  Table. 

**  And  how  doth  your  kinsman,  good  mine  host? "  said 
Tressilian,  when  Giles  Gosling  first  appeared  in  the  public 
room,  on  the  morning  following  the  revel  which  we  described 
in  the  last  chapter.  "  Is  he  well,  and  will  he  abide  by  his 
wager?  " 

"  For  well,  sir,  he  started  two  hours  since,  and  has  visited 
I  know  not  what  purlieus  of  his  old  companions;  hath  but 
now  returned,  and  is  at  this  instant  breakfasting  on  new-laid 
egga  and  muscadine;  and  for  his  wager,  I  caution  you  as  a 
friend  to  have  little  to  do  with  that,  or  indeed  with  aught  that 
Mike  proposes.  Wherefore,  I  counsel  you  to  a  warm  break- 
fast upon  a  culiss,  which  shall  restore  the  tone  of  the  stomach; 
and  let  my  nephew  and  Master  Goldthred  swagger  about  their 
wager  as  they  list." 

"It  seems  to  me,  mine  host,"  said  Tressilian,  "that  you 
know  not  well  what  to  say  about  this  kinsman  of  yours;  and 
that  you  can  neither  blame  nor  commend  him  without  some 
twinge  of  conscience." 

"  You  have  spoken  truly.  Master  Tressilian,"  replied  Giles 
Gosling.  "  There  is  natural  affection  whimpering  into  one 
ear, '  Giles — Giles,  why  wilt  thou  take  away  the  good  name  of 
thy  own  nephew?  Wilt  thou  defame  thy  sister's  son,  Giles 
Gosling? — wilt  thou  defoul  thine  own  nest,  dishonor  thine 
own  blood?'  And  then,  again,  comes  justice,  and  says, 
*  Here  is  a  worthy  guest  as  ever  came  to  the  bonny  Black 
Bear;  one  who  never  challenged  a  reckoning — as  I  say  to  your 
face  you  never  did.  Master  Tressilian — not  that  you  have  had 
cause — one  who  knows  not  why  he  came,  so  far  as  I  can  see, 
or  when  he  is  going  away;  and  wilt  thou,  being  a  publican, 
having  paid  scot  and  lot  these  thirty  years  in  the  town  of 
Cumnor,  and  being  at  this  instant  head-borough — wilt  thou 
suffer  this  guest  of  guests,  this  man  of  men,  this  six-hooped 
pot,  as  I  may  say,  of  a  traveler,  to  fall  into  the  meshes  of  thy 


KENILWORTH.  21 

nephew,  who  is  known  for  a  swasher  and  a  desperate  Dick,  a 
carder  and  a  dicer,  a  professor  of  the  seven  damnable  sciences, 
if  ever  man  took  degrees  in  them? '  No,  by  Heaven!  I  might 
wink,  and  let  him  catch  such  a  small  butterfly  as  Goldthred; 
but  thou,  my  guest,  shalt  be  forewarned,  so  thou  wilt  but 
listen  to  thy  trusty  host." 

"  Why,  mine  host,  thy  counsel  shall  not  be  cast  away,'^  re- 
plied Tressilian;  "  however,  I  must  uphold  my  share  in  this 
wager,  having  once  passed  my  word  to  that  effect.  But  lend 
me,  I  pray,  some  of  thy  counsel.  This  Foster,  who  or  what 
is  he,  and  why  makes  he  such  mystery  of  his  female  inmate?  " 

"  Troth,''  replied'  Gosling,  "  I  can  add  but  little  to  what 
you  heard  last  night.  He  was  one  of  Queen  Mary's  Papists, 
and  now  he  is  one  of  Queen  Elizabeth's  Protestants;  he  was 
an  onhanger  of  the  abbot  of  Abingdon,  and  now  he  lives  as 
master  of  the  manor-house.  Above  all,  he  was  poor  and  is 
rich.  Folk  talk  of  private  apartments  in  his  old  waste  man- 
sion-house bedizened  fine  enough  to  serve  the  Queen,  God 
bless  her!  Some  men  think  he  found  a  treasure  in  the 
orchard,  some  that  he  sold  himself  to  the  devil  for  treasure, 
and  some  say  that  he  cheated  the  abbot  out  of  the  church 
plate  which  was  hidden  in  the  old  manor-house  at  the  Eefor- 
mation.  Eich,  however,  he  is,  and  God  and  his  conscience, 
with  the  devil  perhaps,  besides,  only  know  how  he  came  by  it. 
He  has  sulky  "ways  too,  breaking  off  intercourse  with  all  that 
are  of  the  place,  as  if  he  had  either  some  strange  secret  to 
keep  or  held  himself  to  be  made  of  another  clay  than  we  are. 
I  think  it  likely  my  kinsman  and  he  will  quarrel,  if  Mike 
thrust  his  acquaintance  on  him;  and  I  am  sorry  that  you,  my 
worthy  Master  Tressilian,  will  still  think  of  going  in  my 
nephew's  company." 

Tressilian  again  answered  him,  that  he  would  proceed  with 
great  caution,  and  that  he  should  have  no  fears  on  his  ac- 
count; in  short,  he  bestowed  on  him  all  the  customary 
assurances  with  which  those  who  are  determined  on  a  rash 
action  are  wont  to  parry  the  advice  of  their  friends. 

Meantime,  the  traveler  accepted  the  landlord's  invitation, 
and  had  just  finished  the  excellent  breakfast  which  was 
served  to  him  and  Gosling  by  pretty  Cicely,  the  beauty  of  the 
bar,  when  the  hero  of  the  preceding  night,  Michael  Lam- 
boume,  entered  the  apartment.  His  toilet  had  apparently 
cost  him  some  labor,  for  his  clothes,  which  differed  from  those 
he  wore  on  his  journey,  were  of  the  newest  fashion,  and  put 
on  with  great  attention  to  the  display  of  his  person. 


88  WAVEBLEY  NOVELS. 

"  By  my  faith,  uncle/'  said  the  gallant,  "  you  made  a  wet 
night  of  it,  and  I  feel  it  followed  by  a  dry  morning.  I  will 
pledge  you  willingly  in  a  cup  of  bastard.  How,  my  pretty 
coz,  Cicely!  why,  I  left  you  but  a  child  in  the  cradle,  and 
there  thou  stand'st  in  thy  velvet  waistcoat,  as  tight  a  girl  as 
England's  sun  shines  on.  Know  thy  friends  and  kindred. 
Cicely,  and  come  hither,  child,  that  I  may  kiss  thee,  and  give 
thee  my  blessing." 

"  Concern  not  yourself  about  Cicely,  kinsman,"  said  Giles 
Gosling,  "but  e'en  let  her  go  her  way,  a'  God's  name;  for 
although  your  mother  were  her  father's  sister,  yet  that  shall 
not  make  you  and  her  cater-cousins." 

"  Why,  uncle,"  replied  Lamboume,  "  think'st  thou  I  am  an 
infidel,  and  would  harm  those  of  mine  own  house?  " 

"  It  is  for  no  harm  that  I  speak,  Mike,"  answered  his  uncle, 
"but  a  simple  humor  of  precaution  which  I  have.  True, 
thou  art  as  well  gilded  as  a  snake  when  he  casts  his  old  slough 
in  the  spring  time;  but  for  all  that,  thou  creepest  not  into  my 
Eden.  I  will  look  after  mine  Eve,  Mike,  and  so  content  thee. 
But  how  brave  thou  be'st,  lad!  To  look  on  thee  now,  and 
compare  thee  with  Master  Tressilian  here,  in  his  sad-colored 
riding-suit,  who  would  not  say  that  thou  wert  the  real  gentle- 
man and  he  the  tapster's  boy?  " 

"  Troth,  uncle,"  replied  Lamboume,  "  no  one  would  say 
BO  but  one  of  your  country-breeding,  that  knows  no  better.  I 
will  say,  and  I  care  not  who  hears  me,  there  is  something 
about  the  real  gentry  that  few  men  come  up  to  that  are  not 
bom  and  bred  to  the  mystery.  I  wot  not  where  the  trick 
lies;  but  although  I  can  enter  an  ordinary  with  as  much  au- 
dacity, rebuke  the  waiters  and  drawers  as  loudly,  drink  as 
deep  a  health,  swear  as  round  an  oath,  and  fling  my  gold  as 
freely  about  as  any  of  the  jingling  spurs  and  white  feathers 
that  are  around  me;  yet  hang  me  if  I  can  ever  catch  the  true 
grace  of  it,  though  I  have  practiced  an  hundred  times.  The 
man  of  the  house  sets  me  lowest  at  the  board,  and  carves  to 
me  the  last;  and  the  drawer  says,  ^  Coming,  friends,'  without 
any  more  reverence  or  regardful  addition.  But,  hang  it,  let 
it  pass;  care  killed  a  cat.  I  have  gentry  enough  to  pass  the 
trick  on  Tony  Fire-the-Fagot,  and  that  will  do  for  the  matter 
in  hand." 

"You  hold  your  purpose,  then,  of  visiting  your  old  ac- 
quaintance?" said  Tressilian  to  the  adventurer. 

"Aye,  sir,"  replied  Lamboume:  "When  stakes  are  made, 
the  game  must  be  played;  that  is  gamester's  law  all  over  the 


KENILWOBTH. 


%% 


world.  You,  sir,  unless  my  memory  fails  me,  for  I  did  steep 
it  somewhat  too  deeply  in  the  sack-butt,  took  some  share  in 
my  hazard? '' 

^^I  propose  to  accompany  you  in  your  adventure,"  said 
Tressilian,  "  if  you  will  do  me  so  much  grace  as  to  permit  me; 
and  I  have  staked  my  share  of  the  forfeit  in  the  hands  of  our 
worthy  host." 

"  That  he  hath,"  answered  Giles  Gosling,  "  in  as  fair  Harry 
nobles  as  ever  were  melted  into  sack  by  a  good  fellow.  So, 
luck  to  your  enterprise,  since  you  will  needs  venture  on  Tony 
Foster;  but,  by  my  credit,  you  had  better  take  another 
draught  before  you  depart,  for  your  welcome  at  the  hall  yon- 
der will  be  somewhat  of  the  driest.  And  if  you  do  get  into 
peril,  beware  of  taking  to  cold  steel;  but  send  for  me,  Giles 
Gosling,  the  head-borough,  and  I  may  be  able  to  make  some- 
thing out  of  Tony  yet,  for  as  proud  as  he  is." 

The  nephew  dutifully  obeyed  his  uncle's  hint,  by  taking  a 
second  powerful  pull  at  the  tankard,  observing,  that  his  wit 
never  served  him  so  well  as  when  he  had  washed  his  temples 
with  a  deep  morning's  draught;  and  they  set  forth  together 
for  the  habitation  of  Anthony  Foster. 

The  village  of  Cumnor  is  pleasantly  built  on  a  hill,  and  in 
a  wooded  park"  closely  adjacent  was  situated  the  ancient  man- 
sion occupied  at  this  time  by  Anthony  Foster,  of  which  the 
ruins  may  be  still  extant.  The  park  was  then  full  of  large 
trees,  and  in  particular  of  ancient  and  mighty  oaks,  which 
stretched  their  giant  arms  over  the  high  wall  surrounding  the 
demesne,  thus  giving  it  a  melancholy,  secluded,  and  monastic 
appearance.  The  entrance  to  the  park  lay  through  an  old- 
fashioned  gateway  in  the  outer  wall,  the  door  of  which  was 
formed  of  two  huge  oaken  leaves,  thickly  studded  with  nails, 
like  the  gate  of  an  old  town. 

"We  shall  be  finely  holped  up  here,"  said  Michael  Lam- 
bourne,  looking  at  the  gateway  and  gate,  "if  this  fellow's 
suspicious  humor  should  refuse  us  admission  altogether,  as 
it  is  like  he  may,  in  case  this  linsey-wolsey  fellow  of  a  mer- 
cer's visit  to  his  premises  has  disquieted  him.  But,  no,"  he 
added,  pushing  the  huge  gate,  which  gave  way,  "the  door 
stands  invitingly  open;  and  here  we  are  within  the  forbidden 
ground,  without  other  impediment  than  the  passive  resistance 
of  a  heavy  oak  door,  moving  on  rusty  hinges." 

They  stood  now  in  an  avenue  overshadowed  by  such  old 
trees  as  we  have  described,  and  which  had  been  bordered  at 
one  time  by  high  hedges  of  yew  and  holly.     But  these,  hav- 


U  WAVERLET  NOVELS 

ing  been  untrimmed  for  many  years,  had  run  up  into  great 
bushes,  or  rather  dwarf  trees,  and  now  encroached,  with  their 
dark  and  melancholy  boughs,  upon  the  road  which  they  once 
had  screened.  The  avenue  itself  was  grown  up  with  grass, 
and  in  one  or  two  places  interrupted  by  piles  of  withered 
brushwood,  which  had  been  lopped  from  the  trees  cut  down 
in  the  neighboring  park,  and  was  here  stacked  for  drying. 
Formal  walks  and  avenues,  which,  at  different  points,  crossed 
this  principal  approach,  were  in  like  manner  choked  up  and 
interrupted  by  piles  of  brushwood  and  billets,  and  in  other 
places  by  underwood  and  brambles.  Besides  the  general 
effect  of  desolation  which  is  so  strongly  impressed,  whenever 
we  behold  the  contrivances  of  man  wasted  and  obliterated  by 
neglect  and  witness  the  marks  of  social  life  effaced  gradually 
by  the  influence  of  vegetation,  the  size  of  the  trees  and  the 
outspreading  extent  of  their  boughs  diffused  a  gloom  over  the 
scene,  even  when  the  sun  was  at  the  highest,  and  made  a  pro- 
portional impression  on  the  mind  of  those  who  visited  it. 
This  was  felt  even  by  Michael  Lamboume,  however  alien  his 
habits  were  to  receiving  any  impressions,  excepting  from 
things  which  addressed  themselves  immediately  to  his 
passions. 

"  This  wood  is  as  dark  as  a  wolfs  mouth,'^  said  he  to  Tres- 
silian,  as  they  walked  together  slowly  along  the  solitary  and 
broken  approach,  and  had  just  come  in  sight  of  the  monastic 
front  of  the  old  mansion,  with  its  shafted  windows,  brick 
walls  overgrown  with  ivy  and  creeping  shrubs,  and  twisted 
stalks  of  chimneys  of  heavy  stonework.  "  And  yet,"  con- 
tinued Lamboume,  "  it  is  fairly  done  on  the  part  of  Foster 
too;  for,  since  he  chooses  not  visitors,  it  is  right  to  keep  his 
place  in  a  fashion  that  will  invite  few  to  trespass  upon  his 
privacy.  But  had  he  been  the  Anthony  I  once  knew  him, 
these  sturdy  oaks  had  long  since  become  the  property  of 
some  honest  woodmonger,  and  the  manor-close  here  .had 
looked  lighter  at  midnight  than  it  now  does  at  noon,  while 
Foster  played  fast  and  loose  with  the  price  in  some  cunning 
comer  in  the  purlieus  of  Whitefriars." 

"  Was  he  then  such  an  unthrift?  "  asked  Tressilian. 

"  He  was,"  answered  Lambourne,  "  like  the  rest  of  us,  no 
saint,  and  no  saver.  But  what  I  liked  worst  of  Tony  was, 
that  he  loved  to  take  his  pleasure  by  himself,  and  grudged,  as 
men  say,  every  drop  of  water  that  went  past  his  own  mill.  I 
have  known  him  deal  with  such  measures  of  wine  when  he 
wiw  alone  as  I  would  not  have  ventured  on  with  aid  of  the  beat 


KENILWORTH. 


d5 


toper  in  Berkshire;  that,  and  some  sway  toward  superstition, 
which  he  had  by  temperament,  rendered  him  unworthy  the 
company  of  a  good  fellow.  And  now  he  has  earthed  himself 
here  in  ?.  den  just  befitting  such  a  sly  fox  as  himself." 

"  May  I  ask  you.  Master  Lambourne,"  said  Tressilian, 
"  since  your  old  companion's  humor  jumps  so  little  with  your 
own,  wherefore  you  are  so  desirous  to  renew  acquaintance 
with  him?  " 

"And  may  I  ask  you,  in  return.  Master  Tressilian,"  an- 
swered Lamboume,  "  wherefore  you  have  shown  yourself  so 
desirous  to  accompany  me  on  this  party?  " 

"  I  told  you  my  motive,"  said  Tressilian,  "  when  I  took 
share  in  your  wager:  it  was  simple  curiosity." 

*'Xa  you  there  now! "  answered  Lamboume.  "  See  how 
you  civil  and  discreet  gentlemen  think  to  use  us  who  live  by 
the  free  exercise  of  our  wits!  Had  I  answered  your  question 
by  saying  that  it  was  simple  curiosity  which  led  me  to  visit 
my  old  comrade,  Anthony  Foster,  I  warrant  you  had  set  it 
down  for  an  evasion  and  a  turn  of  my  trade.  But  any  an- 
swer, I  suppose,  must  serve  my  turn." 

"  And  wherefore  should  not  bare  curiosity,"  said  Tressilian, 
"  be  a  sufficient  reason  for  my  taking  this  walk  with  you?  " 

"  Oh,  content  yourself,  sir,"  replied  Lamboume;  "  you  can- 
not put  the  change  on  me  so  easy  as  you  think,  for  I  have 
lived  among  the  quick-stirring  spirits  of  the  age  too  long  to 
swallow  chaff  for  grain.  You  are  a  gentleman  of  birth  and 
breeding — your  bearing  makes  it  good;  of  civil  habits  and  fair 
reputation — your  manners  declare  it,  and  my  uncle  avouches 
it;  and  yet  you  associate  yourself  with  a  sort  of  scant-of-grace, 
as  men  call  me;  and,  knowing  me  to  be  such,  you  make  your- 
self my  companion  in  a  visit  to  a  man  whom  you  are  a  stran- 
ger to — and  all  out  of  mere  curiosity,  forsooth!  The  excuse, 
ii  curiously  balanced,  would  be  found  to  want  some  scruples 
of  just  weight  or  so." 

"  If  your  suspicions  were  just,"  said  Tressilian,  "  you  have 
shown  no  confidence  in  me  to  invite  or  deserve  mine." 

"Oh,  if  that  be  all,"  said  Lamboume,  "my  motives  lie 
above  water.  While  this  gold  of  mine  la^,"  taking  out  his 
purse,  chucking  it  into  the  air,  and  catching  it  as  it  fell,  "  I 
will  make  it  buy  pleasure,  and  when  it  is  out,  I  must  have 
more.  Naw,  if  this  mysterious  Lady  of  the  Manor — ^this  fair 
Lindabrides  of  Tony  F^re-the-Fagot — ^be  so  admirable  a  piece 
as  men  say,  why,  there  is  chance  that  she  may  aid  me  to  melt 
my  nobles  into  groats;  and,  again,  if  Anthony  be  so  wealthy 


26  WA  YERLBT  NO  TEL8. 

a  chuff  as  report  speaks  him,  he  may  prove  the  philosopher's 
stone  to  me,  and  convert  my  groats  into  fair  rose  nobles 
again." 

"A  comfortable  proposal  truly,"  said  Tressilian;  "but  I 
see  not  what  chance  there  is  of  accomplishing  it." 

"Not  to-day,  or  perchance  to-morrow,"  answered  Lam- 
bourne:  "  I  expect  not  to  catch  the  old  jack  till  I  have  dis- 
posed my  ground-baits  handsomely.  But  I  know  something 
more  of  his  affairs  this  morning  than  I  did  last  night,  and  I 
will  so  use  my  knowledge  that  he  shall  think  it  more  perfect 
than  it  is.  Nay,  without  expecting  either  pleasure  or  profit, 
or  both,  I  had  not  stepped  a  stride  within  this  manor,  I  can 
tell  you;  for  I  promise  you  I  hold  our  visit  not  altogether 
without  risk.  But  here  we  are,  and  we  must  make  the  best 
on't." 

While  he  thus  spoke,  they  had  entered  a  large  orchard 
which  surrounded  the  house  on  two  sides,  though  the  trees, 
abaadoned  by  the  care  of  man,  were  overgrown  and  mossy, 
and  seemed  to  bear  little  fruit.  Those  which  had  been  for- 
merly trained  as  espaliers  had  now  resumed  their  natural 
mode  of  growing,  and  exhibited  grotesque  forms,  partaMng  of 
the  original  training  which  they  had  received.  The  greater 
part  of  the  ground,  which  had  once  been  parterres  and  flower 
gardens,  was  suffered  in  like  manner  to  run  to  waste,  except- 
ing a  few  patches  which  had  been  dug  up,  and  planted  with 
ordinary  pot  herbs.  Some  statues,  which  had  ornamented 
the  garden  in  its  days  of  splendor,  were  now  thrown  down 
from  their  pedestals  and  broken  in  pieces,  and  a  large  summer 
house,  having  a  heavy  stone  front,  decorated  with  carving, 
representing  the  life  and  actions  of  Samson,  was  in  the  same 
dilapidated  condition. 

They  had  just  traversed  this  garden  of  the  sluggard,  and 
were  within  a  few  steps  of  the  door  of  the  mansion,  when 
Lambourne  had  ceased  speaking — a  circumstance  very  agree- 
able to  Tressilian,  as  it  saved  him  the  embarrassment  of  either 
commenting  upon  or  replying  to  the  frank  avowal  which  his 
companion  had  just  made  of  the  sentiments  and  views  which 
induced  him  to  come  hither.  Lambourne  knocked  roundly 
and  boldly  at  the  huge  door  of  the  mansion,  observing,  at  the 
same  time,  he  had  seen  a  less  strong  one  upon  a  county  jail. 
It  was  not  until  they  had  knocked  more  than  once  that  an 
aged,  sour-visaged  domestic  reconnoitered  them  through  a 
small  square  hole  in  the  door,  well  secured  with  bars  of  iron, 
and  demanded  what  they  wanted. 


KENILWOBTB,  K^  27 

"  To  speak  with  Master  Foster  instantly,  on  pressing  busi- 
ness of  the  state,"  was  the  ready  reply  of  Michael  Lambourne. 

"  Methinks  you  will  find  difficulty  to  make  that  good,"  said 
Tressilian  in  a  whisper  to  his  companion,  while  the  servant 
went  to  carry  the  message  to  his  master. 
.  "  Tush,"  replied  the  adventurer;  "  no  soldier  would  go  on 
were  he  always  to  consider  when  and  how  he  should  come  off. 
Let  us  once  obtain  entrance,  and  all  will  go  well  enough." 

In  a  short  time  the  servant  returned,  and  drawing  with  a 
careful  hand  both  bolt  and  bar,  opened  the  gate,  which  ad- 
mitted them  through  an  archway  into  a  square  court,  sur- 
rounded by  buildings.  Opposite  to  the  arch  was  another 
door,  which  the  serving-man  in  like  manner  unlocked,  and 
thus  introduced  them  into  a  stone-paved  parlor,  where  there 
was  but  little  furniture,  and  that  of  the  rudest  and  most  an- 
eient  fashion.  The  windows  were  tall  and  ample,  reaching 
almost  to  the  roof  of  the  room,  which  was  composed  of  black 
oak;  those  opening  to  the  quadrangle  were  obscured  by  the 
height  of  the  surrounding  buildings,  and,  as  they  were  trav- 
ersed with  massive  shafts  of  solid  stonework,  and  thickly 
painted  with  religious  devices  and  scenes  taken  from  Scrip- 
ture history,  by  no  means  admitted  light  in  proportion  to 
their  size;  and  what  did  penetrate  through  them  partook  of 
the  dark  and  gloomy  tinge  of  the  stained  glass. 

Tressilian  and  his  guide  had  time  enough  to  observe  all 
these  particulars,  for  they  waited  some  space  in  the  apartment 
ere  the  present  master  of  the  mansion  at  length  made  his  ap- 
pearance. Prepared  as  he  was  to  see  an  inauspicious  and  ill- 
looking  person,  the  ugliness  of  Anthony  Foster  considerably 
exceeded  what  Tressilian  had  anticipated.  He  was  of  middle 
stature,  built  strongly,  but  so  clumsily  as  to  border  on  de- 
formity, and  to  give  all  his  motions  the  ungainly  awkward- 
ness of  a  left-legged  and  left-handed  man.  His  hair,  in  ar- 
ranging which  men  at  that  time,  as  at  present,  were  very  nice 
and  curious,  instead  of  being  carefully  cleaned  and  disposed 
into  short  curls,  or  else  set  up  on  end,  as  is  represented  in  old 
paintings,  in  a  manner  resembling  that  used  by  fine  gentle- 
men of  our  own  day,  escaped  in  sable  negligence  from  under 
a  furred  bonnet,  and  hung  in  elf-locks,  which  seemed  stran- 
gers to  the  comb,  over  his  rugged  brows,  and  around  his  very 
singular  and  unprepossessing  countenance.  His  keen  dark 
eyes  were  deep  set  beneath  broad  and  shaggy  eyebrows,  and 
as  they  were  usually  bent  on  the  ground,  seemed  as  if  they 
were  themselves  ashamed  of  the  expression  natural  to  them. 


28  WAVEBLET  NOVELS, 

and  were  desirous  to  conceal  it  from  the  observation  of  men. 
At  times,  however,  when,  more  intent  on  observing  others, 
he  suddenly  raised  them,  and  fixed  them  keenly  on  those  with 
whom  he  conversed,  they  seemed  to  express  both  the  fiercer 
passions  and  the  power  of  mind  which  could  at  will  suppress 
or  disgidse  the  intensity  of  inward  feeling.  The  features 
which  corresponded  with  these  eyes  and  this  form  were 
irregular,  and  marked  so  as  to  be  indelibly  fixed  on  the  mind 
of  him  who  had  once  seen  them.  Upon  the  whole,  as  Tres- 
fidlian  could  not  help  acknowledging  to  himself,  the  Anthony 
Foster  who  now  stood  before  them  was  the  last  person,  judg- 
ing from  personal  appearance,  upon  whom  one  would  have 
chosen  to  intrude  an  unexpected  and  undesired  visit.  His 
attire  was  a  doublet  of  russet  leather,  like  those  worn  by  the 
better  sort  of  country  folk,  girt  with  a  buff  belt,  in  which  was 
stuck  on  the  right  side  a  long  knife,  or  dudgeon  dagger,  and 
on  the  other  a  cutlass.  He  raised  his  eyes  as  he  entered  the 
room,  and  fixed  a  keenly  penetrating  glance  upon  his  two 
visitors,  then  cast  them  down  as  if  counting  his  steps,  while 
he  advanced  slowly  into  the  middle  of  the  room,  and  said,  in 
a  low,  smothered  tone  of  voice,  "  Let  me  pray  you,  gentlemen, 
to  tell  me  the  cause  of  this  visit." 

He  looked  as  if  he  expected  the  answer  from  Tressilian;  so 
true  was  Lamboume's  observation,  that  the  superior  air  of 
breeding  and  dignity  shone  through  the  disguise  of  an  in- 
ferior dress.  But  it  was  Michael  who  replied  to  him,  with 
the  easy  familiarity  of  an  old  friend,  and  a  tone  which  seemed 
unembarrassed  by  any  doubt  of  the  most  cordial  reception. 

"  Ha!  my  dear  friend  and  ingle,  Tony  Foster! "  he  ex- 
claimed, seizing  upon  the  unwilling  hand,  and  shaking  it  with 
such  emphasis  as  almost  to  stagger  the  sturdy  frame  of  the 
person  whom  he  addressed;  "  how  fares  it  with  you  for  many 
a  long  year?  What!  have  you  altogether  forgotten  your 
friend,  gossip,  and  playfellow,  Michael  Lamboume?" 

"  Michael  Lamboume! ''  said  Foster,  looking  at  him  a  mo- 
ment; then  dropping  his  eyes,  and  with  little  ceremony  extri- 
cating his  hand  from  the  friendly  grasp  of  the  person  by 
whom  he  was  addressed — "  are  you  Michael  Lamboume?  " 

"Aye,  sure  as  you  are  Anthony  Foster,"  replied  Lamboume. 

"  "Tis  well,"  answered  his  sullen  host;  "  and  what  may 
Michael  Lamboume  expect  from  his  visit  hither?  " 

"  Voto  a  Dios,*'  answered  Lamboume,  "  I  expected  a  better 
welcome  than  I  am  like  to  meet,  I  think." 

"Why,  thou  gallows-bird— thou  jail-rat — thou  friend  of 


KENILWORTK  a9 

the  hangman  and  his  customers/'  replied  Foster,  "  hast  thou 
the  assurance  to  expect  countenance  from  anyone  whose  neck 
is  beyond  the  compass  of  a  Tybum  tippet?  " 

"  It  may  be  with  me  as  you  say,"  replied  Lamboume;  "  and 
suppose  I  grant  it  to  be  so  for  argument's  sate,  I  were  still 
good  enough  society  for  mine  ancient  friend  Anthony  Fire- 
the-Fagot,  though  he  be,  for  the  present,  by  some  indescriba- 
ble title,  the  master  of  Cumnor  Place." 

"  Hark  you,  Michael  Lamboume,"  said  Foster;  "  you  are  a 
gambler  now,  and  live  by  the  counting  of  chances.  Compute 
me  the  odds  that  I  do  not,  on  this  instant,  throw  you  out  of 
that  window  into  the  ditch  there." 

"Twenty  to  one  that  you  do  not,"  answered  the  sturdy 
visitor. 

"And  wherefore,  I  pray  you?"  demanded  Anthony  Fos- 
ter, setting  his^eeth  and  compressing  his  lips,  like  one  who 
endeavors  to  suppress  some  violent  internal  emotion. 

"  Because,"  said  Lamboume  coolly,  "  you  dare  not  for  your 
life  lay  a  finger  on  me.  I  am  younger  and  stronger  than  you, 
and  have  in  me  a  double  portion  of  the  fighting  devil,  though 
not,  it  may  be,  quite  so  much  of  the  undemiimng  fiend,  that 
finds  an  underground  way  to  his  purpose,  who  hides  halters 
under  folks'  pillows,  and  who  puts  ratsbane  into  their  por- 
ridge, as  the  stage-play  says." 

Foster  looked  at  him  earnestly,  then  turned  away,  and 
paced  the  room  twice,  with  the  same  steady  and  considerate 
pace  with  which  he  had  entered  it;  then  suddenly  came  back, 
and  extended  his  hand  to  Michael  Lamboume,  saying,  "Be 
not  wroth  with  me,  ^ood  Mike;  I  did  but  try  whether  thou 
hadst  parted  with  aught  of  thine  old  and  honorable  frankness, 
which  your  enviers  and  backbiters  called  saucy  impudence." 

"Let  them  call  it  what  they  will,"  said  Michael  Lam- 
boume, "it  is  the  commodity  we  must  carry  through  the 
world  with  us.  Uds  daggers!  I  tell  thee,  man,  mine  own 
stock  of  assurance  was  too  small  to  trade  upon:  I  was  fain  to 
take  in  a  ton  or  two  more  of  brass  at  every  port  where  I 
touched  in  the  voyage  of  life;  and  I  started  overboard  what 
modesty  and  scmples  I  had  remaining,  in  order  to  make  room 
for  the  stowage." 

"Nay,  nay,"  replied  Foster,  "touching  scruples  and 
modesty,  you  sailed  hence  in  ballast.  But  who  is  this  gallant, 
honest  Mike?    Is  he  a  Corinthian — a  cutter  like  thyself?" 

"  I  prithee,  know  Master  Tressilian,  bully  Foster,"  replied 
Lamboume,  presenting  his  friend  in  answer  to  his  friend's 


30  WA7EBLET  NOVELS. 

question — ''  I  know  him  and  honor  him,  for  he  is  a  gentleman 
of  many  admirable  qualities;  and  though  he  traffics  not  in  my 
line  of  business,  at  least  so  far  as  I  know,  he  has,  nevertheless, 
a  just  respect  and  admiration  for  artists  of  our  class.  He 
will  come  to  in  time,  as  seldom  fails;  but  as  yet  he  is  only  a 
neophyte,  only  a  proselyte,  and  frequents  the  company  of 
cocks  of  the  game,  as  a  puny  fencer  does  the  schools  of  the 
masters,  to  see  how  a  foil  is  handled  by  the  teachers  of 
defense.'^ 

"  If  such  be  his  quality,  I  will  pray  your  company  in  an- 
other chamber,  honest  Mike,  for  what  I  have  to  say  to  thee  is 
for  thy  private  ear.  Meanwhile,  I  pray  you,  sir,  to  abide  us 
in  this  apartment,  and  without  leaving  it:  there  be  those  in 
this  house  who  would  be  alarmed  by  the  sight  of  a  stranger."  * 

Tres'silian  acquiesced,  and  the  two  worthies  left  the  apart- 
ment together,  in  which  he  remained  alone  to  await  their 
return. 

*See  Foster,  Lamboarne,  snd  the  Black  Bear.    N«te  %. 


CHAPTEE   IV. 

Not  serve  two  masters  ?    Here's  a  youth  will  try  it- 
Would  fain  serve  God,  yet  give  the  devil  his  due  ; 
Says  grace  before  he  doth  a  deed  of  villainy, 
And  returns  his  thanks  devoutly  when  'tis  acted. 

—Old  Play. 

The  room  into  which  the  master  of  Cumnor  Place  con^ 
ducted  his  worthy  visitant  was  of  greater  extent  than  that  in 
which  they  had  at  first  conversed,  and  had  yet  more  the  ap- 
pearance of  dilapidation.  Large  oaken  presses,  filled  with 
shelves  of  the  same  wood,  surrounded  the  room,  and  had,  at 
one  time,  served  for  the  arrangement  of  a  numerous  collec- 
tion of  books,  many  of  which  yet  remained,  but  torn  and  de- 
faced, covered  with  dust,  deprived  of  their  costly  clasps  and 
bindings,  and  tossed  together  in  heaps  upon  the  shelves,  as 
things  altogether  disregarded,  and  abandoned  to  the  pleasure 
of  every  spoiler.  The  very  presses  themselves  seemed  to  have 
incurred  the  hostility  of  those  enemies  of  learning,  who  ha^ 
destroyed  the  volumes  with  which  they  had  been  heretofore 
filled.  They  were,  in  several  places,  dismantled  of  their 
shelves,  and  otherwise  broken  and  damaged,  and  were,  more- 
over, mantled  with  cobwebs  and  covered  with  dust. 

"  The  men  who  wrote  these  books,"  said  Lambourne,  look- 
ing round  him,  "  little  thought  whose  keeping  they  were  to 
fall  into." 

''Nor  what  yeoman's  service  they  were  to  do  me,"  quoth 
Anthony  Foster:  "  the  cook  hath  used  them  for  scouring  his 
pewter,  and  the  groom  hath  had  nought  else  to  clean  my 
boots  with  this  many  a  month  past." 

"  And  yet,"  said  Lambourne,  "  I  have  been  in  cities  where 
such  learned  commodities  would  have  been  deemed  too  good 
for  such  offices." 

"Pshaw — pshaw,"  answered  Foster,  "they  are  Popish 
trash  every  one  of  them — private  studies  of  the  mumping  old 
abbot  of  Abingdon.  The  nineteenthly  of  a  pure  Gospel  ser- 
mon were  worth  a  cartload  of  such  riings  of  the  kennel  of 
Rome." 

"  Gad-a-mercy,  Master  Tony  Fire-the-Fagot! "  said  Lam- 
bourne, by  way  of  reply. 

Foster  scowled  darkly  at  him,  as  he  replied,  "  Hark  ye. 


32  WAmJRLEY  NOVELL. 

friend  Mike;  forget  that  name,  and  the  passage  which  it  re- 
lates to,  if  you  would  not  have  our  newly-revived  comradeship 
die  a  sudden  and  a  violent  death." 

"  Why,"  said  Michael  Lambourne,  "  you  were  wont  to  glory 
in  the  share  you  had  in  the  death  of  the  two  old  heretical 
bishops." 

"  That,"  said  his  comrade,  *'  was  while  I  was  in  the  gall  of 
bitterness  and  bond  of  iniquity,  and  applies  not  to  my  walk 
or  my  ways  now  that  I  am  called  forth  into  the  lists.  Mr. 
Melchisedek  Maultext  compared  my  misfortune  in  that  mat- 
ter to  that  of  the  Apostle  Paul,  who  kept  the  clothes  of  the 
witnesses  who  stoned  St.  Stephen.  He  held  forth  on  the 
matter  three  Sabbaths  past,  and  illustrated  the  same  by  the 
conduct  of  an  honorable  person  present,  meaning  me." 

"I  prithee  peace,  Foster,"  said  Lambourne;  "for,  I  know 
not  how  it  is,  I  have  a  sort  of  creeping  comes  over  my  skin 
when  I  hear  the  devil  quote  Scripture;  and  besides,  man,  how 
couldst  thou  have  the  heart  to  quit  that  convenient  old  re- 
ligion, which  you  could  slip  off  or  on  as  easily  as  your  glove? 
Do  I  not  remember  how  you  were  wont  to  carry  your  con- 
science to  confession,  as  duly  as  the  month  came  round?  and 
when  thou  hadst  it  scoured  and  burnished,  and  whitewashed 
by  the  priest,  thou  wert  ever  ready  for  the  worst  villainy  which 
could  be  devised,  like  a  child  who  is  always  readiest  to 
rush  into  the  mire  when  he  has  got  his  Sunday's  clean 
jerkin  on." 

"  Trouble  not  thyself  about  my  conscience,"  said  Foster, 
"  it  is  a  thing  thou  canst  not  understand,  having  never  had 
one  of  thine  own.  But  let  us  rather  to  the  point,  and  say  to 
me,  in  one  word,  what  is  thy  business  with  me,  and  what 
hopes  have  drawn  thee  hither?  " 

"  The  hope  of  bettering  myself,  to  be  sure,"  answered  Lam- 
bourne, "  as  the  old  woman  said,  when  she  leapt  over  the 
bridge  at  Kingston.  Look  you,  this  purse  has  all  that  is  left 
of  as  round  a  sum  as  a  man  would  wish  to  carry  in  his  slop- 
pouch.  You  are  here  well  established,  it  would  seem,  and, 
as  I  think,  well  befriended,  for  men  talk  of  thy  being  under 
some  special  protection;  nay,  stare  not  like  a  pig  that  is  stuck, 
man,  thou  canst  not  dance  in  a  net  and  they  not  see  thee? 
Now  I  know  such  protection  is  not  purchased  for  nought: 
you  must  have  services  to  render  for  it,  and  in  these  I  pro- 
pose to  help  thee." 

"But  how  if  I  lack  no  assistance  from  thee,  Mike?  J 
think  thy  modesty  might  suppose  that  were  a  case  possible." 


KENILWORTB,  88 

**  That  is  to  say/'  retorted  Lambourne,  "  that  you  would 
engross  the  whole  work  rather  than  divide  the  reward;  but  be 
not  over-greedy,  Anthony.  Covetousness  bursts  the  sack  and 
spills  the  grain.  Look  you,  when  the  huntsman  goes  to  kill 
a  sfeg,  he  takes  with  him  more  dogs  than  one.  He  has  the 
stanch  lyme-hound  to  track  the  wounded  buck  over  hill  and 
dale,  but  he  hath  also  the  fleet  gaze-hound  to  kill  him  at  view. 
Thou  art  the  lyme-hound,  I  am  the  gaze-hound,  and  thy 
patron  will  need  the  aid  of  both,  and  can  well  afford  to  re- 
quite it.  Thou  hast  deep  sagacity,  an  unrelenting  purpose, 
a  steady,  long-breathed  malignity  of  nature,  that  surpasses 
mine.  But  then  I  am  the  bolder,  the  quicker,  the  more 
ready,  both  at  action  and  expedient.  Separate,  our  properties 
are  not  so  perfect;  but  unite  them,  and  we  drive  the  world 
before  us.     How  sayst  thou,  shall  we  hunt  in  couples?  " 

"  It  is  a  currish  proposal,  thus  to  thrust  thyself  upon  my 
private  matters,"  replied  Foster;  "  but  thou  wert  ever  an  ill- 
nurtured  whelp." 

"  You  shall  have  no  cause  to  say  so,  unless  you  spurn  my 
courtesy,"  said  Michael  Lambourne;  "but  if  so,  keep  thee 
well  from  me,  sir  knight,  as  the  romance  has  it.  I  will  either 
share  your  counsels  or  traverse  them;  for  I  have  come  here  to 
be  busy,  either  with  thee  or  against  thee." 

"  Well,"  said  Anthony  Foster,  "  since  thou  dost  leave  me  so 
fair  a  choice,  I  will  rather  be  thy  friend  than  thine  enemy. 
Thou  art  right:  I  can  prefer  thee  to  the  service  of  a  patron 
who  has  enough  of  means  to  make  us  both  and  an  hundred 
more.  And,  to  say  truth,  thou  art  well  qualified  for  his 
service.  Boldness  and  dexterity  he  demands — the  justice- 
books  bear  witness  in  thy  favor;  no  starting  at  scruples  in  his 
service — why,  who  ever  suspected  thee  of  a  conscience?  an 
assurance  he  must  have  who  would  follow  a  courtier — and 
thy  brow  is  as  impenetrable  as  a  Milan  visor.  There  is  but 
one  thing  I  would  fain  see  amended  in  thee." 

"And  what  is  that,  my  most  precious  friend  Anthony?" 
rephed  Lambourne;  "  for  I  swear  by  the  pillow  of  the  Seven 
Sleepers,  I  will  not  be  slothful  in  amending  it." 

J' Why,  you  gave  a  sample  of  it  even  now,"  said  Foster. 
"  Your  speech  twangs  too  much  of  the  old  stamp,  and  you 
garnish  it  ever  and  anon  with  singular  oaths,  that  savor  of 
Papistry.  Besides,  your  exterior  man  is  altogether  too  de- 
boshed  and  irregular  to  become  one  of  his  lordship's  fol- 
lowers, since  he  has  a  reputation  to  keep  up  in  the  eye  of  the 
world.     You  must  somewhat  reform  your  dress,  upon  a  more 


94  WAVBRLBT  NOVELS. 

grave  and  composed  fashion;  wear  your  cloak  on  both  shoul- 
ders, and  your  falling  band  unrumpled  and  well  starched. 
You  must  enlarge  the  brim  of  your  beaver,  and  diminish  the 
superfluity  of  your  trunk-hose;  go  to  church,  or,  which  will 
be  better,  to  meeting,  at  least  once  a  month;  protest  only  upon 
your  faith  and  conscience;  lay  aside  your  swashing  look,  and 
never  touch  the  hilt  of  your  sword  but  when  you  would  draw 
the  carnal  weapon  in  good  earnest." 

"By  this  light,  Anthony,  thou  art  mad,"  answered  Lam- 
bourne,  "  and  hast  described  rather  the  gentleman-usher  to  a 
Puritan's  wife  than  the  follower  of  an  ambitious  courtier! 
Yes,  such  a  thing  as  thou  wouldst  make  of  me  should  wear  a 
book  at  his  girdle  instead  of  a  poniard,  and  might  just  be  sus- 
pected of  manhood  enough  to  squire  a  proud  dame-citizen  to 
the  lecture  at  St.  Antonlin's,  and  quarrel  in  her  cause  with 
any  flat-capp'd  threadmaker  that  would  take  the  wall  of  her. 
He  must  ruffle  it  in  another  sort  that  would  walk  to  court  in 
a  nobleman's  train." 

*'  Oh,  content  you,  sir,"  replied  Foster,  "  there  is  a  change 
since  you  knew  the  English  world;  and  there  are  those  who 
can  hold  their  way  through  the  boldest  courses,  and  the  most 
secret,  and  yet  never  a  swaggering  word,  or  an  oath,  or  a  pro- 
fane word  in  their  conversation." 

"  That  is  to  say,"  replied  Lamboume,  "  they  are  in  a  trad- 
ing copartnery  to  do  the  devil's  business  without  mentioning 
his  name  in  the  firm?  Well,  I  will  do  my  best  to  counterfeit, 
rather  than  lose  ground  in  this  new  world,  since  thou  sayest 
it  is  grown  so  precise.  But,  Anthony,  what  is  the  name 
of  this  nobleman,  in  whose  service  I  am  to  turn  hypo- 
crite?" 

"  Aha,  Master  Michael!  are  you  there  with  your  bears?  " 
said  Foster,  with  a  grim  smile;  "  and  is  this  the  knowledge 
you  pretend  of  my  concernments?  How  know  you  now  there 
is  such  a  person  in  rerum  natura,  and  that  I  have  not  been 
putting  a  jape  upon  you  all  this  time?  " 

"  Thou  put  a  jape  on  me,  thou  sodden-brained  gull?  "  an- 
swered Lamboume,  nothing  daunted;  "  why,  dark  and  muddy 
as  thou  think'st  thyself,  I  would  engage  in  a  day's  space  to 
see  as  clear  through  thee  and  thy  concernments,  as  thou 
call'st  them,  as  through  the  filthy  horn  of  an  old  stable 
lantern." 

At  this  moment  their  conversation  was  interrupted  by  a 
scream  from  the  next  apartment. 

"  By  the  holy  cross  of  Abingdon,"  exclaimed  Anthony 


KEmLWOBTH. 


S5 


Foster,  forgetting  his  Protestanism  in  his  alarm,  "I  am  a 
ruined  man! " 

So  saying,  he  rushed  into  the  apartment  whence  the 
scream  issued,  followed  by  Michael  Lambourne.  But  to  ac- 
count for  the  sounds  which  interrupted  their  conversation  it 
is  necessary  to  recede  a  little  way  in  our  narrative. 

It  has  been  already  observed  that,  when  Lambourne  accom- 
panied Foster  into  the  library,  they  left  Tressilian  alone  in 
the  ancient  parlor.  His  dark  eye  followed  them  forth  of  the 
apartment  with  a  glance  of  contempt,  a  part  of  which  his 
mind  instantly  transferred  to  himself,  for  having  stooped  to 
be  even  for  a  moment  their  familiar  companion.  "  These 
are  the  associates,  Amy" — it  was  thus  he  communed  with 
himself — "to  which  thy  cruel  levity,  thine  unthinking  and 
most  unmerited  falsehood,  has  condemned  him  of  whom  his 
friends  once  hoped  far  other  things,  and  who  now  scorns  him- 
self, as  he  will  be  scorned  by  others,  for  the  baseness  he  stoops 
to  for  the  love  of  thee!  But  I  will  not  leave  the  pursuit  of 
thee,  once  the  object  of  my  purest  and  most  devoted  affection, 
though  to  me  thou  canst  henceforth  be  nothing  but  a  thing 
to  weep  over.  I  will  save  thee  from  thy  betrayer  and  from 
thyself.  I  will  restore  thee  to  thy  parents — ^to  thy  God.  I 
cannot  bid  the  bright  star  again  sparkle  in  the  sphere  it  has 
shot  from,  but " 

A  slight  noise  in  the  apartment  interrupted  his  reverie;  he 
looked  round,  and  in  the  beautiful  and  richly-attired  female 
who  entered  at  that  instant  by  a  side  door  he  recognized  the 
object  of  his  search.  The  first  impulse  arising  from  this  dis- 
covery urged  him  to  conceal  his  face  with  the  collar  of  his 
cloak,  until  he  should  find  a  favorable  moment  of  making 
himself  known.  But  his  purpose  was  disconcerted  by  the 
young  lady  (she  was  not  above  eighteen  years  old),  who  ran 
joyfully  toward  him,  and,  pulling  him  by  the  cloak,  said 
playfully,  "  Nay,  my  sweet  friend,  after  I  have  waited  for  you 
so  long,  you  come  not  to  my  bower  to  play  the  masquer. 
You  are  arraigned  of  treason  to  true  love  and  fond  affection; 
and  you  must  stand  up  at  the  bar  and  answer  it  with  face  un- 
covered— ^how  say  you,  guilty  or  not?  " 

"  Alas,  Amy! "  said  Tressilian,  in  a  low  and  melancholy 
tone,  as  he  suffered  her  to  draw  the  mantle  from  his  face. 
The  sound  of  his  voice,  and  still  more  the  unexpected  sight  of 
his  face,  changed  in  an  instant  the  lady's  playful  mood.  She 
staggered  back,  turned  as  pale  as  death,  and  put  her  hands 
before  her  face.     Tressilian  was  himself  for  a  moment  much 


36  WA  VEBLBT  NO  VEL8, 

overcome,  but  seeming  suddenly  to  remember  the  necessity 
of  using  an  opportunity  which  might  not  again  occur,  he 
said  in  a  low  tone,  "  Amy,  fear  me  not." 

"  Why  should  I  fear  you?  "  said  the  lady,  withdrawing  her 
hands  from  her  beautiful  face,  which  was  now  covered  with 
crimson — "  why  should  I  fear  you,  Mr.  Tressilian?  or  where- 
fore have  you  intruded  yourself  into  my  dwelling,  uninvited, 
sir,  and  unwished  for?  " 

"  Your  dwelling.  Amy! "  said  Tressilian.  "  Alas!  is  a 
prison  your  dwelling? — a  prison  guarded  by  one  of  the  most 
sordid  of  men,  but  not  a  greater  wretch  than  his  employer!  " 

"  This  house  is  mine,"  said  Amy — "  mine  while  I  choose  to 
inhabit  it.  If  it  is  my  pleasure  to  live  in  seclusion,  who  shall 
gainsay  me?" 

"Your  father,  maiden,"  answered  Tressilian — "your 
broken-hearted  father,  who  dispatched  me  in  quest  of  you 
with  that  authority  which  he  cannot  exert  in  person.  Here 
is  his  letter,  written  while  he  blessed  his  pain  of  body  which 
somewhat  stunned  the  agony  of  his  mind." 

"  The  pain!  is  my  father  then  ill?  "  said  the  lady. 

"  So  ill,"  answered  Tressilian,  "  that  even  your  utmost 
haste  may  not  restore  him  to  health;  but  all  shall  be  instantly 
prepared  for  your  departure  the  instant  you  yourself  will  give 
consent." 

^*  Tressilian,"  answered  the  lady,  "  I  cannot — I  must  not — 
I  dare  not  leave  this  place.  Go  back  to  my  father;  tell  him  I 
will  obtain  leave  to  see  him  within  twelve  hours  from  hence. 
Go  back,  Tressilian;  tell  him  I  am  well,  I  am  happy — happy 
could  I  think  he  was  so;  tell  him  not  to  fear  that  I  will  come, 
and  in  such  a  manner  that  all  the  grief  Amy  has  given  him 
shall  be  forgotten — the  poor  Amy  is  now  greater  than  she 
dare  name.  Go,  good  Tressilian;  I  have  injured  thee  too,  but 
believe  me  I  have  power  to  heal  the  wounds  I  have  caused:  I 
robbed  you  of  a  childish  heart,  which  was  not  worthy  of  you, 
and  I  can  repay  the  loss  with  honors  and  advancement." 

"  Do  you  say  this  to  me.  Amy?  Do  you  offer  me  pageants 
of  idle  ambition  for  the  quiet  peace  you  have  robbed  me  of? 
But  be  it  so — I  came  not  to  upbraid,  but  to  serve  and  to  free 
you.  You  cannot  disguise  it  from  me — you  are  a  prisoner. 
Otherwise  your  kind  heart — for  it  was  once  a  kind  heart — 
would  have  been  already  at  your  father's  bedside.  Come, 
poor,  deceived,  unhappy  maiden.  All  shall  be  forgot — all 
shall  be  forgiven.  Fear  not  my  importunity  for  what  re- 
garded our  contract;  it  was  a  dream,  and  I  have  awaked. 


j 


KENIZWORTR.  Si 

But  come;  your  fatJier  yet  lives.  Come,  and  one  word  of 
affection — one  tear  of  penitence,  will  efface  the  memory  of 
all  that  has  passed." 

"  Have  I  not  already  said,  Tressilian,"  replied  she,  "  that  I 
will  surely  come  to  my  father,  and  that  without  farther  delay 
than  is  necessary  to  discharge  other  and  equally  binding 
duties?  Go,  carry  him  the  news.  I  come  as  sure  as  there  is 
light  in  heaven — that  is,  when  I  o-btain  permission." 

"Permission! — permission  to  visit  your  father  on  his  sick 
bed,  perhaps  on  his  death  bed! "  repeated  Tressilian  impa- 
tiently; "and  permission  from  whom?  From  the  villain 
who,  under  disguise  of  friendship,  abused  every  duty  of  hos- 
pitality, and  stole  thee  from  thy  father's  roof!  " 

"  Do  him  no  slander,  Tressilian!  He  whom  thou  speakest 
of  wears  a  sword  as  sharp  as  thine — sharper,  vain  man;  for 
the  best  deeds  thou  hast  ever  done  in  peace  or  war  were  as 
unworthy  to  be  named  with  his  as  thy  obscure  rank  to  match 
itself  with  the  sphere  he  moves  in.  Leave  me!  Go,  do  mine 
errand  to  my  father,  and  when  he  next  sends  to  me,  let  him 
choose  a  more  welcome  messenger." 

"Amy,"  replied  Tressilian  calmly,  "thou  canst  not  move 
me  by  thy  reproaches.  Tell  me  one  thing,  that  I  may  bear  at 
least  one  ray  of  comfort  to  my  aged  friend.  This  rank  of  his 
which  thou  dost  boast — dost  thou  share  it  with  him. 
Amy?  Does  he  claim  a  husband's  right  to  control  thy 
motions?  " 

"  Stop  thy  base,  unmannered  tongue!  "  said  the  lady;  "  tc 
no  question  that  derogates  from  my  honor  do  I  deign  ar 
answer." 

"You  have  said  enough  in  refusing  to  reply,"  answered 
Tressilian;  "  and  mark  me,  unhappy  as  thou  art,  I  am  armed 
with  thy  father's  full  authority  to  command  thy  obedience, 
and  I  will  save  thee  from  the  slavery  of  sin  and  of  sorrow, 
even  despite  of  thyself.  Amy." 

"Menace  no  violence  here!"  exclaimed  the  lady,  drawing 
back  from  him,  and  alarmed  at  the  determination  expressed 
in  his  look  and  manner:  "  threaten  me  not,  Tressilian,  for  I 
have  means  to  repel  force." 

"  But  not,  I  trust,  the  wish  to  use  them  in  so  evil  a  cause?  " 
said  Tressilian.  "With  thy  will — ^thine  uninfluenced,  free, 
and  natural  will,  Amy,  thou  canst  not  choose  this  state  of 
slavery  and  dishonor:  thou  hast  been  bound  by  some  spell — 
entrapped  by  some  deceit — art  now  detained  by  some  com- 
pelled vow.    But  thus  I  break  the  charm:  Amy,  in  the  name 


88  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

of  thine  excellent,  thy  broken-hearted  father,  I  command  thee 
to  follow  me! " 

As  he  spoke,  he  advanced  and  extended  his  arm,  as  with  the 
purpose  of  la3ring  hold  upon  her.  But  she  shrunk  back  from 
his  grasp,  and  uttered  the  scream  which,  as  we  before  noticed, 
brought  into  the  apartment  Lamboume  and  Foster. 

The  latter  exclaimed,  as  soon  as  he  entered,  "  Fire  and 
fagot!  what  have  we  here?  ^'  Then  addressing  the  lady,  in  a 
tone  betwixt  entreaty  and  command,  he  added,  "TJds 
precious!  madam,  what  make  you  here  out  of  bounds?  Ee- 
tire — retire;  there  is  life  and  death  in  this  matter.  And  you, 
friend,  whoever  you  may  be,  leave  this  house:  out  with  you, 
before  my  dagger's  hilt  and  your  costard  become  acquainted. 
Draw,  Mike,  and  rid  us  of  the  knave!  " 

"  Not  I,  on  my  soul,''  replied  Lamboume;  "  he  came  hither 
in  my  company,  and  he  is  safe  from  me  by  cutter's  law,  at 
least  till  we  meet  again.  But  hark  ye,  my  Cornish  comrade, 
you  have  brought  a  Cornish  flaw  of  wind  with  you  hither — a 
hurricanoe  as  they  call  it  in  the  Indies.  Make  yourself 
scarce — depart — vanish,  or  we'll  have  you  summoned  before 
the  Mayor  of  Halgaver,  and  that  before  Dudman  and  Eam- 
head  meet." 

"  Away,  base  groom! "  said  Tressilian.  "  And  you, 
madam,  fare  you  well;  what  life  lingers  in  your  father's 
bosom  will  leave  him  at  the  news  I  have  to  tell." 

He  departed,  the  lady  saying  faintly  as  he  left  the  room, 
"  Tressilian,  be  not  rash — say  no  scandal  of  me." 

"  Here  is  proper  gear,"  said  Foster.  "  I  pray  you  go  to 
your  chamber,  my  lady,  and  let  us  consider  how  this  is  to  be 
answered;  nay,  tarry  not." 

"  I  move  not  at  your  command,  sir,"  answered  the  lady. 

"  Nay,  but  you  must,  fair  lady,"  replied  Foster;  "  excuse 
my  freedom,  but,  by  blood  and  nails,  this  is  no  time  to  strain 
courtesies — you  must  go  to  your  chamber.  Mike,  follow  that 
meddling  coxcomb,  and,  as  you  desire  to  thrive,  see  him  safely 
clear  of  the  premises,  while  I  bring  this  headstrong  lady  to 
reason.     Draw  thy  tool,  man,  and  after  him." 

"  I'll  follow  him,"  said  Michael  Lamboume,  "  and  see  him 
fairly  out  of  Flanders.  But  for  hurting  a  man  I  have  drunk 
my  morning's  draught  withal,  'tis  clean  against  Kiy  con- 
gcience."     So  saying,  he  left  the  apartment. 

Tressilian,  meanwhile,  with  hasty  steps,  pursued  the  first 
path  which  promised  to  conduct  him  through  the  wild  and 
overgrown  park  in  which  the  mansion  of  Foster  was  situated. 


i 


KENILWORTH.  39 

Haste  and  distress  of  mind  led  his  steps  astray,  and,  instead 
of  taking  the  avenue  which  led  toward  the  village,  he  chose 
another,  which,  after  he  had  pursued  it  for  some  time  with 
a  hasty  and  reckless  step,  conducted  him  to  the  other  side  of 
the  demesne,  where  a  postern  door  opened  through  the  wall, 
and  led  into  the  open  country. 

Tressilian  paused  an  instant.  It  was  indifferent  to  him  by 
what  road  he  left  a  spot  now  so  odious  to  his  recollections; 
but  it  was  probable  that  the  postern  door  was  locked,  and  his 
retreat  by  that  pass  rendered  impossible. 

"  I  must  make  the  attempt,  however,"  he  said  to  himself; 
"  the  only  means  of  reclaiming  this  lost — ^this  miserable — this 
still  most  lovely  and  most  unhappy  girl — must  rest  in  her 
father's  appeal  to  the  broken  laws  of  his  country;  I  must  haste 
to  apprise  him  of  this  heart-rending  intelligence." 

As  Tressilian,  thus  conversing  with  himself,  approached  to 
try  some  means  of  opening  the  door,  or  climbing  over  it,  he 
perceived  there  was  a  key  put  into  the  lock  from  the  outside. 
It  turned  round,  the  bolt  revolved,  and  a  cavalier,  who 
entered,  muffled  in  his  riding-cloak,  and  wearing  a  slouched 
hat  with  a  drooping  feather,  stood  at  once  within  four  yards 
of  him  who  was  desirous  of  going  out.  They  exclaimed  at 
once,  in  tones  of  resentment  and  surprise,  the  one  "  Varney!  " 
the  other  "  Tressilian!  " 

"  What  make  you  here  ?  "  was  the  stem  question  put  by  the 
stranger  to  Tressilian,  when  the  moment  of  surprise  was  past 
— "  what  make  you  here,  where  your  presence  is  neither  ex- 
pected nor  desired?  " 

"Nay,  Varney,"  replied  Tressilian,  "what  make  you  here? 
Are  you  come  to  triumph  over  the  innocence  you  have  de- 
stroyed, as  the  vulture  or  carrion  crow  comes  to  batten  on  the 
lamb,  whose  eyes  it  has  first  plucked  out?  Or  are  you  come 
to  encounter  the  merited  vengeance  of  an  honest  man? 
Draw,  dog,  and  defend  thyself! " 

Tressilian  drew  his  sword  as  he  spoke;  but  Vamey  only 
laid  his  hand  on  the  hilt  of  his  own,  as  he  replied,  "  Thou  are 
mad,  Tressilian.  I  own  appearances  are  against  me,  but  by 
every  oath  a  priest  can  make,  or  a  man  can  swear.  Mistress 
Amy  Robsart  hath  had  no  injury  from  me;  and  in  truth  I 
were  somewhat  loath  to  hurt  you  in  this  cause.  Thou 
know'st  I  can  fight." 
^^k^  "I  have  heard  thee  say  so,  Varney,"  replied  Tressilian; 
^^t  ^ut  now,  methinks,  I  would  fain  have  some  better  evidence 
^Hthan  thine  own  word." 

I 


40  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

"  That  shall  not  be  lacking,  if  blade  and  hilt  be  but  true  to 
me,"  answered  Vamey;  and  drawing  his  sword  with  the  right 
hand,  he  threw  his  cloak  around  his  left,  and  attacked  Tres- 
silian  with  a  vigor  which,  for  a  moment,  seemed  to  give  him 
the  advantage  of  the  combat.  But  this  advantage  lasted  not 
long.  TressiUan  added  to  a  spirit  determined  on  revenge  a 
hand  and  eye  admirably  well  adapted  to  the  use  of  the  rapier; 
so  that  Varney,  finding  himself  hard  pressed  in  his  turn,  en- 
deavored to  avail  himself  of  his  superior  strength,  by  closing 
with  his  adversary.  For  this  purpose,  he  hazarded  the  re- 
ceiving one  of  TressiHan's  passes  in  his  cloak,  wrapt  as  it  was 
around  his  arm,  and  ere  his  adversary  could  extricate  his 
rapier  thus  entangled,  he  closed  with  him,  shortening  his  own 
sword  at  the  same  time,  with  the  purpose  of  dispatching  him. 
But  Tressihan  was  on  his  guard,  and,  unsheathing  his 
poniard,  parried  with  the  blade  of  that  weapon  the  home- 
thrust  which  would  otherwise  have  finished  the  combat,  and, 
in^the  struggle  which  followed,  displayed  so  much  address  as 
might  have  confirmed  the  opinion  that  he  drew  his  origin 
from  Cornwall,  whose  natives  are  such  masters  in  the  art  of 
wrestling  as,  were  the  games  of  antiquity  revived,  might 
enable  them  to  challenge  all  Europe  to  the  ring.  Vamey,  in 
his  ill-advised  attempt,  received  a  fall  so  sudden  and  violent 
that  his  sword  flew  several  paces  from  his  hand,  and  ere  he 
could  recover  hifi  feet  that  of  his  antagonist  was  pointed  to 
his  throat. 

"  Give  me  the  instant  means  of  relieving  the  victim  of  thy 
treachery,"  said  Tressilian,  "  or  take  the  last  look  of  your 
Creator's  blessed  sun! " 

And  while  Varney,  too  confused  or  too  sullen  to  reply, 
made  a  sudden  effort  to  arise,  his  adversary  drew  back  his 
arm,  and  would  have  executed  his  threat,  but  that  the  blow 
was  arrested  by  the  grasp  of  Michael  Lamboume,  who,  di- 
rected by  the  clashing  of  swords,  had  come  up  just  in  time  to 
save  the  life  of  Varney. 

"  Come — come,  comrade,"  said  Lamboume,  "  here  is 
enough  done,  and  more  than  enough;  put  up  your  fox,  and 
let  us  be  jogging.     The  Black  Bear  growls  for  us." 

"  Off,  abject! "  said  Tressilian,  striking  himself  free  of 
Lambourne's  grasp;  "  darest  thou  come  betwixt  me  and  mine 
60Q.emy?" 

"Abject — abject!"  repeated  Lamboume:  "that  shall  be 
answered  with  cold  steel  whenever  a  bowl  of  sack  has  washed' 
out  memory  of  the  morning's  draught  that  we  had  together. 


•*The  blow  was  arrested  by  the  grasp  of  Michael  Lambourne." 


KENILWORTB.  41 

In  the  meanwhile,  do  you  see,  shog — tramp — ^begone;  we  are 
two  to  one.'' 

He  spoke  truth,  for  Vamey  had  taken  the  opportunity  to 
regain  his  weapon,  and  Tressilian  perceived  it  was  madness 
to  press  the  quarrel  farther  against  such  odds.  He  took  his 
purse  from  his  side,  and  taking  out  two  gold  nobles,  flung 
them  to  Lambourne:  "  There,  caitiff,  is  thy  morning  wage: 
thou  shalt  not  say  thou  hast  been  my  guide  unhired.  Var- 
ney,  farewell;  we  shall  meet  where  there  are  none  to  come 
betwixt  us."  So  saying,  he  turned  round,  and  departed 
through  the  postern  door. 

Vamey  seemed  to  want  the  inclination,  or  perhaps  the 
power,  for  his  fall  had  been  a  severe  one,  to  follow  his  retreat- 
ing enemy.  But  he  glared  darkly  as  he  disappeared,  and 
then  addressed  Lambourne — "Art  thou  a  comrade  of  Fos- 
ter's, good  fellow  ?  " 

"Sworn  friends,  as  the  haft  is  to  the  knife,"  replied  Michael 
Lambourne. 

"  Here  is  a  broad  piece  for  thee;  follow  yonder  fellow,  and 
see  where  he  takes  earth,  and  bring  me  word  up  to  the  man- 
sion house  here.  Cautious  and  silent,  thou  knave,  as  thou 
valuest  thy  throat." 

"Enough  said,"  replied  Lambourne;  "I  can  draw  on  a 
scent  as  well  as  a  sleuth-hound." 

"Begone  then,"  said  Vamey,  sheathing  his  rapier;  and, 
turning  his  back  on  Michael  Lambourne,  he  walked  slowly 
toward  the  house. 

Lamboume  stopped  but  an  instant  to  gather  the  nobles 
which  his  late  companion  had  flung  toward  him  so  uncere- 
moniously, and  muttered  to  himself,  while  he  put  them  up  in 
his  purse  along  with  the  gratuity  of  Vamey,  "  I  spoke  to  yon- 
der gulls  of  Eldorado.  By  St.  Anthony,  there  is  no  Eldo- 
rado for  men  of  our  stamp  equal  to  bonny  Old  England!  It 
rains  nobles,  by  Heaven;  they  lie  on  the  grass  as  thick  as  dew- 
drops;  you  may  have  them  for  gathering.  And  if  I  have  not 
my  share  of  such  glittering  dewdrops,  may  my  sword  melt 
like  an  iciclel '' 


CHAPTER  V. 

He  was  a  man 
Veraed  in  the  world  as  pilot  in  his  compasB. 
The  needle  pointed  ever  to  that  interest 
Which  was  his  loadstar,  and  he  spread  his  sails 
With  vantage  to  the  gale  of  others'  passion. 

—  The  Deceiver,  a  Tragedy. 

Anthony  Foster  was  still  engaged  in  debate  with  his  fair 
guest,  who  treated  with  scam  every  entreaty  and  request  that 
she  would  retire  to  her  own  apartment,  when  a  whistle  was 
heard  at  the  entrance  door  of  the  mansion. 

"We  are  fairly  sped  now,"  said  Foster;  "yonder  is  thy 
lord's  signal,  and  what  to  say  about  the  disorder  which  has 
happened  in  this  household,  by  my  conscience,  I  know  not. 
Some  evil  fortune  dogs  the  heels  of  that  unhanged  rogue 
Lamboume,  and  he  has  'scaped  the  gallows  against  every 
chance,  to  come  back  and  be  the  ruin  of  me!  " 

"Peace,  sir,"  said  the  lady,  "and  undo  the  gate  to  your 
master.  My  lord! — ^my  dear  lord!  "  she  then  exclaimed,  has- 
tening to  the  entrance  of  the  apartment;  then  added,  with  a 
voice  expressive  of  disappointment,  "  Pooh!  it  is  but  Eichard 
Vamey." 

"Aye,  madam,"  said  Vamey,  entering  and  saluting  the  lady 
with  a  respectful  obeisance,  which  she  retumed  with  a  care- 
less mixture  of  negligence  and  of  displeasure,  "it  is  but 
Richard  Vamey;  but  even  the  first  gray  cloud  should  be  ac- 
ceptable, when  it  lightens  in  the  east,  because  it  announces 
the  approach  of  the  blessed  sun." 

"  How!  comes  my  lord  hither  to-night?  "  said  the  lady,  in 
joyful  yet  startled  agitation;  and  Anthony  Foster  caught  up 
the  word,  and  echoed  the  question.  Vamey  replied  to  the 
lady,  that  his  lord  purposed  to  attend  her,  and  would  have 
proceeded  with  some  compliment,  when,  running  to  the  door 
of  the  parlor,  she  called  aloud,  "  Janet — Janet,  come  to  my 
tiring-room  instantly."  Then  retuming  to  Vamey,  she 
asked  if  her  lord  sent  any  farther  commendations  to  her. 

"This  letter,  honored  madam,"  said  he,  taking  from  his 
bosom  a  small  parcel  wrapt  in  scarlet  silk,  "and  with  it  a 
token  to  the  queen  of  his  affections.''    With  eager  speed  the 


KENILWOitTB,  43 

lady  hastened  to  undo  the  silken  string  which  surrounded  the 
little  packet,  and  failing  to  unloose  readily  the  knot  with 
which  it  was  secured,  she  again  called  loudly  on  Jaaet — 
"  Bring  me  a  knife — scissors — aught  that  may  undo  this  en- 
vious knot!  ^' 

"  May  not  my  poor  poniard  serve,  honored  madam,"  said 
Varney,  presenting  a  small  dagger  of  exquisite  workmanship, 
which  hung  in  his  Turkey-leather  sword-belt. 

"  No,  sir,"  replied  the  lady,  rejecting  the  instrument  which 
he  offered.  "  Steel  poniard  shall  cut  no  true-love  knot  of 
mine." 

"  It  has  cut  many,  however,"  said  Anthony  Foster,  half- 
aside,  and  looking  at  Varney.  By  this  time  the  knot  was  dis- 
entangled without  any  other  help  than  the  neat  and  nimble 
fingers  of  Janet — a  simply-attired,  pretty  maiden,  the  daugh- 
ter of  Anthony  Foster,  who  came  running  at  the  repeated  call 
of  her  mistress.  A  necklace  of  orient  pearl,  the  companion 
of  a  perfumed  billet,  was  now  hastily  produced  from  the 
packet.  The  lady  gave  the  one,  after  a  slight  glance,  to  the 
charge  of  her  attendant,  while  she  read,  or  rather  devoured, 
the  contents  of  the  other. 

"  Surely,  lady,"  said  Janet,  gazing  with  admiration  at  the 
neck-string  of  pearls,  "  the  daughters  of  Tyre  wore  no  fairer 
neck- jewels  than  these.  And  then  the  posy,  *  For  a  neck 
that  is  fairer ' — each  pearl  is  worth  a  freehold." 

"  Each  word  in  this  dear  paper  is  worth  the  whole  string, 
my  girl.  But  come  to  my  tiring-room,  girl;  we  must  be 
brave,  my  lord  comes  hither  to-night.  He  bids  me  grace  you. 
Master  Varney,  and  to  me  his  wish  is  a  law.  I  bid  you  to  a 
collation  in  my  bower  this  afternoon,  and  you,  too,  Master 
Foster.  Give  orders  that  all  is  fitting,  and  that  suitable 
preparations  be  made  for  my  lord's  reception  to-night." 
With  these  words  she  left  the  apartment. 

"  She  takes  state  on  her  already,"  said  Varney,  "  and  dis- 
tributes the  favor  of  her  presence,  as  if  she  were  already  the 
partner  of  his  dignity.  Well,  it  is  wise  to  practice  before- 
hand the  part  which  fortune  prepares  us  to  play:  the  young 
eagle  must  ga^e  at  the  sun,  ere  he  soars  on  strong  wing  to 
meet  it." 

"  If  holding  her  head  aloft,"  said  Foster,  "  will  keep  her 
eyes  from  dazzling,  I  warrant  you  the  dame  will  not  stoop  her 
crest.  She  will  presently  soar  beyond  reach  of  my  whistle. 
Master  Varney.  I  promise  you,  she  holds  me  already  in 
slight  regard." 


44  WAVEBLET  NOVELS. 

"It  is  thine  own  fault,  thou  sullen,  uninventive  com- 
panion," answered  Varney,  "  who  know'st  no  mode  of  control, 
save  downright  brute  force.  Canst  thou  not  make  home 
pleasant  to  her  with  music  and  toys?  Canst  thou  not  make 
the  out-of-doors  frightful  to  her,  with  tales  of  goblins? 
Thou  livest  here  by  the  churchyard,  and  hast  not  even  wit 
enough  to  raise  a  ghost,  to  scare  thy  females  into  good  dis- 
cipline." 

"  Speak  not  thus,  Master  Vamey,"  said  Foster;  "  the  liv- 
ing I  fear  not,  but  I  trifle  not  nor  toy  with  my  dead  neighbors 
of  the  churchyard.  I  promise  you,  it  requires  a  good  heart 
to  live  so  near  it;  worthy  Master  Holdforth,  the  afternoon's 
lecturer  of  St.  Antonlin's,  had  a  sore  fright  there  the  last 
time  he  came  to  visit  me." 

"Hold  thy  superstitious  tongue,"  answered  Vamey; 
and  while  thou  talk'st  of  visiting,  answer  me,  thou  pal- 
tering knave,  how  came  Tressilian  to  be  at  the  postern 
door?  " 

"  Tressilian! "  answered  Foster,  "  what  know  I  of  Tres- 
silian?    I  never  heard  his  name." 

"  Why,  villain,  it  was  the  very  Cornish  chough  to  whom  old 
Sir  Hugh  Eobsart  destined  his  pretty  Amy,  and  hither  the 
hot-brained  fool  has  come  to  look  after  his  fair  runaway. 
There  must  be  some  order  taken  with  him,  for  he  thinks  he 
hath  wrong,  and  is  not  the  mean  hind  that  will  sit  down  with 
it.  Luckily  he  knows  naught  of  my  lord,  but  thinks  he  has 
only  me  to  deal  with.  But  how,  in  the  fiend's  name,  came  he 
hither?" 

"Why,  with  Mike  Lambourne,  an  you  must  know,"  an- 
swered Foster. 

"And  who  is  Mike  Lambourne?"  demanded  Yarney. 
"  By  Heaven!  thou  wert  best  set  up  a  bush  over  thy  door,  and 
invite  every  stroller  who  passes  by  to  see  what  thou  shouldst 
keep  secret  even  from  the  sun  and  air." 

"  Aye!  aye!  this  is  a  court-like  requital  of  my  service  to  you, 
Master  Eichard  Varney,"  replied  Foster.  "  Didst  thou  not 
charge  me  to  seek  out  for  thee  a  fellow  who  had  a  good  sword 
and  an  unscrupulous  conscience?  and  was  I  not  busjdng  my- 
self to  find  a  fit  man — for,  thank  Heaven,  my  acquaintance 
lies  not  amongst  such  companions — when,  as  Heaven  would 
have  it,  this  tall  fellow,  who  is  in  all  his  qualities  the  very 
flashing  knave  thou  didst  wish,  came  hither  to  fix  acquaint- 
ance upon  me  in  the  plenitude  of  his  impudence,  and  I  ad- 
mitted his  claim,  thinking  to  do  you  a  pleasure;  and  now  see 


KBNILWORTH,  45 

what  thanks  I  get  for  disgracing  myself  by  converse  with 
him!'' 

"  And  did  he/'  said  Vamey,  ^'  being  such  a  fellow  as  thy- 
self, only  lacking,  I  suppose,  thy  present  humor  of  hypocrisy, 
which  lies  as  thin  over  thy  hard  ruffianly  heart  as  gold  lacquer 
upon  rusty  iron — did  he,  I  say,  bring  the  saintly,  sighing 
Tressilian  in  his  train?  " 

"  They  came  together,  by  Heaven! "  said  Foster;  "  and 
Tressilian — to  speak  Heaven's  truth — obtained  a  moment's 
interview  with  our  pretty  moppet  while  I  was  talking  apart 
with  Lambourne." 

"  Improvident  villain!  we  are  both  undone,"  said  Vamey. 
"  She  has  of  late  been  casting  many  a  backward  look  to  her 
father's  halls,  whenever  her  lordly  lover  leaves  her  alone. 
Should  this  preaching  fool  whistle  her  back  to  her  old  perch, 
we  were  but  lost  men." 

"  No  fear  of  that,  my  master,"  replied  Anthony  Foster; 
"  she  is  in  no  mood  to  stoop  to  his  lure,  for  she  yelled  out  on 
seeing  him  as  if  an  adder  had  stung  her." 

"  That  is  good.  Canst  thou  not  get  from  thy  daughter  an 
inkling  of  what  passed  between  them,  good  Foster?" 

"  I  tell  you  plain.  Master  Varney,"  said  Foster,  "  my 
daughter  shall  not  enter  our  purposes  or  walk  in  our  paths. 
They  may  suit  me  well  enough,  who  know  how  to  repent  of 
my  misdoings;  but  I  will  not  have  my  child's  soul  committed 
to  peril  either  for  your  pleasure  or  my  lord's.  I  may  walk 
among  snares  and  pitfalls  myself,  because  I  have  discretion, 
but  I  will  not  trust  the  poor  lamb  among  them." 

"  Why,  thou  suspicious  fool,  I  were  as  averse  as  thou  art 
that  thy  baby-faced  girl  should  enter  in.to  my  plans,  or  walk 
to  Hell  at  her  father's  elbow.  But  indirectly  thou  mightst 
gain  some  intelligence  of  her?  " 

"And  so  I  did.  Master  Varney,"  answered  Foster;  "and 
she  said  her  lady  called  out  upon  the  sickness  of  her  father." 

"  Good!  "  replied  Varney;  "  that  is  a  hint  worth  catching, 
and  I  will  work  upon  it.  But  the  country  must  be  rid  of  this 
Tressilian.  I  would  have  cumbered  no  man  about  the  mat- 
ter, for  I  hate  him  like  strong  poison — his  presence  is  hem- 
lock to  me — and  this  day  I  had  been  rid  of  him,  but  that  my 
foot  slipped,  when,  to  speak  truth,  had  not  thy  comrade  yon- 
der come  to  my  aid,  and  held  his  hand,  I  should  have  known 
by  this  time  whether  you  ai*i  I  have  been  treading  the  path 
to  Heaven  or  Hell." 

"  And  you  can  speak  thus  of  such  a  risk! "  said  Foster. 


46  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

"  You  keep  a  stout  heart,  Master  Yarney;  for  me,  if  I  did  not 
hope  to  live  many  years,  and  to  have  time  for  the  great  work 
of  repentance,  I  would  not  go  forward  with  you." 

"  Oh!  thou  shalt  live  as  long  as  Methuselah,"  said  Varney, 
"  and  amass  as  much  wealth  as  Solomon;  and  thou  shalt  re- 
pent so  devoutly  that  thy  repentance  shall  be  more  famous 
than  thy  villainy — and  that  is  a  bold  word.  But  for  all  this, 
Tressilian  must  be  looked  after.  Thy  ruffian  yonder  is  gone 
to  dog  him.     It  concerns  our  fortunes,  Anthony." 

"  Aye — aye,"  said  Foster  sullenly,  "  this  it  is  to  be  leagued 
with  one  who  knows  not  even  so  much  of  Scripture  as  that  the 
laborer  is  worthy  of  his  hire.  I  must,  as  usual,  take  all  the 
trouble  and  risk." 

"  Risk!  and  what  is  the  mighty  risk,  I  pray  you?  "  answered 
Vamey.  "  This  fellow  will  come  prowling  again  about  your 
demesne  or  into  your  house,  and  if  you  take  him  for  a  house- 
breaker or  a  park-breaker,  is  it  not  most  natural  you  should 
welcome  him  with  cold  steel  or  hot  lead  ?  Even  a  mastiff  will 
pull  down  those  who  come  near  his  kennel;  and  who  shall 
blame  him?" 

"  Aye,  I  have  a  mastiff's  work  and  a  mastiff's  wage  among 
you,"  said  Foster.  "  Here  have  you.  Master  Varney,  secured 
a  good  freehold  estate  out  of  this  old  superstitious  founda- 
tion; and  I  have  but  a  poor  lease  of  this  mansion  under  you, 
voidable  at  your  honor's  pleasure." 

"  Aye,  and  thou  wouldst  fain  convert  thy  leasehold  into  a 
copyhold;  the  thing  may  chance  to  happen,  Anthony  Foster, 
if  thou  dost  good  service  for  it.  But  softly,  good  Anthony; 
it  is  not  the  lending  a  room  or  two  of  this  old  house  for  keep- 
ing my  lord's  pretty  paroquet — nay,  it  is  not  the  shutting  thy 
doors  and  windows  to  keep  her  from  flying  off,  that  may  de- 
serve it.  Remember,  the  manor  and  tithes  are  rated  at  the 
clear  annual  value  of  seventy-nine  pounds  five  shillings  and 
fivepence  halfpenny,  besides  the  value  of  the  wood.  Come^ — 
come,  thou  must  be  conscionable;  great  and  secret  service  may 
deserve  both  this  and  a  better  thing.  And  now  let  thy  knave 
come  and  pluck  off  my  boots.  Get  us  some  dinner,  and  a  cup 
of  thy  best  wine.  I  must  visit  this  mavis,  brave  in  apparel, 
unruffled  in  aspect,  and  gay  in  temper." 

They  parted,  and  at  the  hour  of  noon,  which  was  then  that 
of  dinner,  they  again  met  at  their  meal,  Varney  gayly  dressed 
like  a  courtier  of  the  time,  and  even  Anthony  Foster  im^ 
proved  in  appearance,  as  far  as  dress  could  amend  an  exterior 
so  unfavorable. 


KENILWORTH.  47 

This  alteration  did  not  escape  Varney.  When  the  meal 
was  finished,  the  cloth  removed,  and  they  were  left  to  their 
private  discourse — "  Thou  art  gay  as  a  goldfinch,  Anthony," 
said  Varney,  looking  at  his  host;  "me thinks,  thou  wilt  whistle 
a  jig  anon;  but  1  crave  your  pardon,  that  would  secure  your 
ejection  from  the  congregation  of  the  zealous  botchers,  the 
pure-hearted  weavers,  and  the  sanctified  bakers  of  Abingdon, 
who  let  their  ovens  cool  while  their  brains  get  heated." 

"  To  answer  you  in  the  spirit.  Master  Varney,"  said  Foster, 
"were — excuse  the  parable — to  fling  sacred  and  precious 
things  before  swine.  So  I  will  speak  to  thee  in  the  language 
of  the  world,  which  he  who  is  King  of  the  World  hath  taught 
thee  to  understand,  and  to  profit  by  in  no  common  measure." 

"  Say  what  thou  wilt,  honest  Tony,"  replied  Varney;  "  for 
be  it  according  to  thine  absurd  faith,  or  according  to  thy  most 
villainous  practice,  it  cannot  choose  but  be  rare  matter  to 
qualify  this  cup  of  Alicant.  Thy  conversation  is  relishing 
and  poignant,  and  beats  caviare,  dried  neat's-tongue,  and  all 
other  provocatives  that  give  savor  to  good  liquor." 

"Well,  then,  tell  me,"  said  Anthony  Foster,  "is  not  our 
good  lord  and  master's  turn  better  served,  and  his  ante- 
chamber more  suitably  filled,  with  decent,  God-fearing  men, 
who  will  work  his  will  and  their  own  profit  quietly,  and  with- 
out worldly  scandal,  than  that  he  should  be  manned,  and  at- 
tended, and  followed  by  such  open  debauchers  and  ruffianly 
swordsmen  as  Tidesly,  Killigrew,  this  fellow  Lamboume, 
whom  you  have  put  me  to  seek  out  for  you,  and  other  such, 
who  bear  the  gallows  in  their  face  and  murder  in  their  right 
hand — who  are  a  terror  to  peaceable  men,  and  a  scandal  to  my 
lord's  service?" 

"  Oh,  content  you,  good  Master  Anthony  Foster,"  answered 
Varney;  "  he  that  flies  at  all  manner  of  game  must  keep  all 
kinds  of  hawks,  both  short  and  long-winged.  The  course  my 
lord  holds  is  no  easy  one,  and  he  must  stand  provided  at  all 
points  with  trusty  retainers  to  meet  each  sort  of  service.  He 
must  have  his  gay  courtier,  like  myself,  to  ruffle  it  in  the 
presence-chamber,  and  to  lay  hand  on  hilt  when  any  speaks 
in  disparagement  of  my  lord's  honor " 

"  Aye,"  said  Foster,  "  and  to  whisper  a  word  for  him  into  a 
fair  lady's  ear,  when  he  may  not  approach  her  himself." 

"  Then,"  said  Varney,  going  on  without  appearing  to  notice 
the  interruption,  "he  must  have  his  lawyers — deep,  subtle 
pioneers — to  draw  his  contracts,  his  pre-contracta,  and  his 
post-contracts,  and  to  find  the  way  to  make  the  most  of  grants 


48  WAVBRLET  NOVELS, 

of  church  lands,  and  commons,  and  licenses  for  monopoly. 
And  he  must  have  physicians  who  can  spice  a  cup  or  a  caudle. 
And  he  must  have  his  cabalists,  like  Dee  and  Allan,  for  con- 
juring up  the  devil.  And  he  must  have  ruffling  swordsmen, 
who  would  fight  the  devil  when  he  is  raised  and  at  the  wildest. 
And  above  all,  without  prejudice  to  others,  he  must  have  such 
godly,  innocent.  Puritanic  souls  as  thou,  honest  Anthony, 
who  defy  Satan,  and  do  his  work  at  the  same  time." 

"  You  would  not  say.  Master  Vamey,"  said  Foster,  "  that 
our  good  lord  and  master,  whom  I  hold  to  be  fulfilled  in  all 
nobleness,  would  use  such  base  and  sinful  means  to  rise  as  thy 
speech  points  at?  " 

"  Tush,  man,''  said  Varney,  "  never  look  at  me  with  so  sad 
a  brow;  you  trap  me  not,  nor  am  I  in  your  power,  as  your 
weak  brain  may  imagine,  because  I  name  to  you  freely  the 
engines,  the  springs,  the  screws,  the  tackle,  and  braces,  by 
which  great  men  rise  in  stirring  times.  Sayest  thou  our 
good  lord  is  fulfilled  of  all  nobleness?  Amen,  and  so  be  it; 
he  has  the  more  need  to  have  those  about  him  who  are  un- 
scrupulous in  his  service,  and  who,  because  they  know  that 
his  fall  will  overwhelm  and  crush  them,  must  wager  both 
blood  and  brain,  soul  and  body,  in  order  to  keep  him  aloft; 
and  this  I  tell  thee,  because  I  care  not  who  knows  it." 

"  You  speak  truth.  Master  Varney,"  said  Anthony  Foster: 
"he  that  is  head  of  a  party  is  but  a  botit  on  a  wave,  that 
raises  not  itself,  but  is  moved  upward  by  the  billow  which  it 
floats  upon." 

"  Thou  art  metaphorical,  honest  Anthony,"  replied  Var- 
ney: "that  velvet  doublet  hath  made  an  oracle  of  thee;  we 
will  have  thee  to  Oxford  to  take  the  degrees  in  the  arts.  And, 
in  the  meantime,  hast  thou  arranged  all  the  matters  which 
were  sent  from  London,  and  put  the  western  chambers  into 
such  fashion  as  may  answer  my  lord's  humor?  '^ 

"  They  may  serve  a  king  on  his  bridal  day,"  said  Anthony; 
"  and  I  promise  you  that  Dame  Amv  sits  in  them  yonder  as 
proud  and  gay  as  if  she  were  the  Queen  of  Sheba." 

"  'Tis  the  better,  good  Anthony,"  answered  Varney;  "  we 
must  found  our  future  fortunes  on  her  good  liking." 

"  We  build  on  sand  then,"  said  Anthony  Foster;  "  for,  sup- 
posing that  she  sails  away  to  court  in  all  her  lord's  dignity 
and  authority,  how  is  she  to  look  back  upon  me,  who  am  her 
jailer  as  it  were,  to  detain  her  here  against  her  will,  keeping 
ner  a  caterpillar  on  an  old  wall,  when  she  would  fain  be  a 
painted  butterfly  in  a  court  garden?  " 


KBNILWORTH.  4# 

*'Fear  not  her  displeasure,  man/'  said  Vamey.  "I  will 
show  her  that  all  thou  hast  done  in  this  matter  was  good 
service,  both  to  my  lord  and  her;  and  when  she  chips  the 
egg-shell  and  walks  alone,  she  shall  own  we  have  hatched  her 
greatness." 

"  Look  to  yourself,  Master  Vamey,"  said  Foster,  "  you  may 
misreckon  foully  in  this  matter.  She  gave  you  but  a  frosty 
reception  this  morning,  and,  I  think,  looks  on  you,  as  well  as 
me,  with  an  evil  eye." 

"  You  mistake  her,  Foster — you  mistake  her  utterly.  To 
me  she  is  bound  by  all  the  ties  which  can  secure  her  to  one 
who  has  been  the  means  of  gratifying  both  her  love  and 
ambition.  Who  was  it  that  took  the  obscure  Amy  Eobsart, 
the  daughter  of  an  impoverished  and  dotard  knight,  the  des- 
tined bride  of  a  moonstruck,  moping  enthusiast  like  Edmund 
Tressilian,  from  her  lowly  fates,  and  held  out  to  her  in  pros- 
pect the  brightest  fortune  in  England,  or  perchance  in 
Europe?  Why,  man,  it  was  I — as  I  have  often  told  thee — 
that  found  opportunity  for  their  secret  meetings.  It  was  I 
who  watched  the  wood  while  he  beat  for  the  deer.  It  was  I 
who,  to  this  day,  am  blamed  by  her  family  as  the  companion 
of  her  flight,  and  were  I  in  their  neighborhood,  would  be  fain 
to  wear  a  shirt  of  better  stuff  than  Holland  linen,  lest  my  ribs 
should  be  acquainted  with  Spanish  steel.  Who  carried  their 
letters?  I.  Who  amused  the  old  knight  and  Tressilian?  I. 
Who  planned  her  escape  ?  It  was  I.  It  was  I,  in  short,  Dick 
Vamey,  who  pulled  this  pretty  little  daisy  from  its  lowly 
nook,  and  placed  it  in  the  proudest  bonnet  in  Britain." 

"Aye,  Master  Varney,"  said  Foster,  "but  it  may  be  she 
thinks  that,  had  the  matter  remained  with  you,  the  flower  had 
been  stuck  so  slightly  into  the  cap  that  the  first  breath  of  a 
changeable  breeze  of  passion  had  blown  the  poor  daisy  to  the 
common." 

"  She  should  consider,"  said  Vamey,  smiling,  "  the  true 
faith  I  owed  my  lord  and  master  prevented  me  at  first  from 
counseling  marriage;  and  yet  I  did  counsel  marriage  when  I 
saw  she  would  not  be  satisfied  without  the — the  sacrament,  or 
the  ceremony — which  callest  thou  it,  Anthony?  " 

"  Still  she  has  you  at  feud  on  another  score,"  said  Foster; 
"  and  I  tell  it  you  that  you  may  look  to  yourself  in  time.  She 
would  not  hide  her  splendor  in  this  dark  lantern  of  an  old 
monastic  house,  but  would  fain  shine  a  countess  amongst 
countesses." 

"  Very  natural,  very  right,"  answered  Vamey;  "  but  what 


iO  WAVERLEY  NOVELS, 

have  I  to  do  with  that?  She  may  shine  through  horn  or 
through  crystal  at  my  lord's  pleasure,  I  have  naught  to  say 
against  it." 

"  She  deems  that  you  have  an  oar  upon  that  side  of  the 
boat,  Master  Yarney/'  replied  Foster,  "  and  that  you  can  pull 
it  or  no,  at  your  good  pleasure.  In  a  word,  she  ascribes  the 
secrecy  and  obscurity  in  which  she  is  kept  to  your  secret 
counsel  to  my  lord,  and  to  my  strict  agency;  and  so  she 
loves  us  both  as  a  sentenced  man  loves  his  judge  and  his 
jailer." 

"  She  must  love  us  better  ere  she  leave  this  place,  An- 
thony," answered  Vamey.  "  If  I  have  counseled  for  weighty 
reasons  that  she  remain  here  for  a  season,  I  can  also  advise 
her  being  brought  forth  in  the  full  blow  of  her  dignity.  But 
I  were  mad  to  do  so,  holding  so  near  a  place  to  my  lord's  per- 
son, were  she  mine  enemy.  Bear  this  truth  in  upon  her  as 
occasion  offers,  Anthony,  and  let  me  alone  for  extolling  you 
in  her  ear,  and  exalting  you  in  her  opinion.  Ka  me,  ka  thee 
— it  is  a  proverb  all  over  the  world.  The  lady  must  know  her 
friends,  and  be  made  to  judge  of  the  power  they  have  of 
being  her  enemies;  meanwhile,  watch*  her  strictly,  but  with  all 
the  outward  observance  that  thy  rough  nature  will  permit. 
'Tis  an  excellent  thing  that  sullen  look  and  bull-dog  humor 
of  thine;  thou  shouldst  thank  God  for  it,  and  so  should  my 
lord,  for  when  there  is  aught  harsh  or  hard-natured  to  be 
done,  thou  dost  it  as  if  it  flowed  from  thine  own  natural  dog- 
gedness,  and  not  from  orders,  and  so  my  lord  escapes  the 
scandal.  But,  hark — someone  knocks  at  the  gate.  Look  out 
at  the  window;  let  no  one  enter:  this  were  an  ill  night  to  be 
interrupted." 

"  It  is  he  whom  we  spoke  of  before  dinner,"  said  Foster,  as 
he  looked  through  the  casement — "it  is  Michael  Lamboume." 

"  Oh,  admit  him,  by  all  means,"  said  the  courtier;  "  he 
comes  to  give  some  account  of  his  guest:  it  imports  us  much 
to  know  the  movements  of  Edmund  Tressilian.  Admit  him, 
I  say,  but  bring  him  not  hither.  I  will  come  to  you  pres- 
ently in  the  abbot's  library." 

Foster  left  the  room,  and  the  courtier,  who  remained  be- 
hind, paced  the  parlor  more  than  once  in  deep  thought,  his 
arms  folded  on  his  bosom,  until  at  length  he  gave  vent  to  his 
meditations  in  broken  words,  which  we  have  somewhat  en- 
larged and  connected,  that  his  soliloquy  may  be  intelligible 
to  the  reader. 

"'Tis  true,"  he  said,  suddenly  stopping,  and  resting  his 


KENILWORTH.  «1 

right  hand  on  the  table  at  which  they  had  been  sitting,  "  this 
base  churl  hath  fathomed  the  very  depth  of  my  fear,  and  I 
have  been  unable  to  disguise  it  from  him.  She  loves  me  not; 
I  would  it  were  as  true  that  I  loved  not  her!  Idiot  that  I 
was,  to  move  her  in  my  own  behalf,  when  wisdom  bade  me  be 
a  true  broker  to  my  lord!  And  this  fatal  error  has  placed  me 
more  at  her  discretion  than  a  wise  man  would  willingly  be  at 
that  of  the  best  piece  of  painted  Eve^s  flesh  of  them  all. 
Since  the  hour  that  my  policy  made  so  perilous  a  slip,  I  can- 
not look  at  her  without  fear,  and  hate,  and  fondness  so 
strangely  mingled  that  I  know  not  whether,  were  it  at  my 
choice,  I  would  rather  possess  or  ruin  her.  But  she  must  not 
leave  this  retreat  until  I  am  assured  on  what  terms  we  are  to 
stand.  My  lord^s  interest — and  so  far  it  is  mine  own,  for  if 
he  sinks  I  fall  in  his  train — demands  concealment  of  this  ob- 
scure marriage;  and,  besides,  I  will  not  lend  her  my  arm  to 
climb  to  her  chair  of  state,  that  she  may  set  her  foot  on  my 
neck  when  she  is  fairly  seated.  I  must  work  an  interest  in 
her  either  through  love  or  through  fear;  and  who  knows  but 
I  may  yet  reap  the  sweetest  and  best  revenge  for  her  former 
scorn? — that  were  indeed  a  masterpiece  of  court-like  art! 
Let  me  but  once  be  her  counsel-keeper;  let  her  confide  to  me 
a  secret,  did  it  but  concern  the  robbery  of  a  linnet's  nest,  and, 
fair  countess,  thou  art  mine  own! "  He  again  paced  the 
room  in  silence,  stopped,  filled  and  drank  a  cup  of  wine,  as  if 
to  compose  the  agitation  of  his  mind;  and  muttering,  "  Now 
for  a  close  heart  and  an  open  and  unruffled  brow,"  he  left  the 
apartment. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

The  dewB  of  summer  night  did  fall. 

The  moon,  sweet  regent  of  the  sky, 
Silver'd  the  walls  of  Cumnor  Hall, 

And  many  an  oak  that  grew  thereby  * 

— MlOlKMB. 

Four  apartments,  which  occupied  the  westeri;  side  of  the 
old  quadrangle  at  Cumnor  Place,  had  been  fitted  up  with 
extraordinary  splendor.  This  had  been  the  work  of  several 
days  prior  to  that  on  which  our  story  opened.  Workmen  sent 
from  London,  and  not  permitted  to  leave  the  premises  until 
the  work  was  finished,  had  converted  the  apartments  in  that 
Bide  of  the  building  from  the  dilapidated  appearance  of  a  dis- 
solved monastic  house  into  the  semblance  of  a  royal  palace. 
A  mystery  was  observed  in  all  these  arrangements:  the  work- 
men came  thither  and  returned  by  night,  and  all  measures 
were  taken  to  prevent  the  prying  curiosity  of  the  villagers 
from  observing  or  speculating  upon  the  changes  which  were 
taking  place  in  the  mansion  of  their  once  indigent,  but  now 
wealthy,  neighbor  Anthony  Foster.  Accordingly,  the  secrecy 
desired  was  so  far  preserved  that  nothing  got  abroad  but 
vague  and  uncertain  reports,  which  were  received  and  rer- 
peated,  but  without  much  credit  being  attached  to  them. 

On  the  evening  of  which  we  treat,  the  new  and  highly  deco- 
rated suite  of  rooms  were  for  the  first  time  illuminated,  and 
that  with  a  brilliancy  which  might  have  been  visible  half  a 
dozen  miles  off  had  not  oaken  shutters,  carefully  secured  with 
bolt  and  padlock,  and  mantled  with  long  curtains  of  silk  and 
of  velvet,  deeply  fringed  with  gold,  prevented  the  slightest 
gleam  of  radiance  from  being  seen  without. 

The  principal  apartments,  as  we  have  seen,  were  four  in 
number,  each  opening  into  the  other.  Access  was  given  to 
them  by  a  large  scale  staircase,  as  they  were  then  called,  of 
unusual  length  and  height,  which  had  its  landing-place  at  the 
door  of  an  ante-chamber,  shaped  somewhat  like  a  gallery. 
This  apartment  the  abbot  had  used  as  an  occasional  council- 
room,  but  it  was  now  beautifully  wainscoted  with  dark  for- 

*  Thii  Terse  it  the  commencement  of  the  ballad  already  quoted  at  what  tnggetted 
the  »0Tel. 


KENILWORTB,  W 

eign  wood  of  a  brown  color,  and  bearing  a  high  polish,  said 
to  have  been  brought  from  the  Western  Indies,  and  to  have 
been  wrought  in  London  with  infinite  difficulty,  and  much 
damage  to  the  tools  of  the  workmen.  The  dark  color  of  this 
finishing  was  relieved  by  the  number  of  lights  in  silver  sconces 
which  hung  against  the  walls,  and  by  six  large  and  richly- 
framed  pictures  by  the  first  masters  of  the  age.  A  massy 
oaken  table,  placed  at  the  lower  end  of  the  apartment,  served 
to  accommodate  such  as  chose  to  play  at  the  then  fashionable 
game  of  shovel-board;  and  there  was  at  the  other  end  an  ele- 
vated gallery  for  the  musicians  or  minstrels,  who  might  be 
summoned  to  increase  the  festivity  of  the  evening. 

From  this  ante-chamber  opened  a  banqueting-room  of 
moderate  size,  but  brilliant  enough  to  dazzle  the  eyes  of  the 
spectator  with  the  richness  of  its  furniture.  The  walls,  lately 
so  bare  and  ghastly,  were  now  clothed  with  hangings  of  sky- 
blue  velvet  and  silver;  the  chairs  were  of  ebony,  richly  carved, 
with  cushions  corresponding  to  the  hangings;  and  the  place 
of  the  silver  sconces  which  enlightened  the  ante-chamber  was 
supplied  by  a  huge  chandelier  of  the  same  precious  metal. 
The  floor  was  covered  with  a  Spanish  foot-cloth,  or  carpet, 
on  which  flowers  and  fruits  were  represented  in  such  glow- 
ing and  natural  colors  that  you  hesitated  to  place  the  foot  on 
such  exquisite  workmanship.  The  table,  of  old  English  oak, 
stood  ready  covered  with  the  finest  linen,  and  a  large  portable 
court-cupboard  was  placed  with  the  leaves  of  its  embossed 
folding-doors  displayed,  showing  the  shelves  within,  deco- 
rated with  a  full  display  of  plate  and  porcelain.  In  the  midst 
of  the  table  stood  a  salt-cellar  of  Italian  workmanship — ^a 
beautiful  and  splendid  piece  of  plate  about  two  feet  high, 
molded  into  a  representation  of  the  giant  Briareus,  whose 
hundred  hands  of  silver  presented  to  the  guest  various  sorts 
of  spices,  or  condiments,  to  season  their  food  withal. 

The  third  apartment  was  called  the  withdrawing-room.  It 
was  hung  with  the  finest  tapestry,  representing  the  fall  of 
Phaeton;  for  the  looms  of  Flanders  were  now  much  occupied 
on  classical  subjects.  The  principal  seat  of  this  apartment 
was  a  chair  of  state,  raised  a  step  or  two  from  the  floor,  and 
large  enough  to  contain  two  persons.  It  was  surmounted  by 
a  canopy,  which,  as  well  as  the  cushions,  side-curtains,  and 
the  very  foot-cloth,  was  composed  of  crimson  velvet,  em- 
broidered with  seed-pearl.  On  the  top  of  the  canopy  were 
two  coronets,  resembling  those  of  an  earl  and  countess. 
Stools  covered  with  velvet,  and  some  cushions  disposed  in  the 


ft*  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

Moorish  fashion,  and  ornamented  with  Arabesque  needle- 
work, supplied  the  place  of  chairs  in  this  apartment,  which 
contained  musical  instruments,  embroidery  frames,  and  other 
articles  for  ladies^  pastime.  Besides  lesser  lights,  the  with- 
drawing-room  was  illuminated  by  four  tall  torches  of  virgin 
wax,  each  of  which  was  placed  in  the  grasp  of  a  statue,  repre- 
senting an  armed  Moor,  who  held  in  his  left  arm  a  round 
buckler  of  silver,  highly  polished,  interposed  betwixt  his 
breast  and  the  light,  which  was  thus  brilliantly  reflected  as 
from  a  crystal  mirror. 

The  sleeping-chamber  belonging  to  this  splendid  suite  of 
apartments  was  decorated  in  a  taste  less  showy,  but  not  less 
rich,  than  had  been  displayed  in  the  others.  Two  silver 
lamps,  fed  with  perfumed  oil,  diffused  at  once  a  delicious  odor 
and  a  trembling  twilight-seeming  shimmer  through  the  quiet 
apartment.  It  was  carpeted  so  thick  that  the  heaviest  step 
could  not  have  been  heard;  and  the  bed,  richly  heaped  with 
down,  was  spread  with  an  ample  coverlet  of  silk  and  gold, 
from  under  which  peeped  forth  cambric  sheets,  and  blankets 
as  white  as  the  lambs  which  yielded  the  fleece  that  made 
them.  The  curtains  were  of  blue  velvet,  lined  with  crimson 
silk,  deeply  festooned  with  gold,  and  embroidered  with  the 
loves  of  Cupid  and  Psyche.  On  the  toilet  was  a  beautiful 
Venetian  mirror,  in  a  frame  of  silver  filigree,  and  beside  it 
stood  a  gold  posset-dish  to  contain  the  night-draught.  A 
pair  of  pistols  and  a  dagger,  mounted  with  gold,  were  dis- 
played near  the  head  of  the  bed,  being  the  arms  for  the  night, 
which  were  presented  to  honored  guests,  rather,  it  may  be 
supposed,  in  the  way  of  ceremony  than  from  any  apprehen- 
sion of  danger.  "We  must  not  omit  to  mention,  what  was 
more  to  the  credit  of  the  manners  of  the  time,  that  in  a  small 
recess,  illuminated  by  a  taper,  were  disposed  two  hassocks  of 
velvet  and  gold,  corresponding  with  the  bed  furniture,  be- 
fore a  desk  of  carved  ebony.  This  recess  had  formerly  been 
the  private  oratory  of  the  abbot,  but  the  crucifix  was  removed, 
and  instead  there  were  placed  on  the  desk  two  Books  of  Com- 
mon Prayer,  richly  bound  and  embossed  with  silver.  With 
this  enviable  sleeping-apartment,  which  was  so  far  removed 
from  every  sound,  save  that  of  the  wind  sighing  among  the 
oaks  of  the  park,  that  Morpheus  might  have  coveted  it  for 
his  own  proper  repose,  corresponded  two  wardrobes,  or  dress- 
ing-rooms, as  they  are  now  termed,  suitably  furnished,  and  in 
a  style  of  the  same  magnificence  which  we  have  already  de- 
scribed.    It  ought  to  be  added,  that  a  part  of  the  building  in 


KENILWORTH.  55 

the  adjoining  wing  was  occupied  by  the  kitchen  and  its 
offices,  and  served  to  accommodate  the  personal  attendants  of 
the  great  and  wealthy  nobleman  for  whose  use  these  magnifi- 
cent preparations  had  been  made. 

The  divinity  for  whose  sake  this  temple  had  been  decorated 
was  well  worthy  the  cost  and  pains  which  had  been  bestowed. 
She* was  seated  in  the  withdrawing-room  which  we  have  de- 
scribed, surveying  with  the  pleased  eye  of  natural  and  inno- 
cent vanity  the  splendor  which  had  been  so  suddenly  created, 
as  it  were,  in  her  honor.  For,  as  her  own  residence  at  Cum- 
nor  Place  formed  the  cause  of  the  mystery  observed  in  all  the 
preparations  for  opening  these  apartments,  it  was  sedulously 
arranged  that,  until  she  took  possession  of  them,  she  should 
have  no  means  of  knowing  what  was  going  forward  in  that 
part  of  the  ancient  building,  or  of  exposing  herself  to  be  seen 
by  the  workmen  engaged  in  the  decorations.  She  had  been, 
therefore,  introduced  on  that  evening  to  a  part  of  the  mansion 
which  she  had  never  yet  seen,  so  different  from  all  the  rest 
that  it  appeared,  in  comparison,  like  an  enchanted  palace. 
And  when  she  first  examined  and  occupied  these  splendid 
rooms,  it  was  with  the  wild  and  unrestrained  joy  of  a  rustic 
beauty,  who  finds  herself  suddenly  invested  with  a  splendor 
which  her  most  extravagant  wishes  had  never  imagined,  and 
at  the  same  time  with  the  keen  feeling  of  an  affectionate 
heart,  which  knows  that  all  the  enchantment  that  surrounds 
her  is  the  work  of  the  great  magician  Love. 

The  Countess  Amy,  therefore — for  to  that  rank  she  was 
exalted  by  her  private  but  solemn  union  with  England's 
proudest  earl — had  for  a  time  flitted  hastily  from  room  to 
room,  admiring  each  new  proof  of  her  lover  and  her  bride- 
groom's taste,  and  feeling  that  admiration  enhanced,  as  she 
recollected  that  all  she  gazed  upon  was  one  continued  proof 
of  his  ardent  and  devoted  affection.  "  How  beautiful  are 
these  hangings!  How  natural  these  paintings,  which  seem  to 
contend  with  life!  How  richly  wrought  is  that  plate,  which 
looks  as  if  all  the  galleons  of  Spain  had  been  intercepted  on 
the  broad  seas  to  furnish  it  forth!  And  oh,  Janet!  "  she  ex- 
claimed repeatedly  to  the  daughter  of  Anthony  Foster,  the 
close  attendant,  who,  with  equal  curiosity,  but  somewhat  less 
ecstatic  joy,  followed  on  her  mistress'  footsteps — "  Oh,  Janet! 
how  much  more  delightful  to  think  that  all  these  fair  things 
have  been  assembled  by  his  love,  for  the  love  of  me!  and  that 
this  evening, — this  very  evening, — which  grows  darker  every 
instant,  I  shall  thank  him  more  for  the  love  that  has  created 


5«  WA  VERLET  NO  VELS, 

such  an  unimaginable  paradise  than  for  all  the  wonders  it 
contains.'' 

"  The  Lord  is  to  be  thanked  first,"  said  the  pretty  Puritan, 
"  who  gave  thee,  lady,  the  kind  and  courteous  husband  whose 
love  has  done  so  much  for  thee.  I,  too,  have  done  my  poor 
share;  but  if  you  thus  run  wildly  from  room  to  room,  the  toil 
of  my  crisping  and  my  curling  pins  will  vanish  like  the  frost- 
work on  the  window  when  the  sun  is  high." 

"  Thou  sayest  true,  Janet,"  said  the  young  and  beautiful 
countess,  stopping  suddenly  from  her  tripping  race  of  en- 
raptured delight,  and  loo<king  at  herself  from  head  to  foot  in 
a  large  mirror,  such  as  she  had  never  before  seen,  and  which, 
indeed,  had  few  to  match  it  even  in  the  Queen's  palace — 
"thou  sayest  true,  Janet!"  she  answered,  as  she  saw,  with 
pardonable  self -applause,  the  noble  mirror  reflect  such  charms 
as  were  seldom  presented  to  its  fair  and  polished  surface;  "  I 
have  more  of  the  milkmaid  than  the  countess,  with  these 
cheeks  flushed  with  haste,  and  all  these  brown  curls,  which 
you  labored  to  bring  to  order,  straying  as  wild  as  the  tendrils 
of  an  unpruned  vine.  My  falling  ruff  is  chafed  too,  and 
sihows  the  neck  and  bosom  more  than  is  modest  and  seemly. 
Come,  Janet,  we  will  practice  state — ^we  will  go  to  the  with- 
drawing-room,  my  good  girl,  and  thou  shalt  put  these  rebel 
locks  in  order,  and  imprison  within  lace  and  cambric  the 
bosom  that  beats  too  high." 

They  went  to  the  withdrawing-apartment  accordingly, 
where  the  countess  playfully  stretched  herself  upon  the  pile 
of  Moorish  cushions,  half-sitting,  half-reclining,  half-wrapt 
in  her  own  thoughts,  half-listening  to  the  prattle  of  her  at- 
tendant. 

"While  she  was  in  this  attitude,  and  with  a  corresponding 
expression  betwixt  listlessness  and  expectation  on  her  fine  and 
intelligent  features,  you  might  have  searched  sea  and  land 
without  finding  anything  half  so  expressive  or  half  so  lovely. 
The  wreath  of  brilliants  which  mixed  with  her  dark  brown 
hair  did  not  match  in  luster  the  hazel  eye  which  a  light  brown 
eyebrow,  penciled  with  exquisite  delicacy,  and  long  eyelashes 
of  the  same  color,  relieved  and  shaded.  The  exercise  she  had 
just  taken,  her  excited  expectation  and  gratified  vanity,  spread 
a  glow  over  her  fine  features,  which  had  been  sometimes  cen- 
sured (as  beauty  as  well  as  art  has  her  minute  critics)  for 
being  rather  too  pale.  The  milk-white  pearls  of  the  necklace 
which  she  wore,  the  same  which  she  had  just  received  as  a 
true-love  token  from  her  husband,  were  excelled  in  purity  by 


KENILWORTH,  57 

her  teeth,  and  by  the  color  of  her  skin,  saving  where  the  blush 
of  pleasure  and  self-satisfaction  had  somewhat  stained  the 
necK  with  a  shade  of  light  crimson.  "  Now,  have  don€  with 
these  busy  fingers,  Janet,"  she  said  to  her  handmaiden,  who 
was  still  officiously  employed  in  bringing  her  hair  and  her 
dress  into  order — "  have  done,  I  say;  I  must  see  your  father 
ere  my  lord  arrives,  and  also  Master  Eichard  Varney,  whom 
my  lord  has  highly  in  his  esteem — but  I  could  tell  that  of  him 
would  lose  him  favor." 

"  Oh,  do  not  do  so,  good  my  lady! "  replied  Janet:  ''  leave 
him  to  God,  who  punishes  the  wicked  in  His  own  time;  but  do 
not  you  cross  Vamey's  path,  for  so  thoroughly  hath  he  my 
lord's  ear,  that  few  have  thriven  who  have  thwarted  his 
courses." 

"And  from  whom  had  you  this,  my  most  righteous  Ja- 
net? "  said  the  countess;  "  or  why  should  I  keep  terms  with  so 
mean  a  gentleman  as  Varney,  being,  as  I  am,  wife  to  his  mas- 
ter and  patron?" 

"Nay,  madam,"  replied  Janet  Foster,  "your  ladyship 
knows  better  than  I.  But  I  have  heard  my  father  say  he 
would  rather  cross  a  hungry  wolf  than  thwart  Richard  Var- 
ney in  his  projects.  And  he  has  often  charged  me  to  have  a 
care  of  holding  commerce  with  him." 

"Thy  father  said  well,  girl,  for  thee,"  replied  the  lady, 
"  and  I  dare  swear  meant  well.  It  is  a  pity,  though,  his  face 
and  manner  do  little  match  his  true  purpose,  for  I  think  his 
purpose  may  be  true." 

"  Doubt  it  not,  my  lady,"  answered  Janet — "  doubt  not 
that  my  father  purposes  well,  though  he  is  a  plain  man,  and 
his  blunt  looks  may  belie  his  heart." 

"  I  will  not  doubt  it,  girl,  were  it  only  for  thy  sake;  and  yet 
he  has  one  of  those  faces  which  men  tremble  when  they  look 
on.  I  think  even  thy  mother,  Janet — nay,  have  done  with 
that  poking-iron — could  hardly  look  upon  him  without 
quaking." 

"If  it  were  so,  madam,"  answered  Janet  Foster,  "my 
mother  had  those  who  could  keep  her  in  honorable  counte- 
nance. Why,  even  you,  my  lady,  both  trembled  and  blushed 
when  Varney  brought  the  letter  from  my  lord." 

"  You  are  bold,  damsel,"  said  the  countess,  rising  from  the 
cushions  on  which  she  sate  half-reclined  in  the  arms  of  her 
attendant.  "  Know,  that  there  are  causes  of  trembling  which 
have  nothing  to  do  with  fear.  But,  Janet,"  she  added,  imme- 
diately relapsing  into  the  good-natured  and  familiar  tone 


58  WA  VERLET  NO  VEL8. 

which  was  natural  to  her,  "  believe  me,  I  will  do  what  credit 
I  can  to  your  father,  and  the  rather  that  you,  sweetheart,  are 
his  child.  Alas!  alas! "  she  added,  a  sudden  sadness  passing 
over  her  fine  features  and  her  eyes  filling  with  tears,  "  I  ought 
the  rather  to  hold  sympathy  with  thy  kind  heart  that  my  own 
poor  father  is  uncertain  of  my  fate,  and  they  say  lies  sick  and 
sorrowful  for  my  worthless  sake!  But  I  will  soon  cheer  him: 
the  news  of  my  happiness  and  advancement  will  make  him 
young  again.  And  that  I  may  cheer  him  the  sooner  " — she 
wiped  her  eyes  as  she  spoke — "  I  must  be  cheerful  myself. 
My  lord  must  not  find  me  insensible  to  his  kindness,  or  sor- 
rowful when  he  snatches  a  visit  to  his  recluse,  after  so  long  an 
absence.  Be  merry,  Janet:  the  night  wears  on,  and  my  lord 
must  soon  arrive.  Call  thy  father  hither,  and  call  Vamey 
also.  I  cherish  resentment  against  neither;  and  though  1 
may  have  some  room  to  be  displeased  with  both,  it  shall  be 
their  own  fault  if  ever  a  complaint  against  them  reaches  the 
earl  through  my  means.     Call  them  hither,  Janet.'' 

Janet  Foster  obeyed  her  mistress;  and  in  a  few  minutes 
after,  Vamey  entered  the  withdrawing-room  with  the  grace- 
ful ease  and  unclouded  front  of  an  accomplished  courtier, 
skilled,  under  the  veil  of  external  politeness,  to  disguise  his 
own  feelings  and  to  penetrate  those  of  others.  Anthony 
Foster  plodded  into  the  apartment  after  him,  his  natural 
gloomy  vulgarity  of  aspect  seeming  to  become  yet  more  re- 
markable from  his  clumsy  attempt  to  conceal  the  mixture  of 
anxiety  and  dislike  with  which  he  looked  on  her  over  whom 
he  had  hitherto  exercised  so  severe  a  control,  now  so  splen- 
didly attired,  and  decked  with  so  many  pledges  of  the  interest 
which  she  possessed  in  her  husband's  affections.  The  blun- 
dering reverence  which  he  made,  rather  at  than  to  the  count- 
ess, had  confession  in  it.  It  was  like  the  reverence  which 
the  criminal  makes  to  the  judge,  when  he  at  once  owns  his 
guilt  and  implores  mercy,  which  is  at  the  same  time  an  impu- 
dent and  embarrassed  attempt  at  defense  or  extenuation,  a 
confession  of  a  fault,  and  an  entreaty  for  lenity. 

Vamey,  who,  in  right  of  his  gentle  blood,  had  pressed  into 
the  room  before  Anthony  Foster,  knew  better  what  to  say 
than  he,  and  said  it  with  more  assurance  and  a  better  grace. 

The  countess  greeted  him  indeed  with  an  appearance  of 
cordiality,  which  seemed  a  complete  amnesty  for  whatever 
she  might  have  to  complain  of.  She  rose  from  her  seat  and" 
advanced  two  steps  toward  him,  holding  forth  her  hand  as  she ' 
said,  "  Master  Eichard  Vamey,  you  brought  me  this  morning'^ 


KENILWORTH.  69 

such  welcome  tidings  that  I  fear  surprise  and  joy  made  me 
neglect  my  lord  and  husband's  charge  to  receive  you  with  dis- 
tinction.    We  offer  you  our  hand,  sir,  in  reconciliation." 

"I  am  unworthy  to  touch  it/'  said  Vamey,  dropping  on 
one  knee,  '^  save  as  a  subject  honors  that  of  a  prince." 

He  touched  with  his  lips  those  fair  and  slender  fingers,  so 
richly  loaded  with  rings  and  jewels;  then  rising,  with  grace- 
ful gallantry,  was  about  to  hand  her  to  the  chair  of  state, 
when  she  said,  "  No,  good  Master  Eichard  Varney,  I  take  not 
my  place  there  until  my  lord  himself  conducts  me.  I  am  for 
the  present  but  a  disguised  countess,  and  will  not  take  dignity 
on  me  until  authorized  by  him  whom  I  derive  it  from." 

"  I  trust,  my  lady,"  said  Foster,  "  that  in  doing  the  com- 
mands of  my  lord  your  husband,  in  your  restraint  and  so 
forth,  I  have  not  incurred  your  displeasure,  seeing  that  I  did 
but  my  duty  toward  your  lord  and  mine;  for  Heaven,  as  Holy 
Writ  saith,  hath  given  the  husband  supremacy  and  dominion 
over  the  wife — I  think  it  runs  so,  or  something  like  it." 

"  I  receive  at  this  moment  so  pleasant  a  surprisei.  Master 
Foster,"  answered  the  countess,  "  that  I  cannot  but  excuse 
the  rigid  fidelity  which  secluded  me  from  these  apartments 
until  they  had  assumed  an  appearance  so  new  and  so  splen- 
did." 

"  Aye,  lady,"  said  Foster,  "  it  hath  cost  many  a  fair  crown; 
and  that  more  need  not  be  wasted  than  is  absolutely  neces- 
sary, I  leave  you  till  my  lord's  arrival  with  good  Master 
Richard  Varney,  who,  as  I  think,  hath  somewhat  to  say  to  you 
from  your  most  noble  lord  and  husband.  Janet,  follow  me, 
to  see  that  all  be  in  order." 

"No,  Master  Foster,"  said  the  countess,  "we  will  your 
daughter  remains  here  in  our  apartment;  out  of  ear-shot,  how- 
ever, in  case  Varney  hath  aught  to  say  to  me  from  my  lord." 

Foster  made  his  clumsy  reverence  and  departed,  with  an 
aspect  that  seemed  to  grudge  the  profuse  expense  which  had 
been  wasted  upon  changing  his  house  from  a  bare  and  ruinous 
grange  to  an  Asiatic  palace.  When  he  was  gone,  his  daugh- 
ter took  her  embroidery  frame  and  went  to  establish  herself 
at  the  bottom  of  the  apartment,  while  Richard  Varney,  with 
a  profoundly  humble  courtesy,  took  the  lowest  stool  he  could 
find,  and  placing  it  by  the  side  of  the  pile  of  cushions  on 
which  the  countess  had  now  again  seated  herself,  sat  with  his 
eyes  for  a  time  fixed  on  the  ground,  and  in  profound  silence. 

"  I  thought,  Master  Varney,"  said  the  countess,  when  she 
saw  he  was  not  likely  to  open  the  conversation,  "  that  you  had 


60  WAVEBLET  NOVELS. 

somefthing  to  oommunicate  from  my  lord  and  husband;  do  at 
least  I  understood  Master  Foster,  and  therefore  I  removed  my 
waiting-maid.  If  I  am  mistaken,  I  will  recall  her  to  my  side; 
for  her  needle  is  not  so  absolutely  perfect  in  tent  and  cross- 
stitch  but  what  my  superintendence  is  advisable." 

"  Lady,"  said  Vamey,  "  Foster  was  partly  mistaken  in  my 
purpose.  It  was  not  from  but  of  your  noble  husband,  and  my 
approved  and  most  noble  patron,  that  I  am  led,  and  indeed 
bound  to  speak." 

"  The  theme  is  most  welcome,  sir,"  said  the  countess, 
"  whether  it  be  of  or  from  my  noble  husband.  But  be  brief, 
for  I  expect  his  hasty  approach." 

"  Briefly,  then,  madam,"  replied  Vamey,  "  and  boldly,  for 
my  argument  requires  both  haste  and  courage — ^you  have  this 
day  seen  Tressilian?  " 

"  I  have,  sir,  and  what  of  that?  "  answered  the  lady,  some- 
what sharply. 

"Nothing  that  concerns  me,  lady,"  Vamey  replied  with 
humility.  "  But,  think  you,  honored  madam,  that  your  lord 
will  hear  it  with  equal  equanimity?  " 

"  And  wherefore  should  he  not?  To  me  alone  was  Tres- 
silian's  visit  embarrassing  and  painful,  for  he  brought  news  of 
my  good  father's  illness." 

"  Of  your  father's  illness,  madam! "  answered  Vamey. 
"  It  must  have  been  sudden  then — very  sudden;  for  the  mes- 
senger whom  I  dispatched,  at  my  lord's  instance,  found  the 
good  knight  on  the  hunting-field,  cheering  his  beagles  with 
his  wonted  jovial  field-cry.  I  trust  Tressilian  has  but  forged 
this  news.  He  hath  his  reasons,  madam,  as  you  well  know- 
for  disquieting  your  present  happiness." 

"  You  do  him  injustice.  Master  Vamey,"  replied  the  count- 
ess, with  animation — "you  do  him  much  injustice.  He  is 
the  freest,  the  most  open,  the  most  gentle  heart  that  breathes. 
My  honorable  lord  ever  excepted,  I  know  not  one  to  whom 
falsehood  is  more  odious  than  to  Tressilian." 

"  I  crave  your  pardon,  madam,"  said  Vamey,  "  I  meant  the 
gentleman  no  injustice — I  knew  not  how  nearly  his  cause 
affected  you.  A  man  may,  in  some  circumstances,  disguise 
the  truth  for  fair  and  honest  purpose;  for  were  it  to  be 
always  spoken,  and  upon  all  occasions,  this  were  no  world  to 
live  in." 

"  You  have  a  courtly  conscience.  Master  Vamey,"  said  thej 
countess,  "  and  your  veracity  will  not,  I  think,  interrupt  your 
preferment  in  the  world,  such  as  it  is.    But  touching  Tresr 


KBNILWORTH.  61 

silian — I  must  do  him  justice,  for  I  have  done  him  wrong,  as 
none  knows  better  than  thou:  Tressilian's  consdenoe  is  of 
other  mold.  The  world  thou  speakest  of  has  not  that  which 
could  bribe  him  from  the  way  of  truth  and  honor;  and  for 
living  in  it  with  a  soiled  fame,  the  ermine  would  as  soon  seek 
to  lodge  in  the  den  of  the  foul  polecat.  For  this  my  father 
loved  him.  For  this  I  would  have  loved  him — ^if  I  could. 
And  yet  in  this  case  he  had  what  seemed  to  him,  unknowing 
alike  of  my  marriage  and  to  whom  I  was  united,  such  power- 
ful reasons  to  withdraw  me  from  this  place,  that  I  well  trust 
he  exaggerated  much  of  my  father's  indisposition,  and  that 
thy  better  news  may  be  the  truer." 

"Believe  me  they  are,  madam,"  answered  Vamiey.  "I  pre- 
tend not  to  be  a  champion  of  that  same  naked  virtue  called 
truth  to  the  very  entrance.  I  can  consent  that  her  charms 
be  hidden  with  a  veil,  were  it  but  for  decency's  sake.  But 
you  must  think  lower  of  my  head  and  heart  than  is  due  to  one 
whom  my  noble  lord  deigns  to  call  his  friend,  if  you  suppose 
I  could  willfully  and  unnecessarily  palm  upon  your  ladyship 
a  falsehood,  so  soon  to  be  detected,  in  a  matter  which  con- 
cerns your  happiness." 

"  Master  Varney,"  said  the  countess,  "  I  know  that  my  lord 
esteems  you,  and  holds  you  a  faithful  and  a  good  pilot  in 
those  seas  in  which  he  has  spread  so  high  and  so  venturous  a 
sail.  Do  not  suppose,  therefore,  I  meant  hardly  by  you  when 
I  spoke  the  truth  in  Tressilian's  vindication.  I  am,  as  you 
well  know,  country-bred,  and  like  plain  rustic  truth  better 
than  courtly  compliment;  but  I  must  change  my  fashions 
with  my  sphere,  I  presume." 

"  True,  madam,"  said  Vamey,  smiling,  "  and  though  y^a 
speak  now  in  jest,  it  will  not  be  amiss  that  in  earnest  your 
present  speech  had  some  connection  with  your  real  purpose. 
A  court  dame — take  the  most  noble — the  most  virtuous — the 
most  unimpeachable,  that  stands  around  our  Queen's  throne 
— would,  for  example,  have  shunned  to  speak  the  truth,  or 
what  she  thought  such,  in  praise  of  a  discarded  suitor,  beiore 
the  dependent  and  confidant  of  her  noble  husband." 

"  And  wherefore,"  said  the  countess,  coloring  impatiently, 
"  should  I  not  do  justice  to  Tressilian's  worth  before  my  hus- 
band's friend — ^before  my  husband  himself — before  the  whole 
world?" 

"  And  with  the  same  openness,"  said  Vamey,  "  your  lady- 
ship will  this  night  tell  my  noble  lord  your  husband  that 
Tressilian  has  discovered  your  place  of  residence,  so  anxiously 


eSJ  WAVBBLET  NOVELS, 

concealed  from  the  world,  and  that  he  has  had  an  interview 
with  you?" 

"  Unquestionably/'  said  the  countess.  "  It  will  be  the  first 
thing  I  tell  him,  together  with  every  word  that  Tressilian 
said,  and  that  I  answered.  I  shall  speak  my  own  shame  in 
this,  for  Tressilian's  reproaches,  less  just  than  he  esteemed 
them,  were  not  altogether  unmerited — I  will  speak,  therefore, 
with  pain,  but  I  will  speak,  and  speak  all." 

"  Your  ladyship  will  do  your  pleasure,"  answered  Vamey; 
'^  but  methinks  it  were  as  well,  since  nothing  calls  for  so  frank 
a  disclosure,  to  spare  yourself  this  pain,  and  my  noble  lord 
the  disquiet,  and  Master  Tressilian,  since  belike  he  must  be 
thought  of  in  thQ  matter,  the  danger  which  is  like  to  ensue." 

"  I  can  see  naught  of  all  these  terrible  consequences,"  said 
the  lady  composedly,  "  unless  by  imputing  to  my  noble  lord 
unworthy  thoughts,  which  I  am  sure  never  harbored  in  his 
generous  heart." 

"  Far  be  it  from  me  to  do  so,"  said  Vamey.  And  then, 
after  a  moment's  silence,  he  added,  with  a  real  or  affected 
plainness  of  manner  very  different  from  his  usual  smooth 
courtesy — "  Come,  madam,  I  will  ehow  you  that  a  courtier 
dare  speak  truth  as  well  as  another,  when  it  concerns  the  weal 
of  those  whom  he  honors  and  regards,  aye,  and  although  it 
may  infer  his  own  danger."  He  waited  as  if  to  receive  com- 
mands, or  at  least  permission,  to  go  on,  but  as  the  lady  re- 
mained silent,  he  proceeded,  but  obviously  with  caution. 
"  Look  around  you,"  he  said,  "  noble  lady,  and  observe  the 
barriers  with  which  this  place  is  surrounded,  the  studious 
mystery  with  which  the  brightest  jewel  that  England  pos- 
sesses is  secluded  from  the  admiring  gaze.  See  with  what 
rigor  your  walks  are  circumscribed,  and  your  movements  re^ 
strained  at  the  beck  of  yonder  churlish  Foster.  Consider  all 
this,  and  judge  for  yourself  what  can  be  the  cause." 

"  My  lord's  pleasure,"  answered  the  countess;  "  and  I  am 
bound  to  seek  no  other  motive." 

"  His  pleasure  it  is  indeed,"  said  Vamey;  "  and  his  pleasure 
arises  out  of  a  love  worthy  of  the  object  which  inspires  it. 
But  he  who  possesses  a  treasure,  and  who  values  it,  is  oft  anx- 
ious, in  proportion  to  the  value  he  puts  upon  it,  to  secure  it 
from  the  depredations  of  others." 

"  What  needs  all  this  talk,  Master  Vamey?  "  said  the  lady, 
in  reply.  "  You  would  have  me  believe  that  my  noble  lord 
is  jealous?     Suppose  it  true,  I  know  a  cure  for  jealousy." 

"  Indeed,  madam!  "  said  Varney. 


KENILWORTH.  68 

**  It  is,"  replied  the  lady,  "  to  speak  the  truth  to  my  lord  at 
all  times,  to  hold  up  my  mind  and  my  thoughts  before  him 
as  pure  as  that  polished  mirror;  so  that  when  he  looks  into 
my  heart  he  shall  only  see  his  own  features  reflected  there." 

"  I  am  mute,  madam,"  answered  Vamey;  "  and  as  I  have 
no  reason  to  grieve  for  Tressilian,  who  would  have  my  heart's 
blood  were  he  able,  I  shall  reconcile  myself  easily  to  what  may 
befall  the  gentleman  in  consequence  of  your  frank  disclosure 
of  his  having  presumed  to  intrude  upon  your  solitude.  You, 
who  know  my  lord  so  much  better  than  I,  will  judge  if  he  be 
likely  to  bear  the  insult  unavenged." 

"  Nay,  if  I  could  think  myself  the  cause  of  Tressilian's 
ruin,"  said  the  countess — "  I  who  have  already  occasioned 
him  so  much  distress,  I  might  be  brought  to  be  silent.  And 
yet  what  will  it  avail,  since  he  was  seen  by  Foster,  and  I  think 
by  someone  else?  No,  no,  Varney,  urge  it  no  more.  I  will 
tell  the  whole  matter  to  my  lord;  and  with  such  pleading  for 
Tressilian's  folly  as  shall  dispose  my  lord's  generous  heart 
rather  to  serve  than  to  punish  him." 

"  Your  judgment,  madam,"  said  Varney,  "  is  far  superior 
to  mine,  especially  as  you  may,  if  you  will,  prove  the  ice  be- 
fore you  step  on  it,  by  mentioning  Tressilian's  name  to  my 
lord,  and  observing  how  he  endures  it.  For  Foster  and  his 
attendant,  they  know  not  Tressilian  by  sight,  and  I  can  easily 
give  them  some  reasonable  excuse  for  the  appearance  of  an 
unknown  stranger." 

The  lady  paused  for  an  instant,  and  then  replied,  "  If,  Var- 
ney, it  be  indeed  true  that  Foster  knows  not  as  yet  that  the 
man  he  saw  was  Tressilian,  I  own  I  were  unwilling  he  should 
learn  what  nowise  concerns  him.  He  bears  himself  already 
with  austerity  enough,  and  I  wish  him  not  to  be  judge  or 
privy-councilor  in  my  affairs." 

"  Tush,"  said  Vamey,  "  what  has  the  surly  groom  to  do 
with  your  ladyship's  concerns?  No  more,  surely,  than  the 
ban-dog  which  watches  his  courtyard.  If  he  is  in  aught  dis- 
tasteful to  your  ladyship,  I  have  interest  enough  to  have  him 
exchanged  for  a  seneschal  that  shall  be  more  agreeable  to 
you." 

"  Master  Varney,"  said  the  countess,  "  let  us  drop  this 
theme:  when  I  complain  of  the  attendants  whom  my  lord  has 
placed  around  me,  it  must  be  to  my  lord  himself.  Hark!  I 
hear  the  trampling  of  a  horse.  He  comes! — he  comes!  "  sihe 
exclaimed,  jumping  up  in  ecstasy. 

"  I  cannot  think  it  is  he,"  said  Varney,  "  or  that  you  can 


«4  WA  VERLET  NO  VEL8. 

hear  the  tread  of  his  horse  through  the  closely  mantled  case- 
ments." 

"  Stop  me  not,  Vamey;  my  ears  are  keener  than  thine — ^it 
is  he! " 

''  But,  madam! — but,  madam! "  exclaimed  Varney  anx- 
iously, and  still  placing  himself  in  her  way,  "  I  trust  that 
what  I  have  spoken  in  humble  duty  and  service  will  not  be 
turned  to  my  ruin.  I  hope  that  my  faithful  advice  will  not 
be  bewrayed  to  my  prejudice.     I  implore  that " 

"  Content  thee,  man — content  thee! "  said  the  countess, 
"  and  quit  my  skirt:  you  are  too  bold  to  detain  me.  Content 
thyself,  I  think  not  of  thee." 

At  this  moment  the  folding-doors  flew  wide  open,  and  a 
man  of  majestic  mien,  muffled  in  the  folds  of  a  long  dark 
riding-cloak,  entered  the  apartment. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

This  is  he 
Who  rides  on  the  court  gale,  controls  its  tides, 
Knows  all  their  secrets  shoals  and  fatal  eddies, 
Whose  frown  abases,  and  whose  smile  exalts. 
He  shines  like  a  rainbow— and,  perchance, 
His  colours  are  as  transient. 

—Old  Play. 

There  was  some  little  displeasure  and  confusion  on  the 
countese'  brow,  owing  to  her  struggle  with  Vamey's  perti- 
nacity; but  it  was  exchanged  for  an  expression  of  the  purest 
joy  and  affection,  as  she  threw  herself  into  the  arms  of  the 
noble  stranger  who  entered,  and  clasping  him  to  her  bosom, 
exclaimed,  "  At  length — at  length  thou  art  come!  " 

Varney  discreetly  withdrew  as  his  lord  entered,  and  Janet 
was  about  to  do  the  same,  when  her  mistress  signed  to  her  to 
remain.  She  took  her  place  at  the  farther  end  of  the  apart- 
ment, and  continued  standing,  as  if  ready  for  attendance. 

Meanwhile  the  earl,  for  he  was  of  no  inferior  rank,  returned 
his  lady^s  caress  with  the  most  affectionate  ardor,  but  affected 
to  resist  when  she  strove  to  take  his  cloak  from  him. 

"  Nay,"  she  said,  "  but  I  will  unmantle  you.  I  must  see  if 
you  have  kept  your  word  to  me,  and  come  as  the  great  earl 
men  call  thee,  and  not,  as  heretofore,  like  a  private  cavalier." 

"  Thou  art  like  the  rest  of  the  world.  Amy,"  said  the  earl, 
suffering  her  to  prevail  in  the  playful  contest:  "the  jewels, 
and  feathers,  and  silk  are  more  to  them  than  the  man  whom 
they  adorn:  many  a  poor  blade  looks  gay  in  a  velvet  scabbard." 

"  But  so  cannot  men  say  of  thee,  thou  noble  earl,"  said  his 
lady,  as  the  cloak  dropped  on  the  floor,  and  showed  him 
dressed  as  princes  when  they  ride  abroad;  "  thou  art  the  good 
and  well-tried  steel,  whose  inly  worth  deserves,  yet  disdains,  its 
outward  ornaments.  Do  not  think  Amy  can  love  thee  better 
in  this  glorious  garb  than  she  did  when  she  gave  her  heart  to 
him  who  wore  the  russet-brown  cloak  in  the  woods  of  Devon." 

"And  thou  too,"  said  the  earl,  as  gracefully  and  majesti- 
cally he  led  his  beautiful  countess  toward  the  chair  of  state 
which  was  prepared  for  them  both — "  thou  too,  my  love,  hast 
donned  a  dress  which  becomes  thy  rank,  though  it  cannot 
improve  thy  beauty.    What  think'st  thou  of  our  court  taste?" 


6«  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

The  lady  cast  a  sidelong  glance  upon  the  great  mirror  as 
they  passed  it  by,  and  then  said,  "  I  know  not  how  it  is,  but  I 
think  not  of  my  own  person  while  I  look  at  the  reflection  of 
thine.  Sit  thou  there,"  she  said,  as  they  approached  the 
chair  of  state,  "  like  a  thing  for  men  to  worship  and  to 
wonder  at." 

"Aye,  love,"  said  the  earl,  "if  thou  wilt  share  my  state 
with  me." 

"  Not  so,"  said  the  countess;  "  I  will  sit  on  this  footstool  at 
thy  feet,  that  I  may  spell  over  thy  splendor,  and  learn,  for 
the  first  time,  how  princes  are  attired." 

And  with  a  childish  wonder  which  her  youth  and  rustic 
education  rendered  not  only  excusable  but  becoming,  mixed 
as  it  was  with  a  delicate  show  of  the  most  tender  conjugal 
affection,  she  examined  and  admired  from  head  to  foot  the 
noble  form  and  princely  attire  of  him  who  formed  the 
proudest  ornament  of  the  court  of  England's  Maiden  Queen, 
renowned  as  it  was  for  splendid  courtiers,  as  well  as  for  wise 
counselors.  Eegarding  affectionately  his  lovely  bride,  and 
gratified  by  her  unrepressed  admiration,  the  dark  eye  and 
noble  features  of  the  earl  expressed  passions  more  gentle  than 
the  commanding  and  aspiring  look  which  usually  sate  upon 
his  broad  forehead  and  in  the  piercing  brilliancy  of  his  dark 
eye;  and  he  smiled  at  the  simplicity  which  dictated  the  ques- 
tions she  put  to  him  concerning  the  various  ornaments  with 
which  he  was  decorated. 

"  The  embroidered  strap,  as  thou  callest  it,  around  my 
knee,"  he  said,  "  is  the  English  Garter — an  ornament  which 
kings  are  proud  to  wear.  See,  here  is  the  star  which  belongs 
to  it,  and  here  the  Diamond  George,  the  jewel  of  the  order. 
You  have  heard  how  King  Edward  and  the  Countess  of 
Salisbury " 

"  Oh,  I  know  all  that  tale,"  said  the  countess,  slightly 
blushing,  "  and  how  a  lady's  garter  became  the  proudest 
badge  of  English  chivalry." 

"  Even  so,"  said  the  earl;  "  and  this  most  honorable  order 
I  had  the  good  hap  to  receive  at  the  same  time  with  three 
most  noble  associates — the  Duke  of  Norfolk,  the  Marquis  of 
Northampton,  and  the  Earl  of  Rutland.  I  was  the  lowest  of 
the  four  in  rank;  but  what  then?  he  that  climbs  a  ladder  must 
begin  at  the  first  round." 

"  But  this  other  fair  collar,  so  richly  wrought,  with  some 
jewel  like  a  sheep  hung  by  the  middle  attached  to  it,  what," 
Bflid  the  young  countess,  "  does  that  emblem  signify?  " 


KBNILWORTB,  6T 

"  This  collar/'  said  the  earl,  "  with  its  double  f  usilles  inter- 
changed with  these  knobs,  which  are  supposed  to  present 
flint-stones,  sparkling  with  fire,  and  sustaining  the  jewel  you 
inquire  about,  is  the  badge  of  the  noble  order  of  the  Golden 
Fleece,  once  appertaining  to  the  house  of  Burgundy.  It  hath 
high  privileges,  my  Amy,  belonging  to  it,  this  most  noble 
order;  for  even  the  king  of  Spain  himself,  who  hath  now  suc- 
ceeded to  the  honors  and  demesnes  of  Burgundy,  may  not  sit 
in  judgment  upon  a  knight  of  the  Golden  Fleece,  unless  by 
assistance  and  consent  of  the  great  chapter  of  the  order." 

"  And  is  this  an  order  belonging  to  the  cruel  king  of 
Spain?  "  said  the  countess.  "  Alas,  my  noble  lord!  that  you 
will  defile  your  noble  English  breast  by  bearing  such  an  em- 
blem! Bethink  you  of  the  most  unhappy  Queen  Mary's  days, 
when  this  same  Philip  held  sway  with  her  in  England,  and  of 
the  piles  which  were  built  for  our  noblest,  and  our  wisest,  and 
our  most  truly  sanctified  prelates  and  divines.  And  will  you, 
whom  men  call  the  standard-bearer  of  the  true  Protestant 
faith,  be  contented  to  wear  the  emblem  and  mark  of  such  a 
Komish  tyrant  as  he  of  Spain?  " 

"  Oh,  content  you,  my  love,"  answered  the  earl;  "  we  who 
spread  our  sails  to  gales  of  court  fa.vor  cannot  always  display 
the  ensigns  we  love  the  best,  or  at  all  times  refuse  sailing  under 
colors  which  we  like  not.  Believe  me,  I  am  not  the  less  good 
Protestant  that  for  policy  I  must  accept  the  honor  offered  me 
by  Spain,  in  admitting  me  to  this  his  highest  order  of  knight- 
hood. Besides,  it  belongs  properly  to  Flanders;  and  Egmont, 
Orange,  and  others  have  pride  in  seeing  it  displayed  on  an 
English  bosom." 

"  Nay,  my  lord,  you  know  your  own  path  best,"  replied  the 
countess.  "  And  this  other  collar,  to  what  country  does  this 
fair  jewel  belong?" 

"To  a  very  poor  one,  my  love,"  replied  the  eaxl:  "this  is 
the  order  of  St.  Andrew,  revived  by  the  last  James  of  Scot- 
land. It  was  bestowed  on  me  when  it  was  thought  the  young 
widow  of  France  and  Scotland  would  gladly  have  wedded  an 
English  baron;  but  a  free  coronet  of  England  is  worth  a  crown 

I  matrimonial  held  at  the  humor  of  a  woman,  and  owning  only 
the  poor  rocks  and  bogs  of  the  north." 
The  countess  paused,  as  if  what  the  earl  last  said  had  ex- 
cited some  painful  but  interesting  train  of  thought;  and,  as 
sho  still  remained  silent,  her  husband  proceeded. 
"  And  now,  loveliest,  your  wish  is  gratified,  and  you  have 
seen  your  vassal  in  s^ich  oi  hig  iiup.  axraj[  as  accords  with  rid- 


68  WAVEBLET  NOVELS, 

ing  vestments;  for  robes  of  state  and  coronets  are  only  for 
princely  halls." 

"  Well,  then/'  said  the  countess,  "  my  gratified  wish  has,  as 
usual,  given  rise  to  a  new  one." 

"  And  what  is  it  thou  canst  ask  that  I  can  deny?  "  said  the 
fond  husband. 

"I  wished  to  see  my  earl  visit  this  obscure  and  secret 
bower,"  said  the  countess,  "  in  all  his  princely  array;  and  now, 
methinks,  I  long  to  sit  in  one  of  his  princely  halls,  and  see 
him  enter  dressed  in  sober  russet,  as  when  he  won  poor  Amy 
Robsart's  heart." 

"  That  is  a  wish  easily  granted,"  said  the  earl;  "  the  sober 
russet  shall  be  donned  to-morrow,  if  you  will." 

"  But  shall  I,"  said  the  lady,  "  go  with  you  to  one  of  your 
castles,  to  see  how  the  richness  of  your  dwelling  will  corre- 
spond with  your  peasant  habit?  " 

"  Why,  Amy,"  said  the  earl,  looking  around,  "  are  not  these 
apartments  decorated  with  sufficient  splendor?  I  gave  the 
most  unbounded  order,  and,  methinks,  it  has  been  indiffer- 
ently well  obeyed;  but  if  thou  canst  tell  me  aught  which  re- 
mains to  be  done,  I  will  instantly  give  direction." 

"  Nay,  my  lord,  now  you  mock  me,"  replied  the  countess; 
"  the  gayety  of  this  rich  lodging  exceeds  my  imagination  as 
much  as  it  does  my  desert.  But  shall  not  your  wife,  my  love 
— at  least  one  day  soon — be  surrounded  with  the  honor  which 
arises  neither  from  the  toils  of  the  mechanic  who  decks  her 
apartment  nor  from  the  silks  and  jewels  with  which  your 
generosity  adorns  her,  but  which  is  attached  to  her  place 
among  the  matronage,  as  the  avowed  wife  of  England's 
noblest  earl?" 

"  One  day!  "  said  her  husband.  "  Yes,  Amy,  my  love,  one 
day  this  shall  surely  happen;  and,  believe  me,  thou  canst  not 
wish  for  that  day  more  fondly  than  I.  With  what  rapture 
could  I  retire  from  labors  of  state,  and  cares  and  toils  of  ambi- 
tion, to  spend  my  life  in  dignity  and  honor  on  my  own  broad 
domains,  with  thee,  my  lovely  Amy,  for  my  friend  and  com- 
panion! But,  Amy,  this  cannot  yet  be;  and  these  dear  but 
stolen  interviews  are  all  I  can  give  to  the  loveliest  and  the  best 
beloved  of  her  sex." 

"  But  why  can  it  not  be?  "  urged  the  countess,  in  the  softest 
tones  of  persuasion.  "  Why  can  it  not  immediately  take 
place — this  more  perfect,  this  uninterrupted  union,  for  which 
you  say  you  wish,  and  which  the  laws  of  God  and  man  alike 
comjnand?    Ah!  did  you  but  desire  it  half  as  much  as  you 


EENILWORTH.  6« 

say,  mighty  and  favored  as  you  are,  who  or  what  should  bar 
your  attaining  your  wish?  " 

The  earPs  brow  was  overcast. 

"  Amy,"  he  said,  "  you  speak  of  what  you  understand  not. 
We  that  toil  in  courts  are  like  those  who  climb  a  mountain  of 
loose  sand:  we  dare  make  no  halt  until  some  projecting  rock 
afford  us  a  secure  footing  and  resting-place;  if  we  pause 
sooner,  we  slide  down  by  our  weight,  an  object  of  universal 
derision.  I  stand  high,  but  I  stand  not  secure  enough  to 
follow  my  own  inclination.  To  declare  my  marriage  were  to 
be  the  artificer  of  my  own  ruin.  But,  believe  me,  I  will  reach 
a  point,  and  that  speedily,  when  I  can  do  justice  to  thee  and 
to  myself.  Meantime,  poison  not  the  bliss  of  the  present  mo- 
ment by  desiring  that  which  cannot  at  present  be.  Let  me 
rather  know  whether  all  here  is  managed  to  thy  liking.  How 
does  Foster  bear  himself  to  you?  in  all  things  respectful,  I 
trust,  else  the  fellow  shall  dearly  rue  it." 

"He  reminds  me  sometimes  of  the  necessity  of  this  pri- 
vacy," answered  the  lady,  with  a  sigh;  "  but  that  is  reminding 
me  of  your  wishes,  and  therefore  I  am  rather  bound  to  him 
than  disposed  to  blame  him  for  it." 

"  I  have  told  you  the  stem  necessity  which  is  upon  us," 
replied  the  earl.  "Foster  is,  I  note,  somewhat  sullen  of 
mood,  but  Varney  warrants  to  me  his  fidelity  and  devotion  to 
my  service.  If  thou  hast  aught,  however,  to  complain  of  the 
mode  in  which  he  discharges  his  duty,  he  shall  abye  it." 

"  Oh,  I  have  naught  to  complain  of,"  answered  the  lady, 
"  so  he  discharges  his  task  with  fidelity  to  you;  and  his  daugh- 
ter Janet  is  the  kindest  and  best  companion  of  my  solitude, 
her  little  air  of  precision  sits  so  well  upon  her!  " 

"  Is  she  indeed?  "  said  the  earl;  "  she  who  gives  you  pleas- 
ure must  not  pass  unrewarded.     Come  hither,  damsel." 

"  Janet,"  said  the  lady,  "  come  hither  to  my  lord." 

Janet,  who,  as  we  already  noticed,  had  discreetly  retired  to 
some  distance,  that  her  presence  might  be  no  check  upon  the 
private  conversation  of  her  lord  and  lady,  now  came  forward; 
and  as  she  made  her  reverential  courtesy,  the  earl  could  not 
avoid  smiling  at  the  contrast  which  the  extreme  simplicity  of 
her  dress,  and  the  prim  demureness  of  her  looks,  made  with  a 
very  pretty  countenance  and  a  pair  of  black  eyes,  that  laughed 
in  spite  of  their  mistress'  desire  to  look  grave. 

"I  am  bound  to  you,  pretty  damsel,"  said  the  earl,  "for 
the  contentment  which  your  service  hath  given  to  this  lady." 
As  he  said  this,  he  took  from  his  finger  a  ring  of  some  price. 


^  WA  VERLEY  NO  VEL8. 

and  offered  it  to  Janet  Foster,  adding,  "  Wear  this,  for  her 
sake  and  for  mine." 

"  I  am  well  pleased,  my  lord,"  answered  Janet  demurely, 
"  that  my  poor  service  hath  gratified  my  lady,  whom  no  one 
can  draw  nigh  to  without  desiring  to  please;  but  we  of  the 
precious  Master  Holdforth's  congregation  seek  not,  like  the 
gay  daughters  of  this  world,  to  twine  gold  around  our  fingers, 
or  wear  stones  upon  our  necks,  like  the  vain  women  of  Tyre 
and  of  Sidon." 

"  Oh,  what!  you  are  a  grave  professor  of  the  precise  sister- 
hood, pretty  Mrs.  Janet,"  said  the  earl,  "  and  I  think  your 
father  is  of  the  same  congregation  in  sincerity.  I  like  you 
both  the  better  for  it;  for  I  have  been  prayed  for,  and  wished 
well  to,  in  your  congregations.  And  you  may  the  better 
afford  the  lack  of  ornament,  Mrs.  Janet,  because  your  fingers 
are  slender  and  your  neck  white.  But  here  is  what  neither 
Papist  nor  Puritan,  latitudinarian  nor  precisian,  ever  boggles 
or  makes  mouths  at.  E'en  take  it,  my  girl,  and  employ  it  as 
you  list." 

So  saying,  he  put  into  her  hand  five  broad  gold  pieces  of 
Philip  and  Mary. 

"  I  would  not  accept  this  gold  neither,"  said  Janet,  "  but 
that  I  hope  to  find  a  use  for  it  which  will  bring  a  blessing  on 
us  all." 

**  Even  please  thyself,  pretty  Janet,"  said  the  earl,  ^^  and  I 
shall  be  well  satisfied.  And  I  prithee  let  them  hasten  the 
evening  collation.  " 

"  I  have  bidden  Master  Vamey  and  Master  Foster  to  sup 
with  us,  my  lord,"  said  the  countess,  as  Janet  retired  to  obey 
the  earl's  commands;  "  has  it  your  approbation  ?  " 

"  What  you  do  ever  must  have  so,  my  sweet  Amy,"  replied 
her  husband;  "  and  I  am  the  better  pleased  thou  hast  done 
them  this  grace,  because  Eichard  Vamey  is  my  sworn  man, 
and  a  close  brother  of  my  secret  council;  and  for  the  present 
I  must  needs  repose  much  trust  in  this  Anthony  Foster." 

"  I  had  a  boon  to  beg  of  thee,  and  a  secret  to  tell  thee,  my 
dear  lord,"  said  the  countess,  with  a  faltering  accent. 

"  Let  both  be  for  to-morrow,  my  love,"  replied  the  earl. 
"I  see  they  open  the  folding-doors  into  the  banqueting- 
parlor,  and,  as  I  have  ridden  far  and  fast,  a  cup  of  wine  will 
not  be  unacceptable." 

So  saying,  he  led  his  lovely  wife  into  the  next  apartment, 
where  Varney  and  Foster  received  them  with  the  deepest 
reverences,  which  the  first  paid  after  the  fashion  of  the  court. 


KSNILWORTB.  M 

and  the  second  after  that  of  the  congregation.  The  earl  re- 
turned their  salutation  with  the  negligent  courtesy  of  one 
long  used  to  such  homage;  while  the  countess  repaid  it  with 
a  punctilious  solicitude  which  showed  it  was  not  quite  so 
familiar  to  her. 

The  banquet  at  which  the  company  seated  themselves  cor- 
responded in  magnificence  with  the  splendor  of  the  apart- 
ment in  which  it  was  served  up,  but  no  domestic  gave  his 
attendance.  Janet  alone  stood  ready  to  wait  upon  the  com- 
pany; and,  indeed,  the  board  was  so  well  supplied  with  all 
that  could  be  desired  that  little  or  no  assistance  was  necessary. 
The  earl  and  his  lady  occupied  the  upper  end  of  the  table,  and 
Vamey  and  Foster  sat  beneath  the  salt,  as  was  the  custom 
with  inferiors.  The  latter,  overawed  perhaps  by  society  to 
which  he  was  altogether  unused,  did  not  utter  a  single 
syllable  during  the  repast;  while  Vamey,  with  great  tact  and 
discernment,  sustained  just  so  much  of  the  conversation  as, 
without  the  appearance  of  intrusion  on  his  part,  prevented  it 
from  languishing,  and  maintained  the  good-humor  of  the  earl 
at  the  highest  pitch.  This  man  was  indeed  highly  qualified 
by  nature  to  discharge  the  part  in  which  he  found  himself 
-  placed,  being  discreet  and  cautious  on  the  one  hand,  and  on 
the  other  quick,  keen-witted,  and  imaginative;  so  that  even 
the  countess,  prejudiced  as  she  was  against  him  on  many  ac- 
counts, felt  and  enjoyed  his  powers  of  conversation,  and  was 
more  disposed  than  she  had  ever  hitherto  found  herself  to 
join  in  the  praises  which  the  earl  lavished  on  his  favorite. 
The  hour  of  rest  at  length  arrived,  the  earl  and  countess  re- 
tired to  their  apartment,  and  all  was  silent  in  the  castle  for 
the  rest  of  the  night. 

Early  on  the  ensuing  morning,  Vamey  acted  as  the  earl's 
chamberlain  as  well  as  his  master  of  horse,  though  the  latter 
was  his  proper  office  in  that  magnificent  household,  where 
knights  and  gentlemen  of  good  descent  were  well  contented 
to  hold  such  menial  situations  as  nobles  themselves  held  in 
that  of  the  sovereign.  The  duties  of  each  of  these  charges 
were  familiar  to  Varney,  who,  sprung  from  an  ancient  but 

I  somewhat  decayed  family,  was  the  earFs  page  during  his 
earlier  and  more  obscure  fortunes,  and  faithful  to  him  in 
adversity,  had  afterward  contrived  to  render  himself  no  less 
useful  to  him  in  his  rapid  and  splendid  advance  to  fortune; 
thus  establishing  in  him  an  interest  resting  both  on  present 
and  past  services,  which  rendered  him  an  almost  indispensa- 
ble sharer  of  his  confidence. 


12  WA  VERLET  NO  VEL8. 

''  Help  me  to  do  on  a  plainer  riding-suit,  Vamey,"  said  the 
earl,  as  Ue  laid  aside  his  morning-gown,  flowered  with  silk 
and  hned  with  sables,  "  and  put  these  chains  and  f  ettens  there 
[pointing  to  the  collars  of  the  vajious  orders  which  lay  on  the 
table]  into  their  place  of  security;  my  neck  last  night  was 
well-nigh  broke  with  the  weight  of  them.  I  am  half  of  the 
mind  that  they  shall  gall  me  no  more.  They  are  bonds  which 
knaves  have  invented  to  fetter  fools.  How  think'st  thou, 
Varney?  " 

"  Faith,  my  good  lord,"  said  his  attendant,  "  I  think  fetters 
of  gold  are  like  no  other  fetters:  they  are  ever  the  weightier 
the  welcomer." 

"For  all  that,  Varney,"  replied  his  master,  "I  am  well- 
nigh  resolved  they  shall  bind  me  to  the  court  no  longer. 
What  can  further  service  and  higher  favor  give  me,  beyond 
the  rank  and  large  estate  which  I  have  already  secured? 
What  brought  my  father  to  the  block,  but  that  he  could  not 
bound  his  wishes  within  right  and  reason?  I  have,  you 
know,  had  mine  own  ventures  and  mine  own  escapes;  I  am 
well-nigh  resolved  to  tempt  the  sea  no  farther,  but  sit  me 
down  in  quiet  on  the  shore." 

"And  gather  cockle-shells,  with  Dan  Cupid  to  aid  you,'' 
said  Vamey. 

"  How  mean  you  by  that,  Vamey?  "  said  the  earl,  some- 
what hastily. 

"  Nay,  my  lord,"  said  -Vaxney,  "  be  not  angry  with  me.  If 
your  lordship  is  happy  in  a  lady  so  rarely  lovely  that,  in  order 
to  enjoy  her  company  with  somewhat  more  freedom,  you  are 
willing  to  part  with  all  you  have  hitherto  lived  for,  some  of 
your  poor  servants  may  be  sufferers;  but  your  bounty  hath 
placed  me  so  high,  that  I  shall  ever  have  enough  to  maintain 
a  poor  gentleman  in  the  rank  befitting  the  high  office  he  has 
held  in  your  lordship^s  family." 

"  Yet  you  seem  discontented  when  I  propose  throwing  up 
a  dangerous  game,  which  may  end  in  the  ruin  of  both  of  us." 

"  I,  my  lord!  "  said  Vamey;  "  surely  I  have  no  cause  to  re- 
gret your  lordship's  retreat.  It  will  not  be  Eichard  Varney 
who  will  incur  the  displeasure  of  majesty,  and  the  ridicule  of 
the  court,  when  the  stateliest  fabric  that  ever  was  founded 
upon  a  prince's  favor  melts  away  like  a  morning  frost-work. 
I  would  only  have  you  yourself  be  assured,  my  lord,  ere  you 
take  a  step  which  cannot  be  retracted,  that  you  consult  your 
fame  and  happiness  in  the  course  you  propose." 

"  Speak  on,  then,  Varney,"  said  the  earl;  "  I  tell  thee  1 


KENILWORTH.  ^t 

have  determined  nothing,  and  will  weigh  all  considerations  on 
either  side." 

"  Well,  then,  my  lord,"  replied  Vamey,  "  we  will  suppose 
the  step  taken,  the  frown  frowned,  the  laugh  laughed,  and 
the  moan  moaned.  You  have  retired,  we  will  say,  to  some 
one  of  your  most  distant  castles,  so  far  from  court  that  you 
hear  neither  the  sorrow  of  your  friends  nor  the  glee  of  your 
enemies.  We  will  suppose,  too,  that  your  successful  rival  will 
be  satisfied — a  thing  greatly  to  he  doubted — with  abridging 
and  cutting  away  the  branches  of  the  great  tree  which  so  long 
kept  the  sun  from  him,  and  that  he  does  not  insist  upon  tear- 
ing you  up  by  the  roots.  Well,  the  late  prime  favorite  of 
England,  who  wielded  her  general's  staff  and  controlled  her 
parliaments,  is  now  a  rural  baron,  hunting,  hawking,  drinking 
fat  ale  with  country  esquires,  and  mustering  his  men  at  the 
command  of  the  high  sheriff '^ 

'^  Varney,  forbear!  "  said  the  earl. 

"  Nay,  my  lord,  you  must  give  me  leave  to  conclude  my 
picture.  Sussex  governs  England,  the  Queen's  health  failsj 
the  succession  is  to  be  settled — a  road  is  opened  to  ambition 
more  splendid  than  ambition  ever  dreamed  of.  You  hear  all 
this  as  you  sit  by  the  hob,  under  the  shade  of  your  hall  chim- 
ney. You  then  begin  to  think  what  hopes  you  have  fallen 
from,  and  what  insignificance  you  have  embraced,  and  all  that 
you  might  look  babies  in  the  eyes  of  your  fair  wife  oftener 
than  once  a  fortnight.'' 

"  I  say,  Varney,"  said  the  earl,  "  no  more  of  this.  I  said 
not  that  the  step,  which  my  own  ease  and  comfort  would  urge 
me  to,  was  to  be  taken  hastily,  or  without  due  consideration 
to  the  public  safety.  Bear  witness  to  me,  Varney;  I  subdue 
my  wishes  of  retirement,  not  because  I  am  moved  by  the  call 
of  private  ambition,  but  that  I  may  preserve  the  position  in 
which  I  may  best  serve  my  countr}^  at  the  hour  of  need. 
Order  our  horses  presently.  I  will  wear,  as  formerly,  one  of 
the  livery  cloaks,  and  ride  before  the  portmantle.  Thou 
shalt  be  master  for  the  day,  Varney;  neglect  nothing  that 
can  blind  suspicion.  We  will  to  horse  ere  men  are  stirring. 
I  will  but  take  leave  of  my  lady,  and  be  ready.  I  impose  a 
restraint  on  my  own  poor  heart,  and  wound  one  yet  more  dear 
to  me;  but  the  patriot  must  subdue  the  husband." 

Having  said  this  in  a  melancholy  but  firm  accent,  he  left 
the  dressing  apartment. 

"  I  am  glad  thou  art  gone,"  thought  Vamey,  "  or,  practiced 
as  I  am  in  the  follies  of  mankind,  I  had  laughed  in  the  very 


f^  WA  YERLEY  NO  VEL8. 

face  of  thee!  Thou  mayst  tire  as  thou  wilt  of  thy  new 
bauble,  thy  pretty  piece  of  painted  flesh  there,  I  will  not  be 
thy  hindrance.  But  of  thinje  old  bauble,  ambition,  thou 
shalt  not  tire,  for  as  you  climb  the  hill,  my  lord,  you  must 
drag  Eichard  Vamey  up  with  you;  and  if  he  can  urge  you  to 
the  ascent  he  means  to  profit  by,  believe  me  he  will  spare 
neither  whip  nor  spur.  And  for  you,  my  pretty  lady,  that 
would  be  countess  outright,  you  were  best  not  thwart  my 
courses,  lest  you  are  called  to  an  old  reckoning  on  a  new  score. 
*  Thou  shalt  be  master,'  did  he  say?  By  my  faith,  he  may 
find  that  he  spoke  truer  than  he  is  aware  of.  And  thus  he,  • 
who,  in  the  estimation  of  so  many  wise-judging  men,  can 
match  Burleigh  and  Walsingham  in  policy,  and  Sussex  in 
war,  becomes  pupil  to  his  own  menial;  and  all  for  a  hazel  eye 
and  a  little  cunning  red  and  white,  and  so  falls  ambition. 
And  yet,  if  the  charms  of  mortal  woman  could  excuse  a  man's 
politic  pate  for  becoming  bewildered,  my  lord  had  the  excuse 
at  his  right  hand  on  this  blessed  evening  that  has  last  passed 
over  us.  Well,  let  things  roll  as  they  may,  he  shall  make  me 
great,  or  I  will  make  myself  happy;  and  for  that  softer  piece 
of  creation,  if  she  speak  not  out  her  interview  with  Tressilian, 
as  well  I  think  she  dare  not,  she  also  must  traffic  with  me  for 
concealment  and  mutual  support  in  spite  of  all  this  scorn.  I 
must  to  the  stables.  Well,  my  lord,  I  order  your  retinue  now; 
the  time  may  soon  come  that  my  master  of  the  horse  shall 
order  mine  own.  What  was  Thomas  Cromwell  but  a  smith's 
son,  and  he  died  'my  lord' — on  a  scaffold,  doubtlessi,  but 
that,  too,  was  in  character.  And  what  was  Ealph  Sadler  but 
the  clerk  of  Cromwell,  and  he  has  gazed  eighteen  fair  lord- 
ships,— via!  I  know  my  steerage  as  well  as  they." 

So  saying,  he  left  the  apartment. 

In  the  meanwhile  the  earl  had  re-entered  the  bedchamber, 
bent  on  taking  a  hasty  farewell  of  the  lovely  countess,  and 
scarce  daring  to  trust  himself  in  private  with  her,  to  hear  re- 
quests again  urged  which  he  found  it  difficult  to  parry,  yet 
which  his  recent  conversation  with  his  master  of  horse  had 
determined  him  not  to  grant. 

He  found  her  in  a  white  cymar  of  silk  lined  with  furs,  her 
little  feet  unstockinged  and  hastily  thrust  into  slippers,  her 
unbraided  hair  escaping  from  under  her  midnight  coif — with 
little  array  but  her  own  loveliness,  rather  augmented  than 
diminished  by  the  grief  which  she  felt  at  the  approaching 
moment  of  separation. 

"  Now,  God  be  with  thee,  my  dearest  and  loveliest! "  said 


KmiLWOBTB.  ^6 

the  earl,  scarce  tearing  himself  from  her  embrace,  yet  again 
returning  to  fold  her  again  and  again  in  his  arms,  and  again 
bidding  farewell,  and  again  returning  to  kiss  and  bid  adieu 
once  more.  "  The  sun  is  on  the  verge  of  the  blue  horizon — I 
dare  not  stay.  Ere  this  I  should  have  been  ten  miles  from 
hence." 

Such  were  the  words  with  which  at  length  he  strove  to  cut 
short  their  parting  interview. 

"  You  will  not  grant  my  request,  then?  "  said  the  countess. 
"Ah,  false  knight!  did  ever  lady,  with  bare  foot  in  slipper, 
seek  boon  of  a  brave  knight,  yet  return  with  denial?  " 

"  Anything,  Amy — anything  thou  canst  ask  I  will  grant," 
answered  the  earl;  "  always  excepting,"  he  said,  "  that  which 
might  ruin  us  both." 

"  Nay,"  said  the  countess,  "  I  urge  not  my  wish  to  be  ac- 
knowledged in  the  character  which  would  make  me  the  envy 
of  England — as  the  wife,  that  is,  of  my  brave  and  noble  lord, 
the  first  as  the  most  fondly  beloved  of  English  nobles.  Let 
me  but  share  the  secret  with  my  dear  father!  Let  me  but 
end  his  misery  on  my  unworthy  account;  they  say  he  is  ill,  the 
good  old  kind-hearted  maa!  " 

"  They  say?  "  asked  the  earl  hastily;  "  who  says?  Did  not 
Varney  convey  to  Sir  Hugh  all  we  dare  at  present  tell  him 
concerning  your  happiness  and. welfare?  And  has  he  not 
told  you  that  the  good  old  knight  was  following,  with  good 
heart  and  health,  his  favorite  and  wonted  exercise?  Who  has 
dared  put  other  thoughts  into  your  head?  " 

"  Oh,  no  one,  my  lord — no  one,"  said  the  countess,  some- 
thing alarmed  at  the  tone  in  which  the  question  was  put; 
"  but  yet,  my  lord,  I  would  fain  be  assured  by  mine  own  eye- 
sight that  my  father  is  well." 

"  Be  contented.  Amy;  thou  canst  not  now  have  communi- 
cation with  thy  father  or  his  house.  Were  it  not  a  deep 
course  of  policy  to  commit  no  secret  unnecessarily  to  the  cus- 
tody of  more  than  must  needs  be,  it  were  sufficient  reason  for 
secrecy  that  yonder  Cornishman — yonder  Trevanion,  or 
Tressilian,  or  whatever  his  name  is — haunts  the  old  knight's 
house,  and  must  necessarily  know  whatever  is  communicated 
there." 

"  My  lord,"  answered  the  countess,  "  I  do  not  think  it  so. 
My  father  has  been  long  noted  a  worthy  and  honorable  man; 
and  for  Tressilian,  if  we  can  pardon  ourselves  the  ill  we  have 
wrought  him,  I  will  wager  the  coronet  I  am  to  share  with  you 
one  day  that  he  is  incapable  of  returning  injury  for  injury." 


1^  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

"  I  will  not  trust  him,  however,  Amy,"  said  her  husband— 
'*  by  my  honor,  I  will  not  trust  him.  I  would  rather  the  foul 
fiend  intermingle  in  our  secret  than  this  Tressilian!  " 

"  And  why,  my  lord?  "  said  the  countess,  though  she  shud- 
dered slightly  at  the  tone  of  determination  in  which  he  spoke; 
"  let  me  but  know  why  you  think  thus  hardly  of  Tressilian?  " 

"  Madam,"  replied  the  earl,  "  my  will  ought  to  be  a  suffi- 
cient reason.  If  you  desire  more,  consider  how  this  Tres- 
silian is  leagued,  and  with  whom.  He  stands  high  in  the 
opinion  of  this  Katcliffe,  this  Sussex,  against  whom  I  am 
barely  able  to  maintain  my  ground  in  the  opinion  of  our  sus- 
picious mistress;  and  if  he  had  me  at  such  advantage.  Amy, 
as  to  become  acquainted  with  the  tale  of  our  marriage  before 
Elizabeth  were  fitly  prepared,  I  were  an  outcast  from  her 
grace  forever — a  bankrupt  at  once  in  favor  and  in  fortune, 
perhaps,  for  she  hath  in  her  a  touch  of  her  father  Henry — a 
victim,  and  it  may  be  a  bloody  one,  to  her  offended  and  jealous 
resentment." 

"  But  why,  my  lord,"  again  urged  his  lady,  "  should  you 
deem  thus  injuriously  of  a  man  of  whom  you  know  so  little? 
What  you  do  know  of  Tressilian  is  through  me,  and  it  is  I 
who  assure  you  that  in  no  circumstances  will  he  betray  your 
secret.  If  I  did  him  wrong  in  your  behalf,  my  lord,  I  am  now 
the  more  concerned  you  should  do  him  justice.  You  are 
offended  at  my  speaking  of  him;  what  would  you  say  had  I 
actually  myself  seen  him?  " 

"  If  you  had,"  rephed  the  earl,  "  you  would  do  well  to  keep 
that  interview  as  secret  as  that  which  is  spoken  in  a  confes- 
sional. I  seek  no  one's  ruin;  but  he  who  thrusts  himself  on 
my  secret  privacy  were  better  look  well  to  his  future  walk. 
The  bear  *  brooks  no  one  to  cross  his  awful  path." 

"  Awful,  indeed!  "  said  the  countess,  turning  very  pale. 

'^  You  are  ill,  my  love,"  said  the  earl,  supporting  her  in  his 
arms;  "  stretch  yourself  on  your  couch  again;  it  is  but  early 
day  for  you  to  leave  it.  Have  you  aught  else,  involving  less 
than  my  fame,  my  fortune,  and  my  life,  to  ask  of  me?  " 

"Nothing,  my  lord  and  love,"  answered  the  countess 
faintly;  "  something  there  was  that  I  would  have  told  you, 
but  your  anger  has  driven  it  from  my  recollection." 

^'  Reserve  it  till  our  next  meeting,  my  love,"  said  the  earl 
fondly,  and  again  embracing  her;  "  and  barring  only  those 
requests  which  I  cannot  and  dare  not  grant,  thy  wish  must  be 

*  The  Leicester  cognizance  was  the  ancient  device  adopted  by  his  father,  when  Eat! 
of  Warwick,  the  bear  and  ragged  staff. 


KENILWORTE,  11 

more  than  England  and  all  its  dependencies  can  fulfill  if  it  is 
not  gratified  to  the  letter." 

Thus  saying,  he  at  length  took  farewell.  At  the  bottom  of 
the  staircase  he  received  from  Varney  an  ample  livery  cloak 
and  slouched  hat,  in  which  he  wrapped  himself  so  as  to  dis- 
guise his  person  and  completely  conceal  his  features.  Horses 
were  ready  in  the  courtyard  for  himself  and  Vamey;  for  one 
or  two  of  his  train,  intrusted  with  the  secret  so  far  as  to  know 
or  guess  that  the  earl  intrigued  with  a  beautiful  lady  at  tlmt 
mansion,  though  her  name  and  quality  were  unknown  to 
them,  had  already  been  dismissed  over  night. 

Anthony  Foster  himself  had  in  hand  the  rein  of  the  earl's 
palfrey,  a  stout  and  able  nag  for  the  road;  while  his  old  serv- 
ing-man held  the  bridle  of  the  more  showy  and  gallant  steed 
which  Richard  Varney  was  to  occupy  in  the  character  of 
master. 

As  the  earl  approached,  however,  Varney  advanced  to  hold 
his  master's  bridle,  and  to  prevent  Foster  from  paying  that 
duty  to  the  earl  which  he  probably  considered  as  belonging 
to  his  own  office.  Foster  scowled  at  an  interference  which 
seemed  intended  to  prevent  his  paying  his  court  to  his  patron, 
but  gave  place  to  Varney;  and  the  earl,  mounting  without 
farther  observation,  and  forgetting  that  his  assumed  charac- 
ter of  a  domestic  threw  him  into  the  rear  of  his  supposed 
master,  rode  pensively  out  of  the  quadrangle,  not  without 
waving  his  hand  repeatedly  in  answer  to  the  signals  which 
were  made  by  the  countess  with  her  kerchief  from  the  win- 
dows of  her  apartment. 

While  his  stately  form  vanished  under  the  dark  archway 
which  led  out  of  the  quadrangle,  Vamey  muttered,  '^  There 
goes  fine  policy — the  servant  before  the  master!  "  then,  as  he 
disappeared,  seized  the  moment  to  speak  a  word  with  Foster. 
*'  Thou  look'st  dark  on  me,  Anthony,"  he  said,  "  as  if  I  had 
deprived  thee  of  a  parting  nod  of  my  lord;  but  I  have  moved 
him  to  leave  thee  a  better  remembrance  for  thy  faithful  serv- 
ice. See  here!  a  purse  of  as  good  gold  as  ever  chinked  under 
a  miser's  thumb  and  forefinger.  Aye,  count  them,  lad,"  said 
he,  as  Foster  received  the  gold  with  a  grim  smile,  ^'  and  add 
to  them  the  goodly  remembrance  he  gave  last  night  to 
Janet." 

"How's  this! — Show's  this!"  said  Anthony  Foster  hastily; 
"  gave  he  gold  to  Janet?  " 

"  Aye,  man,  wherefore  not?  does  not  her  service  to  his  fair 
lady  require  guerdon?  " 


is  WA  YEELEY  NO  VELS. 

"  She  shall  have  none  on't,"  said  Foster:  ^'  she  shall  return 
it.  I  know  his  dotage  on  one  face  is  as  brief  as  it  is  deep. 
His  affections  are  as  fickle  as  the  moon." 

"  Why,  Foster,  thou  art  mad;  thou  dost  not  hope  for  such 
good  fortune  as  that  my  lord  should  cast  an  eye  on  Janet? 
Who,  in  the  fiend's  name,  would  listen  to  the  thrush  when 
the  nightingale  is  singing?  " 

*'  Thrush  or  nichtingale,  all  is  one  to  the  fowler;  and, 
Master  Yarney,  you  can  sound  the  quail-pipe  most  daintily  to 
wile  wantons  into  his  nets.  I  desire  no  such  devil's  prefer- 
ment for  Janet  as  you  have  brought  many  a  poor  maiden  to. 
Dost  thou  laugh?  I  will  keep  one  limb  of  my  family,  at  least, 
from  Satan's  clutches,  that  thou  mayst  rely  on.  She  shall 
restore  the  gold." 

''  Aye,  or  give  it  to  thy  keeping,  Tony,  which  will  serve  as 
well,"  answered  Varney;  ^^but  I  have  that  to  eay  which  is 
more  serious.  Our  lord  is  returning  to  court  in  an  evil  hu- 
mor for  us." 

"How  meanest  thou?"  said  Foster.  "Is  he  tired  already 
of  his  pretty  toy — his  pla3rthing  yonder?  He  has  purchased 
her  at  a  monarch's  ransom,  and  I  warrant  me  he  rues  his 
bargain." 

"  Not  a  whit,  Tony,"  answered  the  master  of  the  horse; 
"he  dotes  on  her,  and  will  forsake  the  court  for  her;  then 
down  go  hopes,  possessions,  and  safety:  church  lands  are  re- 
sumed, Tony,  and  well  if  the  holders  be  not  called  to  account 
in  Exchequer." 

"  That  were  ruin,"  said  Foster,  his  brow  darkening  with 
apprehensions;  "  and  all  this  for  a  woman!  Had  it  been  for 
his  soul's  sake,  it  were  something;  and  I  sometimes  wish  I 
myself  could  fling  away  the  world  that  cleaves  to  me,  and  be 
as  one  of  the  poorest  of  our  church." 

"  Thou  art  like  enough  to  be  so,  Tony,"  answered  Varney; 
"  but  I  think  the  devil  will  give  thee  little  credit  for  thy  com- 
pelled poverty,  and  so  thou  loseet  on  all  hands.  But  follow 
my  counsel,  and  Cumnor  Place  shall  be  thy  copyhold  yet. 
Say  nothing  of  this  Tressilian's  visit — not  a  word  until  I 
give  thee  notice." 

"And  wherefore,  I  pray  you?"  asked  Foster  suspiciously. 

"Dull  beast!"  replied  Varney;  "  in  my  lord's  present  humor 
it  were  the  ready  way  to  confirm  him  in  his  resolution  of  re- 
tirement, should  he  know  that  his  lady  was  haunted  with 
such  a  specter  in  his  absence.  He  would  be  for  playing  the 
dragon  himself  over  his  golden  fruit,  and  then,  Tony,  thy 


KENILWOBTH.  79 

occupation  is  ended.  A  word  to  the  wise.  Farewell — ^I  must 
follow  him." 

He  turned  his  horse,  struck  him  with  the  spurs,  and  rod§ 
off  under  the  archway  in  pursuit  of  his  lord. 

"  Would  thy  occupation  were  ended,  or  thy  neck  broken, 
damned  pander!  "  said  Anthony  Foster.  "  But  I  must  fol- 
low his  beck,  for  his  interest  and  mine  are  the  same,  and  he 
can  wind  the  proud  earl  to  his  will.  Janet  shall  give  me 
those  pieces  though;  they  shall  be  laid  oiit  in  some  way  for 
God's  service,  and  I  will  keep  them  separate  in  my  strong 
chest  till  I  can  fall  upon  a  fitting  employment  for  them.  No 
contagious  vapor  shall  breathe  on  Janet:  she  shall  remain 
pure  as  a  blessed  spirit,  were  it  but  to  pray  God  for  her  father. 
I  need  her  prayers,  for  I  am  at  a  hard  pass.  Strange  reports 
are  abroad  concerning  my  way  of  life.  The  congregation 
look  cold  on  me,  and  when  Master  Holdforth  spoke  of  hjrpo- 
crites  being  like  a  whited  sepulcher,  which  within  was  full  of 
dead  men's  bones,  methought  he  looked  full  at  me.  The 
Eomish  was  a  comfortable  faith,  Lambourne  spoke  true  in 
that.  A  man  had  but  to  follow  his  thrift  by  such  ways  as 
offered — tell  his  beads — hear  a  mass — confess,  and  be  ab- 
solved. These  Puritans  tread  a  harder  and  a  rougher  path; 
but  I  will  try — I  will  read  my  Bible  for  an  hour  ere  I  again 
open  mine  iron  chest." 

Varney,  meantime,  spurred  after  his  lord,  whom  he  found 
waiting  for  him  at  the  postern  gate  of  the  park. 

"  You  waste  time,  Varney,"  said  the  earl,  "  and  it  presses. 
I  must  be  at  Woodstock  before  I  can  safely  lay  aside  my  dis- 
guise, and  till  then  I  journey  in  some  peril." 

"  It  is  but  two  hours'  brisk  riding,  my  lord,"  said  Vamey; 
"for  me,  I  only  stopped  to  enforce  your  commands  of  care 
and  secrecy  on  yonder  Foster,  and  to  inquire  about  the  abode 
of  the  gentleman  whom  I  would  promote  to  your  lordship's 
train  in  the  room  of  Trevors." 

"  Is  he  fit  for  the  meridian  of  the  ante-chamber,  think'st 
thou?  "  said  the  earl. 

"  He  promises  well,  my  lord,"  replied  Yamey;  "  but  if  your 
lordship  were  pleased  to  ride  on,  I  could  go  back  to  Cumnor, 
and  bring  him  to  your  lordship  at  Woodstock  before  you  are 
out  of  bed." 

"  Why,  I  am  asleep  there,  thou  knoTrest,  at  this  moment," 
said  the  earl;  "  and  I  pray  you  not  to  spare  horse-flesh,  that 
you  may  be  with  me  at  my  levee." 

So  saying,  he  gave  his  horse  the  spur,  and  proceeded  on  Ms 


80  WA  VEELEY  NO  VEL8, 

journey,  while  Yamey  rode  back  to  Cumnor  by  the  public 
road,  avoiding  the  park.  The  latter  alighted  at  the  door  of 
^the  bonny  Black  Bear,  and  desired  to  speak  with  Master 
Michael  Lambourne.  That  respectable  character  was  not 
long  of  appearing  before  his  new  patron,  but  it  was  with 
downcast  looks. 

"  Thou  hast  lost  the  scent,"  said  Varney,  "  of  thy  com- 
rade Tressilian.  I  know  it  by  thy  hang-dog  visage.  Is  this 
thy  alacrity,  thou  impudent  knave?  " 

"  Cog^s  wounds! ''  said  Lambourne,  "  there  was  never  a  trail 
so  finely  hunted.  I  saw  him  to  earth  at  mine  uncle's  here — 
stuck  to  him  like  beeswax — saw  him  at  supper — watched  him 
to  his  chamber,  and  presto — he  is  gone  next  morning,  the 
very  hosttler  knows  not  where!  " 

"  This  sounds  like  practice  upon  me,  sir,"  replied  Vamey; 
^^  and  if  it  prove  so,  by  my  soul  you  shall  repent  it!  " 

"  Sir,  the  best  hound  will  be  sometimes  at  fault,"  answered 
Lambourne;  "  how  should  it  serve  me  that  this  fellow  should 
have  thus  evanished?  You  may  ask  mine  host,  Giles  Gosling 
— ask  the  tapster  and  hostler — ask  Cicely,  and  the  whole 
household,  how  I  kept  eyes  on  Tressilian  while  he  was  on  foot. 
On  my  soul,  I  could  not  be  expected  to  watch  him  like  a  sick- 
nurse,  when  I  had  seen  him  fairly  a-bed  in  his  chamber. 
That  will  be  allowed  me,  surely." 

Varney  did,  in  fact,  make  some  inquiry  among  the  house- 
hold, which  confirmed  the  truth  of  Lamboume's  statement. 
Tressilian,  it  was  unanimously  agreed,  had  departed  suddenly 
and  unexpectedly,  betwixt  night  and  morning. 

"  But  I  will  wrong  no  one,"  said  mine  host;  "  he  left  on  the 
table  in  his  lodging  the  full  value  of  his  reckoning,  with  some 
allowance  to  the  servants  of  the  house,  which  was  the  less 
necessary  that  he  saddled  his  own  gelding,  as  it  seems,  without 
the  hostler^s  assistance." 

Thus  satisfied  of  the  rectitude  of  Lamboume's  conduct, 
Vamey  began  to  talk  to  him  upon  his  future  prospects,  and 
the  mode  in  which  he  meant  to  bestow  himself,  intimating 
that  he  understood  from  Foster  he  was  not  disinclined  to 
enter  into  the  household  of  a  nobleman. 

"  Have  you,"  said  he,  "  ever  been  at  court?  " 

'^  No,"  replied  Lambourne;  "  but  ever  since  I  was  ten  yeaj^ 
old  I  have  dreamt  once  a  week  that  I  was  there,  and  made  my 
fortune." 

"  It  may  be  your  own  fault  if  your  dream  comeg  not  true/' 
said  Vamey.     "  Are  you  needy?  " 


KwmLWonim.  61 

^^TJm!"  replied  Lambourne;  "I  love  pleasure." 

"  That  is  a  sufficient  answer,  and  an  honest  one,"  said  Var- 
ney.  "  Know  you  aught  of  the  requisites  expected  from  the 
retainer  of  a  rising  courtier?  " 

^'I  have  imagined  them  to  myself,  sir,"  answered  Lam- 
bourne; "  as,  for  example,  a  quick  eye,  a  close  mouth,  a  ready 
and  bold  hand,  a  sharp  wit,  and  a  blunt  conscience." 

"  And  thine,  I  suppose,"  said  Vamey,  "  has  had  its  edge 
blunted  long  since?  " 

"  I  cannot  remember,  sir,  that  its  edge  was  ever  over  keen," 
replied  Lambourne.  "  When  I  was  a  youth,  I  had  some  few 
whimsies,  but  I  rubbed  them  partly  out  of  my  recollection  on 
the  rough  grindstone  of  the  wars,  and  what  remained  I 
washed  out  in  the  broad  waves  of  the  Atlantic." 

"  Thou  hast  served,  then,  in  the  Indies?  " 

"  In  both  East  and  West,"  answered  the  candidate  for  court 
service,  "  by  both  sea  and  land;  I  have  served  both  the  Portu- 
gal and  the  Spaniard,  both  the  Dutchman  and  the  French- 
man, and  have  made  war  on  our  own  account  with  a  crew  of 
jolly  fellows  who  held  there  was  no  peace  beyond  the  Line."  * 

"  Thou  mayst  do  me,  and  my  lord,  and  thyself,  good  serv- 
ice," said  Varney,  after  a  pause.  "  But  observe,  I  know  the 
world,  and  answer  me  truly,  canst  thou  be  faithful?  " 

"  Did  you  not  know  the  world,"  answered  Lambourne,  "  it 
were  my  duty  to  say  *  aye,'  without  further  circumstance, 
and  to  swear  to  it  with  life  and  honor,  and  so  forth.  But  as 
it  seems  to  me  that  your  worship  is  one  who  desires  rather 
honest  truth  than  politic  falsehood,  I  reply  to  you  that  I  can 
be  faithful  to  the  gallows'  foot,  aye,  to  the  loop  that  dangles 
from  it,  if  I  am  well  used  and  well  recompensed — ^not  other- 
wise." 

"  To  thy  other  virtues  thou  canst  add,  no  doubt,"  said  Var- 
ney, in  a  jeering  tone,  "  the  knack  of  seeming  serious  and  re- 
ligious, when  the  moment  demands  it?  " 

"It  would  cost  me  nothing,"  said  Lambourne,  "to  say 
*  yes,'  but  to  speak  on  the  square  I  must  needs  siay  '  no.'  If 
you  want  a  hypocrite,  you  may  take  Anthony  Foster,  who, 
from  his  childhood,  had  some  sort  of  phantom  haunting  him, 
which  he  called  religion,  though  it  was  that  sort  of  godliness 
which  always  ended  in  being  great  gain.  But  I  have  no  such 
knack  of  it." 


*  Sir  Francis  Dral^e,  Morgan,  and  many  a  bold  buccaneer  of  those  days,  were,  in  fact, 
little  better  than  pirates. 


I 


8«  WA  VERLEY  NO  VEL8. 

"  Well,"  replied  Vamey,  "  if  thou  hast  no  hypocrisy,  hast 
thou  not  a  nag  here  in  the  stahle?  " 

"Aye,  sir,"  said  Lambourne,  "that  shall  take  hedge  and 
ditch  with  my  lord  duke's  best  hunters.  When  I  made  a 
little  mistake  on  Shooter's  Hill,  and  stopped  an  ancient 
grazier  whose  pouches  were  better  lined  than  his  brain-pan, 
the  bonny  bay  nag  carried  me  sheer  off,  in  spite  of  the  whole 
hue  and  cry." 

"  Saddle  him  then,  instantly,  and  attend  me,"  said  Vamey. 
"  Leave  thy  clothes  and  baggage  under  charge  of  mine  host, 
and  I  will  conduct  thee  to  a  service  in  which,  if  thou  do  not 
better  thyself,  the  fault  shall  not  be  fortune's,  but  thine 
own." 

"  Brave  and  hearty!  "  said  Lambourne,  "  and  I  am  mounted 
in  an  instant.  Knave  hosstler,  saddle  my  nag  without  the 
loss  of  one  second,  as  thou  dost  value  the  safety  of  thy  noddle. 
Pretty  Cicely,  take  half  this  purse  to  comfort  thee  for  my 
sudden  departure." 

"  Gogsnouns! "  replied  the  father,  "  Cicely  wants  no  such 
token  from  thee.  Go  away,  Mike,  and  gather  grace  if  thou 
canst,  though  I  think  thou  goest  not  to  the  land  where  it 
grows." 

"  Let  me  look  at  this  Cicely  of  thine,  mine  host,"  said  Var- 
ney;  "  I  have  heard  much  talk  of  her  beauty." 

"  It  is  a  sunburnt  beauty,"  said  mine  host,  "  well  qualified 
to  stand  out  rain  and  wind,  but  little  calculated  to  please  such 
critical  gallants  as  yourself.  She  keeps  her  chamber,  and 
cannot  encounter  the  glance  of  such  sunny-day  courtiers  as 
my  noble  guest." 

"  Well,  peace  be  with  her,  my  good  host,"  answered  Var- 
ney;  "  our  horses  are  impatient,  we  bid  you  good  day." 

"  Does  my  nephew  go  with  you,  so  please  you?  "  said  Gos- 
ling. 

"  Aye,  such  is  his  purpose,"  answered  Ei chard  Vamey. 

"You  are  right — fully  right,"  replied  mine  host — "you 
are,  I  say,  fully  right,  my  kinsman.  Thou  hast  got  a  gay 
horse,  see  thou  light  not  unaware  upon  a  halter;  or,  if  thou 
wilt  needs  be  made  immortal  by  means  of  a  rope,  which  thy 
purpose  of  following  this  gentleman  renders  not  unlikely,  I 
charge  thee  to  find  a  gallows  as  far  from  Cumnor  as  thou 
conveniently  mayst;  and  so  I  commend  you  to  your 
saddle." 

The  master  of  the  horse  and  his  new  retainer  mounted 
accordingly,  leaving  the  landlord  to  conclude  his  ill-omened 


KENILWOBTH,  83 

farewell  to  himself  and  at  leisure;  and  set  off  together  at  a 
rapid  pace,  which  prevented  conversation  until  the  ascent  of  a 
steep  sandy  hill  permitted  them  to  resume  it. 

"  You  are  contented,  then,"  said  Vamey  to  his  companion, 
"  to  take  court  service  ?  " 

"  Aye,  worshipful  sir,  if  you  like  my  terms  as  well  as  I  like 
yours." 

*'  And  what  are  your  terms?  "  demanded  Vamey. 

"  If  I  am  to  have  a  quick  eye  for  my  patron's  interest,  he 
must  have  a  dull  one  toward  my  faults,"  said  Lamboume. 

"  Aye,"  said  Vamey,  "  so  they  lie  not  so  grossly  open  that 
he  must  needs  break  his  shins  over  them." 

"  Agreed,"  said  Lamboume.  "  Next,  if  I  mn  down  game, 
I  must  have  the  picking  of  the  bones." 

"That  is  but  reason,"  replied  Vamey,  "  so  that  your  betters 
are  served  before  you." 

"  Good,"  said  Lamboume;  "  and  it  only  remains  to  be  said, 
that  if  the  law  and  I  quarrel,  my  patron  must  bear  me  out, 
for  that  is  a  chief  point." 

"  Eeason  again,"  said  Vamey,  "  if  the  quarrel  hath  hap- 
pened in  your  master's  service." 

"For  the  wage  and  so  forth,  I  say  nothing,"  proceeded 
Lamboume;  "  it  is  the  secret  guerdon  that  I  must  live  by." 

"  Never  fear,"  said  Vamey;  "  thou  shalt  have  clothes  and 
spending  money  to  ruffle  it  with  the  best  of  thy  degree,  for 
thou  goest  to  a  household  where  you  have  gold,  as  they  say, 
by  the  eye." 

"  That  jumps  all  with  my  humor,"  replied  Michael  Lam- 
bourne;  "  and  it  only  remains  that  you  tell  me  my  majster's 
name." 

"  My  name  is  Master  Eichard  Vamey,"  answered  his  com- 
panion. 

"  But  I  mean,"  said  Lamboume,  "  the  name  of  the  noble 
•lord  to  whose  service  you  are  to  prefer  me." 

"  How,  knave,  art  thou  too  good  to  call  me  master?  "  said 
Vamey  hastily;  "  I  would  have  thee  bold  to  others,  but  not 
Baucy  to  me." 

"I  crave  your  worship's  pardon,"  said  Lamboume;  "but 
you  seemed  familiar  with  Anthony  Foster;  now  I  am  familiar 
with  Anthony  myself." 

"  Thou  art  a  shrewd  knave,  I  see,"  replied  Vamey.  "  Mark 
me — I  do  indeed  propose  to  introduce  thee  into  a  nobleman's 
household;  but  it  is  upon  my  person  thou  wilt  chiefly  wait, 
and  upon  my  countenance  that  thou  wilt  depend.    I  am  his 


84  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

master  of  horse.  Thou  wilt  soon  know  his  name;  it  is  cum 
that  shakes  the  council  and  wields  the  state." 

"  By  this  light,  a  brave  spell  to  conjure  with,"  said  Lam- 
boume,  "  if  a  man  would  discover  hidden  treasures! " 

"Used  with  discretion,  it  may  prove  so,"  replied  Vamey; 
"but  mark — if  thou  conjure  with  it  at  thine  own  hand,  it  may 
raise  a  devil  who  will  tear  thee  in  fragments." 

"  Enough  said,"  replied  Lamboume;  "  I  will  not  exceed  my 
limits." 

The  travelers  then  resumed  the  rapid  rate  of  traveling 
which  their  discourse  had  interrupted,  and  soon  arrived  at  the 
royal  park  of  Woodstock.  This  ancient  possession  of  the 
crown  of  England  was  then  very  different  from  what  it  had 
been  when  it  was  the  residence  of  the  fair  Eosamond,  and  the 
scene  of  Henry  the  Second's  secret  and  illicit  amours;  and  yet 
more  unlike  to  the  scene  which  it  exhibits  in  the  present  daiy, 
^when  Blenheim  House  commemorates  the  victory  of  Marl- 
borough, and  no  less  the  genius  of  Vanburgh,  though  decried 
in  his  own  time  by  persons  of  taste  far  inferior  to  his  own.  It 
was,  in  Elizabeth's  time,  an  ancient  mansion  in  bad  repair, 
which  had  long  ceased  to  be  honored  with  the  royal  residence, 
to  the  great  impoverishment  of  the  adjacent  village.  The 
inhabitants,  however,  had  made  several  petitions  to  the  Queen 
;;to  have  the  favor  of  the  sovereign's  countenance  occasionally 
^bestowed  upon  them;  and  upon  this  very  business,  ostensibly 
at  least,  was  the  noble  lord  whom  we  have  already  introduced 
to  our  readers  a  visitor  at  Woodstock. 

Vamey  and  Lamboume  galloped  without  ceremony  into 
the  courtyard  of  the  ancient  and  dilapidated  mansion,  which 
presented  on  that  morning  a  scene  of  bustle  which  it  had  not 
exhibited  for  two  reigns.  Officers  of  the  earl's  household, 
liverymen  and  retainers,  went  and  came  with  all  the  insdient 
efracas  which  attaches  to  their  profession.  The  neigh  of 
horses  and  the  ba5dng  of  hounds  were  heard;  for  my  lord,  in 
iliis  occupation  of  inspecting  and  surveying  the  manor  and 
idemesne,  was  of  course  provided  with  the  meaus  of  following 
his  pleasure  in  the  chase  or  park,  said  to  have  been  the  earliest 
that  was  inclosed  in  England,  and  which  was  well  stocked 
with  deer  that  had  long  roamed  there  unmolested.  Several 
of  the  inhabitants  of  the  village,  in  anxious  hope  of  a  favora- 
ble result  from  this  unwonted  visit,  loitered  about  the  court- 
yard, and  awaited  the  great  man's  coming  forth.  Their  at- 
tention was  excited  by  the  hasty  arrival  of  Yarney,  and  a 
murmur  ran  amongst   them,   "  The   earl's   master   of   the 


KEmLWuRTH.  85 

horse! "  while  they  hurried  to  bespeak  favor  by  hastily  un- 
bonneting  and  proffering  to  hold  the  bridle  and  stirrup  of  the 
favored  retainer  and  his  attendant. 

"  Stand  somewhat  aloof,  my  masters! "  said  Vamey 
haughtily,  "  and  let  the  domestics  do  their  office." 

The  mortified  citizens  and  peasants  fell  back  at  the  signal; 
while  Lamboume,  who  had  his  eye  upon  his  superior's  deport- 
ment, repelled  the  services  of  those  who  offered  to  assist  him 
with  yet  more  discourtesy — "  Stand  back,  Jack  peasant,  with 
a  murrain  to  you,  and  let  these  knave  footmen  do  their  duty!" 

While  they  gave  their  nags  to  the  attendants  of  the  house- 
hold, and  walked  into  the  mansion  with  an  air  of  superiority 
which  long  practice  and  consciousness  of  birth  rendered 
natural  to  Varney,  and  which  Lamboume  endeavored  to  imi- 
tate as  well  as  he  could,  the  poor  inhabitants  of  Woodstock 
whispered  to  each  other  "  Well-a-day — God  save  us  from  all 
such  misproud  princoxes!  An  the  master  be  like  the  men, 
why,  the  fiend  may  take  all,  and  yet  have  no  more  than  his 
due." 

"  Silence,  good  neighbors!  "  said  the  bailiff,  "  keep  tongue 
betwixt  teeth;  we  shall  know  more  by  and  by.  But  never  will 
a  lord  come  to  Woodstock  so  welcome  as  bluff  old  King 
Harry!  He  would  horsewhip  a  fellow  one  day  with  his  own 
royal  hand,  and  then  fling  him  an  handful  of  silver  groats, 
with  his  own  broad  face  on  them,  to  'noint  the  sore  withal." 

"  Aye,  rest  be  with  him!  "  echoed  the  auditors;  "  it  will  be 
long  ere  this  Lady  Elizabeth  horsewhip  any  of  us." 

"  There  is  no  saying,"  answered  the  bailiff.  "  Meanwhile, 
patience,  good  neighbors,  and  let  us  comfort  ourselves  by' 
thinking  that  we  deserve  such  notice  at  her  Grace's  hands." 

Meanwhile,  Varney,  closely  followed  by  his  new  dependent, 
made  his  way  to  the  hall,  where  men  of  more  note  and  con- 
sequence than  those  left  in  the  courtyard  awaited  the  appear- 
ance of  the  earl,  who  as  yet  kept  his  chamber.  All  paid 
court  to  Vamey,  with  more  or  less  deference,  as  suited  theii 
own  rank,  or  the  urgency  of  the  business  which  brought  them 
to  his  lord's  levee.  To  the  general  question  of,  "When  comes 
my  lord  forth,  Master  Varney?  "  he  gave  brief  answers,  as, 
"  See  you  not  my  boots?  I  am  but  just  returned  from  Ox-  = 
ford,  and  know  nothing  of  it,"  and  the  like,  until  the  same 
query  was  put  in  a  higher  tone  by  a  personage  of  more  im- 
portance. "  I  will  inquire  of  the  chamberlain,  Sir  Thomas 
Copely,"  was  the  reply.  The  chamberlain,  distinguished  by' 
his  Sliver  key,  answerecj,  that  the  earl  only  awaited  Master 


8«  WA  VEBLET  NO  VELS. 

Varneys  return  to  come  down,  but  that  he  would  first  speak 
with  him  in  his  private  chamber.  Vamey,  therefore,  bowed 
to  the  company,  and  took  leave,  to  enter  his  lord's  apartment. 

There  was  a  murmur  of  expectation  which  lasted  a  few 
minutes,  and  was  at  length  hushed  by  the  opening  of  the 
folding-doors  at  the  upper  end  of  the  apartment,  through 
which  the  earl  made  his  entrance,  marshaled  by  his  chamber- 
lain and  the  steward  of  his  family,  and  followed  by  Eichard 
Varney.  In  his  noble  mien  and  princely  features  men  read 
nothing  of  that  insolence  which  was  practiced  by  his  depend- 
ents. His  courtesies  were,  indeed,  measured  by  the  rank  of 
those  to  whom  they  were  addressed,  but  even  the  meanest 
person  present  had  a  share  of  his  gracious  notice.  The  in- 
quiries which  he  made  respecting  the  condition  of  the  manor, 
of  the  Queen's  rights  there,  and  of  the  advantages  and  disad- 
vantages which  might  attend  her  occasional  residence  at  the 
royal  seat  of  Woodstock,  seemed  to  show  that  he  had  most 
earnestly  investigated  the  matter  of  the  petition  of  the  in- 
habitants, and  with  a  desire  to  forward  the  interest  of  the 
place. 

"Now  the  Lord  love  his  noble  countenance,"  said  the 
bailiff,  who  had  thrust  himself  into  the  presence-chamber; 
"  he  looks  somewhat  pale.  I  warrant  him  he  hath  spent  the 
whole  night  in  perusing  our  memorial.  Master  Toughyam, 
who  took  six  months  to  draw  it  up,  said  it  would  take  a  week 
to  imderstand  it;  and  see  if  the  earl  hath  not  knocked  the 
marrow  out  of  it  in  twenty-four  hours!  " 

The  earl  then  acquainted  them  that  he  should  move  their 
sovereign  to  honor  Woodstock  occasionally  with  her  residence 
during  her  royal  progresses,  that  the  town  and  its  vicinity 
might  derive  from  her  countenance  and  favor  the  same  ad- 
vantages as  from  those  of  her  predecessors.  Meanwhile,  he 
rejoiced  to  be  the  expounder  of  her  gracious  pleasure,  in 
assuring  them  that,  for  the  increase  of  trade  and  encourage- 
ment of  the  worthy  burgesses  of  Woodstock,  her  Majesty 
was  minded  to  erect  the  town  into  a  staple  for  wool. 

This  joyful  intelligence  was  received  with  the  acclamations 
not  only  of  the  better  sort  who  were  admitted  to  the  audi- 
ence-chamber, but  of  the  commons  who  awaited  without. 

The  freedom  of  the  corporation  was  presented  to  the  earl 
upon  knee  by  the  magistrates  of  the  place,  together  with  a 
purse  of  gold  pieces,  which  the  earl  handed  to  Vam-ey,  who, 
on  his  part,  gave  a  share  to  Lamboume,  as  the  most  acceptable 
earnest  of  his  new  service. 


RENILWORTB.  87 

The  earl  and  Ms  retinue  took  horse  soon  after  to  return  to 
court,  accompanied  by  the  shouts  of  the  inhabitants  of  Wood- 
stock, who  made  the  old  oaks  ring  with  re-echoing,  "  Long 
live  Queen  Elizabeth  and  the  noble  Earl  of  Leicester!  "  The 
urbanity  and  courtesy  of  the  earl  even  threw  a  gleam  of  popu- 
larity over  his  attendants,  as  their  haughty  deportment  had 
formerly  obscured  that  of  their  master;  and  men  shouted, 
"  Long  life  to  the  earl  and  to  his  gallant  followers!  "  as  Var- 
ney  and  Lambourne,  each  in  his  rank,  rode  proudly  through 
the  streets  of  Woodstock. 


CHAPTEK  VIII. 

Host.  I  will  hear  you,  Master  Fenton  ; 
And  I  will,  at  least,  keep  your  counsel. 

—Merry  Wives  of  Windsor. 

It  becomes  necessary  to  return  to  the  detail  of  those  cir- 
cumstances which  accompanied,  and  indeed  occasioned,  the 
sudden  disappearance  of  Tressilian  from  the  sign  of  the  Black 
Bear  at  Cumnor.  It  will  be  recollected  that  this  gentleman, 
after  his  rencounter  with  Varney,  had  returned  to  Giles  Gos- 
ling's caravansary,  where  he  shut  himself  up  in  his  own  cham- 
ber, demanded  pen,  ink,  and  paper,  and  announced  his  pur- 
pose to  remain  private  for  the  day.  In  the  evening  he 
appeared  again  in  the  public  room,  where  Michael  Lam- 
bourne,  who  had  been  on  the  watch  for  him,  agreeably  to  his 
engagement  to  Varney,  endeavored  to  renew  his  acquaintance 
with  him,  and  hoped  he  retained  no  unfriendly  recollection 
of  the  part  he  had  taken  in  the  morning  scuffle. 

But  Tressilian  repelled  his  advances  firmly,  though  with 
civility.  "  Master  Lamboume,"  he  said,  "  I  trust  I  have 
recompensed  to  your  pleasure  the  time  you  have  wasted  on 
me.  tinder  the  show  of  wild  bluntness  which  you  exhibit,  I 
know  you  have  sense  enough  to  understand  me  when  I  say 
frankly,  that  the  object  of  our  temporary  acquaintance  hav- 
ing been  accomplished,  we  must  be  strangers  to  each  other  in 
future." 

"  Voto !  "  said  Lamboume,  twirling  his  whiskers  with  one 
hand,  and  grasping  the  hilt  of  his  weapon  with  the  other;  "  if 
I  thought  that  this  usage  was  meant  to  insult  me " 

"You  would  bear  it  with  discretion,  doubtless,"  inter- 
rupted Tressilian,  "  as  you  must  do  at  any  rate.  You  know 
too  well  the  distance  that  is  betwixt  us  to  require  me  to  ex- 
plain myself  farther.     Good  evening." 

So  sa}dng,  he  turned  his  back  upon  his  former  companion, 
and  entered  into  discourse  with  the  landlord.  Michael  Lam- 
boume felt  strongly  disposed  to  bully;  but  his  wrath  died 
away  in  a  few  incoherent  oaths  and  ejaculations,  and  he  sank 
unresistingly  under  the  ascendency  which  superior  spirits 
possess  over  persons  of  his  habits  and  description.  He  re- 
X»ained  moody  and  silent  in  a  corner  of  the  apartment,  paying 

86 


I 


EENILWORTH,  89 

the  most  marked  attention  to  every  motion  of  his  late  com- 
panion, against  whom  he  began  now  to  nourish  a  quarrel  on 
his  own  account,  which  he  trusted  to  avenge  by  the  execu- 
tion of  his  new  master  Varney's  directions.  The  hour  of 
supper  arrived,  and  was  followed  by  that  of  repose,  when 
Tressilian,  like  others,  retired  to  his  sleeping-apartment. 

He  had  not  been  in  bed  long,  when  the  train  of  sad  reveries, 
which  supplied  the  place  of  rest  in  his  disturbed  mind,  was 
suddenly  interrupted  by  the  jar  of  a  door  on  its  hinges,  and  a 
light  was  seen  to  glimmer  in  the  apartment.  Tressilian,  who 
was  as  brave  as  steel,  sprang  from  his  bed  at  this  alarm,  and 
had  laid  hand  upon  his  sword,  when  he  was  prevented  from 
drawing  it  by  a  voice  which  said,  "  Be  not  too  rash  with  your 
rapier,  Master  Tressilian.     It  is  I,  your  host,  Giles  Gosling.'' 

At  the  same  time,  unshrouding  the  dark  lantern,  which  had 
hitherto  only  emitted  an  indistinct  glimmer,  the  goodly 
aspect  and  figure  of  the  landlord  of  the  Black  Bear  was 
visibly  presented  to  his  astonished  guest. 

"  What  mummery  is  this,  mine  host? "  said  Tressilian. 
"  Have  you  supped  as  jollily  as  last  night,  and  so  mistaken 
your  chamber?  or  is  midnight  a  time  for  masquerading  it  in 
your  guest's  lodging?" 

"  Master  Tressiliaj\"  replied  mine  host,  "  I  know  my  place 
and  my  time  as  well  as  e'er  a  merry  landlord  in  England. 
But  here  has  been  my  hang-dog  kinsman  watching  you  as 
close  as  ever  cat  watched  a  mouse;  and  here  have  you,  on  the 
other  hand,  quarreled  and  fought,  either  with  him  or  with 
some  other  person,  and  I  fear  that  danger  will  come  of  it." 

"  Go  to,  thou  art  but  a  fool,  man,"  said  Tressilian;  "  thy 
kinsman  is  beneath  my  resentment;  and,  besides,  why  shouldst 
thou  think  I  had  quarreled  with  anyone  whomsoever?  " 

"  Oh,  sir!  "  replied  the  innkeeper,  "  there  w^as  a  red  spot  on 
thy  very  cheek-bone,  which  boded  of  a  late  brawl,  as  sure  as 
the  conjunction  of  Mars  and  Saturn  threatens  misfortune; 
and  when  you  returned,  the  buckles  of  your  girdle  were 
brought  forward,  and  your  step  was  quick  and  hasty,  and  all 
things  showed  your  hand  and  your  hilt  had  been  lately  ac- 
quainted." 

"  Well,  good  mine  host,  if  I  have  been  obliged  to  draw  my 
sword,"  said  Tressilian,  "why  should  such  a  circumstance 
fetch  thee  out  of  thy  warm  bed  at  this  time  of  night?  Thou 
seest  the  mischief  is  all  over." 

"Under  favor,  that  is  what  I  doubt.  Anthony  Foster  is  a 
dangerous  man,  defended  by  strong  court  patronage,  which 


w>  Wa  VisHLisr  2^0 VMS. 

hath  borne  him  out  in  matters  of  very  deep  concernment. 
And  then  my  kinsman — why,  I  have  told  you  what  he  is;  and 
if  these  two  old  cronies  have  made  up  their  old  acquaintance, 
I  would  not,  my  worshipful  guest,  that  it  should  be  at  thy 
cost.  I  promise  you,  Mike  Lamboume  has  been  making  very 
particulai*  inquiries  at  my  hostler,  when  and  which  way  you 
ride.  Now,  I  would  have  you  think,  whether  you  may  not 
have  done  or  said  something  for  which  you  may  be  waylaid 
and  taken  at  disadvantage." 

"  Thou  art  an  honest  man,  mine  host,"  said  Tressilian, 
after  a  moment's  consideration,  "  and  I  will  deal  frankly  with 
thee.  If  these  men's  malice  is  directed  against  me — as  I  deny 
not  but  it  may — ^it  is  because  they  are  the  agents  of  a  more 
powerful  villain  than  themselves." 

"  You  mean  Master  Eichard  Vamey,  do  you  not?  "  said  the 
landlord;  "  he  was  at  Cumnor  Place  yesterday,  and  came  not 
thither  so  private  but  what  he  was  espied  by  one  who  told 
me." 

'^  I  mean  the  same,  mine  host." 

"  Then,  for  God's  sake,  worshipful  Master  Tressilian,"  said 
honest  Gosling,  "  look  well  to  yourself.  This  Vamey  is  the 
protector  and  patron  of  Anthony  Foster,  who  holds  under 
tiim,  and  by  his  favor,  some  lease  of  yonder  mansion  and  the 
park.  Vamey  got  a  large  grant  of  the  lands  of  the  abbacy  of 
Abingdon,  and  Cumnor  Place  amongst  others,  from  his  mas- 
ter, the  Earl  of  Leicester.  Men  say  he  can  do  everything 
with  him,  though  I  hold  the  earl  too  good  a  nobleman  to  em- 
ploy him  as  some  men  talk  of.  And  then  the  earl  can  do 
anything — that  is,  anything  right  or  fitting — with  the  Queen, 
God  bless  her!  so  you  see  what  an  enemy  you  have  made  to 
yourself." 

"  Well,  it  is  done,  and  I  cannot  help  it,"  answered  Tres- 
silian. 

"  Uds  precious,  but  it  must  be  helped  in  some  manner," 
said  the  host.  "Richard  Varney — why,  what  between  his 
influence  with  my  lord,  and  his  pretending  to  so  many  old 
and  vexatious  claims  in  right  of  the  abbot  here,  men  fear 
almost  to  mention  his  name,  much  more  to  set  themselves 
against  his  practices.  You  may  judge  by  our  discourses  the 
last  night.  Men  said  their  pleasure  of  Tony  Foster,  but  not 
a  word  of  Richard  Vamey,  though  all  men  judge  him  to  be  at 
the  bottom  of  yonder  mystery  about  the  pretty  wench.  But 
perhaps  you  know  more  of  that  matter  than  I  do,  for  women, 
though  they  wear  not  swords,  are  occasion  for  many  a  blade's 


KENILWORTH,  91 

exchanging  a  sheath  of  neat's  leather  for  one  of  flesh  and 
blood/' 

"I  do  indeed  know  more  of  that  poor  unfortunate  lady 
than  thou  dost,  my  friendly  host;  and  so  bankrupt  am  I,  at 
this  moment,  of  friends  and  advice,  that  I  will  willingly  make 
a  counselor  of  thee,  and  tell  thee  the  whole  history,  the  rather 
that  I  have  a  favor  to  ask  when  my  tale  is  ended." 

"  Good  Master  Tressilian,"  said  the  landlord,  "  I  am  but  a 
poor  innkeeper,  little  able  to  adjust  or  counsel  such  a  guest  as 
yourself.  But  as  sure  as  I  have  risen  decently  above  the 
world  by  giving  good  measure  and  reasonable  charges,  I  am 
an  honest  man;  and  as  such,  if  I  may  not  be  able  to  assist 
you,  I  am,  at  least,  not  capable  to  abuse  your  confidence. 
Say  away,  therefore,  as  confidently  as  if  you  spoke  to  your 
father;  and  thus  far  at  least  be  certain,  that  my  curiosity,  for 
I  will  not  deny  that  which  belongs  to  my  calling,  is  joined  to 
a  reasonable  degree  of  discretion.'' 

"  I  doubt  it  not,  mine  host,"  answered  Tressilian;  and  while 
his  auditor  remained  in  anxious  expectation,  he  meditated  for 
an  instant  how  he  should  commence  his  narrative.  "  My 
tale,"  he  at  length  said,  "  to  be  quite  intelligible,  must  begin 
at  some  distance  back.  You  have  heard  of  the  battle  of 
Stoke,  my  good  host,  and  perhaps  of  old  Sir  Roger  Robsart, 
who,  in  that  battle,  valiantly  took  part  with  Henry  VII.,  the 
Queen's  grandfather,  and  routed  the  Earl  of  Lincoln,  Lord 
Geraldin  and  his  wild  Irish,  and  the  Flemings  whom  the 
Duchess  of  Burgundy  had  sent  over,  in  the  quarrel  of  Lam- 
bert Simnel?" 

"  I  remember  both  one  and  the  other,"  said  Giles  Gosling, 
"  it  is  sung  of  a  dozen  times  a  week  on  my  ale-bench  below. 
Sir  Roger  Robsart  of  Devon — Oh,  aye,  'tis  him  of  whom  min- 
Btrels  sing  to  this  hour: 

He  was  the  flower  of  Stoke's  red  field 
When  Martin  Swart  on  ground  lay  slain; 

In  raging  rout  he  never  reel'd, 
But  like  a  rock  did  firm  remain. 

Aye,  and  then  there  was  Martin  Swart  I  have  heard  my 
grandfather  talk  of,  and  of  the  jolly  Almains  whom  he  com- 
manded, with  their  slashed  doublets  and  quaint  hose,  all 
frounced  with  ribbons  above  the  nether-stocks.  Here's  a 
song  goes  of  Martin  Swart,  too,  an  I  had  but  memory  for  it: 

Martin  Swart  and  his  men, 

Saddle  them,  saddle  them ; 
Martin  Swart  and  his  men, 

Saddle  them  well."  ♦ 
*  See  Martin  Swart.    Notet. 


•3  WAVERLEY  NOVELS, 

"  True,  good  miiiie  host — ^the  day  was  long  talked  of;  but,  if 
you  sing  so  loud,  you  will  awake  more  listeners  than  I  care 
to  commit  my  confidence  unto." 

"I  crave  pardon,  my  worshipful  guest,"  said  mine  host, 
"I  was  oblivious.  When  an  old  song  comes  across  us 
meiry  old  knights  of  the  spigot,  it  runs  away  with  our  dis- 
cretion." 

"Well,  mine  host,  my  grandfather,  like  some  other  Cor- 
nishmen,  kept  a  warm  alSection  to  the  house  of  York,  and 
espoused  the  quarrel  of  this  Simnel,  assuming  the  title  of  Earl 
of  Warwick,  as  the  county  afterward,  in  great  numbers, 
countenanced  the  cause  of  Perkin  Warbeck,  calling  himself 
the  Duke  of  York.  My  grandsire  joined  Simners  standard, 
and  was  taken  fighting  desperately  at  Stoke,  where  most  of 
the  leaders  of  that  unhappy  army  were  slain  in  their  hamese. 
The  good  knight  to  whom  be  rendered  himself.  Sir  Eoger 
Eobsart,  protected  him  from  the  immediate  vengeance  of  the 
king,  and  dismissed  him  without  ransom.  But  he  was  unable 
to  guard  him  from  other  penalties  of  his  rashness,  being  the 
heavy  fines  by  which  he  was  impoverished,  according  to 
Henry's  mode  of  weakening  his  enemies.  The  good  knight 
did  what  he  might  to  mitigate  the  distresses  of  my  ancestor; 
and  their  friendship  became  so  strict  that  my  father  was  bred 
up  as  the  sworn  brother  and  intimate  of  the  present  Sir  Hugh 
Eobsart,  the  only  son  of  Sir  Eoger,  and  the  heir  of  his  honest, 
and  generous,  and  hospitable  temper,  though  not  equal  to  him 
in  martial  achievements." 

"I  have  heard  of  good  Sir  Hugh  Eobsart,"  interrupted 
the  host,  "  many  a  time  and  oft.  His  huntsman  and  sworn 
servant.  Will  Badger,  hath  spoke  of  him  an  hundred  times  in 
this  very  house — a  jovial  knight  he  is,  and  hath  loved  hos- 
pitality and  open  housekeeping  more  than  the  present 
fashion,  which  lays  as  much  gold  lace  on  the  seams  of  a  doub- 
let as  would  feed  a  dozen  of  tall  fellows  with  beef  and  ale  for 
a  twelvemonth,  and  let  them  have  their  evening  at  the  ale- 
house once  a  week,  to  do  good  to  the  publican." 

"  If  you  have  seen  Will  Badger,  mine  host,"  said  Tressilian, 
"  you  have  heard  enough  of  Sir  Hugh  Eobsart;  and  therefore 
I  will  but  say,  that  the  hospitality  you  boast  of  hath  proved 
somewhat  detrimental  to  the  estate  of  his  family,  which  is  per- 
haps of  the  less  consequence,  as  he  has  but  one  daughter  to 
whom  to  bequeath  it.  And  here  begins  my  share  in  the  tale. 
Upon  my  father's  death,  now  several  years  since,  the  good  Sir 
Hugh  would  willingly  have  made  me  his  constant  companion. 


KENILWORTE.  93 

There  was  a  time,  however,  at  which  I  felt  the  kind  knight's 
excessive  love  for  field-sports  detained  me  from  studies  by 
which  I  might  have  profited  more;  but  I  ceased  to  regret  the 
leisure  which  gratitude  and  hereditary  friendsihip  compelled 
me  to  bestow  on  these  rural  avocations.  The  exquisite 
beauty  of  Mistress  Amy  Robsart,  as  she  grew  up  from  child- 
hood to  woman,  could  not  escape  one  whom  circumstances 
obliged  to  be  so  constantly  in  her  company.  I  loved  her,  in 
short,  mine  host,  and  her  father  saw  it." 

"  And  crossed  your  true  loves,  no  doubt?  "  said  mine  host. 
"  It  is  the  way  in  all  such  cases;  and  I  judge  it  must  have  been 
so  in  your  instance,  from  the  heavy  sigh  you  uttered  even 
now." 

"  The  case  was  different,  mine  host.  My  suit  was  highly 
approved  by  the  generous  Sir  Hugh  Robsart;  it  was  his 
daughter  who  was  cold  to  my  passion." 

"  She  was  the  more  dangerous  enemy  of  the  two,"  said  the 
innkeeper.     "  I  fear  me  your  suit  proved  a  cold  one." 

"  She  5rielded  me  her  esteem,"  said  Tressilian,  "  and  seemed 
not  unwilling  that  I  should  hope  it  might  ripen  into  a  warmer 
passion.  There  was  a  contract  of  future  marriage  executed 
betwixt  us,  upon  her  father's  intercession;  but,  to  comply 
with  her  anxious  request,  the  execution  was  deferred  for  a 
twelvemonth.  During  this  period,  Richard  Vamey  appeared 
in  the  country,  and,  availing  himself  of  some  distent  family 
connection  with  Sir  Hugh  Robsart,  spent  much  of  his  time 
in  his  company,  until,  at  length,  he  almost  lived  in  the 
family." 

"  That  could  bode  no  good  to  the  place  he  honored  with  his 
residence,"  said  Gosling. 

"  No,  by  the  rood!  "  replied  Tressilian.  "  Misunderstand-' 
ing  and  misery  followed  his  presence,  yet  so  strangely,  that  I 
am  at  this  moment  at  a  loss  to  trace  the  gradations  of  their 
encroachment  upon  a  family  which  had,  till  then,  been  so 
happy.  For  a  time  Amy  Robsart  received  the  attentions  of 
this  man  Yarney  with  the  indifference  attached  to  common 
courtesies;  then  followed  a  period  in  which  she  seemed  to  re- 
gard him  with  dislike,  and  even  with  disgust;  and  then  an  ex- 
traordinary species  of  connection  appeared  to  grow  up  betwixt 
them.  Vamey  dropped  those  airs  of  pretension  and  gal- 
lantry which  had  marked  his  former  approaches;  and.  Amy, 
on  the  other  hand,  seemed  to  renounce  the  ill-disguised  dis- 
gust with  which  she  had  regarded  them.  They  seemed  to 
nave  more  of  privacy  and  confidence  together  than  I  fully 


d4  WA  VERLiST  NO  VEL8. 

liked;  and  I  suspected  that  they  met  in  private,  where  there 
was  less  restraint  than  in  our  presence.  Many  circum- 
stances, which  I  noticed  but  Little  at  the  time — for  I  deemed 
her  heart  as  open  as  her  angelic  countenance — have  since 
arisen  on  my  memory,  to  convince  me  of  their  private  under- 
standing. But  I  need  not  detail  them — the  fact  speaks  for 
itself.  She  vanished  from  her  father's  house — Vamey  dis- 
appeared at  the  same  time;  and  this  very  day  I  have  seen  her 
in  the  character  of  his  paramour,  living  in  the  house  of  his 
sordid  dependent  Foster,  and  visited  by  him,  muffled,  and  by 
a  secret  entrance." 

"  And  this,  then,  is  the  cause  of  your  quarrel?  Methinks, 
you  should  have  been  sure  that  the  fair  lady  either  desired  or 
deserved  your  interference." 

"  Mine  host,"  answered  Tressilian,  "  my  father,  such  I 
must  ever  consider  Sir  Hugh  Kobsart,  sits  at  home  struggling 
with  his  grief,  or,  if  so  far  recovered,  vainly  attempting  to 
drown,  in  the  practice  of  his  field-sports,  the  recollection 
that  he  had  once  a  daughter — a  recollection  which  ever  and 
anon  breaks  from  him  under  circumstances  the  most  pathetic. 
I  could  not  brook  the  idea  that  he  should  live  in  misery  and 
Amy  in  guilt;  and  I  endeavored  to  seek  her  out,  with  the 
hope  of  inducing  her  to  return  to  her  family.  I  have  found 
her,  and  when  I  have  either  succeeded  in  my  attempt  or  have 
found  it  altogether  unavailing,  it  is  my  purpose  to  embark 
for  the  Virginia  voyage." 

"  Be  not  so  rash,  good  sir,"  replied  Giles  Gosling;  "  and  cast 
not  yourself  away  because  a  woman — to  be  brief — is  a  womaQ, 
and  changes  her  lovers  like  her  suit  of  ribbons,  with  no  bet- 
ter reason  than  mere  fantasy.  And  ere  we  probe  this  matter 
*  further,  let  me  ask  you  what  circumstances  of  suspicion 
directed  you  so  truly  to  this  lad/s  residence,  or  rather  to  her 
place  of  concealment?  " 

"  The  last  is  the  better  chosen  word,  mine  host,"  answered 
Tressilian;  "  and  touching  your  question,  the  knowledge  that 
Vamey  held  large  grants  of  the  demesnes  formerly  belonging 
to  the  monks  of  Abingdon  directed  me  to  this  neighborhood; 
and  your  nephew's  visit  to  his  old  comrade  Foster  gave  me  the 
means  of  conviction  on  the  subject." 

"  And  what  is  now  your  purpose,  worthy  siir? — excuse  my 
freedom  in  asking  the  question  so  broadly." 

"  I  purpose,  mine  host,"  said  Tressilian,  "  to  renew  my 
visit  to  the  place  of  her  residence  to-morrow,  and  to  seek  a 
more  detailed  communication  with  her  than  I  have  had  to- 


KENILWORTB.  W 

day.  She  must  indeed  be  widely  changed  from  what  she 
once  was  if  my  words  make  no  impression  upon  her." 

"  Under  your  favor,  Master  Tressilian,"  said  the  landlord, 
"  you  can  follow  no  such  course.  The  lady,  if  I  understand 
you,  has  already  rejected  your  interference  in  the  matter." 

"  It  is  but  too  true,"  said  Tressilian;  "  I  cannot  deny  it." 

"  Then,  marry,  by  what  right  or  interest  do  you  propose  a 
compulsory  interference  with  her  inclination,  disgraceful  as 
it  may  be  to  herself  and  to  her  parents?  Unless  my  judg- 
ment gulls  me,  those  under  whose  protection  she  has  tliown 
herself  would  have  small  hesitation  to  reject  your  interfer- 
ence, even  if  it  were  that  of  a  father  or  brother;  but  as  a  dis- 
carded lover  you  expose  yourself  to  be  repelled  with  the 
strong  hand,  as  well  as  with  scorn.  You  can  apply  to  no 
magistrate  for  aid  or  countenance;  and  you  are  hunting, 
therefore,  a  shadow  in  water,  and  will  only — excuse  my  plain- 
ness— come  by  ducking  and  danger  in  attempting  to  catch  it." 

"I  will  appeal  to  the  Earl  of  Leicester,"  said  Tressilian, 
"against  the  infamy  of  his  favorite.  He  courts  the  severe 
and  strict  sect  of  Puritans.  He  dare  not,  for  the  sake  of  his 
own  character,  refuse  my  appeal,  even  although  he  were  desti- 
tute of  the  principles  of  honor  and  nobleness  with  which 
fame  invests  him.     Or  I  will  appeal  to  the  Queen  herself." 

"  Should  Leicester,"  said  the  landlord,  "  be  disposed  to 
protect  his  dependent,  a£  indeed  he  is  said  to  be  very  confi- 
dential with  Vamey,  the  appeal  to  the  Queen  may  bring  them 
both  to  reason.  Her  Majesty  is  strict  in  such  matters,  and — 
if  it  be  not  treason  to  speak  it — will  rather,  it  is  said,  pardon 
a  dozen  courtiers  for  falling  in  love  with  herself  than  one  for 
giving  preference  to  another  woman.  Corragio  then,  my 
brave  guest!  for,  if  thou  layest  a  petition  from  Sir  Hugh  at 
the  foot  of  the  throne,  bucklered  by  the  story  of  thine  own 
wrongs,  the  favorite  earl  dared  as  soon  leap  into  the  Thames 
at  the  fullest  and  deepest  as  offer  to  protect  Vamey  in  a 
cause  of  this  nature.  But  to  do  this  with  any  chance  of  suc- 
cess you  must  go  formally  to  work;  and,  without  sta.3dng  here 
to  tilt  with  the  master  of  horse  to  a  privy-councilor,  and  ex- 
pose yourself  to  the  dagger  of  his  cameradoes,  you  should  hie 
you  to  Devonshire,  get  a  petition  drawn  up  for  Sir  Hugh 
Eobsart,  and  make  as  many  friends  as  you  can  to  forward 
your  interest  at  court." 

"  You  have  spoken  well,  mine  host,"  said  Tressilian,  "  and 
I  will  profit  by  your  advice,  and  leave  you  to-morrow  early." 

"Nay,  leave  me  to-night,  sir,  before  to-morrow  comes," 


W  WAVEBLET  NOVELS. 

said  the  landlord.  "I  never  prayed  for  a  guest's  arrival 
more  eagerly  than  I  do  to  have  you  safely  gone.  My  kins- 
man's destiny  is  most  like  to  be  hanged  for  something,  but  I 
would  not  that  the  cause  were  the  murder  of  an  honored 
guest  of  mine.  '  Better  ride  safe  in  the  dark/  says  the  prov- 
erb, '  than  in  daylight  with  a  cut-throat  at  your  elbow.' 
Come,  sir,  I  move  you  for  your  own  safety.  Your  horse  and 
all  is  ready,  and  here  is  your  score." 

"It  is  somewhat  under  a  noble,"  said  Tressilian,  giving 
one  to  the  host;  "give  the  balance  to  pretty  Cicely,  your 
daughter,  and  the  servants  of  the  house." 

"  They  shall  taste  of  your  bounty,  sir,"  said  Gosling,  "  and 
you  should  taste  of  my  daughter's  lips  in  grateful  acknowl- 
edgment, but  at  this  hour  she  cannot  grace  the  porch  to  greet 
your  departure." 

"  Do  not  trust  your  daughter  too  far  with  your  guests,  my 
good  landlord,"  said  Tressilian. 

"  Oh,  sir,  we  will  keep  measure;  but  I  wonder  not  that  you 
are  jealous  of  them  all.  May  I  crave  to  know  with 
what  aspect  the  fair  lady  at  the  Place  yesterday  received 
you?" 

"  I  own,"  said  Tressilian,  "  it  was  angry  as  well  as  con- 
fused, and  affords  me  little  hope  that  she  is  yet  awakened 
from  her  unhappy  delusion." 

"In  that  case,  sir,  I  see  not  why  you  should  play  the 
champion  of  a  wench  that  will  none  of  you,  and  incur  the 
resentment  of  a  favorite's  favorite,  as  dangerous  a  monster  as 
ever  a  knight  adventurer  encountered  in  the  old  story-books." 

"  You  do  me  wrong  in  the  supposition,  mine  host — gross 
wrong,"  said  Tressilian;  "  I  do  not  desire  that  Amy  should 
ever  turn  thought  upon  me  more.  Let  me  but  see  her  re- 
stored to  her  father,  and  all  I  have  to  do  in  Europe — perhaps 
in  the  world — ^is  over  and  ended." 

"  A  wiser  resolution  were  to  drink  a  cup  of  sack,  and  for- 
get her,"  said  the  landlord.  "  But  five-and-twenty  and  fifty 
look  on  those  matters  with  different  eyes,  especially  when  one 
case  of  peepers  is  set  in  the  skull  of  a  young  gallant  and  the 
other  in  that  of  an  old  publican.  I  pity  you.  Master  Tres- 
silian, but  I  see  not  how  I  can  aid  you  in  the  matter." 

"  Only  thus  far,  mine  host,"  replied  Tressilian.  "  Keep  a 
watch  on  the  motions  of  those  at  the  Place,  which  thou  canst 
tasily  learn  without  suspicion,  as  all  men's  news  fly  to  the  ale- 
bench;  and  be  pleased  to  communicate  the  tidings  in  writing 
to  such  person,  and  to  no  other,  who  shall  bring  you  this  ring 


KENILWOUTH.  91 

9B  a  special  token;  look  at  it — it  is  of  value,  and  I  will  freely 
bestow  it  on  you." 

"  Nay,  sir,"  said  the  landlord,  "  I  desire  no  recompense;  but 
it  seems  an  unadvised  course  in  me,  being  in  a  public  line,  to 
connect  myself  in  a  matter  of  this  dark  and  perilous  nature. 
I  have  no  interest  in  it." 

"You  and  every  father  in  the  land,  who  would  have  his 
daughter  released  from  the  snares  of  shame,  and  sin,  and 
misery,  have  an  interest  deeper  than  aught  concerning  earth 
only  could  create." 

"  Well,  sir,"  said  the  host,  "  these  are  brave  words;  and  I 
do  pity  from  my  soul  the  frank-hearted  old  gentleman,  who 
has  minished  his  estate  in  good  housekeeping  for  the  honor 
of  his  country,  and  now  has  his  daughter,  who  should  be  the 
stay  of  his  age,  and  so  forth,  whisked  up  by  such  a  kite  as  this 
Vamey.  And  though  your  part  in  the  matter  is  somewhat 
of  the  wildest,  yet  I  will  e'en  be  a  madcap  for  company,  and 
help  you  in  your  honest  attempt  to  get  back  the  good  man's 
child,  so  far  as  being  your  faithful  intelligencer  can  serve. 
And  as  I  shall  be  true  to  you,  I  pray  you  to  be  trusty  to  me, 
and  keep  my  secret;  for  it  were  bad  for  the  custom  of  the 
Black  Bear,  should  it  be  said  the  bear-warder  interfered  in 
such  matters.  Vamey  has  interest  enough  with  the  justices 
to  dismount  my  noble  emblem  from  the  post  on  which  he 
swings  so  gallantly,  to  call  in  my  license,  and  ruin  me  from 
garret  to  cellar." 

"  Do  not  doubt  my  secrecy,  mine  host,"  siaid  Tressilian;  "  I 
will  retain  besides,  the  deep^  sense  of  thy  service,  and  of  the 
risk  thou  dost  run;  remember  the  ring  is  my  sure  token. 
And  now,  farewell;  for  it  was  thy  wise  advice  that  I  should 
tarry  here  as  short  a  time  as  may  be." 

"  Follow  me,  then,  sir  guest,"  said  the  landlord,  "  and  tread 
as  gently  as  if  eggs  were  under  your  foot  in^ad  of  deal 
boards.     No  man  must  know  when  or  how  you  departed." 

By  the  aid  of  his  dark  lantern  he  conducted  Tressilian,  as 
soon  as  he  had  made  himself  ready  for  his  journey,  through 
a  long  intricacy  of  passages,  which  opened  to  an  outer  court, 
and  from  thence  to  a  remote  stable,  where  he  had  already 
placed  his  guest's  horse.  He  then  aided  him  to  fasten  on  the 
saddle  the  small  portmantle  which  contained  his  necessaries, 
opened  a  postern  door,  and  with  a  hearty  shake  of  the  hand, 
and  a  reiteration  of  his  promise  to  attend  to  what  went  on  at 
Cumnor  Place,  he  dismissed  his  guest  to  his  solitary  journey. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Par  in  the  iane  a  lonely  hut  he  found, 

No  tenant  ventured  on  the  unwholesome  ground  i 

Here  smokes  his  forge,  he  bares  his  sinewy  arm, 

And  early  strokes  the  sounding  anvil  warm  ; 

Around  his  shop  the  steely  sparkles  flew, 

As  for  the  steed  he  shaped  the  bending  shoe. 

— Gtay's  Trivia, 

As  it  was  deemed  proper  by  the  traveler  himself,  as  well  a^ 
by  Giles  Gosling,  that  Tressilian  should  avoid  being  seen  in 
the  neighborhood  of  Cumnor  by  those  whom  accident  might 
make  early  risers,  the  landlord  had  given  him  a  route,  con- 
sisting of  various  byways  and  lanes,  which  he  was  to  follow  in 
succession,  and  which,  all  the  turns  and  short-cuts  duly  ob- 
served, was  to  conduct  him  to  the  public  road  to  Marl- 
borough. 

But,  like  counsel  of  every  other  kind,  this  species  of  direc- 
tion is  much  more  easily  given  than  followed;  and  what  be- 
twixt the  intricacy  of  the  way,  the  darkness  of  the  night, 
Tressilian's  ignorance  of  the  country,  and  the  sad  and  per- 
plexing thoughts  with  which  he  had  to  contend,  his  journey 
proceeded  so  slowly  that  morning  found  him  only  in  the  Vale 
of  Whitehorse,  memorable  for  the  defeat  of  the  Danes  in  for- 
mer days,  with  his  horse  deprived  of  a  forefoot  shoe' — an 
accident  which  threatened  to  put  a  stop  to  his  journey  by 
laming  the  animal.  The  residence  of  a  smith  was  his  first 
object  of  inquiry,  in  which  he  received  little  satisfaction  from 
the  dullness  or  sullenness  of  one  or  two  peasants,  early  bound 
for  their  labor,  who  gave  brief  and  indifferent  answers  to  his 
questions  on  the  subject.  Anxious  at  length  that  the  partner 
of  his  journey  should  suffer  as  little  as  possible  from  the  un- 
fortunate accident,  Tressilian  dismounted,  and  led  his  horse 
in  the  direction  of  a  little  hamlet,  where  he  hoped  either  to 
find  or  hear  tidings  of  such  an  artificer  as  he  now  wanted. 
Through  a  deep  and  muddy  lane,  he  at  length  waded  on  to 
the  place,  which  proved  only  an  assemblage  of  five  or  six 
miserable  huts,  about  the  doors  of  which  one  or  two  persons, 
whose  appearance  seemed  as  rude  as  that  of  their  dwellings, 
were  beginning  the  toils  of  the  day.  One  cottage,  however, 
seemed  of  rather  superior  aspect,  and  the  old  dame,  who  was 
sweeping  her  threshold,  appeared  something  less  rude  than 


KENILWORTR  9d 

her  neighbors.  To  her  Tressilian  addressed  the  oft-repeated 
question,  whether  there  was  a  smith  in  this  neighborhood,  or 
any  place  where  he  could  refresh  his  horse?  The  dame 
looked  him  in  the  face  with  a  peculiar  expression,  as  she  re- 
plied, "  Smith!  aye,  truly  is  there  a  smith;  what  wouldst  ha' 
wi'  un,  mon  ?  " 

^To  shoe  my  horse,  good  dame,"  answered  Tressilian; 
"  you  may  see  that  he  has  thrown  a  forefoot  shoe." 

"  Master  Holiday!  "  exclaimed  the  dame,  without  returning 
any  direct  answer — "  Master  Herasmus  Holiday,  come  and 
speak  to  mon,  and  please  you." 

"  '  Favete  linguis,'  "  answered  a  voice  from  within;  "  I  can- 
not now  come  forth,  Gammer  Sludge,  being  in  the  very 
sweetest  bit  of  my  morning  studies." 

"  Nay,  but,  good  now.  Master  Holiday,  come  ye  out,  do  ye. 
Here's  a  mon  would  to  Wayland  Smith,  and  I  care  not  to 
show  him  way  to  devil;  his  horse  hath  cast  shoe." 

'^  *  Quid  mihi  cum  caballo? ' "  replied  the  man  of  learning 
from  within;  "  I  think  there  is  but  one  wise  man  in  the  hun- 
dred, and  they  cannot  shoe  a  horse  without  him! " 

And  forth  came  the  honest  pedagogue,  for  such  his  dress 
bespoke  him.  A  long,  lean,  shambling,  stooping  figure  was 
surmounted  by  a  head  thatched  with  lank  black  hair  some- 
what inclining  to  gray.  His  features  had  the  cast  of  habitual 
authority,  which  I  suppose  Dionysius  carried  with  him  from 
the  throne  to  the  sehoolmaster's  pulpit,  and  bequeathed  as  a 
legacy  to  all  of  the  same  profession.  A  black  buckram  cas- 
sock was  gathered  at  his  middle  with  a  belt,  at  which  hung, 
instead  of  knife  or  weapon,  a  goodly  leathern  pen-and-ink- 
case.  His  ferula  was  stuck  on  the  other  side,  like  harlequin's 
wooden  sword;  and  he  carried  in  his  hand  the  tattered  vol- 
ume which  he  had  been  busily  perusing. 

On  seeing  a  person  of  Tressilian's  appearance,  which  he  was 
better  able  to  estimate  than  the  country  folks  had  been,  the 
schoolmaster  unbonneted,  and  accosted  him  with,  "  Salve, 
domine.     Intelligisne  linguam  Latinam?" 

Tressilian  mustered  his  learning  to  reply,  "  Linguae  Latinae 
hand  penitus  ignarus,  venia  tua,  do'minie  eruditissime,  ver- 
naculam  libentius  loquor." 

The  Latin  reply  had  upon  the  schoolmaster  the  effect 
which  the  mason's  sign  is  said  to  produce  on  the  brethren  of 
the  trowel.  He  was  at  once  interested  in  the  learned  traveler, 
listened  with  gravity  to  his  story  of  a  tired  horse  and  a  lost 
shoe,  and  then  replied  with  solemnity,  "It  may  appear  a 


100  WAVEBLET  NOVELS. 

simple  thing,  most  worshipful,  to  reply  to  you  that  there 
dwells,  within  a  hrief  mile  of  these  '  tuguria,'  the  best 
^faber  ferrarius,'  the  most  accomplished  blacksmith,  that 
ever  nailed  iron  upon  horse.  Now,  were  I  to  say  so,  I  war- 
rant me  you  would  think  yourself  '  compos  voti,'  oi,  2A  the 
vulgar  have  it,  a  made  man." 

"  I  should  at  least,"  said  Tressilian,  "  have  a  direct  answer 
to  a  plain  question,  which  seems  difficult  to  be  obtained  in 
this  country." 

"  It  is  a  mere  sending  of  a  sinful  soul  to  the  evil  un,"  said 
the  old  woman,  "  the  sending  a  living  creature  to  Wayland 
Smith." 

"  Peace,  Gammer  Sludge!  "  said  the  pedagogue;  "  *  pauca 
verba,^  Gammer  Sludge;  look  to  the  furmity,  Gammer  Sludge; 
*curetur  jentaculum,^  Gammer  Sludge;  this  gentleman  is 
none  of  thy  gossips."  Then  turning  to  Tressilian,  he  re- 
sumed his  lofty  tone,  "  And  so,  most  worshipful,  you  would 
really  think  yourself  '  f elix  bis  terque  '  should  I  point  out  to 
you  the  dwelling  of  this  same  smith?  " 

"  Sir,"  replied  Tressilian,  "  I  should  in  that  case  have  all 
that  I  want  at  present,  a  horse  fit  to  carry  me  forward — out 
of  hearing  of  your  learning."  The  last  words  he  muttered 
to  himself. 

" '  Oh,  caeca  mens  mortalium! ' "  said  the  learned  man: 
"well  was  it  sung  by  Junius  Juvenalis,  'numinibus  vota 
exaudita  malignis! ' " 

'^ Learned  magisfcer,"  said  Tressilian,  "your  erudition  so 
greatly  exceeds  my  poor  intellectual  capacity,  that  you  must 
excuse  my  seeking  elsewhere  for  information  which  I  can 
better  understand.'* 

"  There  again  now,"  replied  the  pedagogue,  "  how  fondly 
you  fly  from  him  that  would  instruct  you!  Truly  said  Quin- 
tilian " 

"  I  pray,  sir,  let  Quintilian  be  for  the  present,  and  answer, 
in  a  word  and  in  English,  if  your  learning  can  condescend  so 
far,  whether  there  is  any  place  here  where  I  can  have  oppor- 
tunity to  refresh  my  horse,  until  I  can  have  him  shod?  " 

"  Thus  much  courtesy,  sir,"  said  the  schoolmaster,  "  I  can 
readily  render  you,  that,  although  there  is  in  this  poor  hamlet 
— '  nostra  paupera  regna ' — no  regular  *  hospitium,'  as  my 
namesake  Erasmus  calleth  it,  yet,  forasmuch  as  you  are  some- 
what embued,  or  at  least  tinged,  as  it  were,  with  good  letters, 
I  will  use  my  interest  with  the  good  woman  of  the  house  to 
accommodate  you  with  a  platter  of  furmity — an  wholesome 


KBNILWORTH,  101 

food  for  which  I  have  found  no  Latin  phrase — ^your  horse 
shall  have  a  share  of  the  cow-house,  with  a  bottle  of  sweet 
hay,  in  which  the  good  woman  Sludge  so  much  abounds  that 
it  may  be  said  of  her  cow,  *  fcenum  habet  in  cornu ';  and  if  it 
please  you  to  bestow  on  me  the  pleasure  of  your  company,  the 
banquet  shall  cost  you  *ne  semis&em  quidem,'  so  much  is 
Gammer  Sludge  bound  to  me  for  the  pains  I  have  bestowed 
on  the  top  and  bottom  of  her  hopeful  heir  Dickie,  whom  I 
have  painfully  made  to  travel  through  the  accidence/' 

"  Now  God  yield  ye  for  it.  Master  Herasmus,"  said  the  good 
Gammer,  "  and  grant  that  little  Dickie  may  be  the  better  for 
his  accident!  and,  for  the  rest,  if  the  gentleman  list  to  stay, 
breakfast  shall  be  on  the  board  in  the  wringing  of  a  dish- 
clout;  and  for  horse-meat  and  man's  meat,  I  bear  no  such 
base  mind  as  to  ask  a  penny." 

Considering  the  state  of  his  horse,  Tressilian,  upon  the 
whole,  saw  no  better  course  than  to  accept  the  invitation  thus 
learnedly  made  and  hospitably  confirmed,  and  take  chance 
that,  when  the  good  pedagogue  had  exhausted  every  topic  of 
conversation,  he  might  possibly  condescend  to  tell  him  where 
he  could  find  the  smith  they  spoke  of.  He  entered  the  hut 
accordingly,  and  sat  down  with  the  learned  Magister  Erasmus 
Holiday,  partook  of  his  furmity,  and  listened  to  his  learned 
account  of  himself  for  a  good  half -hour,  ere  he  could  get  him 
to  talk  upon  any  other  topic.  The  reader  will  readily  excuse 
our  accompanying  this  man  of  learning  into  all  the  details 
with  which  he  favored  Tressilian,  of  which  the  following 
sketch  may  suffice. 

He  was  born  at  Hogsnorton,  where,  according  to  popular 
Baying,  the  pigs  play  upon  the  organ — a  proverb  which  he 
interpreted  allegorically,  as  having  reference  to  the  herd  of 
Epicurus,  of  which  litter  Horace  confessed  himself  a  porker. 
His  name  of  Erasmus  he  derived  partly  from  his  father  hav- 
ing been  the  son  of  a  renowned  washerwoman,  who  had  held 
that  great  scholar  in  clean  linen  all  the  while  he  was  at  Ox- 
ford— a  task  of  some  difficulty,  as  he  was  only  possessed  of 
two  shirts,  "  the  one,"  as  she  expressed  herself,  "  to  wash  the 
other."  The  vestiges  of  one  of  these  *  camicse,'  as  Master 
Holiday  boasted,  were  still  in  his  possession,  having  fortu- 
nately been  detained  by  his  grandmother  to  cover  the  balance 
of  her  bill.  But  he  thought  there  was  a  still  higher  and  over- 
ruling cause  for  his  having  had  the  name  of  Erasmus  con- 
ferred on  him,  namely,  the  secret  presentiment  of  his 
mother's  mind  that,  in  the  babe  to  be  christened,  was  a  hidden 


102  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

genius,  which  should  one  day  lead  him  to  rival  the  fame  of 
the  great  scholar  of  Amsterdam.  The  schoolmaster's  sur- 
name led  him  as  far  into  dissertation  as  his  Christian  appella- 
tive. He  was  inclined  to  think  that  he  hore  the  name  of 
Holiday  "  quasi  lucus  a  non  lucendo,"  because  he  gave  such 
few  holidays  to  his  school.  "  Hence,"  said  he,  "  the  school- 
master is  termed,  classically,  '  ludi  magister,'  because  he  de- 
prives boys  of  their  play."  And  yet,  on  the  other  hand,  he 
thought  it  might  bear  a  very  different  interpretation,  and 
refer  to  his  own  exquisite  art  in  arranging  pageants,  morris- 
dances,  Mayday  festivities,  and  such-like  holiday  delights,  for 
which  he  assured  Tressilian  he  had  positively  the  purest  and 
the  most  inventive  brain  in  England;  insomuch,  that  his  cun- 
ning in  framing  such  pleasures  had  made  him  known  to  many 
honorable  persons  both  in  country  and  court,  and  especially 
to  the  noble  Earl  of  Leicester.  "  And  although  he  may  now 
seem  to  forget  me,"  he  said,  "  in  the  multitude  of  state  affairs, 
yet  I  am  well  assured  that,  had  he  some  pretty  pastime  to 
array  for  entertainment  of  the  Queen's  Grace,  horse  and  man 
would  be  seeking  the  humble  cottage  of  Erasmus  Holiday. 
'  Parvo  contentus,'  in  the  meanwhile,  I  hear  my  pupils  parse 
and  construe,  worshipful  sir,  and  drive  away  my  time  with 
the  aid  of  the  Muses.  And  I  have  at  all  times,  when  in  cor- 
respondence with  foreign  scholars,  subscribed  myself  Eras- 
mus ab  Die  Fausto,  and  have  enjoyed  the  distinction  due  to 
the  learned  under  that  title;  witness  the  erudite  Diedrichus 
Buckerschockius,  who  dedicated  to  me,  under  that  title,  his 
treatise  on  the  letter  tau.  In  fine,  sir,  I  have  been  a  happy 
and  distinguished  man." 

"  Long  may  it  be  so,  sir! "  said  the  traveler;  "  but  permit 
me  to  ask,  in  your  own  learned  phrase,  ^  Quid  hoc  ad  Iphycli 
boves ' — what  has  all  this  to  do  with  the  shoeing  of  my  poor 
nag?" 

"  '  Festina  lente,'  "  said  the  man  of  learning,  "  we  will  pres- 
ently come-  to  that  point.  You  must  know  that,  some  two  or 
three  years  past,  there  came  to  these  parts  one  who  called 
himself  Dr.  Doboobie,  although  it  may  be  he  never  wrote 
even  '  magister  artium,'  save  in  right  of  his  hungry  belly.  Or 
it  may  be  that,  if  he  had  any  degrees,  they  were  of  the  devil's 
giving,  for  he  was  what  the  vulgar  call  a  white  witch,  a  cun- 
ning man,  and  such-like.  Now,  good  sir,  I  perceive  you  are 
impatient;  but  if  a  man  tell  not  his  tale  his  own  way,  how 
have  you  warrant  to  think  that  he  can  tell  it  in  yours?  " 

"Well,  then,  learned  sir,  take  your  way,"  answered  Tres- 


KENILWORTH.  103 

silian;  "  anly  let  us  travel  at  a  sharper  pace,  for  my  time  is 
somewhat  of  the  shortest."  ' 

"Well,  sir,"  resumed  Erasmus  HoUday,  with  the  most  pro- 
yoking  perseverance,  "I  will  not  say  thk  this  same  Dem^ 
tnus,  for  so  he  wrote  himself  when  in  foreign  parts,  was  an 

h^^tTfT''  •"!'  ^'-^T  "  '''  tl^^*  he  pmfiS'tHe  a 
brother  of  the  mystical  order  of  the  Rosy  Cross,  a  disciple  of 

^!^1'  ^  '"''^T  •=''J"'  ^-^"^t  ^^'■bim  vemaculum,'  gib- 
K;P  ^nwTf  """"f '  ^^,  ""'^'"S  the  weapon  instead  of 
hv  thp  t;»  f^T''^  ^^  palmistry,  discovered  stolen  goods 

by  the  sieve  and  shears,  gathered  the  right  maddow  and  the 
male  fern  seed  through  use  of  which  men  walk  invisible,  pre! 
tended  some  advances  toward  the  pana<;ea  or  universal  eUxir 
and  affected  to  convert  good  lead  into  sorry  silver  "  ' 

In  other  words,"  said  Tressilian,  "he  was  a  quacksalver 
and  common  cheat;  but  what  has  all  this  to  do  with  my  n^ 
and  the  shoe  which  he  has  lost?  "  ^ 

r,t'\J3  ^°"''  '^ofhipfil  patience,"  replied  the  diffusive  maa 
tL^^^^\'y°^^'f'^\^^Aer^t^rA  that  presently;  'patientia' 

A»vnoT'  ^\^f^f}^'^reTum  diuma  perpessio.'  This  same 
told  vnn"l  °''°?^'''  '^**^  ^/"^""^S  with  the  country,  as  I  W 
nriir,^;.  ff/V'^""'/*^'  ''""^^  magnates,' among  the 
pnme  men  of  the  land,  and  there  is  likelihood  he  might  have 
foHl  "  erft^^Ue>rs,  had  not,  according  to  vulgi^fem^ 

^^^  n.lr  ■  ''T'^  ^^  "^h*  """^  '^"'^  °ig»it'  and  flown 
^  with  Demetnus  who  was  never  seen  or  heard  of  afterward. 

ThZ  D/nTt*^  7'^""'^''  *h^  ^-^  marrow,  of  my  iSe 
Bkve??.  t^r  ?'  ^^  a  servant,  a  poor  snake,  whom  he  em- 
ployed m  tnmmmg  his  furnace,  regulating  it  by  just  meas- 

na  i™r?°r^'"/  ^'\^':^§''  t'-acing  his  circles,  cijoling  Ms 
patients,  et  sic  de  ceteris.'  Well,  right  worshipful  the  doc- 
tor being  removed  thus  strangely,  'ani  in  a  way^Xch^ruck 
Slf  ^^  tr™*7  ^th  terror,  this  poor  zany  thinks  to  him- 
self, m  the  words  of  Maro,  '  Uno  avulso,  non  deficit  alter'- 
m^'teX^hl''  tradesman's  apprentice  set  himself  up  in  his 

^a^fhit^w  T  ^/  ''  ^^'  '''  h^*  ^^^"-^  frooi  business, 
fL.+  /  Wayland  assume  the  dangerous  trade  of  his  de- 
funct master.  But  although,  most  woi^hipful  sir,  the  world 
irwhr"'  *^'^'^'°  ^^  *^«  pretensions  of  such  unworthy 

though  usurping  the  style  and  skill  of  doctors  of  medicine 
yet  the  pretensions  of  this  poor  zany,  this  Wayland,  w^e  ^' 


1 04  WA  VERLBT  NO  VEL8. 

gross  to  pass  on  them,  nor  was  there  a  mere  rustic,  a  villager, 
who  was  not  ready  to  accost  him  in  the  sense  of  Persius, 
though  in  their  own  rugged  words: 

Diluis  helleborum,  certo  compescere  puncto 
Nescius  examen  ?  vetat  hoc  natura  medendi ; 

which  I  have  thus  rendered  in  a  poor  paraphrase  of  mine  own: 

Wilt  thou  mix  hellebore,  who  doth  not  know 
How  many  grains  should  to  the  mixture  go  ? 
The  art  of  medicine  this  forbids,  I  trow. 

Moreover,  the  evil  reputation  of  the  master,  and  his  strange 
and  doubtful  end,  or  at  least  sudden  disappearance,  prevented 
any,  excepting  the  most  desperate  of  men,  to  seek  any  advice 
or  opinion  from  the  servant;  wherefore,  the  poor  vermin  was 
likely  at  first  to  swarf  for  very  hunger.  But  the  devil  that 
serves  him,  since  the  death  of  Demetrius  or  Doboobie,  put 
him  on  a  fresh  device.  This  knave,  whether  from  the  inspi- 
ration of  the  devil  or  from  early  education^  shoes  horses  bet- 
ter than  e'er  a  man  betwixt  us  and  Iceland;  and  so  he  gives  up 
his  practice  on  the  bipeds,  the  two-legged  and  unfledged 
species  called  mankind,  and  betakes  him  entirely  to  ahoing 
of  horses.' 

"Indeed!  and  where  does  he  lodge  all  this  time?''  said 
Tressilian.  "And  does  he  shoe  horses  well?  Show  me  his 
dwelling  presently." 

The  interruption  pleased  not  the  magister,  who  exclaimed, 
" '  Oh,  caeca  mens  mortalium! '  though,  by  the  way,  I  used 
that  quotation  before.  But  I  would  the  classics  could  afford 
me  any  sentiment  of  power  to  stop  those  who  are  so  willing 
to  rush  upon  their  own  destruction.  Hear  but,  I  pray  you, 
the  conditions  of  this  man,"  siaid  he,  in  continuation,  "  ere 
you  ai*e  so  willing  to  place  yourself,  within  his  danger " 

"A'  takes  no  money  for  a's  work,"  said  the  dame,  who 
stood  by.  enraptured  as  it  were  with  the  fine  words  and 
learned  apothegms  which  glided  so  fluently  from  her 
erudite  inmate.  Master  Holiday.  But  this  interruption 
pleased  not  the  magister  more  than  that  of  the  traveler. 

"  Peace,"  said  he,  "  Gammer  Sludge;  know  your  place,  if  it 
be  your  will.  ^  Sufflamina,'  Gammer  Sludge,  and  allow  me  to 
expound  this  matter  to  our  worshipful  guest.  Sir,"  said  he, 
again  addressing  Tressilian,  "  this  old  woman  speaks  true, 
though  in  her  own  rude  style,  for  certainly  this  'faber  fer- 
rarius,'  or  blacksmith,  takes  money  of  no  one." 

"  And  that  is  a  sure  sign  he  deals  with  Satan,"  said  Dame 


KENILWORTH.  105 

Sludge;  "  since  no  good  Christian  would  ever  refuse  the  wages 
of  his  labor." 

"  The  old  woman  hath  touched  it  again,"  said  the  peda- 
gogue; "  *  rem  acu  tetigit ' — she  hath  pricked  it  with  her 
needle's  point.  This  Wayland  takes  no  money  indeed,  nor 
doth  he  show  himself  to  anyone." 

"  And  can  this  madman,  for  such  I  hold  him,"  said  the 
traveler,  "  know  aught  like  good  skill  of  his  trade?  " 

"  Oh,  sir,  in  that  let  us  give  the  devil  his  due.  Mulciber 
himself,  with  all  his  Cyclops,  could  hardly  amend  him.  But 
assuredly  there  is  little  wisdom  in  taking  counsel  or  receiving 
aid  from  one  who  is  but  too  plainly  in  league  with  the  author 
of  evil." 

"  I  must  take  my  chance  of  that,  good  Master  Holiday," 
said  Tressilian,  rising;  "  and  as  my  horse  must  now  have 
eaten  his  provender,  I  must  needs  thank  you  for  your  good 
cheer,  and  pray  you  to  show  me  this  man's  residence,  that  I 
may  have  the  means  of  proceeding  on  my  journey." 

"Aye — aye,  do  ye  show  him.  Master  Herasmus,"  said  the 
old  dame,  who  was,  perhaps,  desirous  to  get  her  house  freed  of 
her  guest;  "  a'  must  needs  go  when  the  devil  drives." 

"  ^  Do  manus,'  "  said  the  magister — "  I  submit,  taking  the 
world  to  witness  that  I  have  possessed  this  honorable  gentle- 
man with  the  full  injustice  which  he  has  done,  and  shall  do, 
to  his  own  soul  if  he  becomes  thus  a  trinketer  with  Satan. 
Neither  will  I  go  forth  with  our  guest  myself,  but  rather  send 
my  pupil.     '  Eicarde!  adsis,  nebulo.'  " 

"  Under  your  favor,  not  so,"  answered  the  old  woman; 
"  you  may  peril  your  own  soul,  if  you  list,  but  my  son  shall 
budge  on  no  such  errand;  and  I  wonder  at  you.  Dominie 
Doctor,  to  propose  such  a  piece  of  service  for  little  Dickie." 

"  Nay,  my  good  Gammer  Sludge,"  answered  the  preceptor, 
"  Eicardus  shall  go  but  to  the  top  of  the  hill,  and  indicate 
with  his  digit  to  the  stranger  the  dwelling  of  Wayland  Smith. 
Believe  not  that  any  evil  can  come  to  him,  he  having  read 
this  morning,  fasting,  a  chapter  of  the  Septuagint,  and,  more- 
over, having  had  his  lesson  in  the  Greek  Testament." 

'*  Aye,"  said  his  mother,  "  and  I  have  sewn  a  sprig  of 
witch's  elm  in  the  neck  of  un's  doublet,  ever  since  that  foul 
thief  has  begun  his  practices  on  man  and  beast  in  these  parts." 

"  And  as  he  goes  oft,  as  I  hugely  suspect,  toward  this  con- 
jurer for  his  own  pastime  he  may  for  once  go  thither  or  near 
him  to  pleasure  us,  and  to  assist  this  stranger.  ^  Ergo  heus, 
Eicarde!  adsis,  quseso,  mi  didascule.' " 


106  WA  YERLET  NO  YEL8. 

The  pupil,  thus  affectionately  invoked,  at  length  came 
stumbling  into  the  room — a  queer,  shambling,  ill-made 
urchin,  who,  by  his  stunted  growth,  seemed  about  twelve  or 
thirteen  years  old,  though  he  was  probably,  in  reality,  a  yeax 
or  two  older,  with  a  carroty  pate  in  huge  disorder,  a  freckled, 
sunburnt  visage,  with  a  snub  nose,  a  long  chin,  and  two  peery 
gray  eyes,  which  had  a  droll  obliquity  of  vision,  approaching 
to  a  squint,  though  perhaps  not  a  decided  one.  It  was  imposr- 
sible  to  look  at  the  little  man  without  some  disposition  to 
laugh,  especially  when  Gammer  Sludge,  seizing  upon  and  kiss- 
ing him,  in  spite  of  his  struggling  and  kicking  in  reply  to  her 
caresses,  termed  him  her  own  precious  pearl  of  beauty. 

"  *  Eicarde,^ "  said  the  preceptor,  "  you  must  forthwith, 
which  is  *  prof ecto,'  set  forth  so  far  as  the  top  of  the  hill,  and 
show  this  man  of  worship  Wayland  Smith's  workshop." 

"A  proper  errand  of  a  morning,"  said  the  boy,  in  better 
language  than  Tressilian  expected;  "  and  who  knows  but  the 
devil  may  fly  away  with  me  before  I  come  back?  " 

"  Aye,  marry,  may  un,"  said  Dame  Sludge,  "  and  you  might 
have  thought  twice.  Master  Dominie,  ere  you  sent  my  dainty 
darling  on  arrow  such  errand.  It  is  not  for  such  doings  I 
feed  your  belly  and  clothe  your  back,  I  warrant  you! " 

"Pshaw!  'nugge,'  good  Gammer  Sludge,"  answered  the 
preceptor;  "  I  ensure  you  that  Satan,  if  there  be  Satan  in  the 
case,  shall  not  touch  a  thread  of  his  garment;  for  Dickie  can 
say  his  pater  with  the  best,  and  may  defy  the  foul  fiend — 
'  Eumenides,  Stygiumque  nefas.'  " 

"Aye,  and  I,  as  I  said  before,  have  sewed  a  sprig  of  the 
mountain-ash  into  his  collar,"  said  the  good  woman,  "  which 
will  avail  more  than  your  clerkship,  I  wus;  but  for  all  that,  it 
is  ill  to  seek  the  devil  or  his  mates  either." 

"  My  good  boy,"  said  Tressilian,  who  saw,  from  a  grotesque 
sneer  on  Dickie's  face,  that  he  was  more  likely  to  act  upon  his 
own  bottom  than  by  the  instruction  of  his  elders,  "  I  will  give 
thee  a  silver  groat,  my  pretty  fellow,  if  you  will  but  guide  me 
to  this  man's  forge.' 

The  boy  gave  him  a  knowing  side-look,  which  seemed  to 
promise  acquiescence,  while  at  the  same  time  he  exclaimed,  "I 
be  your  guide  to  Wayland  Smith's!  Why,  man,  did  I  not  say 
that  the  devil  might  fly  off  with  me,  just  as  the  kite  there 
[looking  to  the  window]  is  flying  off  with  one  of  grandame's 
chicks?" 

"The  kite! — the  kite!"  exclaimed  the  old  woman  in  re- 
turn, and  forgetting  all  other  matters  in  her  alarm,  hastened 


KBNILWOBTH,  107 

to  the  rescue  of  her  chicken  as  fast  as  her  old  legs  could  carry 
her. 

"  Now  for  it,"  said  the  urchin  to  Tressilian;  "  snatch  your 
beaver,  get  out  your  horse,  and  have  at  the  silver  groat  you 
spoke  of." 

"  Nay,  but  tarry — tarry,"  said  the  preceptor,  "  '  Sufflamina, 
Ricarde! ' " 

"  Tarry  yourself,"  said  Dickie,  "  and  think  what  answer 
you  are  to  make  to  granny  for  sending  me  post  to  the  devil." 

The  teacher,  aware  of  the  responsibility  he  was  incurring, 
bustled  up  in  great  haste  to  lay  hold  of  the  urchin,  and  to 
prevent  his  departure;  but  Dickie  slipped  through  his  fingers, 
bolted  from  the  cottage,  and  sped  him  to  the  top  of  a  neigh- 
boring rising-ground;  while  the  preceptor,  despairing,  by 
well-taught  experience,  of  recovering  his  pupil  by  speed  of 
foot,  had  recourse  to  the  most  honeyed  epithets  the  Latin  vo- 
cabulary affords  to  persuade  his  return.  But  to  "  mi  anime, 
corculum  meum,"  and  all  such  classical  endearments,  the 
truant  turned  a  deaf  ear,  and  kept  frisking  on  the  top  of  the 
rising-ground  like  a  goblin  by  moonlight,  making  signs  to  his 
new  acquaintance,  Tressilian,  to  follow  him. 

The  traveler  lost  no  time  in  getting  out  his  horse,  and 
departing  to  join  his  elvish  guide,  after  half-forcing  on  the 
poor  deserted  teacher  a  recompense  for  the  entertainment  he 
had  received,  which  partly  allayed  the  terror  he  had  for  fac- 
ing the  return  of  the  old  lady  of  the  mansion.  Apparently 
this  took  place  soon  afterward;  for  ere  Tressilian  and  his 
guide  had  proceeded  far  on  their  journey  they  heard  the 
screams  of  a  cracked  female  voice,  intermingled  with  the  clas- 
sical objurgations  of  Master  Erasmus  Holiday.  But  Dickie 
Sludge,  equally  deaf  to  the  voice  of  maternal  tenderness  and 
of  magisterial  authority,  skipped  on  unconsciously  before 
Tressilian,  only  observing  that,  "  If  they  cried  themselves 
hoarse,  they  might  go  lick  the  honey-pot,  for  he  had  eaten 
up  all  the  honey-co-mb  himself  on  yesterday  even/' 


CHAPTER  X. 

There  entering  in,  they  found  the  goodman  selfe 

Full  busylie  unto  his  work  ybent, 

Who  was  to  weet  a  wretched  wearish  elf, 

With  hollow  eyes  and  rawbone  cheeks  forspent, 

Aa  if  he  had  been  long  in  prison  pent. 

—  The  Faery  Queen. 

''Are  we  far  from  the  dwelling  of  this  smith,  my  pretty 
lad?''  said  Tressilian  to  his  young  guide. 

"  How  is  it  you  call  me  ?  "  said  the  boy,  looking  askew  at 
him  with  his  sharp  gray  eyes. 

"  I  call  you  my  pretty  lad — is  there  any  offense  in  that,  my 
boy?'' 

"  No,  but  were  you  with  my  grandame  and  Dominie  Holi- 
day, you  might  sing  chorus  to  the  old  song  of 

We  three 
Tom-fools  be." 

"  And  why  so,  my  little  man  ?  "  said  Tressilian. 

"  Because,"  answered  the  ugly  urchin,  "  you  are  the  only 
three  ever  called  me  pretty  lad.  Now  my  grandame  does  it 
because  she  is  parcel  blind  by  age,  and  whole  blind  by  kin- 
dred; and  my  master,  the  poor  dominie,  does  it  to  curry  favor, 
and  have  the  fullest  platter  of  furmity,  and  the  warmest  seat 
by  the  fire.  But  what  you  call  me  pretty  lad  for,  you  know 
best  yourself." 

"  Thou  art  a  sharp  wag  at  least,  if  not  a  pretty  one.  But 
what  do  thy  playfellows  call  thee?  " 

"  Hobgoblin,"  answered  the  boy,  readily;  "  but  for  all  that 
I  would  rather  have  my  own  ugly  viznomy  than  any  of  their 
jolterheads,  that  have  no  more  brains  in  them  than  a  brick- 
bat." 

"  Then  you  fear  not  this  smith,  whom  you  are  going  to 
Bee?" 

"  Me  fear  him! "  answered  the  boy;  "  if  he  were  the  devil 
folk  think  him,  I  would  not  fear  him;  but  though  there  is 
something  queer  about  him,  he's  no  more  a  devil  than  you 
are,  and  that's  what  I  would  not  tell  to  everyone." 

''  And  why  do  you  tell  it  to  me,  then,  my  boy?  "  said  Tres- 
^lian. 

"  Because  you  are  another-guees  gentleman  than  those  we 


KENILWORTH.  109 

see  here  every  day/'  replied  Dickie;  "and  though  I  am  as 
ugly  as  sin,  I  would  not  have  you  think  me  an  ass,  especially 
as  I  may  have  a  boon  to  ask  of  you  one  day." 

"  And  what  is  that,  my  lad,  whom  I  must  not  call  pretty?  " 
replied  Tressilian. 

"  Oh,  if  I  were  to  ask  it  just  now,''  said  the  boy,  "  you 
would  deny  it  me;  but  I  will  wait  till  we  meet  at  court." 

"  At  court,  Richard!  are  you  bound  for  court?  "  said  Tree- 
silian. 

"  Aye — aye,  that's  just  like  the  rest  of  them,"  replied  the 
boy;  "  I  warrant  me  you  think,  what  should  such  an  ill- 
favored,  scrambling  urchin  do  at  court?  But  let  Richard 
Sludge  alone;  I  have  not  been  cock  of  the  roost  here  for  noth- 
ing.    I  will  make  sharp  wit  mend  foul  feature." 

"  But  what  will  your  grandame  say,  and  your  tutor.  Dom- 
inie Holiday?  " 

"  E'en  what  they  like,"  replied  Dickie;  "  the  one  has  her 
chickens  to  reckon,  and  the  other  has  his  boys  to  whip.  I 
would  have  given  them  the  candle  to  hold  long  since,  and 
shown  this  trumpery  hamlet  a  fair  pair  of  heels,  but  that  dom- 
inie promises  I  should  go  with  him  to  bear  share  in  the  next 
pageant  he  is  to  set  forth,  and  they  say  there  are  to  be  great 
revels  shortly." 

*'  And  whereabout  are  they  to  be  held,  my  little  friend?  " 
said  Tressilian. 

"  Oh,  at  some  castle  far  in  the  north,"  answered  his  guide 
— "  a  world's  breadth  from  Berkshire.  But  our  old  dominie 
holds  that  they  cannot  go  forward  without  him;  and  it  may 
be  he  is  right,  for  he  has  put  in  order  many  a  fair  pageant. 
He  is  not  haJf  the  fool  you  would  take  him  for,  when  he  gets 
to  work  he  understands;  and  so  he  can  spout  verses  like  a 
play-actor,  when,  God  wot,  if  you  set  him  to  steal  a  goose's 
t%g,  he  would  be  drubbed  by  the  gander." 

"  And  you  are  to  play  a  part  in  his  next  show?  "  said  Tres- 
silian, somewhat  interested  by  the  boy's  boldness  of  conversa- 
tion and  shrewd  estimate  of  character. 

"In  faith,"  said  Richard  Sludge,  in  answer,  "he  hath  so 
promised  me;  and  if  he  break  his  word  it  will  be  the  worse 
for  him;  for  let  me  take  the  bit  between  my  teeth,  and  turn 
my  head  down  hill,  and  I  will  shake  him  off  with  a  fall  that 
may  harm  his  bones.  And  I  should  not  like  much  to  hurt 
him  neither,"  said  he,  "  for  the  tiresome  old  fool  has  painfully 
labored  to  teach  me  all  he  could.  But  enough  of  that;  here 
are  we  at  Wayland  Smith's  forge  door/' 


110  WAVEBLET  NOVELS, 

"  You  jest,  my  little  friend,"  said  Tressilian;  '^  here  is  noth- 
ing but  a  bare  moor,  and  that  ring  of  stones,  with  a  great  one 
in  the  midst,  like  a  Cornish  barrow." 

"Aye,  and  that  great  fiat  stone  in  the  midst,  which  lies 
across  the  top  of  these  uprights,"  said  the  boy,  "  is  Wayland 
Smith's  counter,  that  you  must  tell  down  your  money 
upon." 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  such  folly?  "  said  the  traveler,  be- 
ginning to  be  angry  with  the  boy,  and  vexed  with  himself 
for  having  trusted  such  a  hare-brained  guide. 

"  Why,"  said  Dickie,  with  a  grin,  "  you  must  tie  your  horse 
to  that  upright  stone  that  has  the  ring  in't,  and  then  you 
must  whistle  three  times,  and  lay  me  down  your  silver  groat 
on  that  other  flat  stone,  walk  out  of  the  circle,  sit  down  on 
the  west  side  of  that  little  thicket  of  bushes,  and  take  heed 
you  look  neither  to  right  nor  to  left  for  ten  minutes,  or  so 
long  as  you  shall  hear  the  hammer  clink,  and  whenever  it 
ceases  say  your  prayers  for  the  space  you  could  tell  a  hundred, 
or  count  over  a  hundred,  which  will  do  as  well,  and  then  come 
into  the  circle;  you  will  find  your  money  gone  and  your  horse 
shod." 

"  My  money  gone  to  a  certainty!  "  said  Tressilian;  "  but  as 
for  the  rest Hark  ye,  my  lad,  I  am  not  your  school- 
master; but  if  you  play  off  your  waggery  on  me,  I  will  take  a 
part  of  his  task  off  his  hands,  and  punish  you  to  purpose." 

"  Aye,  when  you  can  catch  me!  "  said  the  boy;  and  pres- 
ently took  to  his  heels  across  the  heath,  with  a  velocity  which 
baffled  every  attempt  of  Tressilian  to  overtake  him,  loaded 
as  he  was  with  his  heavy  boots.  Nor  was  it  the  least  provok- 
ing part  of  the  urchin's  conduct  that  he  did  not  exert  his 
utmost  speed,  like  one  who  finds  himself  in  danger  or  who 
is  frightened,  but  preserved  just  such  a  rate  as  to  encourage 
Tressilian  to  continue  the  chase,  and  then  darted  away  from 
him  with  the  swiftness  of  the  wind,  when  his  purser  sup- 
posed he  had  nearly  run  him  down,  doubling  at  the  same 
time,  and  winding,  so  as  always  to  keep  near  the  place  from 
which  he  started. 

This  lasted  until  Tressilian,  from  very  weariness,  stood 
still,  and  was  about  to  abandon  the  pursuit  with  a  hearty 
curse  on  the  ill-favored  urchin  who  had  engaged  him  in  an 
exercise  so  ridiculous.  But  the  boy,  who  had,  as  formerly, 
planted  himself  on  the  top  of  a  hillock  close  in  front,  began 
to  clap  his  long  thin  hands,  point  with  his  skinny  fingers,  and 
twist  his  wild  and  ugly  features  into  such  an  extravagant  ex- 


E^ENILWORTH.  Ill 

pression  of  laughter  and  derision,  that  Tressilian  began  half 
to  doubt  whether  he  had  not  in  view  an  actual  hobgoblin. 

Provoked  extremely,  yet  at  the  same  time  feeling  an  irre- 
sistible desire  to  laugh,  so  very  odd  were  the  boy's  grimaces 
and  gesticulations,  the  Cornishman  returned  to  his  horse,  and 
mounted  him  with  the  purpose  of  pursuing  Dickie  at  more 
advantage. 

The  boy  no  sooner  saw  him  mount  his  horse  than  he  hal- 
looed out  to  him  that,  rather  than  he  should  spoil  his  white- 
footed  nag,  he  would  come  to  him,  on  condition  he  would 
keep  his  fingers  to  himself. 

"  I  will  make  no  conditions  with  thee,  thou  ugly  varlet! " 
said  Tressilian;  "  I  will  have  thee  at  my  mercy  in  a  moment." 

"  Aha,  Master  Traveler! "  said  the  boy,  "  there  is  a  marsh 
hard  by  would  swallow  all  the  horses  of  the  Queen's  Guard; 
I  will  into  it,  and  see  where  you  will  go  then.  You  shall 
hear  the  bittern  bump  and  the  wild  drake  quack  ere  you  get 
hold  of  me  without  my  consent,  I  promise  you." 

Tressilian  looked  out,  and,  from  the  appearance  of  the 
ground  behind  the  hillock,  believed  it  might  be  as  the  boy 
said,  and  accordingly  determined  to  strike  up  a  peace  with 
so  light-footed  and  ready-witted  an  enemy.  "  Come  down," 
he  said,  "  thou  mischievous  brat!  Leave  thy  mopping  and 
mowing,  and  come  hither;  I  will  do  thee  no  harm,  as  I  am  a 
gentleman." 

The  boy  answered  his  invitation  with  the  utmost  confi- 
dence, and  danced  down  from  his  stance  with  a  galliard  sort 
of  step,  keeping  his  eye  at  the  same  time  fixed  on  Tressilian's, 
who,  once  more  dismounted,  stood  with  his  horse's  bridle  in 
his  hand,  breathless  and  half-exhausted  with  his  fruitless 
exercise,  though  not  one  drop  of  moisture  appeared  on  the 
freckled  forehead  of  the  urchin,  which  looked  like  a  piece  of 
dry  and  discolored  parchment,  drawn  tight  across  the  brow  of 
a  fleshless  skull. 

"And  tell  me,"  said  Tressilian,  "why  you  use  me  thus, 
thou  mischievous  imp  ?  or  what  your  meaning  is  by  telling  me 
so  absurd  a  legend  as  you  wished  but  now  to  put  on  me?  Or 
rather  show  me,  in  good  earnest,  this  smith's  forge,  and  I 
will  give  thee  what  will  buy  thee  apples  through  the  whole 
winter." 

"  Were  you  to  give  me  an  orchard  of  apples,"  said  Dickie 
Sludge,  "  I  can  guide  thee  no  better  than  I  have  done.  Lay 
down  the  silver  token  on  the  flat  stone,  whistle  three  times; 
then  come  sit  down  on  the  western  side  of  the  thicket  of 


112  WAVEBLET  NOVELS. 

gorse.  I  will  sit  by  you,  and  give  you«free  leave  to  wring  my 
head  off,  unless  you  hear  the  smith  at  work  within  two  min- 
utes after  we  are  seated." 

"  I  may  be  tempted  to  take  thee  at  thy  word,"  said  Tres- 
silian,  "  if  you  make  me  do  aught  half  so  ridiculous  for  your 
own  mischievous  sport;  however,  I  will  prove  your  spell. 
Here,  then,  I  tie  my  horse  to  this  upright  stone.  I  must  lay 
my  silver  groat  here,  and  whistle  three  times  sayst  thou?  " 

"  Aye,  but  thou  must  whistle  louder  than  an  unfledged 
ouzel,"  said  the  boy,  as  Tressilian,  having  laid  down  his 
money,  and  half-ashamed  of  the  folly  he  practiced,  made  a 
careless  whistle.  "You  must  whistle  louder  than  that,  for 
who  knows  where  the  smith  is  that  you  call  for?  He  may 
be  in  the  King  of  France's  stables  for  what  I  know." 

"  Why,  you  said  but  now  he  was  no  devil,"  replied  Tres- 
silian. 

"  Man  or  devil,"  said  Dickie,  "  I  see  that  I  must  summon 
him  for  you; "  and  therewithal  he  whistled  sharp  and  shrill, 
with  an  acuteness  of  sound  that  almost  thrilled  through  Tres- 
silian's  brain.  "  That  is  what  I  call  whistling,"  said  he,  after 
he  had  repeated  the  signal  thrice;  "  and  now  to  cover — ^to 
cover,  or  Whitefoot  will  not  be  shod  this  day." 

Tressilian,  musing  what  the  upshot  of  this  mummery  was 
to  be,  yet  satisfied  there  was  to  be  some  serious  result,  by  the 
confidence  with  which  the  boy  had  put  himself  in  his  power, 
suffered  himself  to  be  conducted  to  that  side  of  the  little 
thicket  of  gorse  and  brushwood  which  was  farthest  from  the 
circle  of  stones,  and  there  sat  down;  and,  as  it  occurred  to  him 
that,  after  all,  this  might  be  a  trick  for  stealing  his  horse,  he 
kept  his  hand  on  the  boy's  collar,  determined  to  make  him 
hostage  for  its  safety. 

"Now,  hush  and  listen,"  said  Dickie,  in  a  low  whisper; 
"you  will  soon  hear  the  tack  of  a  hammer  that  was  never 
forged  of  earthly  iron,  for  the  stone  it  was  made  of  was  shot 
from  the  moon."  And  in  effect  Tressilian  did  immediately 
hear  the  light  stroke  of  a  hammer,  as  when  a  farrier  is  at 
work.  The  singularity  of  such  a  sound,  in  so  very  lonely  a 
place,  made  him  involuntarily  start;  but  looking  at  the  boy, 
and  discovering,  by  the  arch,  malicious  expression  of  hjs 
countenance,  that  the  urchin  saw  and  enjoyed  his  slight 
tremor,  he  became  convinced  that  the  whole  was  a  concerted 
stratagem,  and  determined  to  know  by  whom,  or  for  what 
purpose,  the  trick  was  played  off. 

Accordingly,  he  remained  perfectly  quiet  all  the  time  that 


KENILWORTH,  118 

the  hammer  continued  to  sound,  being  about  the  space 
usually  employed  in  fixing  a  horse-shoe.  But  the  instant  the 
sound  ceased,  Tressilian,  instead  of  interposing  the  space  of 
time  which  his  guide  had  required,  started  up  with  his  sword 
in  his  hand,  ran  round  the  thicket,  and  confronted  a  man  in 
a  farrier^s  leathern  apron,  but  otherwise  fantastically  attired 
in  a  bear-skin  dressed  with  the  fur  on,  and  a  cap  of  the  same, 
which  almost  hid  the  sooty  and  begrimed  features  of  the 
wearer.  "  Come  back — come  back!  "  cried  the  boy  to  Tres- 
silian,  "  or  you  will  be  torn  to  pieces — no  man  lives  that  looks 
on  him."  In  fact,  the  invisible  smith  (now  fully  visible) 
heaved  up  his  hammer,  and  showed  symptoms  of  doing  battle. 

But  when  the  boy  observed  that  neither  his  own  entreaties 
nor  the  menaces  of  the  farrier  appeared  to  change  Tressilian's 
purpose,  but  that,  on  the  contrary,  he  confronted  the  hammer 
with  his  drawn  sword,  he  exclaimed  to  the  smith  in  turn, 
"Wayland,  touch  him  not,  or  you  will  come  by  the  worst! 
the  gentleman  is  a  true  gentleman,  and  a  bold." 

"  So  thou  hast  betrayed  me.  Flibbertigibbet? "  said  the 
smith;  "  it  shall  be  the  worse  for  thee!  " 

"  Be  who  thou  wilt,"  said  Tressilian,  "  thou  art  in  no  dan- 
ger from  me,  so  thou  tell  me  the  meaning  of  this  practice,  and 
why  thou  drivest  thy  trade  in  this  mysterious  fashion." 

The  smith,  however,  turning  to  Tressilian,  exclaimed,  in  a 
threatening  tone,  "  Who  questions  the  Keeper  of  the  Crystal 
Castle  of  Light,  the  Lord  of  the  Green  Lion,  the  Eider  of  the 
Eed  Dragon?  Hence!  avoid  thee,  ere  I  summon  Talpeck 
with  his  fiery  lance  to  quell,  crush,  and  consume! "  These 
words  he  uttered  with  violent  gesticulation,  mouthing  and 
flourishing  his  hammer. 

"  Peace,  thou  vile  cozener,  with  thy  gypsy  cant! "  replied 
Tressilian  scornfully,  "  and  follow  me  to  the  next  magistrate, 
or  I  will  cut  thee  over  the  pate." 

"  Peace,  I  pray  thee,  good  Wayland!  "  said  the  boy;  "  credit 
me.  the  swas^gering  vein  will  not  pass  here;  you  must  cut  boon 
whids/' 

"  I  think,  worshipful  sir,"  said  the  smith,  sinking  his  ham- 
mer, and  assuming  a  more  gentle  and  submissive  tone  of 
voice,  "  that  when  so  poor  a  man  does  his  da/s  job,  he  might 
be  permitted  to  work  it  out  after  his  own  fashion.  Your 
horse  is  shod  and  your  farrier  paid.  What  need  you  cumber 
yourself  further  than  to  mount  and  pursue  your  journey?  " 

"Nay,  friend,  you  are  mistaken,"  replied  Tressilian; 
"  every  man  has  a  right  to  take  the  mask  from  the  face  of  a 


114  WAVSMLET  NOVELS. 

cheat  and  a  juggler;  and  your  mode  of  living  raises  suspicion 
that  you  are  both/' 

"  If  you  are  so  determined,  sir,"  said  the  smith,  "  I  cannot 
help  myself  save  by  force,  which  I  were  unwilling  to  use  to- 
ward you.  Master  Tressilian;  not  that  I  fear  your  weapon  but 
because  I  know  you  to  be  a  worthy,  kind,  and  well-accom- 
plished gentleman,  who  would  rather  help  than  harm  a  poor 
man  that  is  in  a  strait/' 

"Well  said,  Wayland,"  said  the  boy,  who  had  anxiously 
awaited  the  issue  of  their  conference.  "  But  let  us  to  thy 
den,  man,  for  it  is  ill  for  thy  health  to  stand  here  talking  in 
the  open  air/' 

"  Thou  art  right.  Hobgoblin,"  replied  the  smith;  and  going 
to  the  little  thicket  of  gorse  on  the  side  nearest  to  the  circle, 
and  opposite  to  that  at  which  his  customer  had  so  lately 
couched,  he  discovered  a  trap-door  curiously  covered  with 
bushes,  raised  it,  and,  descending  into  the  earth,  vanished 
from  their  eyes.  Notwithstanding  Tressilian's  curiosity,  he 
had  some  hesitation  at  following  the  fellow  into  what  might 
be  a  den  of  robbers,  especially  when  he  heard  the  smith's 
voice,  issuing  from  the  bowels  of  the  earth,  call  out,  "  Fhb- 
bertigibbet,  do  you  come  last,  and  be  sure  to  fasten  the  trap!  " 

"  Have  you  seen  enough  of  Wayland  Smith  now?  "  whis- 
pered the  urchin  to  Tressilian  with  an  arch  sneer,  as  if  mark- 
ing his  companion's  uncertainty. 

"  Not  yet,"  said  Tressilian  firmly;  and  shaking  off  his  mo- 
mentary irresolution  he  descended  into  the  narrow  staircase 
to  which  the  entrance  led  and  was  followed  by  Dickie  Sludge, 
who  made  fast  the  trap-door  behind  him,  and  thus  excluded 
every  glimmer  of  daylight.  The  descent,  however,  was  only 
a  few  steps  and  led  to  a  level  passage  of  a  few  yards'  length, 
at  the  end  of  which  appeared  the  reflection  of  a  lurid  and  red 
light.  Arrived  at  this  point,  with  his  drawn  sword  in  his 
hand,  Tressilian  found  that  a  turn  to  the  left  admitted  him 
and  Hobgoblin,  who  followed  closely,  into  a  small  square  vault 
containing  a  smith's  forge  glowing  with  charcoal,  the  vapor  of 
which  filled  the  apartment  with  an  oppressive  smell,  which 
would  have  been  altogether  suffocating,  but  that  by  some  con- 
cealed vent  the  smithy  communicated  with  the  upper  air.  The 
light  afforded  by  the  red  fuel,  and  by  a  lamp  suspended  in  an 
iron  chain,  served  to  show  that,  besides  an  anvil,  bellows, 
tongs,  hammers,  a  quantity  of  ready-made  horse-shoes,  and 
other  articles  proper  to  the  profession  of  a  farrier,  there  were 
also  stoves,  alembics,  crucibles,  retorts,  and  other  instruments 


The  Farrier's  Cavern. 


KBNZLWORTH.  11« 

of  alchemy.  The  grotesque  figure  of  the  smith,  and  the  ugly 
but  whimsical  features  of  the  boy,  seen  by  the  gloomy  and  im- 
perfect light  of  the  charcoal  fire  and  the  dying  lamp,  ac- 
corded very  well  with  all  this  mystical  apparatus,  and  in  that 
age  of  superstition  would  have  made  some  impression  on  the 
courage  of  most  men. 

But  nature  had  endowed  Treseilian  with  firm  nerves,  and 
his  education,  originally  good,  had  been  too  seduously  im- 
proved by  subsequent  study  to  give  way  to  any  imaginary  ter- 
rors; and  after  giving  a  glance  around  him,  he  again 
demanded  of  the  artist  who  he  was,  and  by  what  accident  he 
came  to  know  and  address  him  by  his  name. 

"  Your  worship  cannot  but  remember,"  said  the  smith, 
"that  about  three  years  since,  upon  St.  Lucy's  Eve,  there 
came  a  traveling  juggler  to  a  certain  hall  in  Devonshire,  and 
exhibited  his  skill  before  a  worshipful  knight  and  a  fair  com- 
pany. I  see  from  your  worship's  countenance,  dark  as  this 
place  is,  that  my  memory  has  not  done  me  wrong." 

"  Thou  hast  said  enough,"  said  Tressilian,  turning  away, 
as  wishing  to  hide  from  the  speaker  the  painful  train  of  recol- 
lections which  his  discourse  had  unconsciously  awakened. 

"  The  juggler,"  said  the  smith,  "  played  his  part  so  bravely 
that  the  clowns  and  clown-like  squires  in  the  company  held 
his  art  to  be  little  less  than  magical;  but  there  was  one  maiden 
of  fifteen  or  thereby,  with  the  fairest  face  I  ever  looked  upon, 
whose  rosy  cheek  grew  pale,  and  her  bright  eyes  dim,  at  the 
sight  of  the  wonders  exhibited." 

"  Peace,  I  command  thee — peace!  "  said  Tressilian. 

"  I  mean  your  worship  no  offense,"  said  the  fellow;  "  but  I 
have  cause  to  remember  how,  to  relieve  the  young  maiden's 
fears,  you  condescended  to  point  out  the  mode  in  which  these 
deceptions  were  practiced,  and  to  baffle  the  poor  juggler  by 
laying  bare  the  mysteries  of  his  art,  as  ably  as  if  you  had  been 
a  brother  of  his  order.  She  was  indeed  so  fair  a  maiden  that, 
to  win  a  smile  of  her,  a  man  might  well " 

^  Not  a  word  more  of  her,  I  charge  thee!  "  said  Tressilian. 
"  I  do  well  remember  the  night  you  speak  of — one  of  the  few 
happy  evenings  my  life  has  known." 

"  She  is  gone,  then,"  said  the  smith,  interpreting  after  his 
own  fashion  the  sigh  with  which  Tressilian  uttered  these 
words — "  she  is  gone,  young,  beautiful,  and  beloved  as  she 
was!  I  crave  your  worship's  pardon,  I  should  have  ham- 
mered on  another  theme — I  see  I  have  unwarily  driven  the 
nail  to  the  quick." 


11«  WAVERLBT  NOVELS. 

This  speech  was  made  with  a  mixture  of  rude  feeling  which 
inclined  Tressilian  favorably  to  the  poor  artisan,  of  whom 
before  he  was  inchned  to  judge  very  harshly.  But  nothing 
can  so  soon  attract  the  unfortunate  as  real  or  seeming  sym- 
pathy with  their  sorrows. 

"I  think,"  proceeded  Tressilian,  after  a  minute's  silence, 
"  thou  wert  in  those  days  a  jovial  fellow,  who  could  keep  a 
company  merry  by  song,  and  tale,  and  rebeck,  as  well  as  by 
thy  juggling  tricks;  why  do  I  find  thee  a  laborious  handi- 
craftsman, plying  thy  trade  in  so  melancholy  a  dwelling,  and 
under  such  extraordinary  circumstances?  " 

"  My  story  is  no-t  long,"  said  the  artist;  "  but  your  honor 
had  better  sit  while  you  listen  to  it."  So.  saying,  he  ap- 
proached to  the  fire  a  three-footed  stool,  and  took  another 
himself,  while  Dickie  Sludge,  or  Flibbertigibbet,  as  he  called 
the  boy,  drew  a  cricket  to  the  smith's  feet,  and  looked  up  in 
his  face  with  features  which,  as  illuminated  by  the  glow  of  the 
forge,  seemed  convulsed  with  intense  curiosity.  "  Thou  too," 
said  the  smith  to  him,  "  shalt  learn,  as  thou  well  deservest  at 
my  hand,  the  brief  history  of  my  life,  and,  in  troth,  it  were  as 
well  tell  it  thee  as  leave  thee  to  ferret  it  out,  since  nature 
never  packed  a  shrewder  wit  into  a  more  ungainly  casket. 
Well,  sir,  if  my  poor  story  may  pleasure  you,  it  is  at  your  com- 
mand. But  will  you  not  taste  a  stoup  of  liquor?  I  promise 
you  that  even  in  this  poor  cell  I  have  some  in  store." 

"  Speak  not  of  it,"  said  Tressilian,  "  but  go  on  with  thy 
story,  for  my  leisure  is  brief." 

"  You  shall  have  no  cause  to  rue  the  delay,"  said  the  smith, 
"  for  your  horse  shall  be  better  fed  in  the  meantime  than  he 
hath  been  this  morning,  and  made  fitter  for  travel." 

With  that  the  artist  left  the  vault,  and  returned  after  a  few 
minutes'  interval.  Here,  also,  we  pause,  that  the  narrative 
may  commence  in  another  chapter. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

I  fay,  my  lord  can  such  a  Bubtilty 
(But  all  his  craft  ye  must  not  wot  of  me, 
And  somewhat  help  I  yet  to  his  working). 
That  all  the  ground  on  which  we  ben  riding, 
Till  that  we  come  to  Canterbury  town, 
He  can  all  clean  turnen  so  up  so  down, 
And  pave  it  all  of  silver  and  of  gold. 

—  The  Canon's  Yeoman's  Prologue— Canterbury  Talu. 

The  artist  commenced  his  narrative  in  the  following  terms: 

"  I  was  bred  a  blacksmith,  and  knew  my  art  as  well  as  e'er 
a  black-thumb'd,  leathem-apron'd,  swart-faced  knave  of  that 
noble  mystery.  But  I  tired  of  ringing  hammer-tunes  on  iron 
stithies,  and  went  out  into  the  world,  where  I  became  ac- 
quainted with  a  celebrated  juggler,  whose  fingers  had  become 
rather  too  stiff  for  legerdemain,  and  who  wished  to  have  the 
aid  of  an  apprentice  in  his  noble  mystery.  I  served  him  for 
six  years,  until  I  was  master  of  my  trade.  I  refer  myself  to 
your  worship,  whose  judgment  cannot  be  disputed,  whether  I 
did  not  learn  to  ply  the  craft  indifferently  well  ?  " 

"  Excellently,"  said  Tressilian;  "  but  be  brief." 

"  It  was  not  long  after  I  had  performed  at  Sir  Hugh  Rob- 
sart's,  in  your  worship's  presence,"  said  the  artist,  "  that  I 
took  myself  to  the  stage,  and  have  swaggered  with  the  bravest 
of  them  all,  both  at  the  Black  Bull,  the  Globe,  the  Fo-rtune, 
and  elsewhere;  but  I  know  not  how,  apples  were  so  plenty  that 
year  that  the  lads  in  the  twopenny  gallery  never  took  more 
than  one  bite  out  of  them,  and  threw  the  rest  of  the  pippin 
at  whatever  actor  chanced  to  be  on  the  stage.  So  I  tired  of  it, 
renounced  my  half-share  in  the  company,  gave  my  foil  to  my 
comrade,  my  buskins  to  the  wardrobe,  and  showed  the  theater 
a  clean  pair  of  heels." 

"  Well,  friend,  and  what,"  said  Tressilian,  "  was  your  next 
shift?" 

"  I  became,"  said  the  smith,  "  half -partner,  half-domestic, 
to  a  man  of  much  skill  and  little  substance,  who  practiced 
the  trade  of  a  physicianer." 

"In  other  words,"  said  Tressilian,  "you  were  Jack  Pud- 
ding to  a  quacksalver." 

"  Something  beyond  that,  let  me  hope,  my  good  Master 
Tressilian,"  replied  the  artist;  "and  yet,  to  say  truth,  our 

ur 


118 


WAVBBLET  NOVELS. 


practice  was  of  an  adventurous  description,  and  the  pharmacy 
which  I  had  acquired  in  my  first  studies  for  the  benefit  of 
horses  was  frequently  applied  to  our  human  patients.  But 
the  seeds  of  all  maladies  are  the  same;  and  if  turpentine,  tar, 
pitch,  and  beef-suet,  mingled  with  turmeric,  gum-mastic, 
and  one  head  of  garlick  can  cure  the  horse  that  hath  been 
grieved  with  a  nail,  I  see  not  but  what  it  may  benefit  the  man 
that  hath  been  pricked  with  a  sword.  But  my  master's  prac- 
tice, as  well  as  his  skill,  went  far  beyond  mine,  and  dealt  in 
more  dangerous  concerns.  He  was  not  only  a  bold,  adventu- 
rous practitioner  in  physics,  but  also,  if  your  pleasure  so 
chanced  to  be,  an  adept,  who  read  the  stars,  and  expounded 
the  fortunes  of  mankind,  genethliacally,  as  he  called  it,  or 
otherwise.  He  was  a  learned  distiller  of  simples,  and  a  pro- 
found chemist — made  several  efforts  to  fix  mercury,  and 
judged  himself  to  have  made  a  fair  hit  at  the  philosopher's 
stone.  I  have  yet  a  programme  of  his  on  that  subject,  which, 
if  your  honor  understandeth,  I  believe  you  have  the  better, 
not  only  of  all  who  read,  but  also  of  him  who  wrote  it." 

He  gave  Tressilian  a  scroll  of  parchment,  bearing  at  top 
and  bottom,  and  down  the  margin,  the  signs  of  the  seven 
planets,  curiously  intermingled  with  talismanical  characters, 
and  scraps  of  Greek  and  Hebrew.  In  the  midst  were  some 
Latin  verses  from  a  oabalistical  author,  written  out  so  fairly, 
that  even  the  gloom  of  the  place  did  not  prevent  Tressilian 
from  reading  them.     The  tenor  of  the  original  ran  as  follows: 

*'  Si  fixum  solvas,  faciasque  volare  solutum, 
Et  volucrem  figas,  facient  te  vivere  tutum  ; 
Si  pariat  ventnm,  valet  auri  pondere  centum; 
Ventus  ubi  vult  spirat — capiat  qui  capei*e  potest." 

^^  I  protest  to  you,"  said  Tressilian,  "  all  I  understand  of 
this  jargon  is,  that  the  last  words  seem  to  mean  '  Catch  who 
catch  can.' " 

"  That,"  said  the  smith,  "  is  the  very  principle  that  my 
worthy  friend  and  master,  Dr.  Doboobie,  always  acted  upon; 
until,  being  besotted  with  his  own  imaginations,  and  con- 
ceited of  his  high  chemical  skill,  he  began  to  spend,  in  cheat- 
ing himself,  the  money  which  he  had  acquired  in  cheating 
others,  and  either  discovered  or  built  for  himself,  I  could 
never  know  which,  this  secret  elaboratory,  in  which  he  used 
to  seclude  himself  both  from  patients  and  disciples,  who 
doubtless  thought  his  long  and  mysterious  absences  from  his 
ordinary  residence  in  the  town  of  Farringdon  were  occasioned 
by  his  progress  in  the  mystic  sciences,  and  his  intercourse 


KENILWORTH.  H» 

with  the  invisible  world.  Me  also  he  tried  to  deceive;  but, 
though  I  contradicted  him  not,  he  saw  that  I  knew  too  much 
of  his  secrets  to  be  any  longer  a  safe  companion.  Meanwhile, 
his  name  waxed  famous  cir  rather  infamous,  and  many  of  those 
who  resorted  to  him  did  so  under  persuasion  that  he  was  a 
sorcerer.  And  yet  his  supposed  advance  in  the  occult 
sciences  drew  to  him  the  secret  resort  of  men  too  powerful  to 
be  named,  for  purposes  too  dangerous  to  be  mentioned.  Men 
cursed  and  threatened  him,  and  bestowed  on  me,  the  inno- 
cent assistant  of  his  studies,  the  nickname  of  the  Devil's  foot- 
post,  which  procured  me  a  volley  of  stones  as  soon  as  ever  I  ^ 
ventured  to  show  my  face  in  the  street  of  the  village.  At 
length  my  master  suddenly  disappeared,  pretending  to  me 
that  he  was  about  to  visit  his  elaboratory  in  this  place,  and 
forbidding  me  to  disturb  him  till  two  days  were  past.  When 
this  period  had  elapsed,  I  became  anxious,  and  resorted  to  this 
vault,  where  I  found  the  fires  extinguished  and  the  utensils 
in  confusion,  with  a  note  from  the  learned  Doboobius,  as  he 
was  wont  to  style  himself,  acquainting  me  that  we  should 
never  meet  again,  bequeathing  me  his  chemical  apparatus 
and  the  parchment  which  I  have  just  put  into  your  hands, 
advising  me  strongly  to  prosecute  the  secret  which  it  con- 
tained, which  would  infallibly  lead  me  to  the  discovery  of  the 
grand  magisterium." 

"  And  didst  thou  follow  this  sage  advice?  "  said  Tressilian. 

"  Worshipful  sir,  no,''  replied  the  smith;  "  for  being  by 
nature  cautious,  and  suspicious  from  knowing  with  whom  I 
had  to  do,  I  made  so  many  perquisitions  before  I  ventured 
even  to  light  a  fire,  that  I  at  length  discovered  a  small  barrel 
of  gunpowder,  carefully  hid  beneath  the  furnace,  with  the 
purpose,  no  doubt,  that,  as  soon  as  I  should  commence  the 
grand  work  of  the  transmutation  of  metals,  the  explosion 
should  transmute  the  vault  and  all  in  it  into  a  heap  of  ruins, 
which  might  serve  at  once  for  my  slaughter-house  and  my 
grave.  This  cured  me  of  alchemy,  and  fain  would  I  have 
returned  to  the  honest  hammer  and  anvil;  but  who  would 
bring  a  horse  to  be  shod  by  the  Devil's  post?  Meantime,  I 
had  won  the  regard  of  my  honest  Flibbertigibbet  here,  he 
being  then  at  Farringdon  with  his  master,  the  sage  Erasmus 
Holiday,  by  teaching  him  a  few  secrets,  such  as  please  youth 
at  his  age;  and  after  much  counsel  together  we  agreed  that, 
since  I  could  get  no  practice  in  the  ordinary  way,  I  should  try- 
how  I  could  work  out  business  among  these  ignorant  boors 
by  practicing  upon  their  silly  fears;  and,  thanks  to  Flibberti- 


130  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

gibbet,  who  hath  spread  my  renown,  I  have  not  wanted  cus- 
tom, but  it  is  won  at  too  great  risk,  and  I  fear  I  shall  be  at 
length  taken  up  for  a  wizard;  so  that  I  seek  but  an  oppor- 
tunity to  leave  his  vault  when  I  can  have  the  protection  of 
some  worshipful  person  against  the  fury  of  the  populace,  in 
case  they  chance  to  recognize  me." 

"And  art  thou,"  said  Tressilian,  "perfectly  acquainted 
with  the  roads  in  this  country?  " 

"  I  could  ride  them  every  inch  by  midnight,"  answered 
Wayland  Smith,  which  was  the  name  this  adept  had  assumed. 

"  Thou  hast  no  horse  to  ride  upon,"  said  Tressilian. 

"  Pardon  me,"  replied  Wayland,  "  I  have  as  good  a  tit  as 
ever  yeoman  bestrode;  and  I  forgot  to  say  it  was  the  best  part 
of  the  mediciner's  legacy  to  me,  excepting  one  or  two  of  the 
choicest  of  his  medical  secrets,  which  I  picked  up  without  his 
knowledge  and  against  his  will." 

"  Get  thyself  washed  and  shaved,  then,"  said  Tressilian; 
''  reform  thy  dress  as  well  as  thou  canst,  and  fling  away  these 
grotesque  trappings;  and,  so  thou  wilt  be  secret  and  faithful, 
thou  shalt  follow  me  for  a  short  time,  till  thy  pranks  here  are 
forgotten.  Thou  hast,  I  think,  both  address  and  courage, 
and  I  have  matter  to  do  that  may  require  both." 

Wayland  Smith  eagerly  embraced  the  proposal,  and  pro- 
tested his  devotion  to  his  new  master.  In  a  very  few  minutes 
he  had  made  so  great  an  alteration  in  his  original  appearance, 
by  change  of  dress,  trimming  his  beard  and  hair,  and  so  forth, 
that  Tressilian  could  not  help  remarking,  that  he  thought  he 
would  stand  in  little  need  of  a  protector,  since  none  of  his  old 
acquaintance  were  likely  to  recognize  him. 

"  My  debtors  would  not  pay  me  money,"  said  Wayland, 
shaking  his  head;  "  but  my  creditors  of  every  kind  would  be 
less  easily  blinded.  And,  in  truth,  I  hold  myself  not  safe, 
unless  under  the  protection  of  a  gentleman,  of  birth  and  char- 
acter, as  is  your  worship." 

So  saying,  he  led  the  way  out  of  the  cavern.  He  then 
called  loudly  for  Hobgoblin,  who,  after  ligering  for  an  in- 
stant, appeared  with  the  horse  furniture,  when  Wayland 
closed,  and  sedulously  covered  up,  the  trap-door,  observing, 
it  might  again  serve  him  at  his  need,  besides  that  the  tools 
were  worth  somewhat.  A  whistle  from  the  owner  brought  to 
his  side  a  nag  that  fed  quietly  on  the  common,  and  was  accus- 
tomed to  the  signal.  While  he  accoutered  him  for  the  jour- 
ney, Tressilian  drew  his  own  girths  tighter,  and  in  a  few  min- 
Tites  both  were  ready  to  mount. 


KENILWORTH.  121 

At  this  moment  Sludge  approached  to  bid  them  farewell. 

"  You  are  going  to  leave  me,  then,  my  old  playfellow/'  said 
the  boy;  "  and  there  is  an  end  of  all  our  game  at  bo-peep  with 
the  cowardly  lubbards  whom  I  brought  hither  to  have  their 
broad-footed  nags  shod  by  the  devil  and  his  imps?  " 

"  It  is  even  so,"  said  Wayland  Smith;  "  the  best  friends 
must  part.  Flibbertigibbet;  but  thou,  my  boy,  art  the  only 
thing  in  the  Vale  of  Whitehorse  which  I  shall  regret  to  leave 
behind  me." 

"  Well,  I  bid  thee  not  farewell,"  said  Dickie  Sludge,  "  for 
you  will  be  at  these  revels,  I  judge,  and  so  shall  I;  for  if 
■Dominie  Holiday  take  me  not  thither,  by  the  light  of  day, 
[which  we  see  not  in  yonder  dark  hole,  I  will  take  myself 
[there! " 

"In  good  time,"  said  Wayland;  "but  I  pray  you  to  do 
E  naught  rashly." 

'*  Nay,  now  you  would  make  a  child — a  common  child  of 
[me,  and  tell  me  of  the  risk  of  walking  without  leading-strings. 
;But  before  you  are  a  mile  from  these  stones  you  shall  know 
[by  a  sure  token  that  I  have  more  of  the  hobgoblin  about  me 
■than  you  credit;  and  I  will  so  manage  that,  if  you  take  advan- 
[tage,  you  may  profit  by  my  prank." 

"What  dost  thou  mean,  boy?"  said  Tressilian;  but  Flib- 
[bertigibbet  only  answered  with  a  grin  and  a  caper,  and  bid- 
ing both  of  them  farewell,  and  at  the  same  time  exhorting 
[them  to  make  the  best  of  their  way  from  the  place,  he  set 
[them  the  example  by  running  homeward  with  the  same  un- 
[common  velocity  with  which  he  had  baffled  Tressilian's  for- 
[mer  attempts  to  get  hold  of  him. 

"  It  is  in  vain  to  chase  him,"  said  Wayland  Smith;  "  for, 
[unless  your  worship  is  expert  in  lark-hunting,  we  should 
[never  catch  hold  of  him;  and,  besides,  what  would  it  avail? 
Better  make  the  best  of  our  way  hence,  as  he  advises." 

They  mounted  their  horses  accordingly,  and  began  to  pro- 
ceed at  a  round  pace,  as  soon  as  Tressilian  had  explained  to 
his  guide  the  direction  in  which  he  desired  to  travel. 

After  they  had  trotted  nearly  a  mile,  Tressilian  could  not 
help  observing  to  his  companion,  that  his  horse  felt  more 
lively  under  him  than  even  when  he  mounted  in  the  morning. 

"Are  you  avised  of  that?"  said  Wayland  Smith,  smiling. 
"  That  is  owing  to  a  little  secret  of  mine.  I  mixed  that  with 
an  handful  of  oats  which  shall  save  your  worship's  heels  the 
trouble  of  spurring  these  six  hours  at  least.  Nay,  I  have  not 
studied  medicine  and  pharmacy  for  naught." 


122  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

"  I  trust,"  said  Tressilian,  "  your  drugs  will  do  my  horse  no 
harm?" 

"No  more  than  the  mare's  milk  which  foaled  him/'  an- 
swered the  artist;  and  was  proceeding  to  dilate  on  the  excel- 
lence of  his  recipe,  when  he  was  interrupted  by  an  explosion 
as  loud  and  tremendous  as  the  mine  which  blows  up  the  ram- 
part of  a  beleaguered  city.  The  horses  started,  and  the  riders 
were  equally  surprised.  They  turned  to  gaze  in  the  direction 
from  which  the  thunder-clap  was  heard,  and  beheld,  just  over 
the  spot  they  had  left  so  recently,  a  huge  pillar  of  dark  smoke 
rising  high  into  the  clear  blue  atmosphere.  "  My  habitation 
is  gone  to  wreck,"  said  Wayland,  immediately  conjecturing 
the  cause  of  the  explosion.  "  I  was  a  fool  to  mention  the 
doctor's  kind  intentions  toward  my  mansion  before  that  limb 
of  mischief  Flibbertigibbet:  I  might  have  guessed  he  would 
long  to  put  so  rare  a  frolic  into  execution.  But  let  us  hasten 
on,  for  tiie  sound  will  collect  the  country  to  the  spot." 

So  saying,  he  spurred  his  horse,  and  Tressilian  also  quick- 
ening his  speed,  they  rode  briskly  forward. 

"  This,  then,  was  the  meaning  of  the  little  imp's  token 
which  he  promised  us?"  said  Tressilian;  "had  we  lingered 
near  the  spot,  we  had  found  it  a  love-token  with  a  vengeance." 

"  He  would  have  given  us  warning,"  said  the  smith;  "  I  saw 
him  look  back  more  than  once  to  see  if  we  were  off — 'tis  a 
very  devil  for  mischief,  yet  not  an  ill-natured  devil  either.  It 
were  long  to  tell  your  honor  how  I  became  first  acquainted 
with  him,  and  how  many  tricks  he  played  me.  Many  a  good 
turn  he  did  me  too,  especially  in  bringing  me  customers;  for 
his  great  delight  was  to  see  them  sit  shivering  behind  the 
bushes  when  they  heard  the  click  of  my  hammer.  I  think 
Dame  Nature,  when  she  lodged  a  double  quantity  of  brains  in 
that  misshapen  head  of  his,  gave  him  the  power  of  enjoying 
other  people's  distresses  as  she  gave  them  the  pleasure  of 
laughing  at  his  ugliness." 

"It  may  be  so,"  said  Tressilian;  "those  who  find  them- 
selves severed  from  society  by  peculiarities  of  form,  if  they  do 
not  hate  the  common  bulk  of  mankind,  are  at  least  not  alto- 
gether indisposed  to  enjoy  their  mishaps  and  calamities." 

"But  Flibbertigibbet,"  answered  Wayland,  "hath  that 
about  him  which  may  redeem  his  turn  for  mischievous  frolic; 
for  he  is  as  faithful  when  attached  as  he  is  tricky  and  malig- 
nant to  strangers;  and,  as  I  said  before,  I  have  cause  to 
say  so." 

Tressilian  pursued  the  conversation  no  farther;  and  they 


KENILWORTm  123 

continued  their  journey  toward  Devonshire  without  farther 
adventure,  until  they  alighted  at  an  inn  in  the  town  of  Marl- 
borough, since  celebrated  for  having  given  title  to  the  greatest 
general  (excepting  one)  whom  Britain  ever  pro'duced.  Here 
the  travelers  received,  in  the  same  breath,  an  example  of  the 
truth  of  two  old  proverbs,  namely,  that  111  news  fly  fast,  and 
that  Listeners  seldom  hear  a  good  tale  of  themselves. 

The  innyard  was  in  a  sort  of  combustion  when  they 
alighted;  insomuch,  that  they  could  scarce  get  man  or  boy  to 
take  care  of  their  horses,  so  full  were  the  whole  household  of 
some  news  which  flew  from  tongue  to  tongue,  the  import  of 
which  they  were  for  some  time  unable  to  discover.  At  length, 
indeed,  they  found  it  respected  matters  which  touched  them 
nearly. 

"What  is  the  matter,  say  you,  master?"  answered,  at  length, 
the  head  hostler,  in  reply  to  TressiliaQ's  repeated  questions. 
"Why,  truly,  I  scarce  know  myself.  But  here  was  a  rider 
but  now,  who  says  that  the  devil  hath  flown  away  with  him 
they  called  Wayland  Smith,  that  won'd  about  three  miles 
from  the  Whitehorse  of  Berkshire,  this  very  blessed  morning, 
in  a  flash  of  fire  and  a  pillar  of  smoke,  and  rooted  up  the  place 
he  dwelt  in,  near  that  old  cockpit  of  upright  stones,  as  cleanly 
as  if  it  had  all  been  delved  up  for  a  cropping." 

"  Why,  then,"  said  an  old  farmer,  "  the  more  is  the  pity; 

ifor  that  Wayland  Smith — whether  he  was  the  deviFs  crony  or 

no  I  skill  not — had  a  good  notion  of  horse  diseases,  and  it's  to 

be  thought  the  hots  will  spread  in  the  country  far  and  near, 

an  Satan  has  not  gien  un  time  to  leave  his  secret  behind  un." 

"  You  may  say  that.  Gaffer  Grimesby,"  said  the  hostler  in 
return;  "  I  have  carried  a  horse  to  Wayland  Smith  myself,  for 
he  passed  all  farriers  in  this  country." 

"  Did  you  see  him?  "  said  Dame  Alison  Crane,  mistress  of 
the  inn  bearing  that  sign,  and  deigning  to  term  '  husband ' 
the  owner  thereof,  a  mean-looking  hop-o'-my-thumb  sort  of 
person,  whose  halting  gait,  and  long  neck,  and  meddling, 
henpecked  insignificance  are  supposed  to  have  given  origin 
to  the  celebrated  old  English  tune  of  "  My  Dame  hath  a  lame 
tame  Crane." 

On  this  occasion  he  chirped  out  a  repetition  of  his  wife's 
question,  "  Didst  see  the  devil.  Jack  Hostler,  I  say?  " 

"  And  what  if  I  did  see  un,  Master  Crane?  "  replied  Jack 
Hostler,  for,  like  all  the  rest  of  the  household,  he  paid  as  little 
respect  to  his  master  as  his  mistress  herself  did. 

"Nay,  naught.  Jack  Hostler,"  repUed  the  pacific  Master 


124  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

Crane,  "  only  if  you  saw  the  devil,  methinks  I  would  like  to 
know  what  un's  like?  " 

"  You  will  know  that  one  day.  Master  Crane,"  said  his  help- 
mate, "an  ye  mend  not  your  manners  and  mind  your  busi- 
ness, leaving  olff  such  idle  palabras.  But  truly.  Jack  Hostler, 
I  should  be  glad  to  know  myself  what  like  the  fellow  was." 

"  Why,  dame,"  said  the  hostler,  more  respectfully,  "  as  for 
what  he  was  like  I  cannot  tell,  nor  no  man  else,  for  why  I 
never  saw  un." 

"  And  how  didst  thou  get  thine  errand  done,"  said  Gaffer 
Grimesby,  "  if  thou  seedst  him  not?  " 

"  Why,  I  had  schoolmaster  to  write  down  ailment  o'  nag," 
said  Jack  Hostler;  "  and  I  went  wi^  the  ugliest  slip  of  a  boy 
for  my  guide  as  ever  man  cut  out  o'  lime-tree  root  to  please  a 
child  withal." 

"And  what  was  it?  and  did  it  cure  your  nag.  Jack  Hos- 
tler? "  was  uttered  and  echoed  by  all  who  stood  around. 

"  Why,  how  can  I  tell  you  what  it  was?  "  said  the  hostler; 
"  simply  it  smelled  and  tasted — for  I  did  make  bold  to  put  a  \ 
pea's  substance  into  my  mouth — like  hartshorn  and  savin 
mixed  with  vinegar;  but  then  no  hartshorn  and  savin  ever  i 
wrought  so  speedy  a  cure.     And  I  am  dreading  that,  if  Way- 
land  Smith  be  gone,  the  bots  will  have  more  power  over  horse  \ 
and  cattle." 

The  pride  of  art,  which  is  certainly  not  inferior  in  its  in-  ^ 
fluence  to  any  other  pride  whatever,  here  so  far  operated  on 
Wayland  Smith  that,  notwithstanding  the  obvious  danger  of 
his  being  recognized,  he  could  not  help  winking  to  Tressilian, 
and  smiling  mysteriously,  as  if  triumphing  in  the  undoubted 
evidence  of  his  veterinary  skill.  In  the  meanwhile,  the  dis- 
course continued. 

"  E'en  let  it  be  so,"  said  a  grave  man  in  black,  the  com- 
panion of  Gaffer  Grimesby — "  e'en  let  us  perish  under  the  evil 
God  sends  us,  rather  than  the  devil  be  our  doctor." 

"  Very  true,"  said  Dame  Crane;  "  and  I  marvel  at  Jack 
Hostler  that  he  would  peril  his  own  soul  to  cure  the  bowels  of 
a  nag." 

"  Very  true,  mistress,"  said  Jack  Hostler,  "  butHhe  nag  was 
my  master's;  and  had  it  been  yours,  I  think  ye  would  ha'  held 
me  cheap  enow  an  I  had  feared  the  devil  when  the  poor  beast 
was  in  such  a  taking.  For  the  rest,  let  the  clergy  look  to  it. 
Every  man  to  his  craft,  says  the  proverb — ^the  parson  to  the 
prayer-book  and  the  groom  to  his  currycomb." 

"  I  TOW,"  said  Dame  Crane,  "  I  think  Jack  Hostler  speaks 


KEmLWOBTH. 


135 


IP-!.,*  ^u*^  Christian  and  a  faithful  servant,  who  will  snare 

Se^XSteZhimt' r''^  T'''''  ^^''''  How'^er^'tr 
cZe  hfthir  thl  •  *'T'  ^°'  ^  constable  of  the  hundred 

tri^.  .f  -f  u  \'°°""''«  *°  ««*  oW  Gaffer  Pinniewinks  the 
tner  of  wit^ches,  to  go  with  him  to  the  Vale  of  WlStehoSe  to 
comprehend  Way  and  Smith,  and  put  him  to  his  pmSo.^ 

awl,  and  I  saw  the  warrant  from  Justice  Blindas."  ^ 

i'ooh— pooh,  the  devil  would  laugh  both  at  Blindas  and 
cZkT>P '''*?'','"  ^f  witch-finderi  boot,"  Lfd  old  Dame 
m^d  PinnielTn  wi^™,**'"^'  "  "^^y^^^  Smith's  flesh  wouM 
W  ^-    Tn     ^^  \.^"^^  '^°  "'"'■e  than  a  cambric  ruff  minds  a 

s  wff^  M  t^foSt^^^  rpaSg^- 

f'Lble^^opleT^"^  *°  '°  *'^  ^^"^^^     ^-'  °-  --  '  -- 

tirZ'A*™®^^'^®  ?*'^'"  ^"^  the  hostler;  «  so  said  Simp- 
fcms  of  Simonbum  when  the  curate  kissed  his  wife-'S 
are  a  comfortable  people,'  said  he  "  ^ 

«,-a  -l^^l'  *°?  foul-mouthed  vermin,"  said  Dame  Crank- 
te;'41^e\thKL^7t^°^  '""^  *^-  *»  ^-"«  -^  a 
vn^i^if*'"*'' ''°'  '^™®'"  ''®P"«'J  *e  man  of  oats;  "and  as  vou 

Zcurintrir.f  ^    ^y  ^u*^  obsequious  host  on  the  errand  of 
ri^LTtoTst^ltmScf  ^  ^^^'-^  ^-^^^  ''«^- 

S7tel^r  ?Ce  do-Serr  tt  ^dn?| 
oetter  judges  in  .uch  a  ca£,  know  ^hat  c^Tth^XSd 


126  WAVEMLBT  NOYBLS. 

attach  to  my  medicaments.  I  call  you  to  witness,  worshiptui 
Master  Tressilian,  that  naught,  save  the  voice  of  calumny  and 
the  hand  of  malicious  violence,  hath  driven  me  forth  from  ? 
station  in  which  I  held  a  place  alike  useful  and  honored." 

"  I  bear  witness,  my  friend,  but  will  reserve  my  listening/^ 
answered  Tressilian,  "  for  a  safer  time;  unless,  indeed,  you 
deem  it  essential  to  your  reputation  to  be  translated,  like  your 
late  dwelling,  by  the  assistance  of  a  flash  of  fire.  For  you  see 
your  best  friends  reckon  you  no  better  than  a  mere  sorcerer.'' 

"  Now,  Heaven  forgive  them,"  said  the  artist,  "  who  con- 
found learned  skill  with  unlawful  magic!  I  trust  a  man  may 
be  as  skillful,  or  more  so,  than  the  best  chirurgeon  ever  med- 
dled with  horse-flesh  and  yet  may  be  upon  the  matter  little 
more  than  other  ordinary  men,  or  at  the  worst  no  conjurer." 

"  God  forbid  else!  "  said  Tressilian.  "  But  be  silent  just 
for  the  present,  since  here  comes  mine  host  with  an  assistant, 
who  seems  something  of  the  least." 

Everybody  about  the  inn,  Dame  Crank  [Crane]  herself  in- 
cluded, had  been  indeed  so  interested  and  agitated  by  the 
story  they  had  heard  of  "Wayland  Smith,  and  by  the  new, 
varying,  and  more  marvelous  editions  of  the  incident,  which 
arrived  from  various  quarters,  that  mine  host,  in  his  right- 
eous determination  to  accommodate  his  guests,  had  been  able 
to  obtain  the  assistance  of  none  of  his  household,  saving  that 
of  a  little  boy,  a  junior  tapster,  of  about  twelve  years  old, 
who  was  called  Sampson. 

"  I  wish,"  he  said,  apologizing  to  his  guests,  as  he  set  down 
a  flagon  of  sack,  and  promised  some  food  immediately — "  1 
wish  the  devil  had  flown  away  with  my  wife  and  my  whole 
family  instead  of  this  Wayland  Smith,  who,  I  dare  say,  aftei 
all  said  and  done,  was  much  less  worthy  of  the  distinction 
which  Satan  has  done  him." 

"  I  hold  opinion  with  you,  good  fellow,"  replied  Wayland 
Smith;  "  and  I  will  drink  to  you  upon  that  argument." 

"  Not  that  I  would  justify  any  man  who  deals  with  the 
devil,"  said  mine  host,  after  having  pledged  Wayland  in  a 
rousing  draught  of  sack,  "  but  that — saw  ye  ever  better  sack, 
my  masters? — ^but  that,  I  say,  a  man  had  better  deal  with  a 
dozen  cheats  and  scoundrel  fellows,  such  as  this  Wayland 
Smith,  than  with  a  devil  incarnate,  that  takes  possession  of 
house  and  home,  bed  and  board." 

The  poor  fellow's  detail  of  grievances  was  here  interruptecl 
by  the  shrill  voice  of  his  helpmate,  screaming  from  the 
kitchen,  to  which  he  instantly  hobbled,  craving  pardon  of  his 


KBNILWORTB.  12Y 

guests.  He  was  no  sooner  gone  than  Wayland  Smith  ex- 
pressed, by  every  contemptuous  epithet  in  the  language,  his 
utter  scorn  for  a  nincompoop  who  stuck  his  head  under  his 
wife's  apron  string;  and  intimated  that,  saving  for  the  sake 
of  the  horses,  which  required  both  rest  and  food,  he  would  ad- 
vise his  worshipful  Master  Tressilian  to  push  on  a  stage 
farther,  rather  than  pay  a  reckoning  to  such  a  mean-spirited, 
crow-trodden,  hen-pecked  coxcomb  as  Gaffer  Crane. 

The  arrival  of  a  large  dish  of  good  cow-heel  and  bacon 
something  soothed  the  asperity  of  the  artist,  which  wholly 
vanished  before  a  choice  capon  so  delicately  roasted  that  "  the 
lard  frothed  on  it,''  said  Wayland,  "  like  May-dew  on  a  lily '; 
and  both  Gaifer  Crane  and  his  good  dame  became,  in  his  eyes, 
very  painstaking,  accommodating,  obliging  persons. 

According  to  the  manners  of  the  times,  the  master  and  his 
attendant  sat  at  the  same  table,  and  the  latter  observed,  with 
regret,  how  little  attention  Tressilian  paid  to  his  meal.  He 
recollected,  indeed,  the  pain  he  had  given  by  mentioning  the 
maiden  in  whose  company  he  had  first  seen  him;  but,  fearful 
of  touching  upon  a  topic  too  tender  to  be  tampered  with,  he 
chose  to  ascribe  his  abstinence  to  another  cause. 

"  This  fare  is  perhaps  too  coarse  for  your  worship,"  said 
Wayland,  as  the  limbs  of  the  capon  disappeared  before  his 
own  exertions;  '^  but  had  you  dwelt  as  long  as  I  have  done  in 
yonder  dungeon,  which  Flibbertigibbet  has  translated  to  the 
upper  element,  a  place  where  I  dared  hardly  broil  my  food, 
lest  the  smoke  be  seen  without,  you  would  think  a  fair  capon 
a  more  welcome  dainty." 

"If  you  are  pleased,  friend,"  said  Tressilian,  "it  is  well. 
Nevertheless,  hasten  thy  meal  if  thou  canst,  for  this  place  is 
unfriendly  to  thy  safety,  and  my  concerns  crave  traveling." 

Allowing,  therefore,  their  horses  no  more  rest  than  was 
absolutely  necessary  for  them,  they  pursued  their  journey  by 
a  forced  march  as  far  as  Bradford,  where  they  reposed  them- 
selves for  the  night. 

The  next  morning  found  them  early  travelers.  And,  not 
to  fatigue  the  reader  with  unnecessary  particulars,  they  trav- 
ersed without  adventure  the  counties  of  Wiltshire  and  Somer- 
set, and,  about  noon  of  the  third  day  after  Tressilian's  leav- 
ing Cumnor,  arrived  at  Sir  Hugh  Eobsart's  seat,  called 
Lidcote  Hall,  on  the  frontiers  of  Devonshire. 


CHAPTEE  XII. 

Ill  me  !  the  flower  and  blossom  of  your  house, 
The  wind  hath  blown  away  to  other  towers, 

—Joanna  Baillik's  Family  Legend. 

The  ancient  seat  of  Lidcote  Hall  was  situated  near  the  vil- 
lage of  the  same  name,  and  adjoined  the  wild  and  extensive 
forest  of  Exmoor,  plentifully  stocked  with  game,  in  which 
some  ancient  rights  belonging  to  the  Eobsart  family  entitled 
Sir  Hugh  to  pursue  his  favorite  amusement  of  the  chase. 
The  old  mansion  was  a  low,  venerable  building,  occupying  a 
considerable  space  of  ground,  which  was  surrounded  by  a  deep 
moat.  The  approach  and  drawbridge  were  defended  by  an 
octagonal  tower,  of  ancient  brickwork,  but  so  clothed  with  ivy 
and  other  creepers  that  it  was  difl&cult  to  discover  of  what 
materials  it  was  constructed.  The  angles  of  this  tower  were 
each  decorated  with  a  turret,  whimsically  various  in  form  and 
in  size,  and,  therefore,  very  unlike  the  monotonous  stone 
pepper-boxes  which,  in  modem  Gothic  architecture,  are  em- 
ployed for  the  same  purpose.  One  of  these  turrets  was 
square,  and  occupied  as  a  clock-house.  But  the  clock  was 
now  standing  still — a  circumstance  peculiarly  striking  to 
Tressilian,  because  the  good  old  knight,  among  other  harm- 
less peculiarities,  had  a  fidgety  anxiety  about  the  exact  meas- 
urement  of  time,  very  common  to  those  who  have  a  great  deal 
of  that  commodity  to  dispose  of,  and  find  it  lie  heavy  upon 
their  hands — just  as  we  see  shopkeepers  amuse  themselves 
with  taking  an  exact  account  of  their  stock  at  the  time  there 
is  least  demand  for  it. 

The  entrance  to  the  courtyard  of  the  old  mansion  lay 
through  an  archway,  surmounted  by  the  foresaid  tower,  but 
the  drawbridge  was  down,  and  one  leaf  of  the  iron-studded 
folding-doors  stood  carelessly  open.  Tressilian  hastily  rode 
over  the  drawbridge,  entered  the  court,  and  began  to  call 
loudly  on  the  domestics  by  their  names.  For  some  time  he 
was  only  answered  by  the  echoes  and  the  howling  of  the 
hounds,  whose  kennel  lay  at  no  great  distance  from  the  man- 
sion, and  was  surrounded  by  the  same  moat.  At  length  Will 
Badger,  the  old  and  favorite  attendant  of  the  knight,  who 
ftcted  alike  as  squire  of  his  body  and  superintendent  of  his 

i9B 


KENILWORTK  129 

sports,  made  his  appearance.  The  stout  weather-beaten  for- 
ester showed  great  signs  of  joy  when  he  recognized  Tressilian. 

"  Lord  love  you,"  he  said,  "  Master  Edmund,  be  it  thou  in 
flesh  and  fell?  Then  thou  mayst  do  some  good  on  Sir  Hugh, 
for  it  passes  the  wit  of  man — that  is,  of  mine  own,  and  the 
curate's,  and  Master  Mumblazen's — to  do  aught  wi'un." 

"Is  Sir  Hugh  then  worse  since  I  went  away.  Will?"  de- 
manded Tressilian. 

"  For  worse  in  body — no,  he  is  much  better,"  replied  the 
domestic;  "  but  he  is  clean  mazed  as  it  were — eats  and  drinks 
as  he  was  wont,  but  sleeps  not,  or  rather  wakes  not,  for  he  is 
ever  in  a  sort  of  twilight,  that  is  neither  sleeping  nor  waking. 
Dame  Swineford  thought  it  was  like  the  dead  palsy.  '  But 
no — ^no,  dame,'  said  I,  '  it  is  the  heart — it  is  the  heart.'  " 

"  Can  ye  not  stir  his  mind  to  any  pastimes?  "  said  Tres- 
silian. 

"  He  is  clean  and  quite  off  his  sports,"  said  Will  Badger; 
"hath  neither  touched  backgammon  or  shovel-board,  nor 
looked  on  the  big  book  of  harrowtry  wi'  Master  Mumblazen. 
I  let  the  clock  run  down,  thinking  the  missing  the  bell  might 
somewhat  move  him,  for  you  know.  Master  Edmund,  he  was 
particular  in  counting  time;  but  he  never  said  a  word  on't,  so 
I  may  e'en  set  the  old  chime  a-towling  again.  I  made  bold 
to  tread  on  Bungay's  tail  too,  and  you  know  what  a  round 
rating  that  would  ha'  cost  me  once  a  day;  but  he  minded  the 
poor  tyke's  whine  no  more  than  a  madge-howlet  whooping 
down  the  chimney:  so  the  case  is  beyond  me." 

"  Thou  shalt  tell  me  the  rest  within  doors.  Will.  Mean- 
while, let  this  person  be  ta'en  to  the  buttery,  and  used  with 
respect.     He  is  a  man  of  art." 

"  White  art  or  black  art,  I  would,"  said  Will  Badger,  "  that 
he  had  any  art  which  could  help  us.  Here,  Tom  Butler,  look 
to  the  man  of  art;  and  see  that  he  steals  none  of  thy  spoons, 
lad,"  he  added  in  a  whisper  to  the  butler,  who  showed  himself 
at  a  low  window,  "  I  have  known  as  honest  a  faced  fellow  have 
art  enough  to  do  that." 

He  then  ushered  Tressilian  into  a  low  parlor,  and  went,  at 
his  desire,  to  see  in  what  state  his  master  was,  lest  the  sudden 
return  of  his  darling  pupil,  and  proposed  son-in-law,  should 
affect  him  too  strongly.  He  returned  immediately,  and  said 
that  Sir  Hugh  was  dozing  in  his  elbow-chair,  but  that  Master 
Mumblazen  would  acquaint  Master  Tressilian  the  instant  he 
awaked. 

"But  it  is  chance  if  he  knows  you,"  said  the  huntsman, 


130  WAVERLE7  NOVELS. 

"  for  he  has  forgotten  the  name  of  every  hound  in  the  pack. 
I  thought  about  a  week  since  he  had  gotten  a  favorable  turn. 
^  Saddle  me  old  Sorrel,'  said  he,  suddenly,  after  he  had  taken 
his  usual  night-draught  out  of  the  great  silver  grace-cup, '  and 
take  the  hounds  to  Mount  Hazelhurst  to-morrow/  Glad 
men  were  we  all,  and  out  we  had  him  in  the  morning,  and  he 
rode  to  cover  as  usual,  with  never  a  word  spoken  but  that  the 
wind  was  south  and  the  scent  would  lie.  But  ere  we  had  un- 
coupled the  hounds  he  began  to  stare  round  him,  like  a  man 
that  wakes  suddenly  out  of  a  dream — turns  bridle  and  walks 
back  to  hall  again,  and  leaves  us  to  hunt  at  leisure  by  our 
selves,  if  we  listed." 

"You  tell  a  heavy  tale,  Will,"  replied  Tressilian;  "but 
God  must  help  us — ^there  is  no  aid  in  man." 

"  Then  you  bring  us  no  news  of  young  Mistress  Amy? 
But  what  need  I  ask — your  brow  tells  the  story.  Ever  I 
hoped  that,  if  any  man  could  or  would  track  her,  it  must  be 
you.  AlFs  over  and  lost  now.  But  if  ever  I  have  that  Yar- 
ney  within  reach  of  a  flight-shot,  I  will  bestow  a  forked  shaft 
on  him;  and  that  I  swear  by  salt  and  bread." 

As  he  spoke,  the  door  opened,  and  Master  Mumblazen  ap- 
peared— a  withered,  thin,  elderly  gentleman,  with  a  cheek 
like  a  winter  apple,  and  his  gray  hair  partly  concealed  by  a 
small  high  hat,  shaped  like  a  cone,  or  rather  like  such  a  straw- 
berry-basket as  London  fruiterers  exhibit  at  their  windows. 
He  was  too  sententious  a  person  to  waste  words  on  mere  salu- 
tation; so,  having  welcomed  Tressilian  with  a  nod  and  a  shake 
of  the  hand,  he  beckoned  him  to  follow  to  Sir  Hugh's  great 
chamber,  which  the  good  knight  usually  inhabited.  Will 
Badger  followed,  unasked,  anxious  to  see  whether  his  master 
would  be  relieved  from  his  state  of  apathy  by  the  arrival  of 
Tressilian. 

In  a  long  low  parlor,  amply  furnished  with  implements  of 
the  chase,  and  with  silvan  trophies,  by  a  massive  stone  chim- 
ney, over  which  hung  a  sword  and  suit  of  armor,  somewhat 
obscured  by  neglect,  sat  Sir  Hugh  Eobsart  of  Lidcote,  a  man 
of  large  size,  which  had  been  only  kept  within  moderate  com- 
pass by  the  constant  use  of  violent  exercise.  It  seemed  to 
Tressilian  that  the  lethargy  under  which  his  old  friend  ap- 
peared to  labor  had,  even  during  his  few  weeks'  absence, 
added  bulk  to  his  person;  at  least  it  had  obviously  diminished 
the  vivacity  of  his  eye,  which,  as  they  entered,  first  followed 
Master  Mumblazen  slowly  to  a  large  oaken  desk,  on  which  a 
ponderous  volume  lay  open,  and  then  rested,  as  if  in  uncer- 


KENILWOBTK  131 

tainty,  on  the  stranger  who  had  entered  along  with  him. 
The  curate,  a  gray-headed  clergyman,  who  had  been  a  confes- 
sor in  the  days  of  Queen  Mary,  sat  with  a  book  in  his  hand  in 
another  recess  in  the  apartment.  He,  too,  signed  a  mournful 
greeting  to  Tressilian,  and  laid  his  book  aside,  to  watch  the 
eifect  his  appearance  should  produce  on  the  afflicted  old  man. 

As  Tressilian,  his  own  eyes  filling  fast  with  tears,  ap- 
proached more  and  more  nearly  to  the  father  of  his  betrothed 
bride.  Sir  Hugh's  intelligence  seemed  to  revive.  He  sighed 
heavily,  as  one  who  awakens  from  a  state  of  stupor,  a  slight 
convulsion  passed  over  his  features,  he  opened  his  arms  with- 
out speaking  a  word,  and,  as  Tressilian  threw  himself  into 
them,  he  folded  him  to  his  bosom. 

"There  is  something  left  to  live  for  yet,"  were  the  first 
words  he  uttered;  and  while  he  spoke,  he  gave  vent  to  his 
feelings  in  a  paroxysm  of  weeping,  the  tears  chasing  each 
other  down  his  sunburnt  cheeks  and  long  white  beard. 

"  I  ne'er  thought  to  have  thanked  God  to  see  my  master 
weep,"  said  Will  Badger;  "  but  now  I  do,  though  I  am  like  to 
weep  for  company." 

"  I  will  ask  thee  no  questions,"  said  the  old  knight — "  no 
questions — none,  Edmund;  thou  hast  not  found  her,  or  so 
found  her  that  she  were  better  lost." 

Tressilian  was  unable  to  reply,  otherwise  than  by  putting 
his  hands  before  his  face. 

"  It  is  enough — it  is  enough.  But  do  not  thou  weep  for 
her,  Edmund.  I  have  cause  to  weep,  for  she  was  my  daugh- 
ter; thou  hast  cause  to  rejoice,  that  she  did  not  become  thy 
wife.  Great  God!  Thou  knowest  best  what  is  good  for  us. 
It  was  my  nightly  prayer  that  I  should  see  Amy  and  Edmund 
wedded;  had  it  been  granted,  it  had  now  been  gall  added  to 
bitterness." 

"  Be  comforted,  my  friend,"  said  the  curate,  addressing  Sir 
Hugh,  "  it  cannot  be  that  the  daughter  of  all  our  hopes  and 
affections  is  the  vile  creature  you  would  bespeak  her." 

"  Oh,  no,"  replied  Sir  Hugh  impatiently,  "  I  were  wrong  to 
name  broadly  the  base  thing  she  is  become;  there  is  some  new 
court  name  for  it,  I  warrant  me.  It  is  honor  enough  for  the 
daughter  of  an  old  De'nshire  clown  to  be  the  leman  of  a  gay 
courtier — of  Varney  too — of  Varney,  whose  grandsire  was 
relieved  by  my  father,  when  his  fortune  was  broken,  at  the 
battle  of — the  battle  of — where  Richard  was  slain;  out  on  my 
memory!  and  I  waxrant  none  of  you  will  help  me " 

"The    battle    of    Bosworth,"    said    Master    Mumblazen, 


182  WAVERLEY  NOVELS, 

"stricken  between  Eichard  Crookback  and  Henry  Tudor, 
grandsire  of  the  Queen  that  now  is,  '  primo  Henrici  Septimi/ 
and  in  the  year  one  thousand  four  hundred  and  eighty-five 
*  post  Christum  natum.'  "  * 

"  Aye,  even  so,"  said  the  old  knight,  "  every  child  knows  it. 
But  my  poor  head  forgets  all  it  should  remember,  and  re- 
members only  what  it  would  most  willingly  forget.  My  brain 
has  been  at  fault,  Tressilian,  almost  ever  since  thou  hast  been 
away  and  even  yet  it  hunts  counter." 

"  Your  worship,"  said  the  good  clergyman,  "  had  better  re- 
tire to  your  apartment  and  try  to  sleep  for  a  little  space:  the 
physician  left  a  composing  draught,  and  our  Great  Phy- 
sician has  commanded  us  to  use  earthly  means,  that  we  may 
be  strengthened  to  sustain  the  trials  He  sends  us." 

"  True — true,  old  friend,"  said  Sir  Hugh,  "  and  we  will 
bear  our  trials  manfully.  We  have  lost  but  a  woman.  See, 
Tressilian  " — he  drew  from  his  bosom  a  long  ringlet  of  glossy 
hair — "  see  this  lock!  I  tell  thee,  Edmund,  the  very  night 
she  disappeared,  when  she  bid  me  good-even,  as  she  was  wont, 
she  hung  about  my  neck  and  fondled  me  more  than  usual; 
and  I,  like  an  old  fool,  held  her  by  this  lock,  until  she  took 
her  scissors,  severed  it,  and  left  it  in  my  hand — as  all  I  was 
ever  to  see  more  of  her!  " 

Tressilian  was  unable  to  reply,  well  judging  what  a  com- 
physician  left  a  composing  draught,  and  our  Great  Phy- 
happy  fugitive  at  that  cruel  moment.  The  clergyman  was 
about  to  speak,  but  Sir  Hugh  interrupted  him. 

"  I  know  what  you  would  say.  Master  Curate — after  all,  it 
is  but  a  lock  of  woman's  tresses,  and  by  woman  shame,  and  sin, 
and  death  came  into  an  innocent  world.  And  learned  Master 
Mumblazen,  too,  can  say  scholarly  things  of  their  inferiority." 

"  '  C'est  rhomme,'  "  said  Master  Mumblazen,  "  ^  qui  se 
bast,  et  qui  conseille.'  " 

"  True,"  said  Sir  Hugh,  "  and  we  will  bear  us,  therefore, 
like  men  who  have  both  mettle  and  wisdom  in  us.  Tres- 
silian, thou  art  as  welcome  as  if  thou  hadst  brought  better 
news.  But  we  have  spoken  too  long  dry-lipped.  Amy,  fill  a 
cup  of  wine  to  Edmund  and  another  to  me."  Then  instantly 
recollecting  that  he  called  upon  her  who  could  not  hear,  he 
shook  his  head,  and  said  to  the  clergyman,  "  This  grief  is  to 
my  bewildered  mind  what  the  church  of  Lidcote  is  to  our 
park:  we  may  lose  ourselves  among  the  briars  and  thickets  for 

♦  [Compare  p.  91,  where  the  battle  of  Stoke  Is  spoken  of.] 


KENILWORTH,  133 

a  little  space,  but  from  the  end  of  each  avenue  we  see  the  old 
gray  steeple  and  the  grave  of  my  forefathers.  I  would  I  were 
to  travel  that  road  to-morrow!  " 

Tressilian  and  the  curate  joined  in  urging  the  exhausted 
old  man  to  lay  himself  to  rest,  and  at  length  prevailed. 
Tressilian  remained  by  his  pillow  till  he  saw  that  slumber 
at  length  sunk  down  on  him,  and  then  returned  to  consult 
with  the  curate  what  steps  should  be  adopted  in  these  un- 
happy circumstances. 

They  could  not  exclude  from  these  deliberations  Master 
Michael  Mumblazen;  and  they  admitted  him  the  more  readily 
that,  besides  what  hopes  they  entertained  from  his  sagacity, 
they  knew  him  to  be  so  great  a  friend  to  taciturnity  that  there 
was  no  doubt  of  his  keeping  counsel.  He  was  an  old  bachelor 
of  good  family,  but  small  fortune,  and  distantly  related  to  the 
house  of  Eobsart;  in  virtue  of  which  connection,  Lidcote 
Hall  had  been  honored  with  his  residence  for  the  last  twenty 
years.  His  company  was  agreeable  to  Sir  Hugh,  chiefly  on 
account  of  his  profound  learning,  which,  though  it  only  re- 
lated to  heraldry  and  genealogy,  with  such  scraps  of  history 
as  connected  themselves  with  these  subjects,  was  precisely  of 
a  kind  to  captivate  the  good  old  knight;  besides  the  conven- 
ience which  he  found  in  having  a  friend  to  appeal  to,  when 
his  own  memory,  as  frequently  happened,  proved  infirm,  and 
played  him  false  concerning  names  and  dates,  which,  and  all 
similar  deficiencies,  Master  Michael  Mumblazen  supplied  with 
due  brevity  and  discretion.  And,  indeed,  in  matters  con- 
cerning the  modem  world,  he  often  gave,  in  his  enigmatical 
and  heraldic  phrase,  advice  which  was  well  worth  attending 
to,  or,  in  Will  Badger's  language,  started  the  game  while 
others  beat  the  bush. 

"  We  have  had  an  unhappy  time  of  it  with  the  good  knight, 
Master  Edmund,"  said  the  curate.  "  I  have  not  suffered  so 
much  since  I  was  torn  away  from  my  beloved  flock,  and  com- 
pelled to  abandon  them  to  the  Eomish  wolves." 

"  That  was  in  '  tertio  Maria,' "  said  Master  Mumblazen. 

"  In  the  name  of  Heaven,"  continued  the  curate,  "  tell  us, 
has  your  time  been  better  spent  than  ours,  or  have  you  any 
news  of  that  unhappy  maiden,  who,  being  for  so  many  years 
the  principal  joy  of  this  broken-down  house,  is  now  proved 
our  greatest  unhappiness?  Have  you  not  at  least  discovered 
her  place  of  residence?  " 

"  I  have,"  replied  Tressilian.  "  Know  you  Cumnor  Place, 
n«ar  Oxford?" 


184  WA  VERLET  NO  VEL8. 

'^  Surely,"  said  the  clergyman;  "  it  was  a  house  of  removal 
for  the  monks  of  Abingdon." 

"  Whose  arms,"  said  Master  Michael,  "  I  have  seen  over  a 
stone  chimney  in  the  hall — a  cross  patoncee  betwixt  four 
martlets." 

"  There,"  said  Tressilian,  "  this  unhappy  maiden  resides,  in 
company  with  the  villain  Yarney.  But  for  a  strange  mis- 
hap, my  sword  had  revenged  all  our  injuries,  as  well  as  hers, 
on  his  worthless  head." 

"  Thank  God,  that  kept  thine  hand  from  blood-guiltiness, 
rash  young  man!"  answered  the  curate.  ^Vengeance  is 
mine,  saith  the  Lord,  and  I  will  repay  it.'  It  were  better 
study  to  free  her  from  the  villain's  nets  of  infamy." 

"  They  are  called,  in  heraldry,  '  laquei  amoris,'  or  '  lacs 
d'amour,' "  said  Mumblazen. 

"  It  is  in  that  I  require  your  aid,  my  friends,"  said  Tres- 
silian; "  I  am  resolved  to  accuse  this  villain,  at  the  very  foot 
of  the  throne,  of  falsehood,  seduction,  and  breach  of  hospita- 
ble laws.  The  Queen  shall  hear  me,  though  the  Earl  of 
Leicester,  the  villain's  patron,  stood  at  her  right  hand." 

"  Her  Grace,"  said  the  curate,  "  hath  set  a  comely  example 
of  continence  to  her  subjects,  and  will  doubtless  do  justice 
on  this  inhospitable  robber.  But  wert  thou  not  better  apply 
to  the  Earl  of  Leicester,  in  the  first  place,  for  justice  on  his 
servant?  If  he  grants  it,  thou  dost  save  the  risk  of  making 
thyself  a  powerful  adversary,  which  will  certainly  chance  if, 
in  the  first  instance,  you  accuse  his  master  of  the  horse  and 
prime  favorite  before  the  Queen." 

"  My  mind  revolts  from  your  counsel,"  said  Tressilian.  "  I 
cannot  brook  to  plead  my  noble  patron's  cause — the  unhappy 
Amy's  cause — before  anyone  save  my  lawful  sovereign. 
Leicester,  thou  wilt  say,  is  noble;  be  it  so,  he  is  but  a  subject 
like  ourselves,  and  I  will  not  carry  my  plaint  to  him,  if  I  can 
do  better.  Still,  I  will  think  on  what  thou  hast  said;  but  I 
must  have  your  assistance  to  persuade  the  good  Sir  Hugh  to 
make  me  his  commissioner  and  fiduciary  in  this  matter,  for 
it  is  in  his  name  I  must  speak,  and  not  in  my  own.  Since  she 
is  so  far  changed  as  to  dote  upon  this  empty  profligate  cour- 
tier, he  shall  at  least  do  her  the  justice  which  is  yet  in  his 
power." 

"  Better  she  died  '  coelebs '  and  ^  sine  prole,' "  said  Mum- 
blazen,  with  more  animation  than  he  usually  expressed,  "  than 
part,  *  per  pale,'  the  noble  coat  of  Eobsart  with  that  of  such 
a  miscreant! " 


KENILWORTK  136 

"  If  it  be  your  object,  as  I  cannot  question,"  said  the  clergy- 
man, '^  to  save,  as  much  as  is  yet  possible,  the  credit  of  this 
unhappy  young  woman,  I  repeat,  you  should  apply  in  the 
first  instance,  to  the  Earl  of  Leicester.  He  is  as  absolute  in 
his  household  as  the  Queen  in  her  kingdom,  and  if  he  ex- 
presses to  Varney  that  such  is  his  pleasure,  her  honor  will 
not  stand  so  publicly  committed." 

^^You  are  right— you  are  right,"  said  Tressilian  eagerly, 
'^  and  I  thank  you  for  pointing  out  what  I  overlooked  in  my 
haste.  I  little  thought  ever  to  have  besought  grace  of  Leices- 
ter; but  I  could  kneel  to  the  proud  Dudley,  if  doing  so  could 
remove  one  shade  of  shame  from  this  unhappy  damsel.  You 
will  assist  me,  then,  to  procure  the  necessary  powers  from  Sir 
HughEobsart?" 

The  curate  assured  him  of  his  assistance  and  the  herald 
nodded  assent. 

"  You  must  hold  yourselves  also  in  readiness  to  testify,  in 
case  you  are  called  upon,  the  open-hearted  hospitality  which 
our  good  patron  exercised  toward  this  deceitful  traitor,  and 
the  solicitude  with  which  he  labored  to  seduce  his  unhappy 
daughter." 

"  At  first, '  said'  the  clergyman,  "  she  did  not,  as  it  seemed 
to  me,  much  affect  his  company,  but  latterly  I  saw  them  often 
together." 

"'Seiant^  in  the  parlor,"  said  Michael  Mumblazen,."aiid 
'  passant  ^  in  the  garden." 

"  I  once  came  on  them  by  chance,"  said  the  priest,  "  in  the 
South  wood  in  a  spring  evening;  Vamey  was  muffled  in  a 
russet  cloak,  so  that  I  saw  not  his  face;  they  separated  hastily, 
as  they  heard  me  rustle  amongst  the  leaves,  and  I  observed 
she  turned  her  head  and  looked  long  after  him." 

"  With  neck  *  reguardant,' "  said  the  herald;  "  and  on  the 
day  of  her  flight,  and  that  was  on  St.  Austen's  Eve,  I  saw 
Vamey's  groom,  attired  in  his  liveries,  hold  his  master's  horse 
and  Mistress  Amy's  palfrey,  bridled  and  saddled  proper,  be- 
hind the  wall  of  the  churchyard." 

"And  now  is  she  found  mewed  up  in  his  secret  place  of 
retirement,"  said  Tressilian.  "  The  villain  is  taken  in  the 
manner,  and  I  well  wish  he  may  deny  his  crime,  that  I  may 
thrust  conviction  down  kis  false  throat!  But  I  must  pre- 
pare for  my  journey.  Do  you  gentlemen,  dispose  my  patron 
to  grant  me  such  powers  as  are  needful  to  act  in  his  name." 

So  saying,  Tressilian  left  the  room. 

"  He  is  too  hot,"  said  the  curate;  "  and  I  pray  to  God  that 


136  WALERLET  NOVELS. 

He  may  grant  him  the  patience  to  deal  with  Vamey  a^  is 
fitting/' 

"  Patience  and  Vamey/'  said  Mumblazen,  "  is  worse  her- 
aldry than  metal  upon  metal.  He  is  more  false  than  a  siren, 
more  rapacious  than  a  griffin,  more  poisonous  than  a  wyvem, 
and  more  cruel  than  a  Hon  rampant." 

'*  Yet  I  doubt  much/'  said  the  curate,  "  whether  we  can 
with  propriety  ask  from  Sir  Hugh  Eobsart,  being  in  his 
present  condition,  any  deed  deputing  his  paternal  right  in 
Mistress  Amy  to  whomsoever " 

"  Your  reverence  need  not  doubt  that,"  said  Will  Badger, 
who  entered  as  he  spoke,  "  for  I  will  lay  my  life  he  is  another 
man  when  he  wakes  than  he  has  been  these  thirty  days  past." 

"Aye,  Will,"  said  the  curate,  "hast  thou  then  so  much 
confidence  in  Dr.  Diddleum's  draught?  " 

"  Not  a  whit,"  said  Will,  "  because  master  ne'er  tasted  a 
drop  on't,  seeing  it  was  emptied  out  by  the  housemaid.  But 
here's  a  gentleman,  who  came  attending  on  Master  Tressilian, 
has  given  Sir  Hugh  a  draught  that  is  worth  twenty  of  yon  un. 
I  have  spoken  cunningly  with  him,  and  a  better  farrier,  or  one 
who  hath  a  more  just  notion  of  horse  and  dog  ailment,  I  have 
never  seen;  and  such  a  one  would  never  be  unjust  to  a  Chris- 
tian man." 

"  A  farrier!  you  saucy  groom.  And  by  whose  authority, 
pray?"  said  the  curate,  rising  in  surprise  and  indignation; 
"  or  who  will  be  warrant  for  this  new  physician?  " 

"For  authority,  an  it  like  your  reverence,  he  had  mine; 
and  for  warrant,  I  trust  I  have  not  been  five-and-twenty  years 
in  this  house  without  having  right  to  warrant  the  giving  of  a 
draught  to  beast  or  body — I  who  can  gie  a  drench,  and  a  ball, 
and  bleed,  or  blister,  if  need,  to  my  very  self." 

The  counselors  of  the  house  of  Robsart  thought  it  meet  to 
carry  this  information  instantly  to  Tressilian,  who  as  speedily 
summoned  before  him  Wayland  Smith,  and  demanded  of  him 
(in  private,  however),  by  what  authority  he  had  ventured  to 
administer  any  medicine  to  Sir  Hugh  Robsart. 

"  Why,"  replied  the  artist,  "  your  worship  cannot  but  re- 
member that  I  told  you  I  had  made  more  progress  into  my 
master's — I  mean  the  learned  Dr.  Doboobie's — mystery  than 
he  was  willing  to  own;  and,  indeed,  half  of  his  quarrel 
and  malice  against  me  was  that,  besides  that  I  got  something 
too  deep  into  his  secrets,  several  discerning  persons,  and  par- 
ticularly a  buxom  young  widow  of  Abingdon,  preferred  my 
prescriptions  to  his." 


KENILWORTH,  187 

"None  of  thy  buffoonery,  sir/'  said  Tressilian  sternly. 
''If  thou  hast  trifled  with  us — much  more,  if  thou  hast 
done  aught  that  may  prejudice  Sir  Hugh  Eobsaxt^s  health 
— thou  shalt  find  thy  grave  at  the  bottom  of  a  tin 
mine." 

"  I  know  too  little  of  the  grea-t  *  arcanum '  to  convert  the 
ore  to  gold,"  said  Wayland  firmly.  "  But  truce  to  your 
apprehensions.  Master  Tressilian.  I  understood  the  good 
blight's  case,  from  what  Master  William  Badger  told  me; 
and  I  hope  I  am  able  enough  to  administer  a  poor  dose  of 
mandragora,  which,  with  the  sleep  that  must  needs  follow,  is 
all  that  Sir  Hugh  Robsart  requires  to  settle  his  distraught 
brains." 

"  I  trust  thou  dealest  fairly  with  me,  Wayland?  "  said  Tres- 
silian. 

"  Most  fairly  and  honestly,  as  the  event  shall  show,"  replied 
the  artist.  "  What  would  it  avail  me  to  harm  the  poor  old 
man  for  whom  you  are  interested? — you,  to  whom  I  owe  it 
that  Gaffer  Pinniewinks  is  not  even  now  rending  my  flesh  and 
sinews  with  his  accursed  pincers  and  probing  every  mole  in 
my  body  with  his  sharpened  awl — a  murrain  on  the  hands 
which  forged  it! — in  order  to  find  out  the  witch's  mark?  I 
trust  to  yoke  myself  as  a  humble  follower  to  your  worship's 
train,  and  I  only  wish  to  have  my  faith  judged  of  by  the  re- 
sult of  the  good  knight's  slumbers." 

Wayland  Smith  was  right  in  his  prognostication.  The 
sedative  draught  which  his  skill  had  prepared,  and  Will  Bad- 
ger's confidence  had  administered,  was  attended  with  the 
most  beneficial  effects.  The  patient's  sleep  was  long  and 
healthful;  and  the  poor  old  knight  awoke,  humbled  indeed  in 
thought,  and  weak  in  frame,  yet  a  much  better  judge  of  what- 
ever was  subjected  to  his  intellect  than  he  had  been  for  some 
time  past.  He  resisted  for  a  while  the  proposal  made  by  his 
friends  that  Tressilian  should  undertake  a  journey  to  court, 
to  attempt  the  recovery  of  his  daughter,  and  the  redress  of 
her  wrongs,  in  so  far  as  they  might  yet  be  repaired.  "  Let 
her  go,"  he  said;  "  she  is  but  a  hawk  that  goes  down  the  wind; 
I  would  not  bestow  even  a  whistle  to  reclaim  her."  But 
though  he  for  some  time  maintained  this  argument,  he  was  at 
length  convinced  it  was  his  duty  to  take  the  part  to  which 
natural  affection  inclined  him,  and  consent  that  such  efforts 
as  could  yet  beimade  should  be  used  by  Tressilian  in  behalf  of 
his  daughter.  He  subscribed,  therefore,  a  warrant  of  at- 
torney, such  as  the  curate's  skill  enabled  him  to  draw  up;  for 


138  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

in  those  simple  days  the  clergy  were  often  the  advisers  of  their 
flock  in  law  as  well  as  in  Gospel. 

All  matters  were  prepared  for  Tressilian's  second  departure 
within  twenty-four  hours  after  he  had  returned  to  Lidcote 
Hall;  but  one  material  circumstance  had  been  forgotten, 
which  was  first  called  to  the  remembrance  of  Tressilian  by 
Master  Mumblazen.  "  You  are  going  to  court.  Master  Tres- 
silian/'  said  he;  "  you  will  please  remember  that  your  blazonry 
must  be  '  argent '  and  '  or ';  no  other  tinctures  will  pass  cur- 
rent." The  remark  was  equally  just  and  embarrassing.  To 
prosecute  a  suit  at  court,  ready  money  was  as  indispensable 
even  in  the  golden  days  of  Elizabeth  as  at  any  succeeding 
period;  and  it  was  a  commodity  little  at  the  command  of  the 
inhabitant's  of  Lidcote  Hall.  Tressilian  was  himself  poor; 
the  revenues  of  good  Sir  Hugh  Robsart  were  consumed,  and 
even  anticipated,  in  his  hospitable  mode  of  living;  and  it  was 
finally  necessary  that  the  herald,  who  started  the  doubt, 
should  himself  solve  it.  Master  Michael  Mumblazen  did  so 
by  producing  a  bag  of  money,  containing  nearly  three  hun- 
dred pounds  in  gold  and  silver  of  various  coinage,  the  savings 
o-f  twenty  years;  which  he  now,  without  speaking  a  syllable 
upon  the  subject,  dedicated  to  the  service  of  the  patron  whose 
shelter  and  protection  had  given  him  the  means  of  making 
this  little  hoard.  Tressilian  accepted  it  without  affecting  a 
moment's  hesitation,  and  a  mutual  grasp  of  the  hand  was  all 
that  passed  betwixt  them,  to  express  the  pleasure  which  the 
one  felt  in  dedicating  his  all  to  such  a  purpose,  and  that 
which  the  other  received  from  finding  so  material  an  obstacle 
to  the  success  of  his  journey  so  suddenly  removed,  and  in  a 
manner  so  unexpected. 

"While  Tressilian  was  making  preparations  for  his  departure 
early  the  ensuing  morning,  Wayland  Smith  desired  to  speak 
with  him;  and,  expressing  his  hope  that  he  had  been  pleased 
with  the  operation  of  his  medicine  in  behalf  of  Sir  Hugh 
Robsart,  added  his  desire  to  accompany  him  to  court.  This 
was  indeed  what  Tressilian  himself  had  several  times  thought 
of;  for  the  shrewdness,  alertness  of  understanding,  and  variety 
of  resource  which  this  fellow  had  exhibited  during  the  time 
they  had  traveled  together,  had  made  him  sensible  that  his 
assistance  might  be  of  importance.  But  then  Wayland  was 
in  danger  from  the  grasp  of  law;  and  of  this  Tressilian  re- 
minded him,  mentioning  something,  at  the  same  time,  of  the 
pincers  of  Pinniewinks  and  the  warrant  of  Master  Justice 
Blindas.     Wayland  Smith  laughed  both  to  scorn. 


KHmLWORTB,  18^ 

'*  See  you  sir! ''  said  he,  "  I  have  changed  my  garb  from 
that  of  a  farrier  to  a  serving-man;  but  were  it  still  as  it  was, 
look  at  my  mustaehios;  they  now  hang  down,  I  will  but  turn 
them  up,  and  dye  them  with  a  tincture  that  I  know  of,  and 
the  devil  would  scarce  know  me  again/' 

He  accompanied  these  words  with  the  appropriate  action; 
and  in  less  than  a  minute,  by  setting  up  his  mustachios  and 
his  hair,  he  seemed  a  different  person  from  him  that  had  but 
now  entered  the  room.  Still,  however,  Tressilian  hesitated 
to  accept  his  services,  and  the  artist  became  proportionably 
urgent. 

"  I  owe  you  life  and  limb,"  he  said,  "  and  I  would  fain  pay 
a  part  of  the  debt,  especially  as  I  know  from  Will  Badger  on 
what  dangerous  service  your  worship  is  bound.  I  do  not,  in- 
deed, pretend  to  be  what  is  called  a  man  of  mettle — one  of 
those  ruffling  tear-cats,  who  maintain  their  master's  quarrel 
with  sword  and  buckler.  Nay,  I  am  even  one  of  those  who 
hold  the  end  of  a  feast  better  than  the  beginning  of  a  fray. 
But  I  know  that  I  can  serve  your  worship  better  in  such  quest 
as  yours  than  any  of  these  sword-and-dagger  men,  and  that 
my  head  will  be  worth  an  hundred  of  their  hands." 

Tressilian  still  hesftated.  He  knew  not  much  of  this 
strange  fellow,  and  was  doubtful  how  far  he  could  repose  in 
him  the  confidence  necessary  to  render  him  an  useful  attend- 
ant upon  the  present  emergency.  Ere  he  had  come  to  a  deter- 
mination, the  trampling  of  a  horse  was  heard  in  the  court- 
yard and  Master  Mumblazen  and  Will  Badger  both  entered 
hastily  into  Tressilian's  chamber,  speaking  almost  at  the  same 
moment. 

"  Here  is  a  serving-man  on  the  bonniest  gray  tit  I  ever  see'd 
in  my  life,"  said  Will  Badger,  who  got  the  start; — "  having 
on  his  arm  a  silver  cognizance,  being  a  fire-drake  holding  in 
his  mouth  a  brick-bat,  under  a  coronet  of  an  earl's  degree,' 
said  Master  Mumblazen,  "  and  bearing  a  letter  sealed  of  the 
same." 

Tressilian  took  the  letter,  which  was  addressed  "  To  the 
worshipful  Master  Edmund  Tressilian,  our  loving  kinsman — ■ 
These — ride,  ride,  ride — for  thy  life,  for  thy  life,  for  thy  life." 
He  then  opened  it,  and  found  the  following  contents: 

*'  Master  Ti^essilian,  our  Good  Friend  and  Cousin: 

"We  are  at  present  so  ill  at  ease,  and  otherwise  so  un- 
happily circumstanced,  that  we  are  desirous  to  have  around  us 
those  of  our  friends  on  whose  loving-kindness  we  can  most 


140  WArsBUBT  mtELS. 

eepecially  repose  confidence;  amongst  whom  we  hold  ouf  good 
Master  Tressilian  one  of  the  foremost  and  nearest,  both  in 
good  will  and  good  ability.  We  therefore  pray  yon,  with 
your  most  convenient  speed,  to  repair  to  our  poor  lodging  at 
Say's  Court,  near  Deptford,  where  we  will  treat  farther  with 
you  of  matters  which  we  deem  it  not  fit  to  commit  unto  writ- 
ing. And  so  we  bid  you  heartily  farewell,  being  your  loving 
kinsman  to  command. 

"Ratcliffe,  Earl  of  Sussex/' 

"  Send  up  the  messenger  instantly.  Will  Badger,"  said  Tres- 
silian; and  as  the  man  entered  the  room  he  exclaimed,  "  Ah, 
Stevens,  is  it  you?  how  does  my  good  lord?  " 

"  111,  Master  Tressilian,"  was  the  messenger's  reply,  "  and 
having  therefore  the  more  need  of  good  friends  around,  him." 

"  But  what  is  my  lord's  malady?  "  said  Tressilian  anxiously. 
"  I  heard  nothing  of  his  being  ill." 

"  I  know  not,  sir,"  replied  the  man;  "  he  is  very  ill  at  ease. 
The  leeches  are  at  a  stand,  and  many  of  his  household  suspect 
foul  practice — witchcraft,  or  worse." 

"  What  are  the  symptoms?  "  said  Wayland  Smith,  stepping 
forward  hastily. 

"Anan?"  said  the  messenger,  not  comprehending  his 
meaning. 

"What  does  he  ail?"  said  Wayland;  "where  lies  his  dis- 
ease?" 

The  man  looked  at  Tressilian,  as  if  to  know  whether  he 
should  answer  these  inquiries  from  a  stranger,  and  receiving 
a  sign  in  the  affirmative,  he  hastily  enumerated  gradual  loss 
of  strength,  nocturnal  perspiration,  and  loss  of  appetite,  f  aint- 
ness,  etc. 

"Joined,"  said  Wayland,  "to  a  gnawing  pain  in  the 
gtomach,  and  a  low  fever?  " 

"  Even  so,"  said  the  messenger,  somewhat  surprised. 

"  I  know  how  the  disease  is  caused,"  said  the  artist,  "  and  I 
know  the  cause.  Your  master  has  eaten  of  the  manna  of  St. 
Nicholas.  I  know  the  cure  too:  my  master  shall  not  say  I 
studied  in  his  laboratory  for  nothing." 

"How  mean  you? "  said  Tressilian,  frowning:  "  we  speak  of 
one  of  the  first  nobles  of  England.  Bethink  you,  this  is  no 
subject  for  buffoonerv." 

"  God  forbid!  "  said  Wayland  Smith.  "  I  say  that  I  know 
his  disease,  and  can  cure  him.  Remember  what  I  did  for  Sir 
Hugh  Robsaxt." 


KENILWORTH. 


141 


'•  We  will  set  forth  instantly/'  said  Tressiiian.  "  God  calls 
us/' 

Accordingly,  hastily  mentioning  this  new  motive  for  his 
instant  departure,  though  without  alluding  to  either  the  sus- 
picions of  Stevens  or  the  assurances  of  Wayland  Smith,  he 
took  the  kindest  leave  of  Sir  Hugh  and  the  family  at  Lidcote 
Hall,  who  accompanied  him  with  prayers  and  blessings,  and, 
attended  by  "Wayland  and  the  Earl  of  Sussex's  domestic,  trav- 
eled with  tiie  utmost  speed  toward  London. 


CHAPTER  Xm. 

Ay,  I  know  you  have  arsenic, 
Vitriol,  sal-tartre,  argaile,  alkaly, 
Ginoper  :  I  know  all.    This  fellow,  Captain, 
"Will  come  in  time  to  be  a  great  distiller, 
And  give  a  say,  I  will  not  say  directly. 
But  very  near,  at  the  philosopher's  stone. 

—The  Alchemist. 

Teessilian  and  his  attendants  pressed  their  route  with  all 
dispatch.  He  had  asked  the  smith,  indeed,  when  their  de- 
parture was  resolved  on,  whether  he  would  not  rather  choose 
to  avoid  Berkshire,  in  which  he  had  played  a  part  so  con- 
spicuous? But  Wayland  returned  a  confident  answer.  He 
had  employed  the  short  interval  they  passed  at  Lidcote  Hall 
in  transforming  himself  in  a  wonderful  manner.  His  wild 
and  overgrown  thicket  of  heard  was  now  restrained  to  two 
small  mustachios  on  the  upper  lip,  turned  up  in  a  military 
fashion.  A  tailor  from  the  village  of  Lidcote  (well  paid) 
had  exerted  his  skill,  under  his  customer's  directions,  so  as 
completely  to  alter  Wayland's  outward  man,  and  take  off  from 
his  appearance  almost  twenty  years  of  age.  Formerly,  be- 
smeared with  soot  and  charcoal,  overgrown  with  hair,  and 
bent  double  with  the  nature  of  his  labor,  disfigured,  too,  by 
his  odd  and  fantastic  dress,  he  seemed  a  man  of  fifty  years  old. 
But  now,  in  a  handsome  suit  of  Tressilian's  livery,  with  a 
sword  by  his  side,  and  a  buckler  on  his  shoulder,  he  looked 
like  a  gay  ruffling  serving-man,  whose  age  might  be  betwixt 
thirty  and  thirty-five,  the  very  prime  of  human  life.  His 
loutish,  savage-looking  demeanor  seemed  equally  changed 
into  a  forward,  sharp,  and  impudent  alertness  of  look  and 
action. 

When  challenged  by  Tressilian,  who  desired  to  know  the 
cause  of  a  metamorphosis  so  singular  and  so  absolute.  Way- 
land  only  answered  by  singing  a  stave  from  a  comedy,  which 
was  then  new,  and  was  supposed,  among  the  more  favorable 
judges,  to  augur  some  genius  on  the  part  of  the  author.  We 
are  happy  to  preserve  the  couplet,  which  ran  exactly  thus: 

'*  Ban — ban,  Ca — Caliban  ! 
Get  a  new  master  ;  be  a  new  man." 

Although  Tressilian  did  not  recollect  the  verses,  yet  they  re- 
minded him  that  Wayland  had  once  been  a  stage-player,  a  cir- 

14» 


KENILWORTH.  14S 

cmnstance  which,  of  itself,  accounted  indifferently  well  for 
the  readiness  with  which  he  could  assume  so  total  a  change  of 
personal  appearance.  The  artist  himself  was  so  confident  of 
his  disguise  being  completely  changed,  or  of  his  having  com- 
pletely changed  his  disguise,  which  may  be  the  more  correct 
mode  of  speaking,  that  he  regretted  they  were  not  to  pass  near 
his  old  place  of  retreat. 

"  I  could  venture,"  he  said,  "  in  my  present  dress,  and  with 
your  worship's  backing,  to  face  Master  Justice  Blindas,  even 
on  a  day  of  quarter  sessions;  and  I  would  like  to  know  what  is 
become  of  Hobgoblin,  who  is  like  to  play  the  devil  in  the 
world,  if  he  can  once  slip  the  string  and  leave  his  granny  and 
his  dominie.  Aye,  and  the  scathed  vault!  ^'  he  said — "  I 
would  willingly  have  seen  what  havoc  the  explosion  of  so 
much  gunpowder  has  made  among  Dr.  Demetrius  Doboobie's 
retorts  and  vials.  I  warrant  me,  my  fame  haunts  the  Vale  of 
the  Whitehorse  long  after  my  body  is  rotten;  and  that  many 
a  lout  ties  up  his  horse,  lays  down  his  silver  groat,  and  pipes 
like  a  sailor  whistling  in  a  calm,  for  Wayland  Smith  to  come 
and  shoe  his  tit  for  him.  But  the  horse  will  catch  the 
founders  ere  the  smith  answers  the  call." 

In  this  particular,  indeed,  Wayland  proved  a  true  prophet; 
and  so  easily  do  fables  rise,  that  an  obscure  tradition  of  his 
extraordinary  practice  in  farriery  prevails  in  the  Vale  of 
Whitehorse  even  unto  this  day;  and  neither  the  tradition  of 
Alfred's  victory  nor  of  the  celebrated  Pusey  horn  are  better 
preserved  in  Berkshire  than  the  wild  legend  of  Wayland 
Smith.* 

The  haste  of  the  travelers  admitted  their  making  no  stay 
upon  their  journey,  save  what  the  refreshment  of  the  horses 
required;  and  as  many  of  the  places  through  which  they 
passed  were  under  the  influence  of  the  Earl  of  Leicester,  or 
persons  immediately  dependent  on  him,  they  thought  it  pru- 
dent to  disguise  their  names  and  the  purpose  of  their  journey. 
On  such  occasions  the  agency  of  Wayland  Smith  (by  which 
name  we  shall  continue  to  distinguish  the  artist,  though  his 
real  name  was  Lancelot  Wayland)  was  extremely  serviceable. 
He  seemed,  indeed,  to  have  a  pleasure  in  displaying  the  alert- 
ness with  which  he  could  baffle  investigation,  and  amuse  him- 
self by  putting  the  curiosity  of  tapsters  and  innkeepers  on  a 
false  scent.  During  the  course  of  their  brief  journey,  three 
different  and  inconsistent  reports  were  circulated  by  him  on 
their  account;  namely,  first,  that  Tressilian  was  the  Lord 

♦  See  Note  4. 


144  WAVERLET  NOVELS, 

Deputy  of  Ireland,  come  over  in  disguise  to  take  the  Queen's 
pleasure  concerning  the  great  rebel  Rory  Oge  MacCarthy 
MacMahon;  secondly,  that  the  said  Tressilian  was  an  agent  of 
Monsieur,  coming  to  urge  his  suit  to  the  hand  of  Elizabeth; 
thirdly,  that  he  was  the  Duke  of  Medina,  come  over,  in- 
cognito, to  adjust  the  quarrel  betwixt  Philip  and  that  princess. 

Tressilian  was  angry  and  expostulated  with  the  artist  on 
the  various  inconveniences,  and,  in  particular,  the  unneces- 
sary degree  of  attention,  to  which  they  were  subjected  by  the 
figments  he  thus  circulated;  but  he  was  pacified  (for  who 
could  be  proof  against  such  an  argument?)  by  Wayland's 
assuring  him  that  a  general  importance  was  attached  to  his 
own  (Tressilian's)  striking  presence,  which  rendered  it  neces- 
sary to  give  an  extraordinary  reason  for  the  rapidity  and 
secrecy  of  his  journey. 

At  length  they  approached  the  metropolis,  where,  owing  to 
the  more  general  recourse  of  strangers,  their  appearance  ex- 
cited neither  observation  nor  inquiry,  and  finally  they  entered 
London  itself. 

It  was  Tressilian's  purpose  to  go  down  directly  to  Deptford, 
where  Lord  Sussex  resided,  in  order  to  be  near  the  court,  then 
held  at  Greenwich,  the  favorite  residence  of  Elizabeth,  and 
honored  as  her  birthplace.  Still,  a  brief  halt  in  London  was 
necessary;  and  it  was  somewhat  prolonged  by  the  earnest 
entreaties  of  Wayland  Smith,  who  desired  permission  to  take 
a  walk  through  the  city. 

"  Take  thy  sword  and  buckler,  and  follow  me,  then,''  said 
Tressilian;  "I  am  about  to  walk  myself,  and  we  will  go  in 
company." 

This  he  said,  because  he  was  not  altogether  so  secure  of  the 
fidelity  of  his  new  retainer  as  to  lose  sight  of  him  at  this  inter- 
esting moment,  when  rival  factions  at  the  court  of  Elizabeth 
were  running  so  high.  Wayland  Smith  willingly  acquiesced 
in  the  precaution,  of  which  he  probably  conjectured  the 
motive,  but  only  stipulated  that  his  master  should  enter  the 
shops  of  such  chemists  or  apothecaries  as  he  should  point  out 
in  walking  through  Flett  Street,  and  permit  him  to  make  some 
necessary  purchases.  Tressilian  agreed,  and,  obeying  the  sig- 
nal of  his  attendant,  walked  successively  into  more  than  four 
or  five  shops,  where  he  observed  that  Wayland  purchased  in 
each  only  one  single  drug,  in  various  quantities.  The  medi- 
cines which  he  first  asked  for  were  readily  furnished,  each  in 
succession,  but  those  which  he  afterward  required  were 
Jess  easily  supplied;  and  Tressilian  observed  that  Wayland 


KBNILWORTH,  146 

more  than  once,  to  the  surprise  of  the  shopkeeper,  retumed 
the  gum  or  herh  that  was  offered  to  him  and  compelled 
him  to  exchange  it  for  the  right  sort,  or  else  went  on  to 
seek  it  elsewhere.  But  one  ingredient,  in  particular,  seemed 
almost  impossible  to  he  found.  Some  chemists  plainly- 
admitted  they  had  never  seen  it,  others  denied  that  such  a 
drug  existed  excepting  in  the  imagination  of  crazy 
alchemists,  and  most  of  them  attempted  to  satisfy  their 
customers  by  producing  some  substitute  which  when  re- 
jected by  Way  land  as  not  being  what  he  had  asked  for,  they 
maintained  possessed,  in  a  superior  degree,  the  self-same 
qualities.  In  general,  they  all  displayed  some  curiosity  con- 
cerning the  purpose  for  which  he  wanted  it.  One  old  meager 
chemist,  to  whom  the  artist  put  the  usual  question,  in  terms 
which  Tressilian  neither  understood  nor  could  recollect,  an- 
swered frankly,  there  was  none  of  that  drug  in  London,  un- 
less Yoglan  the  Jew  chanced  to  have  some  of  it  upon  hand. 

"  I  thought  as  much,"  said  Wayland.  And  as  soon  as  they 
left  the  shop,  he  said  to  Tressilian,  "  I  crave  your  pardon,  sir, 
but  no  artist  can  work  without  his  tools.  I  must  needs  go  to 
this  Yoglan's;  and  I  promise  you  that,  if  this  detains  you 
longer  than  your  leisure  seems  to  permit,  you  shall,  neverthe- 
less, be  well  repaid  by  the  use  I  will  make  of  this  rare  drug. 
Permit  me,"  he  added,  "  to  walk  before  you,  for  we  are  now 
to  quit  the  broad  street,  and  we  will  make  double  speed  if  1 
lead  the  way." 

Tressilian  acquiesced,  and,  following  the  smith  down  a  lane 
which  turned  to  the  left  hand  toward  the  river,  he  found  that 
his  guide  walked  on  with  great  speed,  and  apparently  perfect 
knowledge  of  the  town,  through  a  labyrinth  of  by-streets, 
courts,  and  blind  alleys,  until  at  length  Wayland  paused  in 
the  midst  of  a  very  narrow  lane,  the  termination  of  which 
showed  a  peep  of  the  Thames  looking  misty  and  muddy, 
which  background  was  crossed  saltier- ways  as  Mr.  Mum- 
blazen  might  have  said,  by  the  masts  of  two  lighters  that  lay 
waiting  for  the  tide.  The  shop  under  which  he  halted  had 
not,  as  in  modem  days,  a  glazed  window;  but  a  paltry  canvas 
screen  surrounded  such  a  stall  as  a  cobbler  now  occupies,  hav- 
ing the  front  open,  much  in  the  manner  of  a  fishmonger's 
booth  of  the  present  day.  A  little  old  smock-faced  man,  the 
very  reverse  of  a  Jew  in  complexion,  for  he  was  very  soft- 
haired  as  well  as  beardless,  appeared,  and  with  many  cour- 
tesies asked  Wayland  what  he  pleased  to  want.  He  had  no 
sooner  named  the  drug  than  the  Jew  started  and  looked  sur- 


146  WAYEBLET  NOVELS. 

prised.  ^^And  vat  might  your  vorship  vant  vith  that  drug, 
which  is  not  named,  mein  God,  in  forty  years  as  I  have  been 
chemist  here?" 

"  These  questions  it  is  no  part  of  my  commission  to  an- 
swer," said  Way  land;  "  I  only  wish  to  know  if  you  have  what 
I  want,  and  having  it,  are  willing  to  sell  it?  " 

"  Aye,  mein  God,  for  having  it,  that  I  have,  and  for  selling 
it,  I  am  a  chemist,  and  sell  every  drug."  So  saying,  he  ex- 
hibited a  powder,  and  then  continued,  "  But  it  will  cost  much 
moneys.  Vat  I  ^ave  cost  its  weight  in  gold — aye,  gold  well- 
refined — I  vill  say  six  times.  It  comes  from  Mount  Sinai, 
where  we  had  our  blessed  Law  given  forth,  and  the  plant 
blossoms  but  once  in  one  hundred  year," 

"  I  do  not  know  how  often  it  is  gathered  on  Mount  Sinai," 
said  Wayland,  after  looking  at  the  drug  offered  him  with  great 
disdain,  "  but  I  will  wager  my  sword  and  buckler  against  your 
gaberdine  that  this  trash  you  offer  me,  instead  of  what  I 
asked  for,  may  be  had  for  gathering  any  day  of  the  week  in 
the  castle  ditch  of  Aleppo." 

"  You  are  a  rude  man,"  said  the  Jew;  "  and,  besides,  I  'ave 
no  better  than  that;  or,  if  I  'ave,  I  will  not  sell  it  without 
order  of  a  physician,  or  without  you  tell  me  vat  you  make 
of  it."  • 

The  artist  made  brief  answer  in  a  language  of  which  Tres- 
silian  could  not  understand  a  word,  and  which  seemed  to 
strike  the  Jew  with  the  utmost  astonishment.  He  stared 
upon  Wayland  like  one  who  has  suddenly  recognized  some 
mighty  hero  or  dreaded  potentate  in  the  person  of  an  un- 
known and  unmarked  stranger.  "  Holy  Elias! "  he  ex- 
claimed, when  he  had  recovered  the  first  stunning  effects  of 
his  surprise;  and  then,  passing  from  his  former  suspicious  and 
surly  manner  to  the  very  extremity  of  obsequiousness,  he 
cringed  low  to  the  artist,  and  besought  him  to  enter  his  poor 
house,  to  bless  his  miserable  threshold  by  crossing  it. 

"  Vill  you  not  taste  a  cup  vith  the  poor  Jew,  Zacharias 
Yoglan?  Vill  you  Tokay  'ave? — vill  you  Lachrymae  taste? — 
vill  you " 

"  You  offend  in  your  proffers,"  said  Wayland;  "  minister  to 
me  in  what  I  require  of  you,  and  forbear  further  discourse." 

The  rebuked  Israelite  took  his  bunch  of  keys,  and  opening 
with  circumspection  a  cabinet  which  seemed  more  strongly 
secured  than  the  other  cases  of  drugs  and  medicines  amongst 
which  it  stood,  he  drew  out  a  little  secret  drawer,  having  a 
glass  Hd,  and  containing  a  small  portion  of  a  black  powder. 


KENILWOBTK 


147 


This  he  offered  to  Wayland,  his  manner  conveying  the  deep- 
est devotion  toward  him,  though  an  avaricious  and  jealous 
expression,  which  seemed  to  grudge  every  grain  of  what  his 
customer  was  about  to  possess  himself,  disputed  ground  in  his 
countenance  with  the  obsequious  deference  which  he  desired 
it  should  exhibit. 

"  Have  you  scales?  "  said  Wayland. 

The  Jew  pointed  to  those  which  lay  ready  for  common  use 
in  the  shop,  but  he  did  so  with  a  puzzled  expression  of  doubt 
and  fear  which  did  not  escape  the  artist. 

"  They  must  be  other  than  these,"  said  Wayland  sternly; 
"  know  you  not  that  holy  things  lose  their  virtue  if  weighed 
in  an  unjust  balance  ?  " 

The  Jew  hung  his  head,  took  from  a  steel-plated  casket  a 
pair  of  scales  beautifully  mounted,  and  said,  as  he  adjusted 
them  for  the  artistes  use — "  With  these  I  do  mine  own  experi- 
ment; one  hair  of  the  high-priest's  beard  would  turn  them." 

"It  suffices,"  said  the  artist;  and  weighed  out  two  drams 
for  himself  of  the  black  powder,  which  he  very  carefully 
folded  up  and  put  into  his  pouch  with  the  other  drugs.  He 
then  demanded  the  price  of  the  Jew,  who  answered,  shaking 
his  head  and  bowing: 

"  No  price — no,  nothing  at  all  from  sucli  as  you.  But  you 
will  see  the  poor  Jew  again? — you  will  look  into  his  labora- 
tory, where,  God  help  him,  he  hath  dried  himself  to  the  sub- 
stance of  the  withered  gourd  of  Jonah,  the  holy  prophet? 
You  vill  'ave  pity  on  him,  and  show  him  one  little  step  on  the 
great  road?" 

"Hush! "  said  Wayland,  laying  his  finger  mysteriously  on 
his  mouth,  "  it  may  be  we  shall  meet  again:  thou  hast  already 
the  '  schahmajm,'  as  thine  own  rabbis  call  it — the  general 
creafion;  watch,  therefore,  and  pray,  for  thou  must  attain  the 
knowledge  of  Alchahest  Elixir  Samech  ere  I  may  commune 
farther  with  thee."  Then  returning  with  a  slight  nod  the 
reverential  congees  of  the  Jew,  he  walked  gravely  up  the  lane, 
followed  by  his  master,  whose  first  observation  on  the  scene 
he  had  just  witnessed  was,  that  Wayland  ought  to  have  paid 
the  man  for  his  drug,  whatever  it  was. 

''I  pay  him!"  said  the  artist.  "May  the  foul  fiend  pay 
me  if  I  do!  Had  it  not  been  that  I  thought  it  might  displease 
your  worship,  I  would  have  had  an  ounce  or  two  of  gold  out 
of  him,  in  exchange  of  the  same  just  weight  of  brick-dust." 

"I  advise  you  to  practice  no  such  knavery  while  waiting 
upon  me,"  said  Tressilian., 


148  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

"  Did  I  nat  say,"  answered  the  artist,  "  that  for  that  reason 
alone  I  forbore  him  for  the  present?  Knavery,  call  you  it? 
Why,  yonder  wretched  skeleton  hath  wealth  sufficient  to  pave 
the  whole  lane  he  lives  in  with  dollars,  and  scarce  miss  them 
out  of  his  own  iron  chest;  yet  he  goes  mad  after  the  phi- 
losopher's stone;  and,  besides,  he  would  have  cheated  a  poor 
serving-man,  as  he  thought  me  at  first,  with  trash  that  was 
not  worth  a  penny.  *  Match  for  match,'  quoth  the  devil  to 
the  collier:  if  his  false  medicine  was  worth  my  good  crowns, 
my  true  brick-dust  is  as  well  worth  his  good  gold." 

"  It  may  be  so  for  aught  I  know,"  said  Tressilian,  "  in  deal- 
ing amongst  Jews  and  apothecaries;  but  understand  that  to 
have  such  tricks  of  legerdemain  practiced  by  one  attending 
on  me  diminishes  my  honor,  and  that  I  will  not  permit  them. 
I  trust  thou  hast  made  up  thy  purchases?  " 

"  I  have,  sir,"  replied  Wayland;  "  and  with  these  drugs  will 
I,  this  very  day,  compound  the  true  orvietan,*  that  noble 
medicine  which  is  so  seldom  found  genuine  and  effective 
within  these  realms  of  Europe,  for  want  of  that  most  rare 
and  precious  drug  which  I  got  but  now  from  Yoglan." 

"  But  why  not  have  made  all  your  purchases  at  one  shop  ?  " 
said  his  master;  "  we  have  lost  nearly  an  hour  in  running 
from  one  pounder  of  simples  to  another." 

"  Content  you,  sir,"  said  Wayland.  "  No  man  shall  leam 
my  secret;  and  it  would  not  be  mine  long  were  I  to  buy  all  my 
materials  from  one  chemist." 

They  now  returned  to  their  inn,  the  famous  Bell-Savage, 
and  while  the  Lord  Sussex's  servant  prepared  the  horses  for 
their  journey,  Wayland,  obtaining  from  the  cook  the  service 
of  a  mortar,  shut  himself  up  in  a  private  chamber,  where  he 
mixed,  pounded,  and  amalgamated  the  drugs  which  he  had 
bought,  each  in  its  due  proportion,  with  a  readiness  and  ad- 
dress that  plainly  showed  him  well  practiced  in  all  the  manual 
operations  of  pharmacy. 

By  the  time  Wayland's  electuary  was  prepared  the  horses 
were  ready,  and  a  short  hour's  riding  brought  them  to  the 
present  habitation  of  Lord  Sussex,  an  ancient  house  called 
Say's  Court,t  near  Deptford,  which  had  long  pertained 
to  a  family  of  that  name,  but  had  for  upwards  of  a  century 
been  possessed  by  the  ancient  and  honorable  family  of 
Evelyn.     The  present  representative  of  that  ancient  house 

•  See  Note  5. 

t  The  court  has  now  entirely  diiuppeiired,  imd  Iti  fit©  i9  occupied  by  a  workhonae-^ 
Laing. 


KENILWORTH,  149 

i'o:ik  a  deep  interest  in  the  Earl  of  Sussex,  and  had  willingly 
accommodated  both  him  and  his  numerous  retinue  in  his  hos- 
pitable mansion.  Say's  Court  was  afterward  the  residence  of 
the  celebrated  Mr.  Evelyn,*  whose  "  Silva "  is  still  the 
manual  of  British  planters;  and  whose  life,  manners,  and 
principles,  as  illustrated  in  his  "  Memoirs,"  ought  equally  to 
be  the  manual  of  English  gentlemen. 

♦Evelyn'?  name  has  also  become  familiar  throusrh  his  Memoirs,  comprising  a  Diary 
from  1641  to  1705,  and  a  Selection  of  Familiar  Letters,  published  from  hia  MSS.,  dii- 
oovered  at  Say'i  Court  in  19>\%.—Laing. 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

This  is  rare  news  thou  tell'st  me,  my  good  fellow ;. 
There  are  two  bulls  fierce  battling  on  the  green 
For  one  fair  heifer  ;  if  the  one  goes  down, 
The  dale  will  be  more  peaceful,  and  the  herd, 
Which  have  small  interest  in  their  brulziement, 
May  pasture  there  in  peace. 

—Old  Flay. 

Say's  Coukt  was  watched  like  a  beleaguered  fort;  and  so 
high  rose  the  suspicions  of  the  time,  that  Tressilian  and  his 
attendants  were  stopped  and  questioned  repeatedly  by  senti- 
nels, both  on  foot  and  horseback,  as  they  approached  the 
abode  of  the  sick  earl.  In  truth,  the  high  rank  which  Sussex 
held  in  Queen  Elizabeth's  favor,  and  his  known  and  avowed 
rivalry  of  the  Earl  of  Leicester,  caused  the  utmost  impor- 
tance to  be  attached  to  his  welfare;  for,  at  the  period  we  treat 
of,  all  men  doubted  whether  he  or  the  Earl  of  Leicester 
might  ultimately  have  the  higher  rank  in  her  regard. 

Elizabeth,  like  many  of  her  sex,  was  fond  of  governing  by 
factions,  so  as  to  balance  two  opposing  interests,  and  reserve 
in  her  own  hand  the  power  of  making  either  predominate,  as 
the  interest  of  the  state,  or  perhaps  as  her  own  female  caprice, 
for  to  that  foible  even  she  was  not  superior,  might  finally 
determine.  To  finesse,  to  hold  the  cards,  to  oppose  one 
interest  to  another,  to  bridle  him  who  thought  himself  highest 
in  her  esteem  by  the  fears  he  must  entertain  of  another 
equally  trusted,  if  not  equally  beloved,  were  arts  which  she 
used  throughout  her  reign,  and  which  enabled  her,  though 
frequently  giving  way  to  the  weakness  of  favoritism,  to  pre- 
vent most  of  its  evil  effects  on  her  kingdom  and  government. 

The  two  nobles  who  at  present  stood  as  rivals  in  her  favor 
possessed  very  different  pretensions  to  share  it;  yet  it  might 
be  in  general  said  that  the  Earl  of  Sussex  had  been  most  serv- 
iceable to  the  queen,  while  Leicester  was  most  dear  to  the 
woman.  Sussex  was,  according  to  the  phrase  of  the  times,  a 
martialist:  had  done  good  service  in  Ireland  and  in  Scotland, 
and  especially  in  the  great  northern  rebellion,  in  1569,  which 
was  quelled,  in  a  great  measure,  by  his  military  talents.  He 
was,  therefore,  naturally  surrounded  and  looked  up  to  by 
those  who  wished  to  make  arms  their  road  to  distinction. 

160 


I 


EEmLWORTE.  151 

The  Earl  of  Sussex,  moreover,  was  of  more  ancient  and  hon- 
orable descent  than  his  rival,  uniting  in  his  person  the  repre- 
sentation of  the  Fitz- Walters,  as  well  as  of  the  Katcliffes, 
while  the  scutcheon  of  Leicester  was  stained  by  the  degrada- 
tion of  his  grandfather,  the  oppressive  minister  of  Henry 
VII.,  and  scarce  improved  by  that  of  his  father,  the  unhappy 
Dudley,  Duke  of  Northumberland,  executed  on  Tower  Hill, 
August  22,  1553.  But  in  person,  features,  and  address, 
weapons  so  formidable  in  the  court  of  a  female  sovereign, 
Leicester  had  advantages  more  than  sufficient  to  counter- 
balance the  military  services,  high  blood,  and  frank  bearing 
of  the  Earl  of  Sussex;  and  he  bore  in  the  eye  of  the  court  and 
kingdom  the  higher  share  in  Elizabeth's  favor,  though  (for 
such  was  her  uniform  policy)  by  no  means  so  decidedly  ex- 
pressed as  to  warrant  him  against  the  final  preponderance  of 
his  rival's  pretensions.  The  illness  of  Sussex  therefore  hap- 
pened so  opportunely  for  Leicester  as  to  give  rise  to  strange 
surmises  among  the  public;  while  the  followers  of  the  one  earl 
were  filled  with  the  deepest  apprehensions,  and  those  of  the 
other  with  the  highest  hopes  of  its  probable  issue.  Mean- 
while— for  in  that  old  time  men  never  forgot  the  probability 
that  the  matter  might  be  determined  by  length  of  sword — the 
retainers  of  each  noble  flocked  around  their  patron,  appeared 
well  armed  in  the  vicinity  of  the  court  itself,  and  disturbed 
the  ear  of  the  sovereign  by  their  frequent  and  alarming  de- 
bates, held  even  within  the  precincts  of  her  palace.  This 
preliminary  statement  is  necessary  to  render  what  follows  in- 
telligible to  the  reader.* 

On  Tressilian's  arrival  at  Say's  Court,  he  found  the  place 
filled  with  the  retainers  of  the  Earl  of  Sussex,  and  of  the  gen- 
tlemen who  came  to  attend  their  patron  in  his  illness.  Arms 
were  in  every  hand,  and  a  deep  gloom  on  every  countenance, 
as  if  they  had  apprehended  an  immediate  and  violent  assault 
from  the  opposite  faction.  In  the  hall,  however,  to  which 
Tressilian  was  ushered  by  one  of  the  earl's  attendants,  while 
another  went  to  inform  Sussex  of  his  arrival,  he  found  only 
two  gentlemen  in  waiting.  There  was  a  remarkable  contrast 
in  their  dress,  appearance,  and  manners.  The  attire  of  the 
elder  gentleman,  a  person,  as  it  seemed,  of  quality,  and  in  the 
prime  of  life,  was  very  plain  and  soldierlike,  his  stature  low, 
his  limbs  stout,  his  bearing  ungraceful,  and  his  features  of 
that  kind  which  express  sound  common  sense,  without  a  grain 
of  vivacity  or  imagination.     The  younger,  who  seemed  about 

*  See  Leicester  and  SuBsex.    Note  6. 


1«3  WA  VEBLET  NO  VEL8. 

twenty  or  upward,  was  clad  in  the  gayest  habit  used  by  per- 
sons of  quality  at  the  period,  wearing  a  crimson  velvet  cloak 
richly  ornamented  with  lace  and  embroidery,  with  a  bonnet 
of  the  same,  encircled  with  a  gold  chain  turned  three  times 
round  it  and  secured  by  a  medal.  His  hair  was  adjusted  very 
nearly  like  that  of  some  fine  gentleman  of  our  own  time — that 
is,  it  was  combed  upward,  and  made  to  stand  as  it  were  on 
end;  and  in  his  ears  he  wore  a  pair  of  silver  earrings,  having 
each  a  pearl  of  considerable  size.  The  countenance  of  this 
youth,  besides  being  regularly  handsome  and  accompanied  by 
a  fine  person,  was  animated  and  striking  in  a  degree  that 
seemed  to  speak  at  once  the  firmness  of  a  decided  and  the  fire 
of  an  enterprising  character,  the  power  of  reflection  and  the 
promptitude  of  determination. 

Both  these  gentlemen  reclined  nearly  in  the  same  posture 
on  benches  near  each  other;  but  each  seeming  engaged  in  his 
own  meditations,  looked  straight  upon  the  wall  which  was 
opposite  to  them,  without  speaking  to  his  companion.  The 
looks  of  the  elder  were  of  that  sort  which  convinced  the  be- 
holder that,  in  looking  on  the  wall,  he  saw  no  more  than  the 
side  of  an  old  hall  hung  around  with  cloaks,  antlers,  bucklers, 
old  pieces  of  armor,  partizans,  and  the  similar  articles  which 
were  usually  the  furniture  of  such  a  place.  The  look  of  the 
younger  gallant  had  in  it  something  imaginative;  he  was  sunk 
in  reverie,  and  it  seemed  as  if  the  empty  space  of  air  betwixt 
him  and  the  wall  were  the  stage  of  a  theater  on  which  his 
fancy  was  mustering  his  own  "  dramatis  personae,"  and  treat- 
ing him  with  sights  far  different  from  those  which  his  awak- 
ened and  earthly  vision  could  have  offered. 

At  the  entrance  of  Tressilian  both  started  from  their  mus- 
ing and  bade  him  welcome;  the  younger,  in  particular,  with 
great  appearance  of  animation  and  cordiality. 

"  Thou  art  welcome,  Tressilian,'^  said  the  youth;  "  thy 
philosophy  stole  thee  from  us  when  this  household  had  ob- 
jects of  ambition  to  offer:  it  is  an  honest  philosophy,  since 
it  returns  thee  to  us  when  there  are  only  dangers  to  be 
shared.'' 

"  Is  my  lord,  then,  so  greatly  indisposed  ?  "  said  Tressilian. 

"  We  fear  the  very  worst,"  answered  the  elder  gentleman, 
*'  and  by  the  worst  practice." 

"  Fy! "  replied  Tressilian,  "  my  Lord  of  Leicester  is  hon- 
orable." 

"What  doth  he  with  such  attendants,  then,  as  he  hath 
about  him? "  said  the  younger  gallant.     "  Tie  man  who 


KENILWORTH.  153 

mises  the  devil  may  be  honest,  but  he  is  answerable  for  the 
mischief  which  the  fiend  does,  for  all  that." 

"And  is  this  all  of  you,  my  mates,"  inquired  Treseilian, 
"  that  are  about  my  lord  in  his  utmost  straits?  " 

"  No — no,"  replied  the  elder  gentleman,  "  there  are  Tracy, 
Markham,  and  several  more;  but  we  keep  watch  here  by  two 
at  once,  and  some  are  weary  and  are  sleeping  in  the  gallery 
above." 

"  And  some,"  said  the  young  man,  "  are  gone  down  to  the 
dock  yonder  at  Deptford,  to  look  out  such  a  hulk  as  they  may 
purchase  by  clubbing  their  broken  fortunes;  and  so  soon  as 
all  is  over  we  will  lay  our  noble  lord  in  a  noble  green  grave, 
have  a  blow  at  those  who  have  hurried  him  thither,  if  oppor- 
tunity suits,  and  then  sail  for  the  Indies  with  heavy  hearts 
and  light  purses." 

"  It  may  be,"  said  Tressilian,  "  that  I  will  embrace  the  same 
purpose,  so  soon  as  I  have  settled  some  business  at  court." 

"  Thou  business  at  court! "  they  both  exclaimed  at  once; 
"and  thou  make  the  Indian  voyage! " 

"  Why,  Tressilian,"  said  the  younger  man,  "  art  thou  not 
wedded,  and  beyond  these  flaws  of  fortune  that  drive  folks 
out  to  sea  when  their  bark  bears  fairest  for  the  haven?  What 
has  become  of  the  lovely  Indamira  that  was  to  match  my 
Amoret  for  truth  and  beauty?  " 

"  Speak  not  of  her!  "  said  Tressilian,  averting  his  face. 

"Aye,  stands  it  so  with  you?"  said  the  youth,  taking  his 
hand  very  affectionately;  "  then,  fear  not  I  will  again  touch 
the  green  wound.  But  it  is  strange  as  well  as  sad  news.  Are 
none  of  our  fair  and  merry  fellowship  to  escape  shipwreck  of 
fortune  and  happiness  in  this  sudden  tempest?  I  had  hoped 
thou  wert  in  harbor,  at  least,  my  dear  Edmund.  But  truly 
says  another  dear  friend  of  thy  name: 

'•  What  man  that  sees  the  ever  whirling  wheel 
Of  change,  the  which  all  mortal  things  doth  swaj, 
But  that  thereby  doth  find  and  plainly  feel, 
How  mutability  in  them  doth  play 
Her  cruel  sports  to  many  men^s  decay." 

The  elder  gentleman  had  risen  from  his  bench,  and  wa« 
pacing  the  hall  with  some  impatience,  while  the  youth,  with 
much  earnestness  and  feeling,  recited  these  lines.  When  he 
had  done,  the  other  wrapped  himself  in  his  cloak,  and  again 
stretched  himself  down,  saying,  "I  marvel,  Tressilian,  you 
will  feed  the  lad  in  this  silly  humor.  If  there  were  aught  to 
draw  a  judgment  upon  a  virtuous  and  honorable  household 


1^4  WAVmL^T  mtBL^. 

Kke  my  lord's,  renounce  me  if  I  think  not  it  were  this  piping, 
whining,  childish  trick  of  poetry,  that  came  among  us  with 
Master  Walter  Wittypate  here  and  his  comrades,  twisting  into 
all  manner  of  uncouth  and  incomprehensible  forms  of  speech 
the  honest,  plain  English  phrase  which  God  gave  us  to  ex- 
press our  meaning  withal." 

"  Blount  believes,"  said  his  comrade,  laughing,  ^'  the  devil 
woo'd  Eve  in  rhyme,  and  that  the  mystic  meaning  of  the  Tree 
of  Knowledge  refers  solely  to  the  art  of  clashing  rhymes  and 
meting  out  hexameters."  * 

At  this  moment  the  earl's  chamberlain  entered,  and  in- 
formed Tressilian  that  his  lord  required  to  speak  with  him. 

He  found  Lord  Sussex  dressed,  but  unbraced  and  lying  on 
his  couch,  and  was  shocked  at  the  alteration  disease  had  made 
in  his  person.  The  earl  received  him  with  the  most  friendly 
cordiality,  and  inquired  into  the  state  of  his  courtship.  Tres- 
silian evaded  his  inquiries  for  a  moment,  and  turning  his  dis- 
course  on  the  earl's  own  health,  he  discovered,  to  his  surprise, 
that  the  symptoms  of  his  disorder  corresponded  minutely  with 
those  which  Wayland  had  predicted  concerning  it.  He  hesi- 
tated not,  therefore,  to  communicate  to  Sussex  the  whole  his- 
tory of  his  attendant,  and  the  pretensions  he  set  up  to  cure 
the  disorder  under  which  he  labored.  The  earl  listened  with 
incredulous  attention  until  the  name  of  Demetrius  was  men- 
tioned, and  then  suddenly  called  to  his  secretary  to  bring  him 
a  certain  casket  which  contained  papers  of  importance. 
"  Take  out  from  thence,"  he  said,  "  the  declaration  of  the 
rascal  cook  whom  we  had  under  examination,  and  look  heed- 
fully  if  the  name  of  Demetrius  be  not  there  mentioned." 

The  secretary  turned  to  the  passage  at  once,  and  read, 
"  And  said  declarant,  being  examined,  saith.  That  he  remem- 
bers having  made  the  sauce  to  the  said  sturgeon-fish,  after 
eating  of  which  the  said  noble  lord  was  taken  ill;  and  he  put 
the  usual  ingredients  and  condiments  therein,  namely " 

"  Pass  over  his  trash,"  said  the  earl,  "  and  see  whether  he 
had  not  been  supplied  with  his  materials  by  a  herbalist  called 
Demetrius." 

"It  is  even  so,"  answered  the  secretary.  "And  he  adds, 
lie  hath  not  since  seen  the  said  Demetrius." 

"  This  accords  with  thy  fellow's  story,  Tressilian,"  said  the 
earl;  "  call  him  hither." 

On  being  summoned  to  the  earl's  presence,  Wayland  Smith 
told  his  former  tale  with  firmness  and  consistency. 

♦  See  Sir  Walter  Raleigh.    Note  7. 


KENILWORTH.  156 

•*  It  may  be,"  said  the  earl,  '^  thou  art  sent  by  those  who 
have  begun  this  work,  to  end  it  for  them;  but  bethink,  if  I 
miscairy  under  thy  medicine,  it  may  go  hard  with  thee." 

"  That  were  severe  measure,"  said  Wayland,  "  since  the 
issue  of  medicine,  and  the  end  of  Hfe,  are  in  G-od^s  disposal. 
But  I  will  stand  the  risk.  I  have  not  lived  so  long  under 
ground  to  be  afraid  of  a  grave." 

"  Nay,  if  thou  be'st  so  confident,"  said  the  Earl  of  Sussex, 
"  I  will  take  the  risk  too,  for  the  learned  can  do  nothing  for 
me.     Tell  me  how  this  medicine  is  to  be  taken." 

"  That  will  I  do  presently,"  said  Wayland;  "  but  allow  me 
to  condition  that,  since  I  incur  all  the  risk  of  this  treatment, 
no  other  physician  shall  be  permitted  to  interfere  with  it." 

"  That  is  but  fair,"  replied  the  earl;  "  and  now  prepare 
your  drug.^' 

While  Wayland  obeyed  the  earPs  commands,  his  servants, 
by  the  artist's  direction,  undressed  their  master  and  placed 
him  in  bed. 

"  I  warn  you,"  he  said,  '^  that  the  first  operation  of,  this 
medicine  will  be  to  produce  a  heavy  sleep,  during  which  time 
the  chamber  must  be  kept  undisturbed,  as  the  consequences 
may  otherwise  be  fatal.  I  myself  will  watch  by  the  earl,  with 
any  of  the  gentlemen  of  his  chamber." 

"  Let  all  leave  the  room  save  Stanley  and  this  good  fellow," 
8aid  the  earl. 

*'  And  saving  me  also,"  said  Tressilian.  "  I  too  am  deeply 
interested  in  the  effects  of  this  potion." 

"  Be  it  so,  good  friend,"  said  the  earl;  "  and  now  for 
our  experiment;  but  first  call  my  secretary  and  chamber- 
lain." 

**Bear  witness,"  he  continued,  when  these  officers 
arrived — "  bear  witness  for  me,  gentlemen,  that  our  honorable 
friend  Tressilian  is  in  no  way  responsible  for  the  effects  which 
this  medicine  may  produce  upon  me,  the  taking  it  being  my 
own  free  action  and  choice,  in  regard  1  believe  it  tO'  be  a 
remedy  which  God  has  furnished  me  by  unexpected  means  to 
recover  me  of  my  present  malady.  Commend  me  to  my  noble 
and  princely  mistress;  and  say  that  I  live  and  die  her  true 
servant,  and  wish  to  all  about  her  throne  the  same  singleness 
of  heart  and  will  to  serve  her,  with  more  ability  to  do  so  than 
hath  been  assigned  to  poor  Thomas  Ratcliffe." 

He  then  folded  his  hands,  and  seemed  for  a  second  or  two 
absorbed  in  mental  devotion,  then  took  the  potion  in  his 
hand,  and, pausing,  regarded  Wayland  with  a  look  that  seemed 


156  WA  VERLEY  NO  VELS. 

designed  to  penetrate  his  very  soul,  but  which  caused  no  anx- 
iety or  hesitation  in  the  countenance  or  manner  of  the  artist. 

"  Here  is  nothing  to  be  feared,"  said  Sussex  to  Tressilian 
and  swallowed  the  medicine  without  farther  hesitation. 

"  I  am  now  to  pray  your  lordship,"  said  Wayland,  "  to  dis- 
pose yourself  to  rest  as  commodiously  as  you  can;  and  of  you, 
gentlemen,  to  remain  as  still  and  mute  as  if  you  waited  at 
your  mother's  death-bed." 

The  chamberlain  and  secretary  then  withdrew,  giving 
orders  that  all  doors  should  be  bolted,  and  all  noise  in  the 
house  strictly  prohibited.  Several  gentlemen  were  voluntary 
watchers  in  the  hall,  but  none  remained  in  the  chamber  of  the 
sick  earl,  save  his  groom  of  the  chamber,  the  artist,  and  Tres- 
silian. Wayland  Smith's  predictions  were  speedily  accom- 
plished, and  a  sleep  fell  upon  the  earl  so  deep  and  sound  that 
they  who  watched  his  bedside  began  to  fear  that,  in  his  weak- 
ened state,  he  might  pass  away  without  awakening  from  his 
lethargy.  Wayland  Smith  himself  appeared  anxious,  and 
felt  the  temples  of  the  earl  slightly  from  time  to  time,  attend- 
ing particularly  to  the  state  of  his  respiration,  which  was  full 
and  deep,  but  at  the  same  time  easy  and  uninterrupted. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

You  loggerheaded  and  unpolish'd  groomi, 
What,  no  attendance,  no  regard,  no  duty  ? 
Where  is  the  f oohsh  knave  I  sent  before  ? 

— Taming  of  (he  l^wew. 

Theke  is  no  period  at  which  men  look  worse  in  the  eyee  of 
each  other,  or  feel  more  uncomfortable,  than  when  the  first 
dawn  of  daylight  finds  them  watchers.  Even  a  beauty  of  the 
first  order,  after  the  vigils  of  a  ball  are  interrupted  by  the 
dawn,  would  do  wisely  to  withdraw  herself  from  the  gaze  of 
her  fondest  and  most  partial  admirers.  Such  was  the  pale, 
inauspicious,  and  ungrateful  light  which  began  to  beam  upon 
those  who  kept  watch  all  night  in  the  hall  at  Say^s  Court,  and 
which  mingled  its  cold,  pale,  blue  diffusion  with  the  red,  yel- 
low, and  smoky  beams  of  expiring  lamps  and  torches.  The 
young  gallant  whom  we  noticed  in  our  last  chapter  had  left 
the  room  for  a  few  minutes,  to  learn  the  cause  of  a  knocking 
at  the  outward  gate,  and  on  his  return  was  so  struck  with  the 
forlorn  and  ghastly  aspects  of  his  companions  of  the  watch, 
that  he  exclaimed,  "  Pity  of  my  heart,  my  masters,  how  like 
owls  you  look!  Methinks,  when  the  sun  rises,  I  shall  see  you 
flutter  off  with  your  eyes  dazzled,  to  stick  yourselves  into  the 
next  ivy-tod  or  ruined  steeple." 

"Hold  thy  peace,  thou  gibing  fool,"  said  Blount — "hold 
thy  peace.  Is  this  a  time  for  jeering,  when  the  manhood  of 
England  is  perchance  dying  within  a  wall's  breadth  of  thee?  " 

"  There  thou  liest,"  replied  the  gallant. 

"How,  lie! "  exclaimed  Blount,  starting  up — "lie!  and  to 
me?" 

"Why,  so  thou  didst,  thou  peevish  fool,"  answered  the 
youth;  "  thou  didst  lie  on  that  bench  even  now,  didst  thou 
not?  But  art  thou  not  a  hasty  coxcomb,  to  pick  up  a  wry 
word  so  wrathfully?  Nevertheless,  loving  and  honoring  my 
lord  as  truly  as  thou,  or  anyone,  I  do  say  that,  should  Heaven 
take  him  from  us,  all  England's  manhood  dies  not  with  him." 

"  Aye,"  replied  Blount,  "  a  good  portion  will  survive 
with  thee,  doubtless." 

"  And  a  good  portion  with  thyself,  Blount,  and  with  stout 
Markham  here,  and  Tracy,  and  all  of  us.  But  I  am  he  will 
best  employ  the  talent  Heaven  has  given  to  us  all." 


1«8  WAVERLET  NOVELS, 

"  As  how,  I  prithee?  "  said  Blount;  "  tell  us  your  mystery 
of  multiplying/' 

"  Why,  sirs,"  answered  the  youth,  "  ye  are  like  goodly  land, 
which  bears  no  crop  because  it  is  not  quickened  by  manure; 
but  I  have  that  rising  spirit  in  me  which  will  make  my  poor 
faculties  labor  to  keep  pace  with  it.  My  ambition  will  keep 
my  brain  at  work,  I  warrant  thee." 

^'  I  pray  to  God  it  does  not  drive  thee  mad,"  said  Blount; 
"  for  my  part,  if  we  lose  our  noble  lord,  I  bid  adieu  to  the 
court  and  to  the  camp  both.  I  have  five  hundred  foul  acres 
in  Norfolk,  and  thither  will  I,  and  change  the  court  pantoufle 
for  the  country  hobnail." 

*^  Oh,  base  transmutation! "  exclaimed  his  antagonist; 
"  thou  hast  already  got  the  true  rustic  slouch:  thy  shoulders 
stoop,  as  if  thine  hands  were  at  the  stilts  of  the  plow,  and 
thou  hast  a  kind  of  earthy  smell  about  thee,  instead  of  being 
perfumed  with  essence,  as  a  gallant  and  courtier  should.  On 
my  soul,  thou  hast  stolen  out  to  roll  thyself  on  a  hay  mow! 
Thy  only  excuse  will  be  to  swear  by  thy  hilts  that  the  farmer 
had  a  fair  daughter." 

"  I  pray  thee,  Walter,"  said  another  of  the  company,  "cease 
thy  raillery,  which  suits  neither  time  nor  place,  and  tell  us 
who  was  at  the  gate  just  now." 

"  Dr.  Masters,  physician  to  her  Grace  in  ordinary,  sent  by 
her  especial  orders  to  inquire  after  the  earl's  health,"  an- 
swered Walter. 

"Ha!  what! "  exclaimed  Tracy,  "that  was  no  slight  mark 
of  favor;  if  the  earl  can  but  come  through,  he  will  match  with 
Leicester  yet.     Is  Masters  with  my  lord  at  present?  " 

"  Nay,"  replied  Walter,  "  he  is  halfway  back  to  Greenwich 
by  this  time,  and  in  high  dudgeon." 

"Thou  didst  not  refuse  him  admittance?"  exclaimed  Tracy. 

"  Thou  wert  not,  surely,  so  mad?  "  ejaculated  Blount. 

"I  refused  him  admittance  as  flatly,  Blount,  as  you  would 
refuse  a  penny  to  a  blind  beggar;  as  obstinately,  Tracy,  as 
thou  didst  ever  deny  access  to  a  dun." 

"  Why,  in  the  fiend's  name,  didst  thou  trust  him  to  go  to 
the  gate?  "  said  Blount  to  Tracy. 

"It  suited  his  years  better  than  mine,"  answered  Tracy; 
"but  he  has  undone  us  all  now  thoroughly.  My  lord  may 
live  or  die,  he  will  never  have  a  look  of  favor  from  her  Majesty 
again." 

"  Nor  the  means  of  making  fortunes  for  his  followers,'^ 
said  the  young  gallant,  smiling  contemptuously;  "there  Ues 


EBNILWORTJS.  I6d 

the  sore  point  that  will  brook  no  handling.  My  good  sirs,  I 
sounded  my  lamentations  over  my  lord  somewhat  less  loudly 
than  some  of  you;  but  when  the  point  comes  of  doing  him 
service,  I  will  yield  to  none  of  you.  Had  this  learned  leech 
entered,  thinkst  thou  not  there  had  been  such  a  coil  betwixt 
him  and  Tressilian^s  mediciner  that  not  the  sleeper  only,  bat 
the  very  dead,  might  have  awakened?  I  know  what  larum 
belongs  to  the  discord  of  doctors.^' 

^' And  who  is  to  take  the  blame  of  opposing  the  Queen's 
orders?"  said  Tracy;  "for,  undeniably.  Dr.  Masters  came 
with  her  Grace's  positive  commands  to  cure  the  earl." 

"  I,  who  have  done  the  wrong,  will  bear  the  blame,"  said 
Walter. 

"  Thus,  then,  off  fly  the  dreams  of  court  favor  thou  hast 
nourished,"  said  Blount;  "  and  despite  all  thy  boasted  art  and 
ambition,  Devonshire  will  see  thee  shine  a  true  younger 
brother,  fit  to  sit  low  at  the  board,  carve  turn-about  with  the 
chaplain,  look  that  the  hounds  be  fed,  and  see  the  squire*s 
girths  drawn  when  he  goes  a-hunting." 

"  Not  so,"  said  the  young  man,  coloring,  "  not  while  Ire- 
land and  the  Netherlands  have  wars,  and  not  while  the  sea 
hath  pathless  waves.  The  rich  West  hath  lands  undreamed 
of,  and  Britain  contains  bold  hearts  to  venture  on  the  quest 
of  them.  Adieu  for  a  space,  my  masters.  I  go  to  walk  in 
the  court  and  look  to  the  sentinels." 

"  The  lad  hath  quicksilver  in  his  veins,  that  is  certain," 
said  Blount,  looking  at  Markham. 

"  He  hath  that  both  in  brain  and  blood,"  said  Markham, 
"which  may  either  make  or  mar  him.  But,  in  closing  the 
door  against  Masters,  he  hath  done  a  daring  and  loving  piece 
of  service;  for  Tressilian's  fellow  hath  ever  averred  that  to 
wake  the  earl  were  death,  and  Masters  would  wake  the  Seven 
Sleepers  themselves,. if  he  thought  they  slept  not  by  the  regu- 
lar ordinance  of  medicine." 

Morning  was  well  advanced,  when  Tressilian,  fatigued  and 
over-watched,  came  down  to  the  hall  with  the  joyful  intelli- 
gence that  the  earl  had  awakened  of  himself,  that  he  found 
his  internal  complaints  much  mitigated,  and  spoke  with  a 
cheerfulness,  and  looked  round  with  a  vivacity,  which  of 
themselves  showed  a  material  and  favorable  change  had  taken 
place.  Tressilian  at  the  same  time  commanded  the  attend- 
ance of  one  or  two  of  his  followers,  to  report  what  had 
passed  during  the  night,  and  to  relieve  the  watchers  in  the 
earl's  chamber. 


ICO  WAVEBLET  NOVELS. 

When  the  message  of  the  Queen  was  communicated  to  the 
Earl  of  Sussex,  he  at  first  smiled  at  the  repulse  which  the 
physician  had  received  from  his  zealous  young  follower,  but 
instantly  recollecting  himself,  he  commanded  Blount,  his 
master  of  the  horse,  instantly  to  take  boat  and  go  down  the 
river  to  the  Palace  of  Greenwich,  taking  young  Walter  and 
Tracy  with  him,  and  make  a  suitable  compliment,  expressing 
his  grateful  thanks  to  his  sovereign,  and  mentioning  the 
cause  why  he  had  not  been  enabled  to  profit  by  the  assistance 
of  the  wise  and  learned  Dr.  Masters. 

"  A  plague  on  it,"  said  Blount,  as  he  descended  the  stairs. 
'^  had  he  sent  me  with  a  cartel  to  Leicester,  I  think  I  should 
have  done  his  errand  indifferently  well.  But  to  go  to  our 
gracious  sovereign,  before  whom  all  words  must  be  lacquered 
over  either  with  gilding  or  with  sugar,  is  such  a  confectionery 
matter  as  clean  baffles  my  poor  old  English  brain.  Come 
with  me,  Tracy;  and  come  you  too.  Master  Walter  Wittypate, 
that  art  the  cause  of  our  having  all  this  ado.  Let  us  see  if 
thy  neat  brain,  that  frames  so  many  flashy  fireworks,  can 
help  out  a  plain  fellow  at  need  with  some  of  thy  shrewd 
devices." 

"  Never  fear — never  fear,"  exclaimed  the  youth,  "  it  is  I 
will  help  you  through;  let  me  but  fetch  my  cloak." 

"  Why,  thou  hast  it  on  thy  shoulders,"  said  Blount:  "  the 
lad  is  mazed." 

"  No,  no,  this  is  Tracy's  old  mantle,"  answered  Walter;  "  I 
go  not  with  thee  to  court  unless  as  a  gentleman  should." 

"  Why,"  said  Blount,  "  thy  braveries  are  like  to  dazzle  the 
eyes  of  none  but  some  poor  groom  or  porter." 

'^  I  know  that,"  said  the  youth;  "  but  I  am  resolved  I  will 
have  my  own  cloak — aye,  and  brush  my  doublet  to  boot — ere 
I  stir  forth  with  you." 

"  Well — well,"  said  Blount,  "  here  is  a  coil  about  a  doublet 
and  a  cloak;  get  thyself  ready,  a'  God's  name! " 

They  were  soon  launched  on  the  princely  bosom  of  the 
broad  Thames,  upon  which  the  sun  now  shone  forth  in  all  its 
splendor. 

"  There  are  two  things  scarce  matched  in  the  universe," 
said  Walter  to  Blount — "  the  sun  in  heaven,  and  the  Thames 
on  the  earth." 

"  The  one  will  light  us  to  Greenwich  well  enough,"  said 
Blount,  "  and  the  other  would  take  us  there  a  little  faster  if  it 
were  ebb  tide." 

"  And  this  is  all  thou  think'st — ^all  thou  carest — all  thou 


KENILWORTH.  161 

deem'st  the  use  of  the  king  of  elements  and  the  king  of  rivers, 
to  guide  three  such  poor  caitiffs  as  thyself,  and  me,  and  Trac^ 
upon  an  idle  journey  of  courtly  ceremony!  " 

"It  is  no  errand  of  my  seeking,  faith,"  replied  Blount. 
"  and  I  could  excuse  hoth  the  sun  and  the  Thames  the  trouble 
of  carrying  me  where  I  have  no  great  mind  to  go,  and  where  ] 
expect  but  dog^s  wages  for  my  trouble;  and  by  my  honor,"  h< 
added,  looking  out  from  the  head  of  the  boat,  "  it  seems  to  me 
as  if  our  message  were  a  sort  of  labor  in  vain;  for  see,  the 
Queen's  barge  lies  at  the  stairs,  as  if  her  Majesty  were  about 
to  take  water." 

It  was  even  so.  The  royal  barge,  manned  with  the  Queen's 
watermen,  richly  attired  in  the  regal  liveries,  and  having  the 
banner  of  England  displayed,  did  indeed  lie  at  the  great  stairs 
which  ascended  from  the  river,  and  along  with  it  two  or  three 
other  boats  for  transporting  such  part  of  her  retinue  as  were 
not  in  immediate  attendance  on  the  royal  person.  The  yeo- 
men of  the  guard,  the  tallest  and  most  handsome  men  whom 
England  could  produce,  guarded  with  their  halberds  the  pas- 
sage from  the  palace  gate  to  the  river-side,  and  all  seemed  in 
readiness  for  the  Queen's  coming  forth,  although  the  day  was 
yet  so  early. 

"  By  my  faith,  this  bodes  us  no  good,"  said  Blount:  "  it 
must  be  some  perilous  cause  puts  her  Grace  in  piotion  thus 
untimeously.  By  my  counsel,  we  were  best  put  back  again, 
and  tell  the  earl  what  we  have  seen." 

"Tell  the  earl  what  we  have  seen!"  said  Walter;  "why, 
what  have  we  seen  but  a  boat,  and  men  with  scarlet  jerkins, 
and  halberds  in  their  hands?  Let  us  do  his  errand,  and  tell 
him  what  the  Queen  says  in  reply." 

So  saying,  he  caused  the  boat  to  be  pulled  toward  a  landing- 
place  at  some  distance  from  the  principal  one,  which  it  would 
not,  at  that  moment,  have  been  thought  respectful  to  ap- 
proach, and  jumped  on  shore,  followed,  though  with  reluct- 
ance, by  his  cautious  and  timid  companions.  As  they 
approached  the  gate  of  the  palace,  one  of  the  sergeant  porters 
told  them  they  could  not  at  present  enter,  as  her  Majesty  was 
in  the  act  of  coming  forth.  The  gentlemen  used  the  name  of 
the  Earl  of  Sussex;  but  it  proved  no  charm  to  subdue  the 
officer,  who  alleged  in  reply,  that  it  was  as  much  as  his  post 
was  worth  to  disobey  in  the  least  tittle  the  commands  which 
he  had  received. 

"  Nay,  I  told  you  as  much  before,"  said  Blount;  "do,  I  pray 
you,  my  dear  Walter,  let  us  take  boat  and  return." 


l«a  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

*'  ITot  till  I  see  the  Queen  come  forth,"  returned  the  youthj 
composedly. 

"  Thou  art  mad — stark  mad,  by  the  mass! "  answered 
Blount. 

"  And  thou/'  said  Walter,  "  art  turned  coward  of  the  sud- 
den. I  have  seen  thee  face  half  a  score  of  shag-headed  Irish 
kernes  to  thy  own  share  of  them,  and  now  thou  wouldst  blink 
and  go  back  to  shun  the  frown  of  a  fair  lady! '' 

At  this  moment  the  gates  opened,  and  ushers  began  to  issue 
forth  in  array,  preceded  and  flanked  by  the  band  of  gentle- 
men pensioners.  After  this,  amid  a  crowd  of  lords  and  ladies, 
yet  so  disposed  around  her  that  she  could  see  and  be  seen  on 
all  sides,  came  Elizabeth  herself,  then  in  the  prime  of  woman- 
hood, and  in  the  full  glow  of  what  in  a  sovereign  was  called 
beauty,  and  who  would  in  the  lowest  rank  of  life  have  been 
truly  judged  a  noble  figure,  joined  to  a  striking  and  com- 
manding physiognomy.  She  leant  on  the  arm  of  Lord  Huns- 
don,  whose  relation  to  her  by  her  mother's  side  often 
procured  him  such  distinguished  marks  of  Elizabeth's 
intimacy. 

The  young  cavalier  we  have  so  often  mentioned  had  prob- 
ably never  yet  approached  so  near  the  person  of  his  sovereign, 
and  he  pressed  forward  as  far  as  the  line  of  warders  permitted, 
in  order  to  avail  himself  of  the  present  opportunity.  His 
companion,  on  the  contrary,  cursing  his  imprudence,  kept 
pulling  him  backward,  till  Walter  shook  him  off  impatiently, 
and  letting  his  rich  cloak  drop  carelessly  from  one  shoulder — 
a  natural  action,  which  served,  however,  to  display  to  the 
best  advantage  his  well-proportioned  person — unbonneting 
at  the  same  time  he  fixed  his  eager  gaze  on  the  Queen's  ap- 
proach with  a  mixture  of  respectful  curiosity  and  modest  yet 
ardent  admiration,  which  suited  so  well  with  his  fine  features, 
that  the  warders,  struck  with  his  rich  attire  and  noble  counte- 
nance, suffered  him  to  approach  the  ground  over  which  the 
Queen  was  to  pass  ^somewhat  closer  than  was  permitted  to 
ordinary  spectators.  Thus  the  adventurous  youth  stood  full 
in  Elizabeth's  eye — an  eye  never  indifferent  to  the  admira- 
tion which  she  deservedly  excited  among  her  subjects,  or  to 
the  fair  proportions  of  external  form  which  chanced  to  dis- 
tinguish any  of  her  courtiers.  Accordingly,  she  fixed  her 
keen  glance  on  the  youth,  as  she  approached  the  place  where 
he  stood,  with  a  look  in  which  surprise  at  his  boldness  seemed 
to  be  unminofled  with  resentment,  while  a  trifling  accident 
happened  which  attracted  her  attention  toward  him  yet  more 


■The  gallant,   throwing  his  cloak  from  his  shoulders,   laid  it  on  the 
miry  spot.** 


KBNtLWORTB.  163 

strongly.  The  night  had  been  rainy,  and,  just  where  the 
young  gentleman  stood,  a  small  quantity  of  mud  interrupted 
the  Queen's  passage.  As  she  hesitated  to  pass  on,  the  gallant, 
throwing  his  cloai:  from  his  shoulders,  laid  it  on  the  miry 
spot,  so  as  to  insure  her  stepping  over  it  dry-shod.  Elizabeth 
looked  at  the  young  man,  who  accompanied  this  act  of  de- 
voted courtesy  with  a  profound  reverence,  and  a  blush  that 
overspread  his  whole  countenance.  The  Queen  was  confused, 
and  blushed  in  her  turn,  nodded  her  head,  hastily  passed  on, 
and  embarked  in  her  barge  without  saying  a  word. 

"  Come  along,  sir  coxcomb,"  said  Blount;  "  youi'  gay  cloak 
will  need  the  brush  to-day,  I  wot.  Nay,  if  you  had  meant  to 
make  a  foot-cloth  of  your  mantle,  better  have  kept  Tracy's 
old  ^  drab-de-bure,'  which  despises  all  colors." 

"  This  cloak,"  said  the  youth,  taking  it  up  and  folding  it, 
^'  shall  never  be  brushed  while  in  my  possession." 

"  And  that  will  not  be  long,  if  you  learn  not  a  little  more 
economy:  we  shall  have  you  *  in  cuerpo '  soon,  as  the  Spaniard 
says." 

Their  discourse  was  here  interrupted  by  one  of  the  band  of 
pensioners. 

"I  was  sent,"  said  he,  after  looking  at  them  attentively, 
"  to  a  gentleman  who  hath  no  cloak,  or  a  muddy  one.  You, 
sir,  I  think,"  addressing  the  younger  cavalier,  "  are  the  man; 
you  will  please  to  follow  me." 

"  He  is  in  attendance  on  me,"  said  Blount — "  on  me,  the 
noble  Earl  of  Sussex's  master  of  horse." 

"  I  have  nothing  to  say  to  that,"  answered  the  messenger; 
"  my  orders  are  directly  from  her  Majesty,  and  concern  this 
gentleman  only." 

So  saying,  he  walked  away,  followed  by  Walter,  leaving  the 
others  behind,  Blount's  eyes  almost  starting  from  his  head 
with  the  excess  of  his  astonishment.  At  length  he  gave  vent 
to  it  in  an  exclamation — "  Who  the  goodjere  would  have 
thought  this!  "  And  shaking  his  head  with  a  mysterious  air, 
he  walked  to  his  own  boat,  embarked,  and  returned  to  Dept- 
ford. 

The  young  cavalier  was,  in  the  meanwhile,  guided  to  the 
water-side  by  the  pensioner,  who  showed  him  considerable 
respect — a  circumstance  which,  to  persons  in  his  situation, 
may  be  considered  as  an  augury  of  no  small  consequence.  He 
ushered  him  into  one  of  the  wherries  which  lay  ready  to  at- 
tend the  Queen's  barge,  which  was  already  proceeding  up  the 
river,  with  the  advantage  of  that  flood-tide  of  which,  in  the 


164  WA  VBBLEY  NO  VEL8. 

course  of  their  descent,  Blount  had  complained  to  his  aaso- 
ciates. 

The  two  rowers  used  their  oars  with  such  expedition,  at 
the  signal  of  the  gentleman  pensioner,  that  they  very  soon 
brought  their  little  skiff  under  the  stern  of  the  Queen's  boat, 
where  she  sate  beneath  an  awning,  attended  by  two  or  three 
ladies  and  the  nobles  of  her  household.  She  looked  more 
than  once  at  the  wherry  in  which  the  young  adventurer  was 
seated,  spoke  to  those  around  her,  and  seemed  to  laugh.  At 
length  one  of  the  attendants,  by  the  Queen's  order  apparently, 
made  a  sign  for  the  wherry  to  come  alongside,  and  the  young 
man  was  desired  to  step  from  his  own  skiff  into  the  Queen's 
barge,  which  he  performed  with  graceful  agility  at  the  fore 
part  of  the  boat,  and  was  brought  aft  to  the  Queen's  presence, 
the  wherry  at  the  same  time  dropping  into  the  rear.  The 
youth  underwent  the  gaze  of  majesty  not  the  less  gracefully 
that  his  self-possession  was  mingled  with  embarrassment. 
The  muddied  cloak  still  hung  upon  his  arm,  and  formed  the 
natural  topic  with  which  the  Queen  introduced  the  conver- 
sation. 

"  You  have  this  day  spoiled  a  gay  mantle  in  our  be- 
half, young  man.  We  thank  you  for  your  service,  though 
the  manner  of  offering  it  was  unusual,  and  something 
bold." 

"In  a  sovereign's  need,"  answered  the  youth,  "it  is  each 
liege-man's  duty  to  be  bold." 

"  God's  pity!  that  was  well  said,  my  lord,"  said  the  Queen, 
turning  to  a  grave  person  who  sate  by  her,  and  answered  with 
a  grave  inclination  of  the  head  and  something  of  a  mumbled 
assent.  "  Well,  young  man,  your  gallantry  shall  not  go  unre- 
warded. Go  to  the  wardrobe-keeper,  and  he  shall  have  orders 
to  supply  the  suit  which  you  have  cast  away  in  our  service. 
Thou  shalt  have  a  suit,  and  that  of  the  newest  cut,  I  promise 
thee,  on  the  word  of  a  princess." 

"  May  it  please  your  Grace,"  said  Walter,  hesitating,  "  it  is 
not  for  so  humble  a  servant  of  your  Majesty  to  measure  out 
your  bounties;  but  if  it  became  me  to  choose " 

"  Thou  wouldst  have  gold,  I  warrant  me  ?  "  said  the  Queen, 
interrupting  him.  "  Fy,  young  man!  I  take  shame  to  say 
that,  in  our  capital,  such  and  so  various  are  the  means  of 
thriftless  folly,  that  to  give  gold  to  youth  is  giving  fuel  to 
fire,  and  furnishing  them  with  the  means  of  self-destruction. 
If  I  live  and  reign,  these  means  of  unchristian  excess  shall  be 
abridged.     Yet  thou  mayst  be  poor,"  she  added,  "or  thy 


KENILWORTK 


166 


parents  may  be.  It  shall  be  gold,  if  thou  wilt,  but  thou  shalt 
answer  to  me  for  the  use  on't." 

Walter  waited  patiently  until  the  Queen  had  done,  and  then 
modestly  assured  her  that  gold  was  still  less  in  his  wish  than 
the  raiment  her  Majesty  had  before  offered. 

"  How,  boy!  "  said  the  Queen,  "  neither  gold  nor  garment! 
What  is  it  thou  wouldst  have  of  me,  then  ?  " 

"  Only  permission,  madam — if  it  is  not  asking  too  high  an 
honor — permission  to  wear  the  cloak  which  did  you  this 
trifling  service." 

"  Permission  to  wear  thine  own  cloak,  thou  silly  boy! '' 
said  the  Queen. 

"  It  is  no  longer  mine,"  said  Walter;  "  when  your  Majesty's 
foot  touched  it,  it  became  a  fit  mantle  for  a  prince,  but  far  too 
rich  a  one  for  its  former  owner." 

The  Queen  again  blushed;  and  endeavored  to  cover,  by 
laughing,  a  slight  degree  of  not  unpleasing  surprise  and  con- 
fusion. 

"  Heard  you  ever  the  like,  my  lords?  The  youth's  head  is 
turned  with  reading  romances.  I  must  know  something  of 
him,  that  I  may  send  him  safe  to  his  friends.  What  art 
thou? " 

"  A  gentleman  of  the  household  of  the  Earl  of  Sussex,  so 
please  your  Grace,  sent  hither  with  his  master  of  horse  upon 
a  message  to  your  Majesty." 

In  a  moment  the  gracious  expression  which  Elizabeth's 
face  had  hitherto  maintained  gave  way  to  an  expression  of 
haughtiness  and  severity. 

"  My  Lord  of  Sussex,"  she  said,  "  has  taught  us  how  to  re- 
gard his  messages,  by  the  value  he  places  upon  ours.  We  sent 
but  this  morning  the  physician  in  ordinary  of  our  chamber, 
and  that  at  no  usual  time,  understanding  his  lordship's  illness 
to  be  more  dangerous  than  we  had  before  apprehended. 
There  is  at  no  court  in  Europe  a  man  more  skilled  in  this 
holy  and  most  useful  science  than  Dr.  Masters,  and  he  came 
from  us  to  our  subject.  Nevertheless,  he  found  the  gate  of 
Say's  Court  defended  by  men  with  culverins,  as  if  it  had  been 
on  the  Borders  of  Scotland,  not  in  the  vicinity  of  our  court; 
and  when  he  demanded  admittance  in  our  name,  it  was  stub- 
bornly refused.  For  this  slight  of  a  kindness,  which  had  but 
too  much  of  condescension  in  it,  we  will  receive,  at  present  at 
least,  no  excuse;  and  some  such  we  suppose  to  have  been  the 
purport  of  my  Lord  of  Sussex's  message." 

This  was  uttered  in  a  tone,  and  with  a  gesture,  which  made 


166  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

Lord  Sussex's  friends  who  were  within  hearing  tremble.  He 
to  whom  the  speech  was  addressed,  however,  trembled  not; 
but  with  great  deference  and  humility,  as  soon  as  the  Queen's 
passion  gave  him  an  opportunity,  he  replied — "  So  please 
your  most  gracious  Majesty,  I  was  charged  with  no  apology 
from  the  Earl  of  Sussex." 

"  With  what  were  you  then  charged,  sir?  "  said  the  Queen, 
with  the  impetuosity  which,  amid  nobler  qualities,  strongly 
marked  her  character;  "  was  it  with  a  justification?  or,  God's 
death!  with  a  defiance?" 

"  Madam,"  said  the  young  man,  "  my  Lord  of  Sussex  knew 
the  offense  approached  toward  treason,  and  could  think  of 
nothing  save  of  securing  the  offender,  and  placing  him  in 
your  Majesty's  hands,  and  at  your  mercy.  The  noble  earl 
was  fast  asleep  when  your  most  gracious  message  reached 
him,  a  potion  having  been  administered  to  that  purpose  by  his 
physician;  and  his  lordship  knew  not  of  the  ungracious  re- 
pulse your  Majesty's  royal  and  most  comfortable  message  had 
received  until  after  he  awoke  this  morning." 

^^  And  which  of  his  domestics,  then,  in  the  name  of  Heaven, 
presumed  to  reject  my  message,  without  even  admitting  my 
own  physician  to  the  presence  of  him  whom  I  sent  him  to 
attend  ?  "  said  the  Queen,  much  surprised. 

"  The  offender,  madam,  is  before  you,"  replied  Walter, 
bowing  very  low:  "the  full  and  sole  blame  is  mine;  and  my 
lord  has  most  justly  sent  me  to  abye  the  consequences  of  a 
fault  of  which  he  is  as  innocent  as  a  sleeping  man's  dreams 
can  be  of  a  waking  man's  actions." 

"What!  was  it  thou? — thou  thyself,  that  repelled  my  mes- 
senger and  my  physician  from  Say's  Court?  "  said  the  Queen. 
"What  could  occasion  such  boldness  in  one  who  seems  de- 
voted— that  is,  whose  exterior  bearing  shows  devotion — to  his 
sovereign  ?  " 

"Madam,"  said  the  youth,  who, notwithstanding  an  assumed 
appearance  of  severity,  thought  that  he  saw  something  in  the 
Queen's  face  that  resembled  not  implacability,  "  we  say  in  our 
country  that  the  physician  is  for  the  time  the  liege  sovereign 
of  his  patient.  Now,  my  noble  master  was  then  under  do- 
minion of  a  leech,  by  whose  advice  he  hath  greatly  profited, 
who  had  issued  his  commands  that  his  patient  should  not  that 
night  be  disturbed,  on  the  very  peril  of  his  life." 

"  Thy  master  hath  trusted  some  false  varlet  of  an  empiric," 
taid  the  Queen. 

"  I  know  not,  madam,  but  by  the  fact  that  he  is  now,  this 


KENILWORTH.  167 

yery  morning,  awakened  much  refreshed  and  strengthened, 
from  the  only  sleep  he  hath  had  for  many  hours." 

The  nobles  looked  at  each  other,  but  more  with  the  purpose 
to  see  what  each  thought  of  this  news  than  to  exchange  any 
remarks  on  what  had  happened.  The  Queen  answered 
hastily,  and  without  affecting  to  disguise  her  satisfaction,  "By 
my  word,  I  am  glad  he  is  better.  But  thou  wert  over  bold  to 
deny  the  access  of  my  Dr.  Masters.  Know'st  thou  not  the 
Holy  Writ  saith,  ^In  the  multitude  of  counsel  there  is 
safety '  ?  " 

"Aye,  Madam,"  said  Walter,  "but  I  have  heard  learned 
men  say  that  the  safety  spoken  of  is  for  the  physicians,  not  for 
the  patient." 

"  By  my  faith,  child,  thou  hast  pushed  me  home,"  said  the 
Queen,  laughing;  "for  my  Hebrew  learning  does  not  come 
quite  at  a  call.  How  say  you,  my  Lord  of  Lincoln?  Hath 
the  lad  given  a  just  interpretation  of  the  text?  " 

"  The  word  '  safety,'  most  gracious  madam,"  said  the 
Bishop  of  Lincoln,  "  for  so  hath  been  translated,  it  may  be 
somewhat  hastily,  the  Hebrew  word,  being ^" 

"  My  lord,"  said  the  Queen,  interrupting  him,  "  we  said  we 
had  forgotten  our  Hebrew.  But  for  thee,  young  man,  what 
is  thy  name  and  birth  ?  " 

"  Raleigh  is  my  name,  most  gracious  Queen — the  youngest 
son  of  a  large  but  honorable  family  of  Devonshire." 

"Ealeigh!"  said  Elizabeth,  after  a  moment's  recollection; 
"  have  we  not  heard  of  your  service  in  Ireland?  " 

"  I  have  been  so  fortunate  as  to  do  some  service  there, 
madam,"  replied  Raleigh;  "  scarce,  however,  of  consequence 
sufficient  to  reach  your  Grace's  ears." 

"  They  hear  farther  than  you  think  of,"  said  the  Queen, 
graciously,  "  and  have  heard  of  a  youth  who  defended  a  ford 
in  Shannon  against  a  whole  band  of  wild  Irish  rebels,  until 
the  stream  ran  purple  with  their  blood  and  his  own." 

"  Some  blood  I  may  have  lost,"  said  the  youth,  looking 
down,  "  but  it  was  where  my  best  is  due,  and  that  is  in  your 
Majesty's  service." 

The  Queen  paused,  and  then  said  hastily,  "You  are  very 
young  to  have  fought  so  well  and  to  speak  so  well.  But  you 
must  not  escape  your  penance  for  turning  back  Masters. 
The  poor  man  hath  caught  cold  on  the  river;  for  our  order 
reached  him  when  he  was  just  returned  from  certain  visits  in 
London,  and  he  held  it  matter  of  loyalty  and  conscience  in- 
stantly to  set  forth  again.     So  hark  ye.  Master  Raleigh,  see 


168  WA  VEBLEY  NO  VEL8. 

thou  fail  not  to  wear  thy  muddy  cloak,  in  token  of  penitence, 
till  our  pleasure  be  farther  known.  And  here/^  she  added, 
giving  him  a  jewel  of  gold  in  the  form  of  a  chessman,  "I 
give  thee  this  to  wear  at  the  collar." 

Ealeigh,  to  whom  nature  had  taught  intuitively,  as  it  were, 
those  courtly  arts  which  many  scarce  acquire  from  long  ex- 
perience, knelt,  and,  as  he  took  from  her  hand  the  jewel, 
kissed  the  fingers  which  gave  it.  He  knew,  perhaps,  better 
than  almost  any  of  the  courtiers  who  surrounded  her,  how  to 
mingle  the  devotion  claimed  by  the  Queen  with  the  gallantry 
due  to  her  personal  beauty;  and  in  this,  his  first  attempt  to 
unite  them,  he  succeeded  so  well  as  at  once  to  gratify  Eliza- 
beth's personal  vanity  and  her  love  of  power.* 

His  master,  the  Earl  of  Sussex,  had  the  full  advantage  of 
the  satisfaction  which  Raleigh  had  afforded  Elizabeth  on  their 
first  interview. 

"  My  lords  and  ladies,"  said  the  Queen,  looking  around  to 
the  retinue  by  whom  she  was  attended,  "  methinks,  since  we 
are  upon  the  river,  it  were  well  to  renounce  our  present  pur- 
pose of  going  to  the  city,  and  surprise  this  poor  Earl  of  Sus- 
sex with  a  visit.  He  is  ill,  and  suffering  doubtless  under  the 
fear  of  our  displeasure,  from  which  he  hath  been  honestly 
cleared  by  the  frank  avowal  of  this  malapert  boy.  What 
think  ye?  Were  it  not  an  act  of  charity  to  give  him  such 
consolation  as  the  thanks  of  a  queen,  much  bound  to  him  for 
his  loyal  service,  may  perchance  best  minister?  " 

It  may  be  readily  supposed  that  none  to  whom  this  speech 
was  addressed  ventured  to  oppose  its  purport. 

"  Your  Grace,"  said  the  Bishop  of  Lincoln,  "  is  the  breath 
of  our  nostrils."  The  men  of  war  averred  that  the  face  of  the 
sovereign  was  a  whetstone  to  the  soldier's  sword;  while  the 
men  of  state  were  not  less  of  opinion  that  the  light  of  the 
Queen's  countenance  was  a  lamp  to  the  paths  of  her  coun- 
cilors; and  the  ladies  agreed  with  one  voice  that  no  noble  in 
England  so  well  deserved  the  regard  of  England's  royal  mis- 
tress as  the  Earl  of  Sussex — ^the  Earl  of  Leicester's  right  being 
reserved  entire,  so  some  of  the  more  politic  worded  their  assent 
— an  exception  to  which  Elizabeth  paid  no  apparent  attention. 
The  barge  had,  therefore,  orders  to  deposit  its  royal  freight  at 
Deptford,  at  the  nearest  and  most  convnient  point  of  com- 
munication with  Sa5r's  Court,  in  order  that  the  Queen  might 
satisfy  her  royal  and  maternal  solicitude  by  making  personal 
inquiries  after  the  health  of  the  Earl  of  Sussex. 

*  See  Court  Favor  of  Sir  Walter  Raleigh.    Note  8. 


KENILWORTK  169 

Raleigh,  whose  acute  spirit  foresaw  and  anticipated  impor- 
tant consequences  from,  the  most  trifling  events,  hastened  to 
ask  the  Queen^s  permission  to  go  in  the  skiff,  and  announce 
the  royal  visit  to  his  master;  ingeniously  suggesting  that  the 
joyful  surprise  might  prove  prejudicial  to  his  health,  since 
the  richest  and  most  generous  cordials  may  sometimes  be  fatal 
to  those  who  have  been  long  in  a  languishing  state. 

But  whether  the  Queen  deemed  it  too  presumptuous  in  so 
young  a  courtier  to  interpose  his  opinion  unasked,  or  whether 
she  was  moved  by  a  recurrence  of  the  feeling  of  jealousy, 
which  had  been  instilled  into  her  by  reports  that  the  earl  kept 
armed  men  about  his  person,  she  desired  Ealeigh,  shajrply,  to 
reserve  his  counsel  till  it  was  required  of  him,  and  repeated 
her  former  orders  to  be  landed  at  Deptford,  adding,  "  We  will 
ourselves  see  what  sort  of  household  my  Lord  of  Sussex  keeps 
about  him." 

"  Now  the  Lord  have  pity  on  us!  "  said  the  young  courtier 
to  himself.  "  Good  hearts  the  earl  hath  many  a  one  round 
him,  but  good  heads  are  scarce  with  us;  and  he  himself  is  too 
ill  to  give  direction.  And  Blount  will  be  at  his  morning  meal 
of  Yarmouth  herrings  and  ale;  and  Tracy  will  have  his  beastly 
black  puddings  and  Rhenish;  those  thorough-paced  Welsh- 
men, Thomas  ap  Rice  and  Evan  Evans,  will  be  at  work  on 
their  leek  porridge  and  toasted  cheese;  and  she  detests,  they 
say,  all  coarse  meats,  evil  smells,  and  strong  wines.  Could 
they  but  think  of  burning  some  rosemary  in  the  great  hall! 
but  'vogue  la  galere/  all  must  now  be  trusted  to  chance. 
Luck  hath  done  indifferent  well  for  me  this  morning,  for  I 
trust  I  have  spoiled  a  cloak  and  made  a  court  fortune.  May 
she  do  as  much  for  my  gallant  patron!  " 

The  royal  barge  soon  stopped  at  Deptford,  and,  amid  the 
loud  shouts  of  the  populace,  which  her  presence  never  failed 
to  excite,  the  Queen,  with  a  canopy  borne  over  her  head, 
walked,  accompanied  by  her  retinue,  toward  Say's  Court, 
where  the  dist-ant  acclamations  of  the  people  gave  the  first 
notice  of  her  arrival.  Sussex,  who  was  in  the  act  of  advising 
with  Tressilian  how  he  should  make  up  the  supposed  breach 
in  the  Queen's  favor,  was  infinitely  surprised  at  learning  her 
immediate  approach — not  that  the  Queen's  custom  of  visiting 
her  more  distinguished  nobility, whether  in  health  or  sickness, 
could  be  unknown  to  him;  but  the  suddenness  of  the  com- 
munication left  no  time  for  those  preparations  with  which  he 
well  knew  Elizabeth  loved  to  be  greeted,  and  the  rudeness  and 
confusion  of  his  military  household,  much  increased  by  his 


170  WAVBRLET  NOVELS, 

late  illness,   rendered  him   altogether  unprepared  for  her 
reception. 

Cursing  internally  the  chance  which  thus  brought  her 
gracious  visitation  on  him  unaware,  he  hastened  down  with 
Tressilian,  to  whose  eventful  and  interesting  story  he  had 
just  given  an  attentive  ear. 

"  My  worthy  friend/'  he  said,  "  such  support  as  I  can  give 
your  accusation  of  Vamey,  you  have  a  right  to  expect,  alike 
from  justice  and  gratitude.  Chance  will  presently  show 
whether  I  can  do  aught  with  our  sovereign,  or  whether,  in 
very  deed,  my  meddling  in  your  affair  may  not  rather  preju- 
dice than  serve  you." 

Thus  spoke  Sussex,  while  hastily  casting  around  him  a  loose 
robe  of  sables,  and  adjusting  his  person  in  the  best  manner 
he  could  to  meet  the  eye  of  his  sovereign.  But  no  hurried 
attention  bestowed  on  his  apparel  could  remove  the  ghastly 
effects  of  long  illness  on  a  countenance  which  nature  had 
marked  with  features  rather  strong  than  pleasing.  Besides, 
he  was  low  of  stature,  and,  though  broad-shouldered,  athletic, 
and  fit  for  martial  achievements,  his  presence  in  a  peaceful 
hall  was  not  such  as  ladies  love  to  look  upon — a  personal  dis- 
advantage which  was  supposed  to  give  Sussex,  though 
esteemed  and  honored  by  his  sovereign,  considerable  disad- 
vantage when  compared  with  Leicester,  who  was  alike  re- 
markable for  elegance  of  manners  and  for  beauty  of  person. 

The  earl's  utmost  dispatch  only  enabled  him  to  meet  the 
Queen  as  she  entered  the  great  hall,  and  he  at  once  perceived 
there  was  a  cloud  on  her  brow.  Her  jealous  eye  had  noticed 
the  martial  array  of  armed  gentlemen  and  retainers  with 
which  the  mansion-house  was  filled,  and  her  first  words  ex- 
pressed her  disapprobation — "Is  this  a  royal  garrison,  my 
Lord  of  Sussex,  that  it  holds  so  many  pikes  and  calivers?  Or 
have  we  by  accident  overshot  Say's  Court,  and  landed  at  our 
Tower  of  London?  " 

Lord  Sussex  hastened  to  offer  some  apology. 

"  It  needs  not,"  she  said.  "  My  lord,  we  intend  speedily  to 
take  up  a  certain  quarrel  between  your  lordship  and  another 
great  lord  of  our  household  and  at  the  same  time  to  reprehend 
this  uncivilized  and  dangerous  practice  of  surrounding  your- 
selves with  armed  and  even  with  ruffianly  followers,  as  if,  in 
the  neighborhood  of  our  capital,  nay,  in  the  very  verge  of  our 
royal  residence,  you  were  preparing  to  wage  civil  war  with 
each  other.  We  are  glad  to  see  you  so  well  recovered,  my 
lord,  though  without  the  assistance  of  the  learned  physician 


whom  we  sent  to  you.  Urge  no  excuse;  we  know  how  that 
matter  fell  out,  and  we  have  corrected  for  it  the  wild  slip, 
young  Kaleigh.  By  the  way,  my  lord,  we  will  speedily  relieve 
your  household  of  him,  and  take  him  into  our  own.  Some- 
thing there  is  ahout  him  which  merits  to  he  better  nurtured 
than  he  is  like  to  be  amongst  your  very  military  followers." 

To  this  proposal  Sussex,  though  scarce  understanding  how 
the  Queen  came  to  make  it,  could  only  bow  and  express  his 
acquiescence.  He  then  entreated  her  to  remain  till  refresh- 
ment could  be  offered,  but  in  this  he  could  not  prevail.  And, 
after  a  few  compliments  of  a  much  colder  and  more  common- 
place character  than  might  have  been  expected  from  a  step  so 
decidedly  favorable  as  a  personal  visit  the  Queen  took  her 
leave  of  Say^s  Court,  having  brought  confusion  thither  along 
with  her,  and  leaving  doubt  and  apprehension  behind. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Then  call  them  to  our  presence.    Face  to  face, 
And  frowning  brow  to  brow,  ourselves  will  hear 
The  accuser  and  accused  freely  speak  ; 
High-stomach'd  are  they  both  and  full  of  ire, 
In  rage  deaf  as  the  sea,  hasty  as  fire. 

— Bichard  11. 

"  I  AM  ordered  to  attend  court  to-morrow/'  said  Leicester, 
speaking  to  Varney,  "  to  meet,  as  they  surmise,  my  Lord  of 
Sussex.  The  Queen  intends  to  take  up  matters  hetwixt  us. 
This  comes  of  her  visit  to  Say's  Court,  of  which  you  must 
needs  speak  so  lightly." 

"  I  maintain  it  was  nothing,"  said  Varney;  "  nay,  I  know 
from  a  sure  intelligencer  who  was  within  ear-shot  of  much 
that  was  said,  that  Sussex  has  lost  rather  than  gained  hy  that 
visit.  The  Queen  said,  when  she  stepped  into  the  boat,  that 
Say's  Court  looked  like  a  guard-house,  and  smelt  like  an  hos- 
I  pital.     '  Like  a  cook's  shop  in  Eam's  Alley,  rather,'  said  the 

^  Countess  of  Rutland,  who  is  ever  your  lordship's  good  friend. 

And  then  my  lord  of  Lincoln  must  needs  put  in  his  holy  oar, 
and  say,  that  my  Lord  of  Sussex  must  be  excused  for  his  rude 
and  old-world  housekeeping,  since  he  had  as  yet  no  wife." 

"  And  what  said  the  Queen?  "  asked  Leicester  hastily. 

"  She  took  him  up  roundly,"  said  Varney,  "  and  asked  what 
my  Lord  of  Sussex  had  to  do  with  a  wife,  or  my  lord  bishop 
to  speak  on  such  a  subject.  '  If  marriage  is  permitted,'  sh6 
said,  '  I  nowhere  read  that  it  is  enjoined.' " 

"  She  likes  not  marriages,  or  speech  of  marriage,  among 
churchmen,"  said  Leicester. 

"  Nor  among  courtiers  neither,"  said  Varney;  but,  observ- 
ing that  Leicester  changed  countenance,  he  instantly  added, 
"  That  all  the  ladies  who  were  present  had  joined  in  ridicul- 
ing Lord  Sussex's  housekeeping,  and  in  contrasting  it  with 
the  reception  her  Grace  would  have  assuredly  received  at  my 
Lord  of  Leicester's." 

"You  have  gathered  much  tidings,"  said  Leicester,  "but 
you  have  forgotten  or  omitted  the  most  important  of  all. 
She  hath  added  another  to  those  dangling  satellites  whom  it  is 
her  pleasure  to  keep  revolving  around  her." 

"Your  lordship  meaneth  that  Raleigh,  the  Devonshire 


KENILWORTH.  173 

youth,"  said  Vamey — "  the  Knight  of  the  Cloak,  as  they  call 
him  at  court  ?  " 

"  He  may  be  Knight  of  the  Garter  one  day,  for  aught  I 
know,"  said  Leicester,  "for  he  advances  rapidly.  She  hath 
cap'd  verses  with  him,  and  such  fooleries.  I  would  gladly 
abandon,  of  my  own  free  will,  the  part  I  have  in  her  fickle 
favor;  but  I  will  not  be  elbowed  out  of  it  by  the  clown  Sussex 
or  this  new  upstart.  I  hear  Tressilian  is  with  Sussex  also, 
and  high  in  his  favor.  I  would  spare  him  for  considerations, 
but  he  will  thrust  himself  on  his  fate.  Sussex,  too,  is  almost 
as  well  as  ever  in  his  health." 

"  My  lord,"  replied  Vamey,  "  there  will  be  rubs  in  the 
smoothest  road,  specially  when  it  leads  up-hill.  Sussex's  ill- 
ness was  to  us  a  god-send,  from  which  I  hoped  much.  He 
has  recovered,  indeed,  but  he  is  not  now  more  formidable 
than  ere  he  fell  ill,  when  he  received  more  than  one  foil  in 
wrestling  with  your  lordship.  Let  not  your  heaxt  fail  you, 
my  lord,  and  all  shall  be  well." 

"  My  heart  never  failed  me,  sir,"  replied  Leicester. 

"No,  my  lord,"  said  Varney;  "but  it  has  betrayed  you 
right  often.  He  that  would  climb  a  tree,  my  lord,  must  grasp 
by  the  branches,  not  by  the  blossom." 

"  Well — well — well!  "  said  Leicester  impatiently,  "  I  under- 
stand thy  meaning.  My  heart  shall  neither  fail  me  nor 
seduce  me.  Have  my  retinue  in  order;  see  that  their  array  be 
so  splendid  as  to  put  down  not  only  the  rude  companions  of 
Ratcliffe,  but  the  retainers  of  every  other  nobleman  and  cour- 
tier. Let  them  be  well  armed  withal,  but  without  any  out- 
ward display  of  their  weapons,  wearing  them  as  if  more  for 
fashion's  sake  than  for  use.  Do  thou  thyself  keep  close  to 
me,  I  may  have  business  for  you." 

The  preparations  of  Sussex  and  his  party  were  not  less 
anxious  than  those  of  Leicester. 

"  Thy  supplication,  impeaching  Vamey  of  seduction,"  said 
the  earl  to  Tressilian,  "  is  by  this  time  in  the  Queen's  hand. 
I  have  sent  it  through  a  sure  channel.  Methinks  your  suit 
should  succeed,  being,  as  it  is,  founded  in  justice  and  honor, 
and  Elizabeth  being  the  very  muster  of  both.  But,  I  wot  not 
how,  the  gypsy  [so  Sussex  was  wont  to  call  his  rival,  on  ac- 
count of  his  dark  complexion]  hath  much  to  say  with  her  in 
these  holiday  times  of  peace.  Were  war  at  the  gates,  I  should 
be  one  of  her  whiteboys;  but  soldiers,  like  their  bucklers  and 
Bilboa  blades,  get  out  of  fashion  in  peace  time,  and  satin 


1  ^4  WA  VEBLET  NO  VEL8. 

sleeves  and  walking  rapiere  bear  the  bell.  Well,  we  must  be 
gay,  since  such  is  the  fashion.  Blount,  hast  thou  seen  our 
household  put  into  their  new  braveries?  But  thou  know'st 
as  little  of  these  toys  as  I  do;  thou  wouldst  be  ready  now  at 
disposing  a  stand  of  pikes." 

"My  good  lord,"  answered  Blount,  "Raleigh  hath  been 
here,  and  taken  that  charge  upon  him.  Your  train  will  glit- 
ter like  a  May  morning.  Marry,  the  cost  is  another  question. 
One  might  keep  an  hospital  of  old  soldiers  at  the  charge  of 
ten  modem  lackeys." 

"  We  must  not  count  cost  to-day,  Nicholas,"  said  the  earl  in 
reply.  "I  am  beholden  to  Raleigh  for  his  care;  I  trust, 
though,  he  has  remembered  that  I  am  an  old  soldier,  and 
would  have  no  more  of  these  follies  than  needs  must." 

^  Nay,  I  understand  naught  about  it,"  said  Blount;  "  but 
here  are  your  honorable  lordship's  brave  kinsmen  and  friends 
coming  in  by  scores  to  wait  upon  you  to  court,  where,  me- 
thinks,  we  shall  bear  as  brave  a  front  as  Leicester,  let  him 
ruffle  it  as  he  will." 

"  Give  them  the  strictest  charges,"  said  Sussex,  "  that  they 
suffer  no  provocation  short  of  actual  violence  to  provoke  them 
into  quarrel:  they  have  hot  bloods,  and  I  would  not  give 
Leicester  the  advantage  over  me  by  any  imprudence  of 
theirs." 

The  Earl  of  Sussex  ran  so  hastily  through  these  directions, 
that  it  was  with  difficulty  Tressilian  at  length  found  oppor- 
tunity to  express  his  surprise,  that  he  should  have  proceeded 
so  far  in  the  affair  of  Sir  Hugh  Robsart  as  to  lay  his  petition 
at  once  before  the  Queen.  "  It  was  the  opinion  of  the  young 
lady's  friends,"  he  said,  "that  Leicester's  sense  of  justice 
should  be  first  appealed  to,  as  the  offense  had  been  committed 
by  his  officer  and  so  he  had  expressly  told  to  Sussex." 

"  This  could  have  been  done  without  applying  to  me,"  said 
Sussex,  somewhat  haughtily.  "  I,  at  least,  ought  not  to  have 
been  a  counselor  when  the  object  was  a  humiliating  reference 
to  Leicester;  and  I  am  surprised  that  you,  Tressilian,  a  man  of 
honor,  and  my  friend,  would  assume  such  a  mean  course.  If 
you  said  so,  I  certainly  understood  you  not  in  a  matter  which 
Bounded  so  unlike  yourself." 

"  My  lord,"  said  Tressilian,  "  the  course  I  would  prefer,  for 
my  own  sake,  is  that  you  have  adopted;  but  the  friends  of 
this  most  unhappy  lady " 

"  Oh,  the  friends — the  friends,"  said  Sussex,  interrupting 
him;  "  they  must  let  us  manage  this  cause  in  the  way  whicla 


KENILWOBTH.  176 

seems  best.  This  is  the  time  and  the  hour  to  accumulate 
every  charge  against  Leicester  and  his  household,  and  yours 
the  Queen  will  hold  a  heavy  one.  But  at  all  events  she  hath 
the  complaint  before  her." 

Tressilian  could  not  help  suspecting  that,  in  his  eagerness 
to  strengthen  himself  against  his  rival,  Sussex  had  purposely 
adopted  the  course  most  likely  to  throw  odium  on  Leicester, 
without  considering  minutely  whether  it  were  the  mode  of 
proceeding  most  likely  to  be  attended  with  success.  But  the 
step  was  irrevocable,  and  Sussex  escaped  from  farther  discuss- 
ing it  by  dismissing  his  company  with  the  command,  "  Let  all 
be  in  order  at  eleven  o'clock;  I  must  be  at  court  and  in  the 
presence  by  high  noon  precisely." 

While  the  rival  statesmen  were  thus  anxiously  preparing 
for  their  approaching  meeting  in  the  Queen's  presence,  even 
Elizabeth  herself  was  not  without  apprehension  of  what 
might  chance  from  the  collision  of  two  such  fiery  spirits,  each 
backed  by  a  strong  and  numerous  body  of  followers,  and 
dividing  betwixt  them,  either  openly  or  in  secret,  the  hopes 
and  wishes  of  most  of  her  court.  The  band  of  gentlemen 
pensioners  were  all  under  arms,  and  a  re-enforcement  of  the 
yeomen  of  the  guard  was  brought  down  the  Thames  from 
London.  A  royal  proclamation  was  sent  forth,  strictly  pro- 
hibiting nobles,  of  whatever  degree,  to  approach  the  palace 
with  retainers  or  followers,  armed  with  shot  or  with  long 
weapons;  and  it  was  even  whispered  that  the  high  sheriff  of 
Kent  had  secret  instructions  to  have  a  part  of  the  array  of 
the  county  ready  on  the  shortest  notice. 

The  eventful  hour,  thus  anxiously  prepared  for  on  all  sides, 
at  length  approached,  and  each  followed  by  his  long  and  glit- 
tering train  of  friends  and  followers,  the  rival  earls  entered 
the  palace-yard  of  Greenwich  at  noon  precisely. 

As  if  by  previous  arrangement,  or  perhaps  by  intimation 
that  such  was  the  Queen's  pleasure,  Sussex  and  his  retinue 
came  to  the  palace  from  Deptford  by  water,  while  Leicester 
arrived  by  land;  and  thus  they  entered  the  courtyard  from 
opposite  sides.  This  trifling  circumstance  gave  Leicester  a 
certain  ascendency  in  the  opinion  of  the  vulgar,  the  appear- 
ance of  his  cavalcade  of  mounted  followers  showing  more 
numerous  and  more  imposing  than  those  of  Sussex's  party, 
who  were  necessarily  upon  foot.  No  show  or  sign  of  greeting 
passed  between  the  earls,  though  each  looked  full  at  the  other, 
both  expecting,  perhaps,  an  exchange  of  courtesies,  which 


17<I  WA  VEBLET  NO  VELS. 

neither  was  willing  to  commence.  Almost  in  the  minute  of 
their  arrival  the  castle  bell  tolled,  the  gates  of  the  palace  were 
opened,  and  the  earls  entered,  each  numerously  attended  by 
such  gentlemen  of  their  train  whose  rank  gave  them  that 
privilege.  The  yeomen  and  inferior  attendants  remained  in 
the  courtyard,  where  the  opposite  parties  eyed  each  other  with 
looks  of  eager  hatred  and  scorn,  as  if  waiting  with  impatience 
for  some  cause  of  tumult,  or  some  apology  for  mutual  aggres- 
sion. But  they  were  restrained  by  the  strict  commands  of 
their  leaders,  and  overawed,  perhaps,  by  the  presence  of  an 
armed  guard  of  unusual  strength. 

In  the  meanwhile,  the  more  distinguished  persons  of  each 
train  followed  their  patrons  into  the  lofty  halls  and  ante- 
chambers of  the  royal  palace,  flowing  on  in  the  same  current, 
like  two  streams  which  are  compelled  into  the  same  channel, 
yet  shun  to  mix  their  waters.  The  parties  arranged  them- 
selves, as  it  were  instinctively,  on  the  different  sides  of  the 
lofty  apartments,  and  seemed  eager  to  escape  from  the  tran- 
sient union  which  the  narrowness  of  the  crowded  entrance 
had  for  an  instant  compelled  them  to  submit  to.  The  folding- 
doors  at  the  upper  end  of  the  long  gallery  were  immediately 
afterward  opened,  and  it  was  announced  in  a  whisper  that 
the  Queen  was  in  her  presence-chamber,  to  which  these  gave 
access.  Both  earls  moved  slowly  and  stately  toward  the  en- 
trance— Sussex  followed  by  Tressilian,  Blount,  and  Ealeigh, 
and  Leicester  by  Vamey.  The  pride  of  Leicester  was  ohliged 
to  give  way  to  court  forms,  and,  with  a  grave  and  formal  in- 
clination of  the  head,  he  paused  until  his  rival,  a  peer  of  older 
creation  than  his  own,  passed  before  him.  Sussex  returned 
the  reverence  with  the  same  formal  civility,  and  entered  the 
presence-room.  Tressilian  and  Blount  offered  to  follow  him, 
but  were  not  permitted,  the  Usher  of  the  Black  Rod  alleging 
in  excuse,  that  he  had  precise  orders  to  look  to  all  admissions 
that  day.  To  Raleigh,  who  stood  back  on  the  repulse  of  his 
companions,  he  said,  "You,  sir,  may  enter,"  and  he  entered 
accordingly. 

"  Follow  me  close,  Vamey,"  said  the  Earl  of  Leicester,  who 
had  stood  aloof  for  a  moment  to  mark  the  reception  of  Sus- 
sex; and,  advancing  to  the  entrance,  he  was  about  to  pass  on, 
when  Varney,  who  was  close  behind  him,  dressed  out  in  the 
utmost  bravery  of  the  day,  was  stopped  by  the  usher,  as  Tres- 
silian and  Blount  had  been  before  him.  "  How  is  this.  Mas- 
ter Bowyer?  "  said  the  Earl  of  Leicester.  "  Know  you  who  I 
am,  and  that  this  is  my  friend  and  follower?  " 


KENILWORTH.  177 

"Your  lordship  will  pardon  me,"  replied  Bowyer  stoutly; 
"  my  orders  are  precise,  and  limit  me  to  a  strict  discharge  of 
my  duty/' 

"Thou  art  a  partial  knave,''  said  Leicester,  the  blood 
mounting  to  his  face,  "  to  do  me  this  dishonor,  when  you  but 
now  admitted  a  follower  of  my  Lord  of  Sussex." 

"My  lord,"  said  Bowyer,  "Master  Raleigh  is  newly  ad- 
mitted a  sworn  servant  of  her  Grace,  and  to  him  my  orders 
did  not  apply." 

"  Thou  art  a  knave — an  ungrateful  knave,"  said  Leicester; 
"  but  he  that  hath  done  can  undo:  thou  shalt  not  prank  thee 
in  thy  authority  long!  " 

This  threat  he  uttered  aloud,  with  less  than  his  usual  policy 
and  discretion,  and  having  done  so,  he  entered  the  presence- 
chamber,  and  made  his  reverence  to  the  Queen,  who,  attired 
with  even  more  than  her  usual  splendor,  and  surrounded  by 
those  nobles  and  statesmen  whose  courage  and  wisdom  have 
rendered  her  reign  immortal,  stood  ready  to  receive  the 
homage  of  her  subjects.  She  graciously  returned  the  obei- 
sance of  the  favorite  earl,  and  looked  altemateb  at  him  and 
at  Sussex  as  if  about  to  speak,  when  Bowyer,  „  man  whose 
spirit  could  not  brook  the  insult  he  had  so  openly  received 
from  Leicester,  in  the  discharge  of  his  office,  advanced  with 
his  black  rod  in  his  hand,  and  knelt  down  before  her. 

"  Why,  how  now,  Bowyer?  "  said  Elizabeth,  "  thy  courtesy 
seems  strangely  timed! " 

"  My  liege  sovereign,"  he  said,  while  every  courtier  around 
trembled  at  his  audacity,  "  I  come  but  to  ask  whether,  in  the 
discharge  of  mine  office,  I  am  to  obey  your  Highness's  com- 
mands or  those  of  the  Earl  of  Leicester,  who  has  publicly 
menaced  me  with  his  displeasure,  and  treated  me  with  dispar- 
aging terms,  because  I  denied  entry  to  one  of  his  followers,  in 
obedience  to  your  Grace's  precise  orders?  " 

The  spirit  of  Henry  VIIL  was  instantly  aroused  in  the 
bosom  of  his  daughter,  and  she  turned  on  Leicester  with  a 
severity  which  appalled  him,  as  well  as  all  his  followers. 

"  God's  death!  my  lord,"  such  was  her  emphatic  phrase, 
"what  means  this?  We  have  thought  well  of  you, and  brought 
you  near  to  our  person;  but  it  was  not  that  you  might  hide 
the  sun  from  our  other  faithful  subjects.  Who  gave  you 
license  to  contradict  our  orders  or  control  our  officers?  I 
will  have  in  this  court,  a^^e,  and  in  this  realm,  but  one  mis- 
tress, and  no  master.  Look  to  it  that  Master  Bowyer  sustains 
no  harm  for  his  duty  to  me  faithfully  discharged;  for;  as  I 


am  Christian  woman  and  crowned  Queen,  I  will  hold  you 
dearly  answerable.  Go,  Bowyer,  you  have  done  the  part  of 
an  honest  man  and  a  true  subject.  We  will  brook  no  mayor 
of  the  palace  here.^^ 

Bowyer  kissed  the  hand  which  she  extended  toward  him, 
and  withdrew  to  his  post,  astonished  at  the  success  of  his  own 
audacity.  A  smile  of  triumph  pervaded  the  faction  of  Sussex; 
thav  of  Leicester  seemed  proportionally  dismayed,  and  the 
favorite  himself,  assuming  an  aspect  of  the  deepest  humility, 
did  not  even  attempt  a  word  in  his  own  exculpation. 

He  acted  wisely;  for  it  was  the  policy  of  Elizabeth  to 
humble,  not  to  disgrace  him,  and  it  was  prudent  to  suffer  her, 
without  opposition  or  reply,  to  glory  in  the  exertion  of  her 
authority.  The  dignity  of  the  Queen  was  gratified,  and  the 
woman  began  soon  to  feel  for  the  mortification  which  she  had 
imposed  on  her  favorite.  Her  keen  eye  also  observed  the 
secret  looks  of  congratulation  exchanged  amongst  those  who 
favored  Sussex,  and  it  was  no  part  of  her  policy  to  give  either 
party  a  decisive  triumph. 

**What  -  say  to  my  Lord  of  Leicester,"  she  said,  after  a 
moment's  pause,  "  I  say  also  to  you,  my  Lord  of  Sussex.  You 
also  must  needs  ruffle  in  the  court  of  England  at  the  head  of 
a  faction  of  your  own." 

"  My  followers,  gracious  princess,"  said  Sussex,  "  have  in- 
deed ruffled  in  your  cause  in  Ireland,  in  Scotland,  and  against 
yonder  rebellious  earls  in  the  north.  I  am  ignorant  that " 

"  Do  you  bandy  looks  and  words  with  me,  my  lord  ?  "  said 
the  Queen,  interrupting  him;  "  methinks  you  might  learn  of 
my  Lord  of  Leicester  the  modesty  to  be  silent,  at  least,  under 
our  censure.  I  say,  my  lord,  that  my  grandfather  and  my 
father,  in  their  wisdom,  debarred  the  nobles  of  this  civilized 
land  from  traveling  with  such  disorderly  retinues;  and  think 
you  that,  because  I  wear  a  coif,  their  scepter  has  in  my  hand 
been  changed  into  a  distaff?  I  tell  you,  no  king  in  Christen- 
dom will  less  brook  his  court  to  be  cumbered,  his  people 
oppressed,  and  his  kingdom^s  peace  disturbed,  by  the  arro- 
gance of  overgrown  power,  than  she  who  now  speaks  with  you. 
My  Lord  of  Leicester,  and  you,  my  Lord  of  Sussex,  I  com- 
mand you  both  to  be  friends  with  each  other;  or,  by  the  crown 
I  wear,  you  shall  find  an  enemy  who  will  be  too  strong  for 
both  of  you! " 

"  Madam,"  said  the  Earl  of  Leicester,  "  you,  who  are  your- 
self the  fountain  of  honor,  know  best  what  is  due  to  mine. 
I  place  it  at  your  disposal,  and  only  say,  that  the  terms  on 


KENILWORTH.  1^9 

which  I  have  stood  with  my  Lord  of  Sussex  have  not  been  of 
my  seeking;  nor  had  he  cause  to  think  me  his  enemy  until  he 
had  done  me  gross  wrong." 

"  For  me,  madam,"  said  the  Earl  of  Sussex,  "  I  cannot  ap- 
peal from  your  sovereign  pleasure;  but  I  were  well  content 
my  Lord  of  Leicester  should  say  in  what  I  have,  as  he  terms 
it,  wronged  him,  since  my  tongue  never  spoke  the  word  that 
I  would  not  willingly  justify  either  on  foot  or  horseback." 

"  And  for  me,"  said  Leicester,  "  always  under  my  gracious 
sovereign's  pleasure,  my  hand  shall  be  as  ready  to  make  good 
my  words  as  that  of  any  man  who  ever  wrote  himself  Kat- 
cliffe." 

"  My  lords,"  said  the  Queen,  "  these  are  no  terms  for  this 
presence;  and  if  you  cannot  keep  your  temper,  we  will  find 
means  to  keep  both  that  and  you  close  enough.  Let  me  see 
you  join  hands,  my  lords,  and  forget  your  idle  animosities." 

The  two  rivals  looked  at  each  other  with  reluctant  eyes, 
each  unwilling  to  make  the  first  advance  to  execute  the 
Queen's  will. 

"  Sussex,"  said  Elizabeth,  "  I  entreat — Leicester,  I  com- 
mand you." 

Yet,  so  were  her  words  accented,  that  the  entreaty  sounded 
like  command  and  the  command  like  entreaty.  They  re* 
mained  still  and  stubborn,  until  she  raised  her  voice  to  a 
height  which  argued  at  once  impatience  and  absolute  com- 
mand. 

"  Sir  Henry  Lee,"  she  said  to  an  officer  in  attendance, 
"have  a  guard  in  present  readiness,  and  man  a  barge  in- 
stantly. My  Lords  of  Sussex  and  Leicester,  I  bid  you  once 
more  to  join  hands — and,  God's  death!  he  that  refuses  shall 
taste  of  our  Tower  fare  ere  he  see  our  face  again.  I  will 
lower  your  proud  hearts  ere  we  part,  and  that  I  promise,  on 
the  word  of  a  queen! " 

"  The  prison,"  said  Leicester,  "  might  be  borne,  but  to  lose 
your  Grace's  presence  were  to  lose  light  and  life  at  once. 
Here,  Sussex,  is  my  hand." 

"  And  here,"  said  Sussex,  "  is  mine  in  truth  and  honesty; 
but " 

"  Nay,  under  favor,  you  shall  add  nO  more,"  said  the  Queen. 
"Why,  this  is  as  it  should  be,"  she  added,  looking  on  them 
more  favorably,  "  and  when  you,  the  shepherds  of  the  people, 
unite  to  protect  them,  it  shall  be  well  with  the  flock  we  rule 
over.  For,  my  lords,  I  tell  you  plainly,  your  follies  and  your 
brawls  lead  to  strange  disorders  among  your  servants.    My 


180  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

Lord  of  Leicester,  you  have  a  gentleman  in  your  household 
called  Vamey?  " 

"  Yes,  gracious  madam,"  replied  Leicester;  "  I  presented 
him  to  kiss  your  royal  hand  when  you  were  last  at  Non- 
such." 

"  His  outside  was  well  enough,"  said  the  Queen,  "  hut 
scarce  so  fair,  I  should  have  thought,  as  to  have  caused  a 
maiden  of  honorable  birth  and  hopes  to  barter  her  fame  for 
his  good  looks,  and  become  his  paramour.  Yet  so  it  is:  this 
fellow  of  yours  hath  seduced  the  daughter  of  a  good  old 
Devonshire  knight.  Sir  Hugh  Kobsart  of  Lidcote  Hall,  and 
she  hath  fled  with  him  from  her  father's  house  like  a  casta- 
way. My  Lord  of  Leicester,  are  you  ill,  that  you  look  so 
deadly  pale?" 

"  No,  gracious  madam,"  said  Leicester,  and  it  required 
every  effort  he  could  make  to  bring  forth  these  few  words. 

"You  are  surely  ill,  my  lord?"  said  Elizabeth,  going 
toward  him  with  hasty  speech  and  hurried  step,  which  indi- 
cated the  deepest  concern.  "  Call  Masters — call  our  surgeon 
in  ordinary.  Where  be  these  loitering  fools?  We  lose  the 
pride  of  our  court  through  their  negligence.  Or  is  it  possible, 
Leicester,"  she  continued,  looking  on  him  with  a  very  gentle 
aspect — "  can  fear  of  my  displeasure  have  wrought  so  deeply 
on  thee?  Doubt  not  for  a  moment,  noble  Dudley,  that  we 
could  blame  thee  for  the  folly  of  thy  retainer — thee,  whose 
thoughts  we  know  to  be  far  otherwise  employed!  He  that 
would  climb  the  eagle's  nest,  my  lord,  cares  not  who  are  catch- 
ing linnets  at  the  foot  of  the  precipice." 

"Mark  you  that?"  said  Sussex,  aside  to  Ealeigh.  "The 
devil  aids  him  surely!  for  all  that  would  sink  another  ten 
fathom  deep  seems  but  to  make  him  float  the  more  easily. 
Had  a  follower  of  mine  acted  thus " 

"  Peace,  my  good  lord,"  said  Ealeigh — "  for  God's  sake, 
peace!  Wait  the  change  of  the  tide;  it  is  even  now  on  the 
turn." 

The  acute  observation  of  Ealeigh,  perhaps,  did  not  deceive 
him;  for  Leicester's  confusion  was  so  great,  and,  indeed,  for 
the  moment,  so  irresistibly  overwhelming,  that  Elizabeth, 
after  looking  at  him  with  a  wondering  eye,  and  receiving  no 
intelligible  answer  to  the  unusual  expressions  of  grace  and 
affection  which  had  escaped  from  her,  shot  her  quick  glance 
around  the  circle  of  courtiers,  and  reading,  perhaps,  in  their 
faces  something  that  accorded  with  her  own  awakened  sus- 
picions, she  said  suddenly,  "  Or  is  there  more  in  this  than  wo 


KENILWORTH.  181 

see,  or  than  you,  my  lord,  wish  that  we  should  see?  Where 
is  this  Varney?     Who  saw  him?  " 

"  An  it  please  your  Grace,"  said  Bowyer,  "  it  is  the  same 
against  whom  I  this  instant  closed  the  door  of  the  presence- 
room." 

"  An  it  please  me!  "  repeated  Elizabeth  sharply,  not  at  that 
moment  in  the  humor  of  being  pleased  with  anything.  "  It 
does  not  please  me  that  he  should  pass  saucily  into  my  pres- 
ence, or  that  you  should  exclude  from  it  one  who  came  to 
justify  himself  from  an  accusation." 

"  May  it  please  you,"  answered  the  perplexed  usher,  "  if  I 
knew,  in  such  case,  how  to  bear  myself,  I  would  take 
heed- " 

"  You  should  have  reported  the  fellow's  desire  to  us.  Mas- 
ter Usher,  and  taken  our  directions.  You  think  yourself  a 
great  man,  because  but  now  we  chid  a  nobleman  on  your  ac- 
count; yet,  after  all,  we  hold  you  but  as  the  lead- weight  that 
keeps  the  door  fast.  Call  this  Varney  hither  instantly;  there 
is  one  Tressilian  also  mentioned  in  this  petition;  let  them 
both  come  before  us." 

She  was  obeyed,  and  Tressilian  and  Varney  appeared  ac- 
cordingly. Vamey's  first  glance  was  at  Leicester,  his  second 
at  the  Queen.  In  the  looks  of  the  latter  there  appeared  an 
approaching  storm,  and  in  the  downcast  countenance  of  his 
patron  he  could  read  no  directions  in  what  way  he  was  to  trim 
his  vessel  for  the  encounter;  he  then  saw  Tressilian,  and  at 
once  perceived  the  peril  of  the  situation  in  which  he  was 
placed.  But  Varney  was  as  bold-faced  and  ready-witted  as  he 
was  cunning  and  unscrupulous — a  skillful  pilot  in  extremity, 
and  fully  conscious  of  the  advantages  which  he  would  obtain, 
could  he  extricate  Leicester  from  his  present  peril,  and  of  the 
ruin  that  yawned  for  himself  should  he  fail  in  doing  so. 

"Is  it  true,  sirrah,"  said  the  Queen,  with  one  of  those 
aearching  looks  which  few  had  the  audacity  to  resist,  "  that 
you  have  seduced  to  infamy  a  young  lady  of  bjrth  and  breed- 
ing, the  daughter  of  Sir  Hugh  Robsart  of  Lidcote  Hall?  " 

Varney  kneeled  down,  and  replied,  with  a  look  of  the  most 
profound  contrition — "  There  had  been  some  love  passages 
betwixt  him  and  Mistress  Amy  Eobsart." 

Leicester's  flesh  quivered  with  indignation  as  he  heard  his 
dependent  make  this  avowal,  and  for  one  moment  he  manned 
himself  to  step  forward,  and,  bidding  farewell  to  the  court 
and  the  royal  favor,  confess  the  whole  mystery  of  the  secret 
marriage.     But  he  looked  at  Sussex,  and  the  idea  of  the  tri- 


18S  WAYBTtLET  NOVELS. 

umphant  smile  which  would  clothe  his  cheek  -upon  hearing 
the  avowal  sealed  his  lips.  "  Not  now,  at  least/'  he  thought, 
"or  in  this  presence,  will  I  afford  him  so  rich  a  triumph." 
And  pressing  his  lips  close  together,  he  stood  firm  and  col- 
lected, attentive  to  each  word  which  Vamey  uttered,  and  de- 
termined to  hide  to  the  last  the  secret  on  which  his  court 
favor  seemed  to  depend.  Meanwhile,  the  Queen  proceeded  in 
her  examination  of  Vamey. 

"  Love  passages!  "  said  she,  echoing  his  last  words;  "  what 
passages,  thou  knave?  and  why  not  ask  the  wench's  hand 
from  her  father,  if  thou  hadst  any  honesty  in  thy  love  for 
her?  " 

"  An  it  please  your  Grace,"  said  Vamey,  still  on  his  knees, 
"  I  dared  not  do  so,  for  her  father  had  promised  her  hand  to 
a  gentleman  of  birth  and  honor — I  will  do  him  justice, 
though  I  know  he  bears  me  ill-will — one  Master  Edmund 
Tressilian,  whom  I  now  see  in  the  presence." 

"  Sob! "  replied  the  Queen;  "  and  what  was  your  right  to 
make  the  simple  fool  break  her  worthy  father's  contract, 
through  your  love  passages,  as  your  conceit  and  assurance 
terms  them  ?  " 

"  Madam,"  replied  Vamey,  "  it  is  in  vain  to  plead  the  cause 
of  human  frailty  before  a  judge  to  whom  it  is  unknown,  or 
that  of  love  to  one  who  never  yields  to  the  passion — ^"  he 
paused  an  instant,  and  then  added,  in  a  very  low  and  timid 
tone — "  which  she  inflicts  upon  all  others." 

Elizabeth  tried  to  frown,  but  smiled  in  her  own  despite,  as 
she  answered,  "Thou  art  a  marvelously  impudent  knave. 
Art  thou  married  to  the  girl?" 

Leicester's  feelings  became  so  complicated  and  so  painfully 
intense,  that  it  seemed  to  him  as  if  his  life  was  to  depend  on 
the  answer  made  by  Varney,  who,  after  a  moment's  real  hesi- 
tation, answered,  "  Yes." 

"Thou  false  villain!"  said  Leicester,  bursting  forth  into 
rage,  yet  unable  to  add  another  word  to  the  sentence  which 
he  had  begun  with  such  emphatic  passion. 

"  Nay,  my  lord,"  said  the  Queen,  "  we  will,  by  your  leave, 
stand  between  this  fellow  and  your  anger.  We  have  not  yet 
done  with  him.  Knew  your  master,  my  Lord  of  Leicester,  of 
this  fair  work  of  yours?  Speak  truth,  I  command  thee,  and 
I  will  be  thy  warrant  from  danger  on  every  quarter." 

"  Gracious  madam,"  said  Vamey,  "  to  speak  Heaven's 
truth,  my  lord  was  the  cause  of  the  whole  matter." 

"Thou  villain,  wouldst  thou  betray  me?"  said  Leicester. 


KENILWORTH.  183 

"  Speak  on/'  said  the  Queen  hastily,  h^r  cheek  coloring 
and  her  eyes  sparkling  as  she  addressed  Varney — "  speak  on; 
here  no  commands  are  heard  but  mine." 

"  They  are  omnipotent,  gracious  madam,''  replied  Varney; 
"  and  to  you  there  can  be  no  secrets.  Yet  I  would  not,"  he 
added,  looking  around  him,  "  speak  of  my  master's  concerns 
to  other  ears." 

"  Fall  back,  my  lords,"  said  the  Queen  to  those  who  sur- 
rounded her,  "  and  do  you  speak  on.  What  hath  the  earl  to 
do  with  this  guilty  intrigue  of  thine?  See,  fellow,  that  thou 
beliest  him  not! " 

"  Far  be  it  from  me  to  traduce  my  noble  patron,"  replied 
Varney;  "yet  I  am  compelled  to  own  that  some  deep,  over- 
whelming, yet  secret  feeling  hath  of  late  dwelt  in  my  lord's 
mind,  hath  abstracted  him  from  the  cares  of  the  household, 
which  he  was  wont  to  govern  with  such  religious  strictness, 
and  hath  left  us  opportunities  to  do  follies,  of  which  the 
shame,  as  in  this  case,  partly  falls  upon  our  patron.  Without 
this,  I  had  not  had  means  or  leisure  to  commit  the  folly  which 
has  drawn  on  me  his  displeasure,  the  heaviest  to  endure  by 
me  which  I  could  by  any  means  incur — saving  always  the 
yet  more  dreaded  resentment  of  your  Grace." 

"  And  in  this  sense,  and  no  other,  hath  he  been  accessory  to 
thy  fault?  "  said  EHzabeth. 

"  Surely,  madam,  in  no  other,"  replied  Varney;  "  but,  since 
somewhat  hath  chanced  to  him,  he  can  scarce  be  called  his 
own  man.  Look  at  him,  madam,  how  pale  and  trembling  he 
stands — how  unlike  his  usual  majesty  of  manner;  yet  what 
has  he  to  fear  from  aught  I  can  say  to  your  Highness?  Ah! 
madam,  since  he  received  that  fatal  packet! " 

"  What  packet,  and  from  whence? "  said  the  Queen 
eagerly. 

"  From  whence,  madam,  I  cannot  guess;  but  I  am  so  near 
to  his  person  that  I  know  he  has  ever  since  worn,  suspended 
around  his  neck  and  next  to  his  heart,  that  lock  of  hair  which 
sustains  a  small  golden  jewel  shaped  like  a  heart.  He  speaks 
to  it  when  alone;  he  parts  not  from  it  when  he  sleeps.  No 
heathen  ever  worshiped  an  idol  with  such  devotion." 

"  Thou  art  a  prying  knave  to  watch  thy  master  so  closely," 
said  Elizabeth,  blushing,  but  not  with  anger;  "  and  a  tattling 
knave  to  tell  over  again  his  fooleries.  What  color  might  the 
braid  of  hair  be  that  thou  pratest  of?  " 

Varney  repKed,  "A  poet,  madam,  might  call  it  a  thread 
from  the  golden  web  wrought  bv  Minerva;  but,  to  my  think- 


184  WAVEBLET  NOVELS. 

ing,  it  was  paler  than  even  the  purest  gold — more  like  tke 
last  parting  sunbeam  of  the  softest  day  of  spring." 

"  Why,  you  are  a  poet  yourself,  Master  Varney,"  said  the 
Queen,  smiling;  "  but  I  have  not  genius  quick  enough  to 
follow  your  rare  metaphors.  Look  round  these  ladies — ^is 
there  [she  hesitated,  and  endeavored  to  assume  an  air  of  great 
indifl'erence] — is  there  here,  in  this  presence,  any  lady,  the 
color  of  whose  hair  reminds  thee  of  that  braid?  Methinks, 
without  prying  into  my  Lord  of  Leicester's  amorous  secrets,  I 
would  fain  know  what  kind  of  locks  are  like  the  thread  of 
Minerva's  web,  or  the — what  was  it? — the  last  rays  of  the 
May-day  sun." 

Varney  looked  round  the  presence-chamber,  his  eye  travel- 
ing from  one  lady  to  another,  until  at  length  it  rested  upon 
the  Queen  herself,  but  with  an  aspect  of  the  deepest  venera- 
tion. "  I  see  no  tresses,"  he  said,  "  in  this  presence,  worthy 
of  such  similes,  unless  where  I  dare  not  look  on  them." 

"  How,  sir  knave,"  said  the  Queen,  "  dare  you  inti- 
mate  " 

"  Nay,  madam,"  replied  Varney,  shading  his  eyes  with  his 
hand,  "  it  was  the  beams  of  the  May-day  sun  that  dazzled  my 
weak  eyes." 

"  Go  to — go  to,"  said  the  Queen,  "  thou  art  a  foolish  fel- 
low," and  turning  quickly  from  him,  she  walked  up  to 
Leicester. 

Intense  curiosity,  mingled  with  all  the  various  hopes,  fears, 
and  passions  which  influence  court  faction,  had  occupied  the 
presence-chamber  during  the  Queen's  conference  with  Var- 
ney, as  if  with  the  strength  of  an  Eastern  talisman.  Men 
ssupended  every,  even  the  slightest,  external  motion,  and 
would  have  ceased  to  breathe,  had  Nature  permitted  such  an 
int'Crmission  of  her  functions.  The  atmosphere  was  con- 
tagious, and  Leicester,  who  saw  all  around  wishing  or  fearing 
his  advancement  or  his  fall,  forgot  all  that  love  had  previously 
dictated,  and  saw  nothing  for  the  instant  but  the  favor  or  dis- 
grace which  depended  on  the  nod  of  Elizabeth  and  the  fidelity 
of  Varney.  He  summoned  himself  hastily,  and  prepared  to 
play  his  part  in  the  scene  which  was  like  to  ensue,  when,  as 
he  judged  from  the  glances  which  the  Queen  threw  toward 
him,  Vamey's  commiinications,  be  they  what  they  might, 
were  operating  in  his  favor.  Elizabeth  did  not  long  leave 
him  in  doubt;  for  the  more  than  favor  with  which  she  8k, 
costed  him  decided  his  triumph  in  the  eyes  of  his  rival,  and  of 
the  assembled  court  of  England.     "  Thou  hast  a  prating 


KENILWORTS,  185 

•ervant  of  this  same  Vamey,  my  lord,"  she  said;  "  it  is  lucky 
you  trust  him  with  nothing  that  can  hurt  you  in  our  opinion, 
for,  believe  me,  he  would  keep  no  counsel." 

"From  your  Highness,"  said  Leicester,  dropping  grace- 
fully on  one  knee,  "  it  were  treason  he  should.  I  would  that 
my  heart  itself  lay  before  you,  barer  than  the  tongue  of  any 
servant  could  strip  it." 

"  What,  my  lord,"  said  Elizabeth,  looking  kindly  upon  him, 
"  is  there  no  one  little  comer  over  which  you  would  wish  to 
spread  a  veil?  Ah!  I  see  you  are  confused  at  the  question, 
and  your  Queen  knows  she  should  not  look  too  deeply  into 
her  servants'  motives  for  their  faithful  duty,  lest  she  see  what 
might,  or  at  least  ought  to,  displease  her." 

Eelieved  by  these  last  words,  Leicester  broke  out  into  a 
torrent  of  expressions  of  deep  and  passionate  attachment, 
which  perhaps,  at  that  moment,  were  not  altogether  fictitious. 
The  mingled  emotions  which  had  at  first  overcome  him,  had 
now  given  way  to  the  energetic  vigor  with  which  he  had  de- 
termined to  support  his  place  in  the  Queen's  favor;  and  never 
did  he  seem  to  Elizabeth  more  eloquent,  more  handsome, 
more  interesting,  than  while,  kneeling  at  her  feet,  he  con- 
jured her  to  strip  him  of  all  his  power,  but  to  leave  him  the 
name  of  her  servant.  "  Take  from  the  poor  Dudley,"  he  ex- 
claimed, "  all  that  your  bounty  has  made  him,  and  bid  him  be 
the  poor  gentleman  he  was  when  your  Grace  first  shone  on 
him;  leave  him  no  more  than  his  cloak  and  his  sword,  but  let 
him  still  boast  he  has — what  in  word  or  deed  he 
never  forfeited — the  regard  of  his  adored  Queen  and 
mistress! " 

"  No,  Dudley!  "  said  Elizabeth,  raising  him  with  one  hand, 
while  she  extended  the  other  that  he  might  kiss  it;  "  Eliza- 
beth hath  not  forgotten  that,  whilst  you  were  a  poor  gentle- 
man, despoiled  of  your  hereditary  rank,  she  was  as  poor  a 
princess,  and  that  in  her  cause  you  then  ventured  all  that 
oppression  had  left  you — your  life  and  honor.  Eise,  my  lord, 
and  1ft  my  hand  go.  Rise,  and  be  what  you  have  ever  been, 
the  grace  of  our  court  and  the  support  of  our  throne.  Your 
mistress  may  be  forced  to  chide  your  misdemeanors,  but  never 
without  owning  your  merits.  And  so  help  me  God,"  she 
added,  turning  to  the  audience,  who,  with  various  feelings, 
witnessed  this  interesting  scene — "  so  help  me  God,  gentle- 
men, as  I  think  never  sovereign  had  a  truer  servant  than  I 
have  in  this  noble  earl!  " 
A  murmur  of  assent  rose  from  the  Leicestrian  faction. 


186  WA  VEBLET  NO  VEL8. 

which  the  friends  of  Sussex  dared  not  oppose.  They  re- 
mained with  their  eyes  fixed  on  the  ground,  dismayed  as  well 
as  mortified  by  the  public  and  absolute  triumph  of  their  op- 
ponents. Leicester's  first' use  of  the  familiarity  to  which  the 
Queen  had  so  publicly  restored  him  was  to  ask  her  commands 
concerning  Vamey's  offense.  "  Although,"  he  said,  "  the  fel- 
low deserves  nothing  from  me  but  displeasure,  yet,  might  I 

presume  to  intercede " 

"  In  truth,  we  had  forgotten  his  matter,"  said  the  Queen; 
"  and  it  was  ill  done  of  us,  who  owe  justice  to  our  meanest  as 
well  as  to  our  highest  subject.  We  are  pleased,  my  lord,  that 
you  were  the  first  to  recall  the  matter  to  our  memory.  Where 
is  TressiHan,  the  accuser?  let  him  come  before  us." 

Tressilian  appeared,  and  made  a  low  and  beseeming  rever- 
ence. His  person,  as  we  have  elsewhere  observed,  had  an  air 
of  grace,  and  even  of  nobleness,  which  did  not  escape  Queen 
Elizabeth's  critical  observation.  She  looked  at  him  with  at- 
tention, as  he  stood  before  her  unabashed,  but  with  an  air  of 
the  deepest  dejection. 

"I  cannot  but  grieve  for  this  gentleman,"  she  said  to 
Leicester.  '^  I  have  inquired  concerning  him,  and  his  pres- 
ence confirms  what  I  heard,  that  he  is  a  scholar  and  a  soldier, 
well  accomplished  both  in  arts  and  arms.  We  women,  my 
lord,  are  fanciful  in  our  choice:  I  had  said  now,  to  judge  by 
the  eye,  there  was  no  comparison  to  be  held  betwixt  your  fol- 
lower and  this  gentleman.  But  Yarney  is  a  well-spoken 
fellow,  and,  to  speak  truth,  that  goes  far  with  us  of  the  weaker 
sex.  Look  you,  Master  Tressilian,  a  bolt  lost  is  not  a  bow 
broken.  Your  true  affection,  as  I  will  hold  it  to  be,  hath 
been,  it  seems,  but  ill  requited;  but  you  have  scholarship,  and 
you  know  there  have  been  false  Cressidas  to  be  found,  from 
the  Trojan  war  downward.  Forget,  good  sir,  this  lady  light 
o'  love;  teach  your  affection  to  see  with,  a  wiser  eye.  This  we 
say  to  you  more  from  the  writings  of  learned  men  than  our 
own  knowledge,  being,  as  we  are,  far  removed  by  station  and 
will  from  the  enlargement  of  experience  in  such  idle  toys  of 
humorous  passion.  For  this  dame's  father,  we  can  make  his 
grief  the  less  by  advancing  his  son-in-law  to  such  station  as 
may  enable  him  to  give  an  honorable  support  to  his  bride. 
Thou  shalt  not  be  forgotten  thyself,  Tressilian;  follow  our 
court,  and  thou  shalt  see  that  a  true  Troilus  hath  some  claim 
on  our  grace.  Think  of  what  that  arch-knave  Shakspere  says 
— a  plague  on  him.  his  toys  come  into  my  head  when  I  should 
think  of  other  matters!     Stay,  how  goes  it? 


KENILWORTH,  187 

CreBBid  was  yours,  tied  with  the  bonds  of  heaven  ; 
These  bonds  of  heaven  are  slipt,  dissolved,  and  loosed, 
And  with  another  knot  five  fingers  tied, 
The  fragments  of  her  faith  are  bound  to  Diomed. 

You  smile,  my  Lord  of  Southampton!  Perchance  I  make 
your  player^s  verse  halt  through  my  had  memory;  hut  let  it 
suffice:  let  there  be  no  more  of  this  mad  matter." 

And  as  Tressilian  kept  the  posture  of  one  who  would  will- 
ingly he  heard,  though,  at  the  same  time,  expressive  of  the 
deepest  reverence,  the  Queen  added  with  some  impatience — 
'^What  would  the  man  have?  The  wench  cannot  wed  both 
of  you?  She  has  made  her  election — not  a  wise  one  per- 
chance, but  she  is  Vamey's  wedded  wife." 

"  My  suit  should  sleep  there,  most  gracious  sovereign,"  said 
Tressilian,  "  and  with  my  suit  my  revenge.  But  I  hold  this 
Vamey's  word  no  good  warrant  for  the  truth." 

"  Had  that  doubt  been  elsewhere  urged,"  answered  Vamey, 
"  my  sword " 

"  Thy  sword! "  interrupted  Tressilian  scornfully;  "  with 
her  Grace's  leave,  my  sword  shall  show " 

"Peace,  you  knaves — both!"  said  the  Queen;  "know  you 
where  you  are?  This  comes  of  your  feuds,  my  lords,"  she 
added,  looking  toward  Leicester  and  Sussex:  "your  followers 
catch  your  own  humor,  and  must  bandy  and  brawl  in  my 
court,  and  in  my  very  presence,  like  so  many  Matamoros. 
Look  you,  sirs,  he  that  speaks  of  drawing  swords  in  any  other 
quarrel  than  mine  or  England's,  by  mine  honor,  I'll  bracelet 
him  with  iron  both  on  wrist  and  ankle! "  She  then  paused 
a  minute,  and  resumed  in  a  milder  tone,  "  I  must  do  justice 
betwixt  the  bold  and  mutinous  knaves  notwithstanding.  My 
Lord  of  Leicester,  will  you  warrant  with  your  honor — that  is, 
to  the  best  of  your  belief — that  your  servant  speaks  truth  in 
saying  he  hath  married  this  Amy  Eobsart?  " 

This  was  a  home-thrust,  and  had  nearly  staggered  Leices- 
ter. But  he  had  now  gone  too  far  to  recede,  and  answered, 
after  a  moment's  hesitation,  "  To  the  best  of  my  belief— in- 
deed, on  my  certain  knowledge — she  is  a  wedded  wife." 

"  Gracious  madam,"  said  Tressilian,  "  may  I  yet  request  to 
know  when,  and  under  what  circumstances,  this  alleged  mar- 
riage  " 

"Out,  sirrah,"  answered  the  Queen — "alleged  marriage! 
Have  you  not  the  word  of  this  illustrious  earl  to  warrant  the 
truth  of  what  his  servant  says?  But  thou  art  a  loser — 
think'st  thyself  such  at  least — and  thou  shalt  have  indul- 


188  WAVERLE7  NOVELS, 

gence;  we  will  look  into  the  matter  ourself  more  at  leisure. 
My  Lord  of  Leicester,  I  trust  you  remember  we  mean  to  taste 
the  good  cheer  of  your  Castle  of  Kenilworth  on  this  week 
ensuing;  we  will  pray  you  to  bid  our  good  and  valued  friend 
the  Earl  of  Sussex  to  hold  company  with  us  there." 

"If  the  noble  Earl  of  Sussex,"  said  Leicester,  bowing  to 
his  rival  with  the  easiest  and  with  the  most  graceful  couri:esy, 
"  will  so  far  honor  my  poor  house,  I  will  hold  it  an  additional 
proof  of  the  amicable  regard  it  is  your  Grace's  desire  we 
should  entertain  toward  each  other." 

Sussex  was  more  embarrassed.  "I  should,"  said  he, 
"  madam,  be  but  a  clog  on  your  gayer  hours,  since  my  late 
severe  illness." 

"And  have  you  been  indeed  so  very  ill?"  said  Elizabeth, 
looking  on  him  with  more  attention  than  before;  "  you  are  in 
faith  strangely  altered,  and  deeply  am  I  grieved  to  see  it. 
But  be  of  good  cheer;  we  will  ourselves  look  after  the  health 
of  so  valued  a  servant,  and  to  whom  we  owe  so  much.  Mas- 
ters shall  order  your  diet;  and  that  we  ourselves  may  see  that 
he  is  obeyed,  you  must  attend  us  in  this  progress  to  Kenil- 
worth." 

This  was  said  so  peremptorily,  and  at  the  same  time  with 
so  much  kindness,  that  Sussex,  however  unwilling  to  become 
the  guest  of  his  rival,  had  no  resource  but  to  bow  low  to  the 
Queen  in  obedience  to  her  commands,  and  to  express  to 
Leicester,  with  blunt  courtesy,  though  mingled  with  embar- 
rassment, his  acceptance  of  his  invitation.  As  the  earls  ex- 
changed compliments  on  the  occasion,  the  Queen  said  to  her 
high  treasurer,  "Methinks,  my  lord,  the  countenances  of 
these  our  two  noble  peers  resemble  those  of  the  two  famed 
classic  streams,  the  one  so  dark  and  sad,  the  other  so  fair  and 
noble.  My  old  Master  Ascham  would  have  chid  me  for  for- 
getting the  author.  It  is  Caesar,  as  I  think.  See  what  ma- 
jestic calmness  sits  on  the  brow  of  the  noble  Leicester,  while 
Sussex  seems  to  greet  him  as  if  he  did  our  will  indeed,  but 
not  willingly." 

"  The  doubt  of  your  Majesty's  favor,"  answered  the  lord 
treasurer,  "may  perchance  occasion  the  difference,  which 
does  not — as  what  does? — escape  your  Grace's  eye." 

"  Such  doubt  were  injurious  to  us,  my  lord,"  replied  the 
Queen.  "  We  hold  both  to  be  near  and  dear  to  us,  and  will 
with  impartiality  employ  both  in  honorable  service  for  the 
weal  of  our  kingdom.  But  we  will  break  their  farther  con- 
ference at  present.    My  Lords  of  Sussex  and  Leicester,  w© 


KENILWORTH,  189 

have  a  word  more  with  you.  Tressilian  and  Vamey  are  near 
your  persons;  you  will  see  that  they  attend  you  at  Kenilworth. 
And  as  we  shall  then  have  both  Paris  and  Menelaus  within 
our  call,  so  we  will  have  the  same  fair  Helen  also  whoee  fickle- 
ness has  caused  this  broil.  Vamey,  thy  wife  must  be  at 
Kenilworth,  and  forthcoming  at  my  order.  My  Lord  of 
Leicester,  we  expect  you  will  look  to  this." 

The  earl  and  his  follower  bowed  low,  and  raised  their  heads, 
without  daring  to  look  at  the  Queen  or  at  each  other;  for  both 
felt  at  the  instant  as  if  the  nets  and  toils  which  their  own 
falsehood  had  woven  were  in  the  act  of  closing  around  them. 
The  Queen,  however,  observed  not  their  confusion,  but  pro- 
ceeded to  say,  "  My  Lords  of  Sussex  and  Leicester,  we  require 
your  presence  at  the  privy  council  to  be  presently  held,  where 
matters  of  importance  are  to  be  debated.  We  will  then  take 
the  water  for  our  divertisement,  and  you,  my  lords,  will  attend 
us.  And  that  reminds  us  of  a  circumstance.  Do  you.  Sir 
Squire  of  the  Soiled  Cassock  [distinguishing  Ealeigh  by  a 
smile],  fail  not  to  observe  that  you  are  to  attend  us  on  our 
progress.  You  shall  be  supplied  with  suitable  means  to  re- 
form your  wardrobe." 

And  so  terminated  this  celebrated  audience,  in  which,  as 
throughout  her  life,  Elizabeth  united  the  occasional  caprice 
of  her  sex  with  that  sense  and  sound  policy  in  which  neither 
man  nor  woman  ever  excelled  her. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

Well  then — our  course  is  chosen,  spread  the  sail, 
Heave  oft  the  lead  and  mark  the  soundings  well, 
Look  to  the  helm,  good  master  ;  many  a  shoal 
Marks  this  stern  coast,  and  rocks,  where  sits  the  Siren, 
Who,  like  ambition,  lures  men  to  their  ruin. 

—The  Shipioreck. 

DuEiN'G  the  brief  interval  that  took  place  betwixt  the  dis- 
miaeal  of  the  audience  and  the  sitting  of  the  privy  council, 
Leicester  had  time  to  reflect  that  he  had  that  morning  sealed 
his  own  fate.  "  It  was  impossible  for  him  now,"  he  thought, 
"  after  having,  in  the  face  of  all  that  was  honorable  in  Eng- 
land, pledged  his  truth  (though  in  an  ambiguous  phrase)  for 
the  statement  of  Varney,  to  contradict  or  disavow  it  without 
exposing  himself  not  merely  to  the  loss  of  court  favor,  but  to 
the  highest  displeasure  of  the  Queen,  his  deceived  mistress, 
and  to  the  scorn  and  contempt  at  once  of  his  rival  and  of  all 
his  compeers."  This  certainty  rushed  at  once  on  his  mind, 
together  with  all  the  difficulties  which  he  would  necessarily 
be  exposed  to  in  preserving  a  secret  which  seemed  now 
equally  essential  to  his  safety,  to  his  power,  and  to  his  honor. 
He  was  situated  like  one  who  walks  upon  ice,  ready  to  give 
way  around  him,  and  whose  only  safety  consists  in  moving 
onward  by  firm  and  unvacillating  steps.  The  Queen's  favor, 
to  preserve  which  he  had  made  such  sacrifices,  must  now  be 
secured  by  all  means  and  at  all  hazards:  it  was  the  only  plank 
which  he  could  cling  to  in  the  tempest.  He  must  settle  him- 
self, therefore,  to  the  task  of  not  only  preserving,  but  aug- 
menting, the  Queen's  partiality.  He  must  be  the  favorite  of 
Elizabeth,  or  a  man  utterly  shipwrecked  in  fortune  and  in 
honor.  All  other  considerations  must  be  laid  aside  for  the 
moment,  and  he  repelled  the  intrusive  thoughts  which  forced 
on  his  mind  the  image  of  Amy,  by  sajdng  to  himself,  there 
would  be  time  to  think  hereafter  how  he  was  to  escape  from 
the  labyrinth  ultimately,  since  the  pilot  who  sees  a  Scylla 
under  his  bows  must  not  for  the  time  think  of  the  more  dis- 
tant dangers  of  Charybdis. 

In  this  mood,  the  Earl  of  Leicester  that  day  assumed  his 
chair  at  the  council-table  of  Elizabeth;  and  when  the  hours  of 
business  were  over,  in  this  same  mood  did  he  occupy  an  hon- 

100 


KENILWORTH,  191 

ored  place  near  her  during  her  pleasure-excursion  on  the 
Thames.  And  never  did  he  display  to  more  advantage  his 
powers  as  a  politician  of  the  first  rank,  or  his  parts  as  an  ac- 
complished courtier. 

It  chanced  that  in  that  day's  council  matters  were  agitated 
touching  the  affairs  of  the  unfortunate  Mary,  the  seventh 
year  of  whose  captivity  in  England  was  now  in  doleful  cur- 
rency. There  had  been  opinions  in  favor  of  this  unhappy 
princess  laid  before  Elizabeth's  council,  and  supported  with 
much  strength  of  argument  by  Sussex  and  others,  who  dwelt 
more  upon  the  law  of  nations  and  the  breach  of  hospitality 
than,  however  softened  or  qualified,  was  agreeable  to  the 
Queen's  ear.  Leicester  adopted  the  contrary  opinion  with 
great  animation  and  eloquence,  and  described  the  necessity  of 
continuing  the  severe  restraint  of  the  Queen  of  Scots,  as  a 
measure  essential  to  the  safety  of  the  kingdom,  and  particu- 
larly of  Elizabeth's  sacred  person,  the  lightest  hair  of  whose 
head,  he  maintained,  ought,  in  their  lordships'  estimation,  to 
be  matter  of  more  deep  and  anxious  concern  than  the  life  and 
fortunes  of  a  rival,  who,  after  setting  up  a  vain  and  unjust 
pretense  to  the  throne  of  England,  was  now,  even  while  in  the 
bosom  of  her  country,  the  constant  hope  and  theme  of  en- 
couragement to  all  enemies  to  Elizabeth,  whether  at  home  or 
abroad.  He  ended  by  craving  pardon  of  their  lordships  if, 
in  the  zeal  of  speech,  he  had  given  any  offense,  but  the 
Queen^s  safety  was  a  theme  which  hurried  him  beyond  his 
usual  moderation  of  debate. 

Elizabeth  chid  him,  but  not  severely,  for  the  weight  which 
he  attached  unduly  to  her  personal  interests;  yet  she  owned 
that,  since  it  had  been  the  pleasure  of  Heaven  to  combine 
those  interests  with  the  weal  of  her  subjects,  she  did  only  her 
duty  when  she  adopted  such  measures  of  self-preservation  as 
circumstances  forced  upon  her;  and  if  the  council  in  their 
wisdom  should  be  of  opinion  that  it  was  needful  to  continue 
some  restraint  on  the  person  of  her  unhappy  sister  of  Scot- 
land, she  trusted  they  would  not  blame  her  if  she  requested 
of  the  Countess  of  Shrewsbury  to  use  her  with  as  much  kind- 
ness as  might  be  consistent  with  her  safe  keeping.  And  with 
this  intimation  of  her  pleasure,  the  council  was  dismissed. 

Never  was  more  anxious  and  ready  way  made  for  "my 
Lord  of  Leicester"  than  as  he  passed  through  the  crowded 
anterooms  to  go  toward  the  river-side,  in  order  to  attend  her 
Majesty  to  her  barge;  never  was  the  voice  of  the  ushers  louder, 
to  "  Make  room — make  room  for  the  noble  earl  '*;  never  were 


I 


192  WAVEBLET  NOVELS. 

these  signals  more  promptly  and  reverently  obeyed;  never 
were  more  anxious  eyes  turned  on  him  to  obtain  a  glance  of 
favor,  or  even  of  mere  recognition,  while  the  heart  of  many  a 
humble  follower  throbbed  betwixt  the  desire  to  offer  his  con- 
gratulations and  the  fear  of  intruding  himself  on  the  notice 
of  one  so  infinitely  above  him.  The  whole  court  considered 
the  issue  of  this  day's  audience,  expected  with  so  much  doubt 
and  anxiety,  as  a  decisive  triumph  on  the  part  of  Leicester, 
and  felt  assured  that  the  orb  of  his  rival  satellite,  if  not  alto- 
gether obscured  by  his  luster,  must  revolve  hereafter  in  a 
dimmer  and  more  distant  sphere.  So  thought  the  court  and 
courtiers,  from  high  to  low,  and  they  acted  accordingly. 

On  the  other  hand,  never  did  Leicester  return  the  general 
greeting  with  such  ready  and  condescending  courtesy,  or 
endeavor  more  successfully  to  gather,  in  the  words  of  one  who 
at  that  moment  stood  at  no  great  distance  from  him,  "  golden 
opinions  from  all  sorts  of  men." 

For  all  the  favorite  earl  had  a  bow,  a  smile  at  least,  and 
often  a  kind  word.  Most  of  these  were  addressed  to  courtiers, 
whose  names  have  long  gone  down  the  tide  of  oblivion;  but 
some  to  such  as  sound  strangely  in  our  ears,  when  connected 
with  the  ordinary  matters  of  human  life,  above  which  the 
gratitude  of  posterity  has  long  elevated  them.  A  few  of 
Leicester's  interlocutory  sentences  ran  as  follows: 

"  Poynings,  good  morrow,  and  how  does  your  wife  and  fair 
daughter?  Why  come  they  not  to  court?  Adams,  your  suit 
is  naught:  the  Queen  will  grant  no  more  monopolies;  but  I 
may  serve  you  in  another  matter.  My  good  Alderman  Ayl- 
ford,  the  suit  of  the  city,  affecting  Queenhithe,  shall  be  for- 
warded as  far  as  my  poor  interest  can  serve.  Master  Ed- 
mund Spencer,  touching  your  Irish  petition,  I  would  will- 
ingly aid  you,  from  my  love  to  the  Muses;  but  thou  hast 
nettled  the  lord  treasurer." 

"My  lord,"  said  the  poet,  "were  I  permitted  to  ex- 
plain  " 

"  Come  to  my  lodging,  Edmund,"  answered  the  earl — "  not 
to-morrow  or  next  day,  but  soon.  Ha.,  Will  Shakspere — wild 
Will!  thou  hast  given  my  nephew,  Philip  Sidney,  love- 
powder:  he  cannot  sleep  without  thy  '  Venus  and  Adonis ' 
under  his  pillow!  We  will  have  thee  hanged  for  the  veriest 
wizard  in  Europe.  Hark  thee,  mad  wag,  I  have  not  forgotten 
thy  matter  of  the  patent  and  of  the  bears." 

The  player  bowed,  and  the  earl  nodded  and  parsed  on — 
■0  that  a^e  would  have  told  the  tale;  in  ours,  perhaps,  we 


KENILWORTH.  193 

might  say  the  immortal  had  done  homage  to  the  mortal. 
The  next  whom  the  favorite  accosted  was  one  of  his  own 
zealous  dependents. 

"  How  now.  Sir  Francis  Denning,"  he  whispered,  in  answer 
to  his  exulting  salutation,  "that  smile  hath  made  thy  face 
shorter  by  one-third  than  when  I  first  saw  it  this  morning. 
What,  Master  Bowyer,  stand  you  back,  and  think  you  I  bear 
malice?  You  did  but  your  duty  this  morning;  and  if  I  re- 
member aught  of  the  passage  betwixt  us,  it  shall  be  in  thy 
favor." 

Then  the  earl  was  approached,  with  several  fantastic  con- 
gees, by  a  person  quaintly  dressed  in  a  doublet  of  black  velvet, 
curiously  slashed  and  pinked  with  crimson  satin.  A  long 
cock^s  feather  in  the  velvet  bonnet  which  he  held  in  his  hand, 
and  an  enormous  ruff,  stiffened  to  the  extremity  of  the  ab- 
surd taste  of  the  times,  joined  with  a  sharp,  lively,  conceited 
expression  of  countenance,  seemed  to  body  forth  a  vain,  hare- 
brained coxcomb  and  small  wit;  while  the  rod  he  held,  and 
an  assumption  of  formal  authority,  appeared  to  express  some 
sense  of  official  consequence  which  qualified  the  natural  pert- 
ness  of  his  manner.  A  perpetual  blush,  which  occupied 
rather  the  sharp  nose  than  the  thin  cheek  of  this  personage, 
seemed  to  speak  more  of  "  good  life,"  as  it  was  called,  than  of 
modesty;  and  the  manner  in  which  he  approached  to  the  earl 
confirmed  that  suspicion. 

"  Good-even  to  you,  Master  Robert  Laneham,"  said  Leices- 
ter, and  seemed  desirous  to  pass  forward  without  farther 
speech. 

"I  have  a  suit  to  your  noble  lordship,"  said  the  figure, 
boldly  following  him. 

"  And  what  is  it,  good  master  keeper  of  the  council-cham- 
ber door?  " 

"  Clerk  of  the  council-chamber  door,"  said  Master  Robert 
Laneham,  with  emphasis,  by  way  of  reply  and  of  correction. 

"  Well,  qualify  thine  office  as  thou  wilt,  man,"  replied  the 
earl;  "what  wouldst  thou  have  with  me?" 

"  Simply,"  answered  Laneham,  "  that  your  lordship  would 
be,  as  heretofore,  my  good  lord,  and  procure  me  license  to 
attend  the  summer  progress  unto  your  lordship's  most  beauti- 
ful and  all-to-be  unmatched  Castle  of  Kenilworth." 

"To  what  purpose,  good  Master  Laneham?"  replied  the 
earl;  "  bethink  you,  my  guests  must  needs  be  many." 

"Not  so  many,"  replied  the  petitioner,  "but  that  your 
nobleness  will  willingly  spare  your  old  servitor  his  crib  and 


194  WAVERLEY  NOYELB,^ 

his  mess.  Bethink* you,  my  lord,  how  necessary  is  this  rod  of 
mine  to  fright  away  all  those  listeners  who  else  would  play  at 
bo-peep  with  the  honorable  council,  and  be  searching  for  key- 
holes and  crannies  in  the  door  of  the  chamber,  so  as  to  render 
my  staff  as  needful  as  a  fly-flap  in  a  butcher's  shop/' 

"  Methinks  you  have  found  out  a  fly-blown  comparison  for 
the  honorable  council.  Master  Laneham,"  said  the  earl;  "  but 
seek  not  about  to  justify  it.  Come  to  Kenilworth,  if  you  list; 
there  will  be  store  of  fools  there  besides,  and  so  you  will  be 
fitted." 

"  Nay,  an  there  be  fools,  my  lord,"  replied  Laneham,  with 
much  glee,  "  I  warrant  I  will  make  sport  among  them;  for  no 
greyhound  loves  to  cote  a  hare  as  I  to  turn  and  course  a  fool. 
But  I  have  another  singular  favor  to  beseech  of  your  honor." 

"  Speak  it,  and  let  me  go,"  said  the  earl;  "  I  think  the 
Queen  comes  forth  instantly." 

"  My  very  good  lord,  I  would  fain  bring  a  bed-fellow  with 
me." 

"How,  you  irreverent  rascal! "  said  Leicester 

"Nay,  my  lord,  my  meaning  is  within  the  canons,"  an- 
swered his  unblushing,  or  rather  his  ever-blushing,  petitioner. 
"  I  have  a  wife  as  curious  as  her  grandmother,  who  eat  the 
apple.  Now,  take  her  with  me  I  may  not,  her  Highness' 
orders  being  so  strict  against  the  officers  bringing  with  them 
their  wives  in  a  progress,  and  so  lumbering  the  court  with 
womankind.  But  what  I  would  crave  of  your  lordship  is,  to 
find  room  for  her  in  some  mummery  or  pretty  pageant,  in 
disguise,  as  it  were,  so  that,  not  being  known  for  my  wife, 
there  may  be  no  offense." 

"  The  foul  fiend  seize  ye  both! "  said  Leicester,  stung  into 
uncontrollable  passion  by  the  recollections  which  this  speech 
excited.     "  Why  stop  you  me  with  such  follies?  " 

The  terrified  clerk  of  the  chamber  door,  astonished  at  the 
burst  of  resentment  he  had  so  unconsciously  produced, 
dropped  his  staff  of  office  from  his  hand,  and  gazed  on  the  in- 
censed earl  with  a  foolish  face  of  wonder  and  terror,  which 
instantly  recalled  Leicester  to  himself. 

"  I  meant  but  to  try  if  thou  hadst  the  audacity  which  befits 
thine  office,"  said  he  hastily.  "  Come  to  Kenilworth,  and 
bring  the  devil  with  thee  if  thou  wilt." 

"My  wife, sir, hath  played  the  devil  ere  now, in  a  mystery, in 
Queen  Mary's  time;  but  we  shall  want  a  trifle  for  properties." 

"  Here  is  a  crown  for  thee,"  said  the  earl;  "  make  me  rid  of 
thee — the  great  bell  rings,"    , 


KBNILWORTH.  195 

Master  Kobert  Laneham*  stared  a  moment  at  the  agita- 
tion which  he  had  excited,  and  then  said  to  himself  as  he 
stooped  to  pick  up  his  staff  of  office,  "  The  noble  earl  runs 
wild  humors  to-day;  but  they  who  give  crowns  expect  us  witty 
fellows  to  wink  at  their  unsettled  starts;  and,  by  my  faith,  if 
they  paid  not  for  mercy,  we  would  finger  them  tightly!  " 

Leicester  moved  hastily  on,  neglecting  the  courtesies  he 
had  hitherto  dispensed  so  liberally,  and  hurrying  through  the 
courtly  crowd,  until  he  paused  in  a  small  withdrawing-room, 
into  which  he  plunged  to  draw  a  moment's  breath  unobserved 
and  in  seclusion. 

"  What  am  I  now,"  he  said  to  himself,  "  that  am  thus  jaded 
by  the  words  of  a  mean,  weather-beaten,  goose-brained  gull! 
Conscience,  thou  art  a  bloodhound,  whose  growl  wakes  as 
readily  at  the  paltry  stir  of  a  rat  or  mouse  as  at  the  step  of  a 
lion.  Can  I  not  quit  myself,  by  one  bold  stroke,  of  a  state  so 
irksome,  so  unhonored?  What  if  I  kneel  to  Elizabeth,  and, 
owning  the  whole,  throw  myself  on  her  mercy?  " 

As  he  pursued  this  train  of  thought,  the  door  of  the  apart- 
ment opened,  and  Vamey  rushed  in. 

"  Thank  God,  my  lord,  that  I  have  found  you! "  was  his 
exclamation. 

"  Thank  the  devil,  whose  agent  thou  art,*'  was  the  earl's 
reply. 

"  Thank  whom  you  will,  my  lord,"  said  Vamey;  "  but 
hasten  to  the  water-side.  The  Queen  is  on  board,  and  asks 
for  you." 

"  Go,  say  I  am  taken  suddenly  ill,"  replied  Leicester;  "  for, 
by  Heaven,  my  brain  can  sustain  this  no  longer!  " 

"  I  may  well  say  so,"  said  Varney,  with  bitterness  of  ex- 
pression, "  for  your  place,  aye,  and  mine,  who,  as  your  master 
of  the  horse,  was  to  have  attended  your  lordship,  is  already 
filled  up  in  the  Queen's  barge.  The  new  minion,  Walter 
Raleigh,  and  our  old  acquaintance,  Tressilian,  were  called  for 
to  fill  our  places  just  as  I  hastened  away  to  seek  you." 

"  Thou  art  a  devil,  Vamey,"  said  Leicester  hastily;  "  but 
thou  hast  the  mastery  for  the  present:  I  follow  thee." 

Varney  replied  not,  but  led  the  way  out  of  the  palace,  and 
toward  the  river,  while  his  master  followed  him  as  if  mechan- 
ically; until,  looking  back,  he  said  in  a  tone  which  savored  of 
familiarity  at  least,  if  not  of  authority,  "How  is  this,  my 
lord?  your  cloaJi  hangs  on  one  side,  your  hose  are  unbraced; 
permit  me '' 

*  See  Note  0. 


IM  WAVEBLET  NOVELS. 

'^  Thou  art  a  fool,  Vamey,  as  well  as  a  knave,"  said  Leices- 
ter, shaking  him  off,  and  rejecting  his  officious  assistance; 
"  we  are  best  thus,  sir:  when  we  require  you  to  order  our  per- 
son, it  is  well,  but  now  we  want  you  not." 

So  saying,  the  earl  resumed  at  once  his  air  of  command, 
and  with  it  his  self-possession,  shook  his  dress  into  yet  wilder 
disorder,  passed  before  Vamey  with  the  air  of  a  superior  and 
master,  and  in  his  turn  led  the  way  to  the  river-side. 

The  Queen's  barge  was  on  the  very  point  of  putting  off;  the 
seat  allotted  to  Leicester  in  the  stem,  and  that  to  his  master 
of  the  horse  on  the  bow,  of  the  boat  being  already  filled  up. 
But  on  Leicester's  approach  there  was  a  pause,  as  if  the  barge- 
men anticipated  some  alteration  in  their  company.  The 
angry  spot  was,  however,  on  the  Queen's  cheek,  as,  in  that 
cold  tone  with  which  superiors  endeavor  to  veil  their  inter- 
nal agitation,  while  speaking  to  those  before  whom  it  would 
be  derogation  to  express  it,  she  pronounced  the  chilling  words 
— "  We  have  waited,  my  Lord  of  Leicester." 

"  Madam  and  most  gracious  princess,"  said  Leicester,  "  you 
who  can  pardon  so  many  weaknesses  which  your  own  heart 
never  knows,  can  best  bestow  your  commiseration  on  the  agita- 
tions of  the  bosom,  which,  for  a  moment,  affect  both  head  and 
limbs.  I  came  to  your  presence  a  doubting  and  an  accused 
subject;  your  goodness  penetrated  the  clouds  of  defamation, 
and  restored  me  to  my  honor,  and,  what  is  yet  dearer,  to  your 
favor — ^is  it  wonderful,  though  for  me  it  is  most  unhappy, 
that  my  master  of  the  horse  should  have  found  me  in  a  state 
which  scarce  permitted  me  to  make  the  exertion  necessary  to 
follow  him  to  this  place,  when  one  glance  of  your  Highness, 
although,  alas!  an  angry  one,  has  had  power  to  do  that  for  me 
in  which  Esculapius  might  have  failed?  " 

"  How  is  this?  "  said  Elizabeth  hastily,  looking  at  Vamey; 
^  hath  your  lord  been  ill?  " 

"  Something  of  a  fainting  fit,"  answered  the  ready-witted 
Vamey,  "  as  your  Grace  may  observe  from  his  present  condi- 
tion. My  lord's  haste  would  not  permit  me  leisure  even  to 
bring  his  dress  into  order." 

"  It  matters  not,"  said  Elizabeth,  as  she  gazed  on  the  noble 
face  and  form  of  Leicester,  to  which  even  the  strange  mixture 
of  passions  by  which  he  had  been  so  lately  agitated  gave  addi- 
tional interest;  "  make  room  for  my  noble  lord.  Your  place, 
Master  Vamey,  has  been  filled  up;  you  must  find  a  seat  in 
another  barge." 

Vamey  bowed  and  withdrew* 


KENILWORTH.  197 

*'  And  you,  too,  our  young  Squire  of  the  Cloak,"  added  she, 
looking  at  Ealeigh,  "  must,  for  the  time,  go  to  the  barge  of 
our  ladies  of  honor.  As  for  Tressilian,  he  hath  already  suf- 
fered too  much  by  the  caprice  of  women  that  I  should 
aggrieve  him  by  my  change  of  plan,  so  far  as  he  is  concerned." 

Leicester  seated  himself  in  his  place  in  the  barge,  and  close 
to  the  sovereign;  Raleigh  rose  to  retire,  and  Tressilian  would 
have  been  so  ill-timed  in  his  courtesy  as  to  offer  to  relinquish 
his  own  place  to  his  friead,  had  not  the  acute  glance  of 
Raleigh  himself,  who  seemed  now  in  his  native  element,  made 
him  sensible  that  so  ready  a  disclamation  of  the  royal  favor 
might  be  misinterpreted.  He  sate  silent,  therefore,  whilst 
Raleigh,  with  a  profound  bow  and  a  look  of  the  deepest 
humiliation,  was  about  to  quit  his  place. 

A  noble  courtier,  the  gallant  Lord  Willoughby,  read,  as  he 
thought,  something  in  the  Queen's  face  which  seemed  to  pity 
Raleigh's  real  or  assumed  semblance  of  mortification. 

"  It  is  not  for  us  old  courtiers,"  he  said,  "  to  hide  the  sun- 
shine from  the  young  ones.  I  will,  with  her  Majesty's  leave, 
relinquish  fo/  an  hour  that  which  her  subjects  hold  dearest, 
the  delight  of  her  Highness'  presence,  and  mortify  myself  by 
walking  in  starlight,  while  I  forsake  for  a  brief  season  the 
glory  of  Diana's  own  beams.  I  will  take  place  in  the  boat 
which  the  ladies  occupy,  and  permit  this  young  cavalier  his 
hour  of  promised  felicity." 

The  Queen  replied,  with  an  expression  betwixt  mirth  and 
earnest,  "  If  you  are  so  willing  to  leave  us,  my  Lord,  we  can- 
not help  the  mortification.  But,  under  favor,  we  do  not  trust 
you — old  and  experienced  as  you  may  deem  yourself — with 
the  care  of  our  young  ladies  of  honor.  Your  venerable  age, 
my  lord,"  she  continued,  smiling,  "  may  be  better  assorted 
with  that  of  my  lord  treasurer,  who  follows  in  the  third  boat, 
and  whose  experience  even  my  Lord  Willoughby's  may  be 
improved  by." 

Lord  Willoughby  hid  his  disappointment  under  a  smile, 
laughed,  was  confused,  bowed,  and  left  the  Queen's  barge  to 
go  on  board  my  Lord  Burleigh's.  Leicester,  who  endeav- 
ored to  divert  his  thoughts  from  all  internal  reflection  by 
fixing  them  on  what  was  passing  around,  watched  this  circum- 
stance among  others.  But  when  the  boat  put  off  from  the 
shore,  when  the  music  sounded  from  a  barge  which  accom- 
panied them,  when  the  shouts  of  the  populace  were  heard 
from  the  shore,  and  all  reminded  him  of  the  situation  in 
which  he  was  placed,  he  abstr^ct^  his  thoughts  ^d  feelings 


108  WA  VERLET  NO  VEL8. 

by  a  strong  effort  from  everything  but  the  necessity  of  main- 
taining himself  in  the  favor  of  his  patroness,  and  exerted  his 
talents  of  pleasing  captivation  with  such  success  that  the 
Queen,  alternately  delighted  with  his  conversation  and 
alarmed  for  his  health,  at  length  imposed  a  temporary  silence 
on  him,  with  playful  yet  anxious  care,  lest  his  flow  of  spirits 
should  exhaust  ham. 

"  My  lords,"  she  said,  "  having  passed  for  a  time  our  edict 
of  silence  upon  our  good  Leicester,  we  will  call  you  to  counsel 
on  a  gamesome  matter,  more  fitted  to  be  now  treated  of, 
amidst  mirth  and  music,  than  in  the  gravity  of  our  ordinary 
deliberations.  Which  of  you,  my  lords,''  said  she,  smiling, 
"  know  aught  of  a  petition  from  Orson  Pinnit,  the  keeper,  as 
he  qualifies  himself,  of  our  royal  bears?  Who  stands  god- 
father to  his  request  ?  " 

"  Marry,  with  your  Grace's  good  permission,  that  do  I," 
said  the  Earl  of  Sussex.  "  Orson  Pinnit  was  a  stout  soldier 
before  he  was  so  mangled  by  the  skenes  of  the  Irish  clan  Mac- 
Donough,  and  I  trust  your  Grace  will  be,  as  you  always  have 
been,  good  mistress  to  your  good  and  trusty  servants." 

"  Surely,"  said  the  Queen,  "  it  is  our  purpose  to  be  so,  and 
in  especial  to  our  poor  soldiers  and  sailors,  who  hazard  their 
lives  for  little  pay.  We  would  give,"  she  said,  with  her  eyes 
sparkling,  "  yonder  royal  palace  of  ours  to  be  an  hospital  for 
their  use,  rather  than  they  should  call  their  mistress  ungrate- 
ful. But  this  is  not  the  question,"  she  said,  her  voice,  which 
had  been  awakened  by  her  patriotic  feelings,  once  more  sub- 
siding into  the  tone  of  gay  and  easy  conversation;  "  for  this 
Orson  Pinnit's  request  goes  something  farther.  He  com- 
plains that,  amidst  the  extreme  delight  with  which  men  haunt 
the  play-houses,  and  in  especial  their  eager  desire  for  seeing 
the  exhibitions  of  one  Will  Shakspere — whom,  I  think,  my 
lords,  we  have  all  heard  something  of — the  manly  amusement 
of  bear-baiting  is  falling  into  comparative  neglect;  since  men 
will  rather  throng  to  see  these  roguish  players  kill  each  other 
in  jest  than  to  see  our  royal  dogs  and  bears  worry  each  other 
in  bloody  eameet.  What  say  you  to  this,  my  Lord  of 
Sussex?  " 

"Why,  truly,  gracious  madam,"  said  Sussex,  "you  must 
expect  little  from  an  old  soldier  like  me  in  favor  of  battles  in 
sport,  when  they  are  compared  with  battles  in  earnest;  and 
yet,  by  my  faith,  I  wish  Will  Shakspere  no  harm.  He  is  a 
stout  man  at  quarter-staff  and  single  falchion,  though,  as  I 
Mn  told,  a  halting  fellow;  and  he  stood,  they  say,  a  tough  fight 


i 


KENILWORTH.  199 

with  the  rangers  of  old  Sir  Thomas  Lucy  of  Chaxleeot,  when 
he  broke  his  deer-park  and  kissed  his  keeper's  daughter." 

"  I  cry  you  mercy,  my  Lord  of  Sussex,"  said  Queen  Eliza- 
beth, interrupting  him;  "  that  matter  was  heard  in  council, 
and  we  will  not  have  this  fellow's  offense  exaggerated:  there 
was  no  kissing  in  the  matter,  and  the  defendant  hath  put  the 
denial  on  record.  But  what  say  you  to  his  present  practice, 
my  lord,  on  the  stage?  for  there  lies  the  point,  and  not  in  any 
ways  touching  his  former  errors,  in  breaking  parks  or  the 
other  follies  you  speak  of." 

"  Why,  truly,  madam,"  replied  Sussex,  "  as  I  said  before,  I 
wish  the  gamesome,  mad  fellow  no  injury.  Some  of  his 
whoreson  poetry — I  crave  your  Grace's  pardon  for  such  a 
phrase — has  rung  in  mine  ears  as  if  the  lines  sounded  to  boot 
and  saddle.  But  then  it  is  all  froth  and  folly — no  substance 
or  seriousness  in  it,  as  your  Grace  has  already  well  touched. 
What  are  half  a  dozen  knaves,  with  rusty  foils  and  tattered 
targets,  making  but  a  mere  mockery  of  a  stout  fight,  to  com- 
pare to  the  royal  game  of  bear-baiting,  which  hath  been  graced 
by  your  Highness'  countenance,  and  that  of  your  royal  prede- 
cessors, in  this  your  princely  kingdom,  famous  for  matchless 
mastiffs  and  bold  bear- wards  over  all  Christendom?  Greatly 
ia  it  to  be  doubted  that  the  race  of  both  will  decay,  if  men 
should  throng  to  hear  the  lungs  of  an  idle  player  belch  forth 
nonsensical  bombast,  instead  of  bestowing  their  pence  in  en- 
couraging the  bravest  image  of  war  that  can  be  shown  in 
peace,  and  that  is  the  sports  of  the  bear-garden.  There  you 
may  see  the  bear  lying  at  guard  with  his  red  pinky  eyes, 
watching  the  onset  of  the  mastiff,  like  a  wily  captain,  who 
maintains  his  defense  that  an  assailant  may  be  tempted  to 
venture  within  his  danger.  And  then  comes  sir  mastiff,  like  a 
worthy  champion,  in  full  career  at  the  throat  of  his  adversary; 
and  then  shall  sir  bruin  teach  him  the  reward  for  those  who, 
in  their  over-courage,  neglect  the  policies  of  war,  and,  catch- 
ing him  in  his  arms,  strain  him  to  his  breast  like  a  lusty 
wrestler,  until  rib  after  rib  crack  like  the  shot  of  a  pistolet. 
And  then  another  mastiff,  as  bold,  but  with  better  aim  and 
sounder  judgment,  catches  sir  bruin  by  the  nether  lip,  and 
hangs  fast,  while  he  tosses  about  his  blood  and  slaver,  and 
tries  in  vain  to  shake  Sir  Talbot  from  his  hold.  And 
then " 

"  Nay,  by  my  honor,  my  lord,"  said  the  Queen,  laughing, 
"you  have  described  the  whole  so  admirably  that,  had  we 
never  seen  a  bear-baiting,  as  we  have  beheld  many,  and  hope^ 


200  WAYERLEY  NOVELS. 

with  Heaven's  allowance,  to  see  many  more,  your  words  were 
sufficient  to  put  the  whole  hear-garden  before  our  eyes.  But 
come,  who  speaks  next  in  this  case?  My  Lord  of  Leicester, 
what  say  you?" 

^'  Am  I  then  to  consider  myself  as  unmuzzled,  please  your 
Grace?  "  replied  Leicester. 

"  Surely,  my  lord — that  is,  if  you  feel  hearty  enough  to 
take  part  in  our  game,"  answered  Elizabeth;  "  and  yet,  when 
I  think  of  your  cognizance  of  the  bear  and  ragged  staff,  me- 
thinks  we  had  better  hear  some  less  partial  orator." 

"Nay,  on  my  word,  gracious  princess,"  said  the  earl, 
"  though  my  brother  Ambrose  of  Warwick  and  I  do  carry  the 
ancient  cognizance  your  Highness  deigns  to  remember,  I 
nevertheless  desire  nothing  but  fair  play  on  all  sides;  or,  as 
they  say,  '  Fight  dog,  fight  bear.'  And  in  behalf  of  the 
players,  I  must  needs  say  that  they  are  witty  knaves,  whose 
rants  and  jests  keep  the  minds  of  the  commons  from  busying 
themselves  with  state  affairs,  and  listening  to  traitorous 
speeches,  idle  rumors,  and  disloyal  insinuations.  When  laen 
are  agape  to  see  how  Marlowe,  Shakspere,  and  other  play  arti- 
ficers work  out  their  fanciful  plots,  as  they  call  them,  the 
mind  of  the  spectators  is  withdrawn  from  the  conduct  of 
their  rulers." 

"  We  would  not  have  the  mind  of  our  subjects  withdrawn 
from  the  consideration  of  our  own  conduct,  my  lord,"  an- 
swered Elizabeth;  "  because,  the  more  closely  it  is  examined, 
the  true  motives  by  which  we  are  guided  will  appear  the  more 
manifest." 

"I  have  heard,  however,  madam,"  said  the  Dean  of  St. 
Asaph's,  an  eminent  Puritan,  "  that  these  players  are  wont,  in 
their  plays,  not  only  to  introduce  profane  and  lewd  expres- 
sions, tending  to  foster  sin  and  harlotry,  but  even  to  bellow 
out  such  reflections  on  government,  its  origin  and  its  object, 
as  tend  to  render  the  subject  discontented,  and  shake  the 
solid  foundations  of  civil  society.  And  it  seems  to  be,  under 
your  Grace's  favor,  far  less  than  safe  to  permit  these  naughty, 
foul-mouthed  knaves  to  ridicule  the  godly  for  their  decent 
gravity,  and  in  blaspheming  Heaven,  and  slandering  its 
earthly  rulers,  to  set  at  defiance  the  laws  both  of  God  and 
man." 

"  If  we  could  think  this  were  true,  my  lord,"  said  Elizabeth, 
"  we  should  give  shai-p  correction  for  such  offenses.  But  it 
is  ill  arguing  against  the  use  of  anything  from  its  abuse. 
And  touching  this  Shakspere,  we  think  there  is  that  in  his 


KENILWORTH.  201 

plays  that  is  worth  twenty  bear-gardens;  and  that  this  new 
undertaking  of  his  Chronicles,  as  he  calls  them,  may  enter- 
tain, with  honest  mirth,  mingled  with  useful  instruction,  not 
only  our  subjects,  but  even  the  generation  which  may  succeed 
to  us." 

"  Your  Majesty's  reign  will  need  no  such  feeble  aid  to  make 
it  remembered  to  the  latest  posterity,"  said  Leicester.  "  And 
yet,  in  his  way,  Shakspere  hath  so  touched  some  incidents  of 
your  Majesty's  happy  government  as  may  countervail  what 
has  been  spoken  by  his  reverence  the  Dean  of  St.  Asaph's. 
There  are  some  lines,  for  example — I  would  my  nephew, 
Philip  Sidney,  were  here,  they  are  scarce  ever  out  of  his 
mouth — they  are  spoken  in  a  mad  tale  of  fairies,  love-charms, 
and  I  wot  not  what  besides;  but  beautiful  they  are,  however 
short  they  may  and  must  fall  of  the  subject  to  which  they 
bear  a  bold  relation,  and  Philip  murmurs  them,  I  think,  even 
in  his  dreams." 

"  You  tantalize  us,  my  lord,"  said  the  Queen.  "  Master 
Philip  Sidney  is,  we  know,  a  minion  of  the  Muses,  and  we  are 
pleased  it  should  be  so.  Valor  never  shines  to  more  advan- 
tage than  when  united  with  the  true  taste  and  love  of  le$tters. 
But  surely  there  are  some  others  among  our  young  courtiers 
who  can  recollect  what  your  lordship  has  forgotten  amid 
weightier  affairs.  Master  Tressilian,you  are  described  to  me  as 
a  worshiper  of  Minerva — ^remember  you  aught  of  these  lines?" 

Tressilian's  heart  was  too  heavy,  his  prospects  in  life  too 
fatally  blighted,  to  profit  by  the  opportunity  which  the  Queen 
thus  offered  to  him  of  attracting  her  attention,  but  he  deter- 
mined to  transfer  the  advantage  to  his  more  ambitious  young 
friend;  and,  excusing  himself  on  the  score  of  want  of  recol- 
lection, he  added,  that  he  believed  the  beautiful  verses  of 
which  my  Lord  of  Leicester  had  spoken  were  in  the  remem- 
brance of  Master  Walter  Raleigh. 

At  the  command  of  the  Queen,  that  cavalier  repeated,  with 
accent  and  manner  which  even  added  to  their  exquisite  deli- 
cacy of  tact  and  beauty  of  description,  the  celebrated  vision 
of  Oberon: 

"  That  very  time  I  saw  (but  thmi  conldst  not), 
Flyins;  between  the  cold  moon  and  the  earth, 
Cupid,  all  arm'd  ;  a  certain  aim  he  took 
At  a  fair  vestal,  throned  by  the  west ; 
And  loos'd  his  love-shaft  smartly  from  his  bow, 
As  it  should  pierce  a  hundred  thousand  hearts. 
But  I  might  see  young  Cupid's  fiery  shaft 
Qunch'd  in  the  chaste  beams  of  the  watery  moon ; 
And  the  imperial  vot'ress  passed  on, 
In  maiden  meditation,  fancy  fre«.'* 


203  WA  YERLEY  NO  YEL8. 

The  voice  of  Raleigh,  as  he  repeated  the  last  lines,  became  a 
little  tremulous,  as  if  diffident  how  the  sovereign  to  whom  the 
homage  was  addressed  might  receive  it,  exquisite  as  it  was. 
If  this  diffidence  was  affected,  it  was  good  policy;  but  if  real, 
there  was  little  occasion  for  it.  The  verses  were  not  probably- 
new  to  the  Queen,  for  when  was  ever  such  elegant  flattery 
long  in  reaching  the  royal  ear  to  which  it  was  addressed? 
But  they  were  not  the  less  welcome  when  repeated  by  such  a 
speaker  as  Raleigh.  Alike  delighted  with  the  matter,  the 
manner,  and  the  graceful  form  and  animated  countenance  of 
the  gallant  young  reciter,  Elizabeth  kept  time  to  every  ca- 
dence with  look  and  with  finger.  When  the  speaker  had 
ceased,  she  murmured  over  the  last  lines  as  if  scarce  conscious 
that  she  was  overheard,  and  as  she  uttered  the  words, 

*•  In  maiden  meditation,  fancy  free." 

she  dropt  into  the  Thames  the  supplication  of  Orson  Pinnit, 
keeper  of  the  royal  bears,  to  find  more  favorable  acceptance 
at  Sheemess,  or  wherever  the  tide  might  waft  it. 

Leicester  was  spurred  to  emulation  by  the  success  of  the 
young  courtier's  exhibition,  as  the  veteran  racer  is  roused 
when  a  high-mettled  colt  passes  him  on  the  way.  He  turned 
the  discourse  on  shows,  banquets,  pageants,  and  on  the  char- 
acter of  those  by  whom  these  gay  scenes  were  then  frequented. 
He  mixed  acute  observation  with  light  satire,  in  that  just  pro- 
portion which  was  free  alike  from  malignant  slander  and  in- 
sipid praise.  He  mimicked  with  ready  accent  the  manners 
of  the  affected  or  the  clownish,  and  made  his  own  graceful 
tone  and  manner  seem  doubly  such  when  he  resumed  it. 
Foreign  countries — their  customs,  their  manners,  the  rules  of 
their  courts,  the  fashions,  and  even  the  dress,  of  their  ladies, 
were  equally  his  theme;  and  seldom  did  he  conclude  without 
conveying  some  compliment,  always  couched  in  delicacy  and 
expressed  with  propriety,  to  the  Virgin  Queen,  her  court,  and 
her  government.  Thus  passed  the  conversation  during  this 
pleasure  voyage,  seconded  by  the  rest  of  the  attendants  upon 
the  royal  person,  in  gay  discourse,  varied  by  remarks  upon 
ancient  classics  and  modern  authors,  and  enriched  by  maxims 
of  deep  policy  and  sound  morality  by  the  statesmen  and  sages 
who  sate  around,  and  mixed  wisdom  with  the  lighter  talk  of 
a  female  court. 

When  they  returned  to  the  palace,  Elizabeth  accepted,  or 
rather  selected,  the  arm  of  Leicester  to  support  her  from  the 
stairs  where  they  landed  to  the  great  gat'^     It  even  seemed  to 


KENILWORTff.  ^05 

him  (though  that  might  arise  from  the  flattery  of  his  own 
imagination)  that,  during  this  short  passage,  she  leaned  on 
him  somewhat  more  than  the  slippiness  of  the  way  neces- 
sarily demanded.  Certainly  her  actions  and  words  combined 
to  express  a  degree  of  favor  which,  even  in  his  proudest  days, 
he  had  not  till  then  attained.  His  rival,  indeed,  was  re- 
peatedly graced  by  the  Queen^s  notice;  but  it  was  in  a  man- 
ner that  seemed  to  flow  less  from  spontaneous  inclination 
than  as  extorted  by  a  sense  of  his  merit.  And,  in  the  opinion 
of  many  experienced  courtiers,  all  the  favor  she  showed  him 
was  overbalanced  by  her  whispering  in  the  ear  of  the  Lady 
Derby,  that  "  Now  she  saw  sickness  was  a  better  alchemist 
than  she  before  wotted  of,  seeing  it  had  changed  my  Lord  of 
Sussex^s  copper  nose  into  a  golden  one." 

The  jest  transpired,  and  the  Earl  of  Leicester  enjoyed  his 
triumph,  as  one  to  whom  court  favor  had  been  both  the  pri- 
mary and  the  ultimate  motive  of  life,  while  he  forgot  in  the 
intoxication  of  the  moment  the  perplexities  and  dangers  of 
his  own  situation.  Indeed,  strange  as  it  may  appear,  he 
thought  less  at  that  moment  of  the  perils  arising  from  his 
secret  union  than  of  the  marks  of  grace  which  Elizabeth  from 
time  to  time  showed  to  young  Raleigh.  They  were  indeed 
transient,  but  they  were  conferred  on  one  accomplished  in 
mind  and  body  with  grace,  gallantry,  literature,  and  valor. 
An  accident  occurred  in  the  course  of  the  evening  which  riv- 
eted Leicester's  attention  to  this  object. 

The  nobles  and  courtiers  who  had  attended  the  Queen  on 
her  pleasure  expedition  were  invited,  with  royal  hospitality, 
to  a  splendid  banquet  in  the  hall  of  the  palace.  The  table 
was  not,  indeed,  graced  by  the  presence  of  the  sovereign;  for, 
agreeable  to  her  idea  of  what  was  at  once  modest  and  digni- 
fied, the  Maiden  Queen  on  such  occasions  was  wont  to  take  in 
private,  or  with  one  or  two  favorite  ladies,  her  light  and  tem- 
perate meal.  After  a  moderate  interval,  the  court  again  met 
in  the  splendid  gardens  of  the  palace;  and  it  was  while  thus 
engaged  that  the  Queen  suddenly  asked  a  lady,  who  was  near 
to  her  both  in  place  and  favor,  what  had  become  of  the  young 
Squire  Lack-Cloak. 

The  Lady  Paget  answered,  "  She  had  seen  Master  Raleigh 
but  two  or  three  minutes  since,  standing  at  the  window  of  a 
small  pavilion  or  pleasure-house  which  looked  out  on  the 
Thames,  and  writing  on  the  glass  with  a  diamond  ring." 

"  That  ring,"  said  the  Queen,  "  was  a  small  token  I  gave 
him,  to  make  amends  f o^r  his  spoiled  mantie.     Come,  Paget. 


904  WA  VERLET  NO  VELS. 

let  us  see  what  use  he  has  made  of  it,  for  I  can  see  through 
him  already.     He  is  a  miarvelously  sharp-witted  spirit." 

They  went  to  the  spot,  within  sight  of  which,  but  at  some 
distance,  the  young  cavalier  still  lingered,  as  the  fowler 
watches  the  net  which  he  has  set.  The  Queen  approached 
the  window,  on  which  Raleigh  had  used  her  gift  to  inscribe 
the  following  line: 

"  Fain  would  I  climb,  but  that  I  fear  to  fall." 

The  Queen  smiled,  read  it  twice  over,  once  with  delibera- 
tion to  Lady  Paget,  and  once  again  to  herself.  "  It  is  a 
pretty  beginning,"  she  said,  after  the  consideration  of  a  mo- 
ment or  two;  "  but  methinks  the  muse  hath  deserted  the 
young  wit  at  the  very  outset  of  his  task.  It  were  good- 
natured,  were  it  not.  Lady  Paget,  to  complete  it  for  him? 
Try  your  rhyming  faculties." 

Lady  Paget,  prosaic  from  her  cradle  upward,  as  ever  any 
lady  of  the  bedchamber  before  or  after  her,  disclaimed  all 
possibility  of  assisting  the  young  poet. 

"  Nay,  then,  we  must  sacrifice  to  the  Muses  ourselves,"  said 
Elizabeth. 

"  The  incense  of  no  one  can  be  more  acceptable,"  said  Lady 
Paget;  "  and  your  Highness  will  impose  such  obligation  on 
the  ladies  of  Parnassus " 

"  Hush,  Paget,"  said  the  Queen,  "  you  speak  sacrilege 
against  the  immortal  Nine;  yet,  virgins  themselves,  they 
should  be  exorable  to  a  virgin  Queen;  and,  therefore,  let  me 
see  how  runs  his  verse: 

*'  *  Fain  would  I  climb,  but  that  I  fear  to  fall.' 

Might  not  the  answer,  for  fault  of  a  better,  run  thus: 

"  If  thy  mind  fail  thee,  do  not  climb  at  all  ?  " 

The  dame  of  honor  uttered  an  exclamation  of  joy  and  sur- 
prise at  so  happy  a  termination;  and  certainly  a  worse  has 
been  applauded,  even  when  coming  from  a  less  distinguished 
author. 

The  Queen,  thus  encouraged,  took  off  a  diamond  ring,  and 
saying,  "  We  will  give  this  gallant  some  cause  of  marvel,  when 
when  he  finds  his  couplet  perfected  without  his  own  interfer- 
ence," she  wrote  her  own  line  beneath  that  of  Raleigh. 

The  Queen  left  the  pavilion;  but,  retiring  slowly,  and  often 
looking  ba.ck,  she  could  see  the  young  cavalier  steal,  with  the 
flight  of  a  lapwing,  toward  the  place  where  he  had  seen  her 
make  a  pause.  "  She  stayed  but  to  observe,"  as  she  said,  "  that 


KENILWORTH,  205 

her  train  had  taken  ";  and  then,  laughing  at  the  circumstance 
with  the  Lady  Paget,  she  took  the  way  slowly  toward  the 
palace.  Elizabeth,  as  they  returned,  cautioned  her  com- 
panion not  to  mention  to  anyone  the  aid  which  she  had  given 
to  the  young  poet,  and  Lady  Paget  promised  scrupulous 
secrecy.  It  is  to  be  supposed  that  she  made  a  mental  reser- 
vation in  favor  of  Leicester,  to  whom  her  ladyship  transmitted 
without  delay  an  anecdote  so  little  calculated  to  give  him 
pleasure. 

Raleigh,  in  the  meanwhile,  stole  back  to  the  window,  and 
read,  with  a  feeling  of  intoxication,  the  encouragement  thus 
given  him  by  the  Queen  in  person  to  follow  out  his  ambitious 
career,  and  returned  to  Sussex  and  his  retinue,  then  on  the 
point  of  embarking  to  go  up  the  river,  his  heart  beating  high 
with  gratified  pride  and  with  hope  of  future  distinction. 

The  reverence  due  to  the  person  of  the  earl  prevented  any 
notice  being  taken  of  the  reception  he  had  met  with  at  court, 
until  they  had  landed,  and  the  household  were  assembled  in 
the  great  hall  at  Say's  Court;  while  that  lord,  exhausted  by 
his  late  illness  and  the  fatigues  of  the  day,  had  retired  to  his 
chamber,  demanding  the  attendance  of  Wayland,  his  success- 
ful physician.  Wayland,  however,  was  nowhere  to  be  found; 
and,  while  some  of  the  party  were,  with  military  impatience, 
seeking  him,  and  cursing  his  absence,  the  rest  flocked  around 
Raleigh  to  congratulate  nim  on  his  prospects  of  court  favor. 

He  had  the  good  taste  and  judgment  to  conceal  the  deci- 
sive circumstance  of.  the  couplet,  to  which  Elizabeth  had 
deigned  to  find  a  rhyme;  but  other  indications  had  transpired 
which  plainly  intimated  that  he  had  made  some  progress  in 
the  Queen's  favor.  All  hastened  to  wish  him  joy  on  the 
mended  appearance  of  his  fortune — some  from  real  regard; 
some,  perhaps,  from  hopes  that  his  preferment  might  hasten 
their  own;  and  most  from  a  mixture  of  these  motives,  and  a 
sense  that  the  countenance  shown  to  any  one  of  Sussex's 
household  was,  in  fact,  a  triumph  to  the  whole.  Raleigh  re- 
turned the  kindest  thanks  to  them  all,  disowning,  with  be- 
coming modesty,  that  one  day's  fair  reception  made  a  favorite, 
any  more  than  one  swallow  a  summer.  But  he  observed  that 
Blount  did  not  join  in  the  general  congratulation,  and,  some- 
what hurt  at  his  apparent  unkindness,  he  plainly  asked  him 
the  reason. 

Blount  replied  with  equal  sincerity — ''  My  good  Walter,  I 
wish  thee  as  well  as  do  any  of  these  chattering  gulls,  who  are 
whistling  and  whooping  gratulations  in  thine  ear,  because  it 


206  WAVERLE7  KorELS, 

seems  fair  weather  with  thee.  But  I  fear  for  thee,  Walter 
[and  he  wiped  his  honest  eye] — I  fear  for  thee  with  all  my 
heart.  These  court  tricks,  and  gambols,  and  flashes  of  fine 
women's  favor,  are  the  tricks  and  trinkets  that  bring  fair  for- 
tunes to  farthings,  and  fine  faces  and  witty  coxcombs  to  the 
acquaintance  of  dull  block  and  sharp  axes." 

So  saying,  Blount  arose  and  left  the  hall,  while  Ealeigh 
looked  after  him  with  an  expression  that  blanked  for  a  mo- 
ment his  bold  and  animated  countenance. 

Stanley  just  then  entered  the  hall,  and  said  to  Tressilian, 
''  My  lord  is  calling  for  your  fellow  Wayland,  and  your  fellow 
Wayland  is  just  come  hither  in  a  sculler,  and  is  calling  for 
you,  nor  will  he  go  to  my  lord  till  he  sees  you.  The  fellow 
looks  as  he  were  mazed,  methinks.  I  would  you  would  see 
him  immediately.'' 

Tressilian  instantly  left  the  hall,  and  causing  Wayland 
Smith  to  be  shown  into  a  withdrawing-apartment,  and  lights 
placed,  he  conducted  the  artist  thither,  and  was  surprised 
when  he  observed  the  emotion  of  his  countenance. 

"What  is  the  matter  with  you.  Smith?"  said  Tressilian; 
"  have  you  seen  the  devil?  " 

"  Worse,  sir — worse,"  replied  Wayland,  "  I  have  seen  a 
basilisk.  Thank  God,  I  saw  him  first,  for,  being  so  seen,  and 
seeing  not  me,  he  will  do  the  less  harm." 

"  In  God's  name,  speak  sense,"  said  Tressilian,  "  and  say 
what  you  mean! " 

"  I  have  seen  my  old  master,"  said  the  artist.  "  Last  night, 
a  friend  whom  I  had  acquired  took  me  to  see  the  palace  clock, 
judging  me  to  be  curious  in  such  works  of  art.  At  the  win- 
dow of  a  turret  next  to  the  clock-house  I  saw  my  old  master." 

"  Thou  must  needs  have  been  mistaken,"  said  Tressilian. 

"  I  was  not  mistaken,"  said  Wayland.  "  He  that  once 
hath  his  features  by  heart  would  know  him  amongst  a  mil- 
Kon.  He  was  anticly  habited;  but  he  cannot  disguise  himself 
from  me,  God  be  praised!  as  I  can  from  him.  I  will  not,  how- 
ever, tempt  Providence  by  remaining  within  his  ken.  Tarle- 
ton  the  player  himself  could  not  so  disguise  himself  but  that, 
sooner  or  later,  Doboobie  would  find  him  out.  I  must  away 
to-morrow;  for,  as  we  stand  together,  it  were  death  to  me  to 
remain  within  reach  of  him." 

"  But  the  Earl  of  Sussex?  "  said  Tressilian. 

"  He  is  in  little  danger  from  what  he  has  hitherto  taken, 
provided  he  swallow  the  matter  of  a  bean's  size  of  the  orvie- 
tan  every  morning  fasting;  but  let  him  beware  of  a  relapse." 


KENILWOETH.  207 

"And  how  is  that  te  be  guarded  against?  "  said  Tressilian. 

"  Only  by  such  caution  as  you  would  use  against  the  devil," 
answered  Wayland.  "  Let  my  lord's  clerk  of  the  kitchen  kill 
his  lord's  meat  himself,  and  dress  it  himself,  using  no  spice 
but  what  he  procures  from  the  surest  hands.  Let  the  sewer 
serve  it  up  himself,  and  let  the  master  of  my  lord's  household 
see  that  both  clerk  and  sewer  taste  the  dishes  which  the  one 
dresses  and  the  other  serves.  Let  my  lord  use  no  perfumes 
which  come  not  from  well  accredited  persons — no  unguents — 
no  pomades.  Let  him,  on  no  account,  drink  with  strangers, 
or  eat  fruit  with  them,  either  in  the  way  of  nooning  or  other- 
wise. Especially,  let  him  observe  such  caution  if  he  goes  to 
Kenilworth:  the  excuse  of  his  illness,  and  his  being  under 
diet,  will,  and  must,  cover  the  strangeness  of  such  practice." 

"  And  thou,"  said  Tressilian,  "  what  dost  thou  think  to 
make  of  thyself?" 

"France,  Spain,  either  India,  East  or  West,  shall  be  my 
refuge,"  said  AVayland,  "  ere  I  venture  my  life  by  residing 
within  ken  of  Doboobie,  Demetrius,  or  whatever  else  he  calls 
himself  for  the  time." 

"  Well,"  said  Tressilian,  "  this  happens  not  inopportunely. 
I  had  business  for  you  in  Berkshire,  but  in  the  opposite  ex- 
tremity to  the  place  where  thou  art  known;  and  ere  thou 
hadst  found  out  this  new  reason  for  living  private,  I  had 
settled  to  send  thee  thither  upon  a  secret  embassage." 

The  artist  expressed  himself  willing  to  receive  his  com- 
mands, and  Tressilian,  knowing  he  was  well  acquainted  with 
the  outline  of  his  business  at  court,  frankly  explained  to  him 
the  whole,  mentioned  the  agreement  which  subsisted  betwixt 
Giles  Gosling  and  him,  and  told  what  had  that  day  been 
averred  in  the  presence-chamber  by  Vamey,  and  supported  by 
Leicester. 

"  Thou  seest,"  he  added,  "  that,  in  the  circumstances  in 
which  I  am  placed,  it  behoves  me  to  keep  a  narrow  watch  on 
the  motions  of  these  unprincipled  men,  Varney  and  his  com- 
plices, Foster  and  Lamboume,  as  well  as  on  those  of  my  Lord 
Leicester  himself,  who,  I  suspe<rt,  is  partly  a  deceiver,  and  not 
altogether  the  deceived  in  that  matter.  Here  is  my  ring,  as  a 
pledge  to  Giles  Gosling;  here  is,,  besides,  gold,  which  shall  be 
trebled  if  thou  serve  me  faithfully.  Away  down  to  Cumnor, 
and  see  what  happens  there." 

"I  go  with  double  good- will,"  said  the  artist,  "first,  be- 
cause I  serve  your  honor,  who  has  been  so  kind  to  me,  and 
then,  that  I  may  escape  my  old  master,  who,  if  not  an  abso- 


208  WAV^BLEY  NOVELS. 

lute  incarnation  of  the  devil,  has,  at  least,  as  much  of  the 
demon  about  him,  in  will,  word,  and  action,  as  ever  polluted 
humanity.  And  yet  let  him  take  care  of  me.  I  fly  him  now, 
as  heretofore;  but  if,  like  the  Scottish  wild  cattle,*  I  am  vexed 
by  frequent  pursuit,  I  may  turn  on  him  in  hate  and  despera- 
tion. Will  your  honor  command  my  nag  to  be  saddled?  I 
will  but  give  the  medicine  to  my  lord,  divided  in  its  proper 
proportions,  with  a  few  instructions.  His  safety  will  then 
depend  on  the  care  of  his  friends  and  domestics:  for  the  past 
he  is  guarded,  but  let  him  beware  of  the  future." 

Wa3dand  Smith  accordingly  made  his  farewell  visit  to  the 
Earl  of  Sussex,  dictated  instructions  as  to  his  regimen  and 
precautions  concerning  his  diet,  and  left  Say's  Court  without 
waiting  for  morning. 

♦SoeNotelO. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


The  moment  comes — 
It  is  already  come— when  thou  must  write 
The  absolute  total  of  thy  life's  vast  sum. 
The  constellations  stand  victorious  o'er  thee, 
The  planets  shoot  good  fortune  in  fair  junctioni, 
And  tell  thee,  '  Now's  the  time.' 

— SoHiLiiEB's  Wallenstein,  by  Colebidos. 

When  Leicester  returned  to  his  lodging,  after  a  day  so  im- 
portant and  so  harassing,  in  which,  after  riding  out  more 
than  one  gale,  and  touching  on  more  than  one  shoal,  his  bark 
had  finally  gained  the  harbor  with  banner  displayed,  he 
seemed  to  experience  as  much  fatigue  as  a  mariner  after  a 
perilous  storm.  He  spoke  not  a  word  while  his  chamberlain 
exchanged  his  rich  court-mantle  for  a  furred  night-robe,  and 
when  this  officer  signified  that  Master  Vamey  desired  to 
speak  with  his  lordship,  he  replied  only  by  a  sullen  nod. 
Vamey,  however,  entered,  accepting  this  signal  as  a  permis- 
sion, and  the  chamberlain  withdrew. 

The  earl  remained  silent  and  almost  motionless  in  his  chair, 
his  head  reclined  on  his  hand,  and  his  elbow  resting  on  the 
table  which  stood  beside  him,  without  seeming  to  be  con- 
scious of  the  entrance  or  of  the  presence  of  his  confidant. 
Vamey  waited  for  some  minutes  until  he  should  speak,  de- 
sirous to  know  what  was  the  finally  predominant  mood  of  a 
mind  through  which  so  many  powerful  emotions  had  that  day 
taken  their  course.  But  he  waited  in  vain,  for  Leicester  con- 
tinued still  silent,  and  the  confidant  saw  himself  under  the 
necessity  of  being  the  first  to  speak.  ^^  May  I  congratulate 
your  lordship,"  he  said,  "  on  the  deserved  superiority  you 
have  this  day  attained  over  your  most  formidable  rival  ?  " 

Leicester  raised  his  head,  and  answered  sadly,  but  without 
anger,  "Thou,  Varney,  whose  ready  invention  has  involved 
me  in  a  web  of  most  mean,  and  perilous  falsehood,  knowest 
best  what  small  reason  there  is  for  gratulation  on  the 
subject." 

"  Do  you  blame  me,  my  lord,"  said  Vamey,  "  for  not  be- 
traying, on  the  first  push,  the  secret  on  which  your  fortune* 
depended,  and  which  you. have  so  oft  and  so  earnestly  recom- 
mended to  my  safe  keeping?     Your  lordship  was  present  in 

S09 


210  WA  VERLET  NO  VELS. 

person,  and  might  have  contradicted  me  and  ruined  yourself 
by  an  avowal  of  the  truth;  but  surely  it  was  no  part  of  a  faith- 
ful servant  to  have  done  so  without  your  commands." 

"  I  cannot  deny  it,  Vamey/'  said  the  earl,  rising  and  walk- 
ing across  the  room;  "  my  own  ambition  has  been  traitor  to 
my  love." 

"Say,  rather,  my  lord,  that  your  love  has  been  traitor  to 
your  greatness,  and  barred  you  from  such  a  prospect  of  honor 
and  power  as  the  world  cannot  offer  to  any  other.  To  make 
my  honored  lady  a  countess,  you  have  missed  the  chance  of 
being  yourself " 

He  paused,  and  seemed  unwilling  to  complete  the  sentence. 

"  Of  being  myself  what?  "  demanded  Leicester;  "  speak  out 
thy  meaning,  Varney " 

"  Of  being  yourself  a  KING,  my  lord,"  replied  Vamey; 
"  and  King  of  England  to  boot!  It  is  no  treason  to  our 
Queen  to  say  so.  It  would  have  chanced  by  her  obtaining 
that  which  all  true  subjects  wish  her — a  lusty,  noble,  and 
gallant  husband." 

"  Thou  ravest,  Vamey,"  answered  Leicester.  "  Besides, 
our  times  have  seen  enough  to  make  men  loathe  the  crown 
matrimonial  which  men  take  from  their  wives'  lap.  There 
was  Darnley  of  Scotland." 

"  He!  "  said  Vamey — "  a  gull,  a  fool,  a  thrice-sodden  ass, 
who  suffered  himself  to  be  fired  off  into  the  air  like  a  rocket 
on  a  rejoicing-day.  Had  Mary  had  the  hap  to  have  wedded 
the  noble  earl  once  destined  to  share  her  throne,  she  had 
experienced  a  husband  of  different  metal;  and  her  husband 
had  found  in  her  a  wife  as  complying  and  loving  as  the  mate 
of  the  meanest  squire,  who  follows  the  hounds  a-horseback, 
and  holds  her  husband's  bridle  as  he  mounts." 

"  It  might  have  been  as  thou  sayst,  Vamey,"  said  Leicester, 
a  brief  smile  of  self-satisfaction  passing  over  his  anxious 
countenance.  "  Henry  Darnley  knew  little  of  women.  With 
Mary,  a  man  who  knew  her  sex  might  have  had  some  chance 
of  holding  his  own;  but  not  with  Elizabeth,  Vamey;  for  I 
think  God,  when  He  gave  her  the  heart  of  a  woman,  gave  her 
the  head  of  a  man  to  control  its  follies.  No,  I  know  her.  She 
will  accept  love-tokens — aye,  and  requite  them  with  the  like; 
put  sugared  sonnets  in  her  bosom — aye,  and  answer  them  too; 
push  gallantry  to  the  very  vers:e  where  it  becomes  exchange 
of  affection;  but  she  writes  '  nil  ultra '  to  all  which  is  to  fol- 
low, and  would  not  barter  one  iota  of  her  own  supreme  power 
for  all  the  alphabet  of  both  Cupid  and  Hymen." 


KENILWOBTH.  211 

"  The  better  for  you,  my  lord,"  said  Vamey,  "  that  is,  in 
the  case  supposed,  if  such  be  her  disposition;  since  you  think 
you  cannot  aspire  to  become  her  husband.  Her  favorite  you 
are,  and  may  remain,  if  the  lady  at  Cumnor  Place  continues 
in  her  present  obscurity." 

"  Poor  Amy! "  said  Leicester,  with  a  deep  sigh;  "  she  de- 
sires  so  earnestly  to  be  acknowledged  in  presence  of  God  and 
man!" 

"  Aye,  but,  my  lord,"  said  Vamey,  "  is  her  desire  reason- 
able? that  is  the  question.  Her  religious  scruples  are  solved: 
she  is  an  honored  and  beloved  wife,  enjoying  the  society  of 
her  husband  at  such  times  as  his  weightier  duties  permit  him 
to  afford  her  his  company.  What  would  she  more?  I  am 
right  sure  that  a  lady  so  gentle  and  so  loving  would  consent 
to  live  her  life  through  in  a  certain  obscurity — which  is,  after 
all,  not  dimmer  than  when  she  was  at  Lidcote  Hall — rather 
than  diminish  the  least  jot  of  her  lord^s  honors  and  greatness 
by  a  premature  attempt  to  share  them." 

"  There  is  something  in  what  thou  say'st,"  said  Leicester; 
"  and  her  appearance  here  were  fatal.  Yet  she  must  be  seen 
at  Kenilworth:  Elizabeth  will  not  forget  that  she  has  so  ap- 
pointed." 

"  Let  me  sleep  on  that  hard  point,"  said  Vamey;  "  I  can- 
not else  perfect  the  device  I  have  on  the  stithy,  which  I  trust 
will  satisfy  the  Queen  and  please  my  honored  lady,  yet  leave 
this  fatal  secret  where  it  is  now  buried.  Has  your  lordship 
further  commands  for  the  night?  " 

"  I  would  be  alone,"  said  Leicester.  "  Leave  me,  and  place 
my  steel  casket  on  the  table.     Be  within  summons." 

Varney  retired;  and  the  earl,  opening  the  window  of  his 
apartment,  looked  out  long  and  anxiously  upon  the  brilliant 
host  of  stars  which  glimmered  in  the  splendor  of  a  summer 
firmament.  The  words  burst  from  him  as  at  unawares — "  I 
had  never  more  need  that  the  heavenly  bodies  should  befriend 
me,  for  my  earthly  path  is  darkened  and  confused." 

It  is  well  known  that  the  age  reposed  a  deep  confidence  in 
the  vain  predictions  of  judicial  astrology,  and  Leicester, 
though  exempt  from  the  general  control  of  superstition,  waa 
not  in  this  respect  superior  to  his  time;  but,  on  the  contrary, 
was  remarkable  for  the  encouragement  which  he  gave  to  the 
professors  of  this  pretended  science.  Indeed,  the  wish  to  pry 
into  futurity,  so  general  among  the  human  race,  is  peculiarly 
to  be  found  amongst  those  who  trade  in  state  mysteries,  and 
the  dangerous  intrigues  and  cabals  of  courts.     With  heedful 


212  WAyEELEY  NOVELS. 

precaution  to  see  that  it  had  not  been  opened,  or  its  locks 
tampered  with,  Leicester  applied  a  key  to  the  steel  casket, 
and  drew  from  it,  first,  a  parcel  of  gold  pieces,  which  he  put 
into  a  silk  purse;  then  a  parchment  inscribed  wi*th  planetary 
signs,  and  the  lines  and  calculations  used  in  framing  horo- 
scopes, on  which  he  gazed  intently  for  a  few  moments;  and, 
lastly,  took  forth  a  large  key,  which,  lifting  aside  the  tapestry, 
he  applied  to  a  httle  concealed  door  in  the  comer  of  the  apart- 
ment, and,  opening  it,  disclosed  a  stair  constructed  in  the 
thickness  of  the  wall. 

"  Alasco,"  said  the  earl,  with  a  voice  raised,  yet  no  higher 
raised  than  to  be  heard  by  the  inhabitant  of  the  small  turret 
to  which  the  stair  conducted — "  Alasco,  I  say,  descend." 

"I  come,  my  lord,"  answered  a  voice  from  above.  The 
foot  of  an  aged  man  was  heard  slowly  descending  the  narrow 
stair,  and  Alasco  entered  the  earPs  apartment.  The  astrolo- 
ger was  a  little  man,  and  seemed  much  advanced  in  age,  for 
his  beard  was  long  and  white,  and  reached  over  his  black 
doublet  down  to  his  silken  girdle.  His  hair  was  of  the  same 
venerable  hue.  But  his  eyebrows  were  as  dark  as  the  keen 
and  piercing  black  eyes  which  they  shaded,  and  this  peculi- 
arity gave  a  wild  and  singular  cast  to  the  physiognomy  of  the 
old  man.  His  cheek  was  still  fresh  and  ruddy,  and  the  eyes 
we  have  mentioned  resembled  those  of  a  rat  in  acuteness,  and 
even  fierceness,  of  expression.  His  manner  was  not  without 
a  sort  of  dignity;  and  the  interpreter  of  the  sitars,  though 
respectful,  seemed  altogether  at  his  ease,  and  even  assumed  a 
tone  of  instruction  and  command  in  conversing  with  the 
prime  favorite  of  Elizabeth. 

"  Your  prognostications  have  failed,  Alasco,"  said  the  earl, 
when  they  had  exchanged  salutations.     "  He  is  recovering." 

"  My  son,"  replied  the  astrologer,  "  let  me  remind  you,  I 
warranted  not  his  death;  nor  is  there  any  prognostication  that 
can  be  derived  from  the  heavenly  bodies,  their  aspects,  and 
their  conjunctions,  which  is  not  liable  to  be  controlled  by  the 
will  of  Heaven.  'Astra  regunt  homines,  sed  regit  astra 
Deus.' " 

"  Of  what  avail,  then,  is  your  mystery?  "  inquired  the  earl. 

"  Of  much,  my  son,"  replied  the  old  man,  "  since  it  can 
show  the  natural  and  probable  course  of  events,  although  that 
course  moves  in  subordination  to  an  Higher  Power.  Thus, 
in  reviewing  the  horoscope  which  your  lordship  subjected  to 
my  skill,  you  will  observe  that  Saturn,  being  in  the  sixth 
house  in  opposition  to  Mars,  retrogade  in  the  House  of  Life. 


KENILWORTH.  213 

cannot  but  denote  long  and  dangerous  sickness,  the  issue 
whereof  is  in  the  will  of  Heaven,  though  death  may  probably 
be  inferred.  Yet,  if  I  knew  the  name  of  the  party,  I  would 
erect  another  scheme." 

"  His  name  is  a  secret,"  said  the  earl;  "  yet,  I  must  own,  thy 
prognostication  hath  not  been  unfaithful.  He  has  been  sick, 
and  dangerously  so — not,  however,  to  death.  But  hast  thou 
again  cast  my  horoscope,  as  Varney  directed  thee,  and  art 
thou  prepared  to  say  what  the  stars  tell  of  my  present 
fortune?  " 

"  My  art  stands  at  your  command,"  said  the  old  man;  "  and 
here,  my  son,  is  the  map  of  thy  fortunes,  brilliant  in  aspect 
as  ever  beamed  from  those  blessed  signs  whereby  our  life  is 
influenced,  yet  not  uncheckered  with  fears,  difficulties,  and 
dangers." 

"  My  lot  were  more  than  mortal  were  it  otherwise,"  said  the 
earl;  "  proceed,  father,  and  believe  you  speak  with  one  ready 
to  undergo  his  destiny  in  action  and  in  passion  as  may  be- 
seem a  noble  of  England." 

"  Thy  courage  to  do  and  to  suffer  must  be  wound  up  yet 
a  strain  higher,"  said  the  old  man.  "  The  stars  intimate  yet 
a  prouder  title,  yet  an  higher  rank.  It  is  for  thee  to  guesa 
their  meaning,  not  for  me  to  name  it." 

"  Name  it,  I  conjure  you — name  it,  I  command  you,"  said 
the  earl,  his  eyes  brightening  as  he  spoke. 

"  I  may  not,  and  I  will  not,"  replied  the  old  man.  "  The 
ire  of  princes  is  as  the  wrath  of  the  lion.  But  mark,  and 
judge  for  thyself.  Here  Venus,  ascendant  in  the  House  of 
Life,  and  conjoined  with  Sol,  showers  down  that  flood  of 
silver  light,  blent  with  gold,  which  promises  power,  wealth, 
dignity,  all  that  the  proud  heart  of  man  desires,  and  in  such 
abundance,  that  never  the  future  Augustus  of  tha/t  old  and 
mighty  Eome  heard  from  his  '  haruspices '  such  a  tale  of 
glory  as  from  this  rich  text  my  lore  might  read  to  my  favorite 
son." 

"  Thou  dost  but  jest  with  me,  father,"  said  the  earl,  aston- 
ished at  the  strain  of  enthusiasm  in  which  the  astrologer 
delivered  his  prediction. 

"  Is  it  for  him  to  jest  who  hath  his  eye  on  heaven,  who 
hath  his  foot  in  the  grave  ?  "  returned  the  old  man  solemnly. 

The  earl  made  two  or  three  strides  through  the  apartment, 
with  his  hand  outstretched,  as  one  who  follows  the  beckoning 
signal  of  soihe  phantom,  waving  him  on  to  deeds  of  high  im- 
port.    As  he  turned,  however,  he  caught  the  eye  of  the 


214  WAVEBLET  NOVELS. 

astrologer  fixed  on  him,  while  an  observing  glance  of  the 
most  shrewd  penetration  shot  from  under  the  penthouse  of 
his  shaggy  dark  eyebrows.  Leicester's  haughty  and  sus- 
picious soul  at  once  caught  fire;  he  darted  toward  the  old 
man  from  the  further  end  of  the  lofty  apartment,  only  stand- 
ing still  when  his  extended  hand  was  within  a  foot  of  the 
astrologer's  body. 

"  Wretch!  "  he  said,  "  if  you  dare  to  palter  with  me,  I  will 
have  your  skin  stripped  from  your  living  fiesh!  Confess 
thou  hast  been  hired  to  deceive  and  to  betray  me — ^that  thou 
art  a  cheat,  and  I  thy  silly  prey  and  booty!  " 

The  old  man  exhibited  some  symptoms  of  emotion,  but  not 
more  than  the  furious  deportment  of  his  patron  might  have 
extorted  from  innocence  itself. 

"What  means  this  violence,  my  lord?"  he  answered,  "or 
in  what  can  I  have  deserved  it  at  your  hand?  " 

"  Give  me  proof,"  said  the  earl  vehemently,  "  that  you  have 
not  tampered  with  mine  enemies." 

"  My  lord,"  replied  the  old  man,  with  dignity,  "  you  can 
have  no  better  proof  than  that  which  you  yourself  elected. 
In  that  turret  I  have  spent  the  last  twenty-four  hours,  under 
the  key  which  has  been  in  your  custody.  The  hours  of  dark- 
ness I  have  spent  in  gazing  on  the  heavenly  bodies  with  these 
dim  eyes,  and  during  those  of  light  I  have  toiled  this  aged 
brain  to  complete  the  calculation  arising  from  their  combina- 
tions. Earthly  food  I  have  not  tasted — earthly  voice  I  have 
not  heard.  You  are  yourself  aware  I  had  no  means  of  doing 
so;  and  yet  I  tell  you — I  who  have  been  thus  shut  up  in  soli- 
tude and  study — that  within  these  twenty-four  hours  your 
star  has  become  predominant  in  the  horizon,  and  either  the 
bright  book  of  heaven  speaks  false  or  there  must  have  been  a 
proportionate  revolution  in  your  fortunes  upon  earth.  If 
nothing  has  happened  within  that  space  to  secure  your  power 
or  advance  your  favor,  then  am  I  indeed  a  cheat,  and  the 
divine  art,  which  was  first  devised  in  the  plains  of  ChaJdea, 
is  a  foul  imposture." 

"It  is  true,"  said  Leicester,  after  a  moment's  reflection, 
"thou  wert  closely  immured,  and  it  is  also  true  that  the 
change  has  taken  place  in  my  situation  which  thou  say'st  the 
horoscope  indicates." 

"  Wherefore  this  distrust,  then,  my  son?  "  said  the  astrolo- 
ger, assuming  a  tone  of  admonition;  "  the  celestial  intelli- 
gences brook  not  diffidence,  even  in  their  favorites." 

"Peace,  father,"  answered  Leicester,  "I  have  erred  in 


KENILWORTH.  216 

doubting  thee.  Not  to  mortal  man,  nor  to  celestial  intelli- 
gence— under  that  which  is  supreme — will  Dudley's  lips  say 
more  in  condescension  or  apology.  Speak  rather  to  the 
present  purpose.  Amid  these  bright  promises,  thou  hast  said 
there  was  a  threatening  aspect.  Can  thy  skill  tell  whence,  or 
by  whose  means,  such  danger  seems  to  impend?  '^ 

"  Thus  far  only,"  answered  the  astrologer,  "  does  my  art 
enable  me  to  answer  your  query.  The  infortune  is  threatened 
by  the  malignant  and  adverse  aspect,  through  means  of 
a  youth,  and,  as  I  think,  a  rival;  but  whether  in  love  or  in 
prince's  favor,  I  know  not;  nor  can  I  give  farther  indica- 
tion respecting  him,  save  that  he  comes  from  the  western 
quarter." 

"  The  western — ha!  "  replied  Leicester,  "it  is  enough;  the 
tempest  does  indeed  brew  in  that  quarter.  Cornwall  and 
Devon — Ealeigh  and  Tressilian — one  of  them  is  indicated;  I 
must  beware  of  both.  Father,  if  I  have  done  thy  skill  in- 
justice, I  will  make  thee  a  lordly  recompense." 

He  took  a  purse  of  gold  from  the  strong  casket  which  stood 
before  him.  "  Have  thou  double  the  recompense  which 
Varney  promised.  Be  faithful — be  secret — obey  the  direc- 
tions thou  shalt  receive  from  my  master  of  the  horse,  and 
grudge  not  a  little  seclusion  or  restraint  in  my  cause;  it  shall 
be  richly  considered.  Here,  Varney,  conduct  this  venerable 
man  to  thine  own  lodging;  tend  him  heedfuliy  in  all  things, 
but  see  that  he  holds  communication  with  no  one." 

Varney  bowed,  and  the  astrologer  kissed  the  earl's  hand  in 
token  of  adieu,  and  followed  the  master  of  the  horse -to  an- 
other apartment,  in  which  were  placed  wine  and  refreshments 
for  his  use. 

The  astrologer  sat  down  to  his  repast,  while  Varney  shut 
two  doors  with  great  precaution,  examined  the  tapestry,  lest 
any  listener  lurked  behind  it;  and  then  sitting  down  opposite 
to  the  sage,  began  to  question  him. 

"  Saw  you  my  signal  from  the  court  beneath  ?  " 

"  I  did,"  said  Alasco,  for  by  such  name  he  was  at  present 
called,  "  and  shaped  the  horoscope  accordingly." 

"  And  it  passed  upon  the  patron  without  challenge?  "  con- 
tinued Varney. 

"  Not  without  challenge,"  replied  the  old  man,  '^  but  it  did 
pass;  and  I  added,  as  before  agreed,  danger  from  a  discovered 
secret  and  a  western  youth." 

"  My  lord's  fear  will  stand  sponsor  to  the  one  and  his  con- 
science to  the  other  of  these  prognostications,"  replied  Var- 


21«  WAVEBLET  NOVELS. 

ney.  "  Sure,  never  man  choee  to  run  such  a  race  as  his,  yet 
continued  to  retain  those  silly  scruples!  I  am  fain  to  cheat 
him  to  his  own  profit.  But  touching  your  matters,  sage  in- 
terpreter of  the  stars,  I  can  tell  you  more  of  your  own  fortune 
than  plan  or  figure  can  show.  You  must  be  gone  from  hence 
forthwith." 

"  I  will  not,"  said  Alasco  peevishly.  "  I  have  been  too  much 
hurried  up  and  down  of  late — immured  for  day  and  night  in 
a  desolate  turret-chamber;  I  must  enjoy  my  liberty,  and  pur- 
sue my  studies,  which  are  of  more  import  than  the  fate  of 
fifty  statesmen  and  favorites,  that  rise  and  burst  like  bubbles 
in  the  atmosphere  of  a  court." 

"  At  your  pleasure,"  said  Vamey,  with  a  sneer  which  habit 
had  rendered  familiar  to  his  features,  and  which  forms  the 
principal  characteristic  that  painters  have  assigned  to  those 
of  Satan — "  at  your  pleasure,"  he  said;  "  you  may  enjoy  your 
liberty  and  your  studies  until  the  daggers  of  Sussex's  fol- 
lowers are  clashing  within  your  doublet,  and  against  your 
ribs."  The  old  man  turned  pale,  and  Vamey  proceeded. 
"  Wot  you  not  he  hath  offered  a  reward  for  the  arch-quack 
and  poison-vender,  Demetrius,  who  sold  certain  precious 
spices  to  his  lordship's  cook?  What!  turn  you  pale,  old 
friend?  Does  Hali  already  see  an  infortune  in  the  House  of 
Life?  Why,  hark  thee,  we  will  have  thee  down  to  an  old 
house  of  mine  in  the  country,  where  thou  shalt  live  with  a 
hobnailed  slave,  whom  thy  alchemy  may  convert  into  ducats, 
for  to  such  conversion  alone  is  thy  art  serviceable." 

^'  It  is  false,  thou  foul-mouthed  railer,"  said  Alasco,  shak- 
ing with  impotent  anger:  "  it  is  well  known  that  I  have  ap- 
proached more  nearly  to  projection  than  any  hermetic  artist 
who  now  lives.  There  are  not  six  chemists  in  the  world  who 
possess  so  near  an  approximation  to  the  grand  arcanum " 

"  Come — come,"  said  Vamey,  interrupting  him,  "  what 
means  this,  in  the  name  of  Heaven?  Do  we  not  know  one 
another?  I  believe  thee  to  be  so  perfect — so  very  perfect,  in 
the  mystery  of  cheating,  that,  having  imposed  upon  all  man- 
kind, thou  hast  at  length,  in  some  measure,  imposed  upon 
thyself;  and  without  ceasing  to  dupe  others,  hast  become  a 
species  of  dupe  to  thine  own  imagination.  Blush  not  for  it, 
man;  thou  art  learned,  and  shalt  have  classical  comfort: 

"  Ne  quisquam  Ajacem  possit  superare  nisi  Ajax. 

No  one  but  thyself  could  have  gulled  thee,  and  thou  hast 
gulled  the  whole  brotherhood  of  the  Rosy  Cross  beside— none 


KENILWORTH.  217 

BO  deep  in  the  mystery  as  thou.  But  hark  thee  in  thine  ear: 
had  the  seasoning  which  spiced  Sussex's  broth  wrought  more 
surely,  I  would  have  thought  better  of  the  chemical  science 
thou  dost  boast  so  highly." 

"  Thou  art  an  hardened  villain,  Vamey,"  replied  Alasco; 
"  many  will  do  those  things,  who  dare  not  speak  of  them." 

^'  And  many  speak  of  them  who  dare  not  do  them,"  an- 
swered Vamey;  "  but  be  not  wroth — I  will  not  quarrel  with 
thee.  If  I  did,  I  were  fain  to  live  on  eggs  for  a  month,  that  I 
might  feed  without  fear.  Tell  me  at  once,  how  came  thine 
art  to  fail  thee  at  this  great  emergency?  " 

"  The  Earl  of  Sussex's  horoscope  intimates,"  replied  the 
astrologer,  "  that  the  sign  of  the  ascendant  being  in  combus- 
tion  " 

"Away  with  your  gibberish,"  replied  Vamey;  "think'st 
thou  it  is  the  patron  thou  speak'st  with?  " 

"  I  crave  your  pardon,"  replied  the  old  men,  "  and  swear  to 
you,  I  know  but  one  medicine  that  could  have  saved  the  earl's 
life;  and  as  no  man  living  in  England  knows  that  antidote 
save  myself,  moreover,  as  the  ingredients,  one  of  them  in 
particular,  are  scarce  possible  to  be  come  by,  I  must  needs 
suppose  his  escape  was  owing  to  such  a  constitution  of  lungs 
and  vital  parts  as  was  never  before  bound  up  in  a  body  of 
clay." 

"  There  was  some  talk  of  a  quack  who  waited  on  him,"  said 
Vamey,  after  a  moment's  reflection.  "  Are  you  sure  there  is 
no  one  in  England  who  has  this  secret  of  thine?  " 

"  One  man  there  was,"  said  the  doctor,  "  once  my  servant, 
who  might  have  stolen  this  of  me,  with  one  or  two  other 
secrets  of  art.  But  content  you.  Master  Vamey,  it  is  no  part 
of  my  policy  to  suffer  such  interlopers  to  interfere  in  my 
trade.  He  pries  into  no  mysteries  more,  I  warrant  you;  for, 
as  I  well  believe,  he  hath  been  wafted  to  heaven  on  the  wing 
of  a  fiery  dragon.  Peace  be  with  him!  But  in  this  retreat 
of  mine,  shall  I  have  the  use  of  mine  elaboratory?  " 

"  Of  a  whole  workshop,  man,"  said  Vamey;  "  for  a  rev- 
erend father  abbot,  who  was  fain  to  give  place  to  bluff  King 
Hal  and  some  of  his  courtiers  a  score  of  years  since,  had  a 
chemist's  complete  apparatus,  which  he  was  obliged  to  leave 
behind  him  to  his  successors.  Thou  shalt  there  occupy,  and 
melt,  and  puff,  and  blaze,  and  multiply,  until  the  green 
dragon  become  a  golden  goose,  or  whatever  the  newer  phrase 
of  the  brotherhood  may  testify." 

"  Thou  art  right,  Master  Vamey,"  said  the  alchemist,  set- 


218  wavbulbt  novels. 

ting  his  teeth  close  and  grinding  them  together — "  thou  art 
right,  even  in  thy  very  contempt  of  right  and  reason.  For 
what  thou  say'st  in  mockery  may  in  sober  verity  chance  to 
happen  ere  we  meet  again.  If  the  most  venerable  sages  of 
ancient  days  have  spoken  the  truth;  if  the  most  learned  of 
our  own  have  rightly  received  it;  if  I  have  been  accepted 
wherever  I  traveled,  in  Germany,  in  Poland,  in  Italy,  and  in 
the  farther  Tartary,  as  one  to  whom  nature  has  unveiled  her 
darkest  secrets;  if  I  have  acquired  the  most  secret  signs  and 
passwords  of  the  Jewish  Cabala,  so  that  the  grayest  beard  in 
the  synagogue  would  brush  the  steps  to  make  them  clean  for 
me — if  all  this  is  so,  and  if  there  remains  but  one  step — one 
little  step — betwixt  my  long,  deep,  and  dark,  and  subter- 
ranean progress  and  that  blaze  of  light  which  shall  show 
nature  watching  her  richest  and  her  most  glorious  produc- 
tions in  the  very  cradle — one  step  betwixt  dependence  and  the 
power  of  sovereignty — one  step  betwixt  poverty  and  such  a 
sum  of  wealth  as  earth,  without  that  noble  secret,  cannot 
minister  from  all  her  mines  in  the  old  or  the  new-found  world 
— ^if  this  be  all  so,  is  it  not  reasonable  that  to  this  I  dedicate 
my  future  life,  secure,  for  a  brief  period  of  studious  patience, 
to  rise  above  the  mean  dependence  upon  favorites  and  their 
favorites  by  which  I  am  now  enthralled?" 

"Now,  bravo! — bravo!  my  good  father,"  said  Vamey, 
with  the  usual  sardonic  expression  of  ridicule  on  his  counte- 
nance; "  yet  all  this  approximation  to  the  philosopheris  stone 
wringeth  not  one  single  crown  out  of  my  Lord  Leicester's 
pouch,  and  far  less  out  of  Eichard  Varney^s.  We  must  have 
earthly  and  substantial  services,  man,  and  care  not  whom  else 
thou  canst  delude  with  thy  philosophical  charlataary." 

'^  My  son  Varney,"  said  the  alchemist,  "  the  unbelief,  gath- 
ered around  thee  like  a  frost-fog,  hath  dimmed  thine  acute 
perception  to  that  which  is  a  stumbling-block  to  the  wise,  and 
which  yet,  to  him  who  seeketh  knowledge  with  humility,  ex- 
tends a  lesson  so  clear  that  he  who  runs  may  read.  Hath  not 
art,  think'st  thou,  the  means  of  completing  nature's  imperfect 
concoctions  in  her  attempts  to  form  the  precious  metals,  even 
as  by  art  we  can  perfect  those  other  operations,  of  incubation, 
distillation,  fermentation,  and  similar  processes  of  an  ordinary 
description,  by  which  we  extract  life  itself  out  of  a  senseless 
e^g,  summon  purity  and  vitality  out  of  muddy  dregs,  or  call 
into  vivacity  the  inert  substance  of  a  sluggish  liquid  ?  " 

"  I  have  heard  all  this  before,"  said  Varney,  "  and  my  heart 
is  proof  against  such  cant  ever  since  I  sent  twenty  good  gold 


KENILWOBTH,  219 

pieces — marry,  it  was  in  the  nonage  of  my  wit — to  advance 
the  grand  magisterium,  all  which,  God  help  the  while,  van- 
ished ^in  fumo/  Since  that  moment,  when  I  paid  for  my 
freedom,  I  defy  chemistry,  astrology,  palmistry,  and  every 
other  occult  art,  were  it  as  secret  as  hell  itself,  to  unloose  the 
stricture  of  my  purse-strings.  Marry,  I  neither  defy  the 
manna  of  St.  Nicholas  nor  can  I  dispense  with  it.  Thy  first 
task  must  be  to  prepare  some  when  thou  get'st  down  to  my 
little  sequestered  retreat  yonder,  and  then  make  as  much  gold 
as  thou  wilt.^' 

"  I  will  make  no  more  of  that  dose,"  said  the  alchemist, 
resolutely. 

"  Then,"  said  the  master  of  the  horse,  "  thou  shalt  be 
hanged  for  what  thou  hast  made  already,  and  so  were  the 
great  secret  forever  lost  to  mankind.  Do  not  humanity  this 
injustice,  good  father,  but  e'en  bend  to  thy  destiny,  and  make 
us  an  ounce  or  two  of  this  same  stuff,  which  cannot  prejudice 
above  one  or  two  individuals,  in  order  to  gain  lifetime  to  dis- 
cover the  universal  medicine,  which  shall  clear  away  all  mor- 
tal diseases  at  once.  But  cheer  up,  thou  grave,  learned,  and 
most  melancholy  jackanapes!  Hast  thou  not  told  me  that  a 
moderate  portion  of  thy  drug  hath  mild  effects,  no  ways  ulti- 
mately dangerous  to  the  human  frame,  but  which  produces 
depression  of  spirits,  nausea,  headache,  an  unwillingness  to 
change  of  place — even  such  a  state  of  temper  as  would  keep 
a  bird  from  flying  out  of  a  cage  were  the  door  left  open  ?  " 

"  I  have  said  so,  and  it  is  true,"  said  the  alchemist;  "  this 
effect  will  it  produce,  and  the  bird  who  partakes  of  it  in  such 
proportion  shall  sit  for  a  season  drooping  on  her  perch,  with- 
out thinking  either  of  the  free  blue  sky  or  of  the  fair  green- 
wood, though  the  one  be  lighted  by  the  rays  of  the  rising  sun 
and  the  other  ringing  with  the  newly  awakened  song  of  all 
the  feathered  inhabitants  of  the  forest." 

"And  this  without  danger  to  life?"  said  Yamey,  some- 
what anxiously. 

"  Aye,  so  that  proportion  and  measure  be  not  exceeded;  and 
so  that  one  who  knows  the  nature  of  the  manna  be  ever  near 
to  watch  the  symptoms,  and  succor  in  case  of  need." 

"Thou  shalt  regulate  the  whole,"  said  Yamey;  "thy  re- 
ward shall  be  princely,  if  thou  keep'st  time  and  touch,  and 
exceedest  not  the  due  proportion,  to  the  prejudice  of  her 
health;  otherwise  thy  punishment  shall  be  as  signal." 

"  The  prejudice  of  her  health! "  repeated  Alasco;  "  it  is, 
then;,  a  woman  I  am.  to  use  my  skill  upon?  " 


220  WAVEELEY  NOVELS. 

"  No,  thou  fool/'  replied  Varney;  "  said  I  not  it  was  a  bird 
— a  reclaimed  Linnet,  whose  pipe  might  soothe  a  hawk  when 
in  mid  stoop  ?  I  see  thine  eye  sparkle,  and  I  know  thy  heard 
is  not  altogether  so  white  as  art  has  made  it:  that,  at  least, 
thou  hast  been  able  to  transmute  to  silver.  But  mark  me, 
this  is  no  mate  for  thee.  This  caged  bird  is  dear  to  one  who 
brooks  no  rivalry,  and  far  less  such  rivalry  as  thine,  and  her 
health  must  over  all  things  be  cared  for.  But  she  is  in  the 
case  of  being  commanded  down  to  yonder  Kenil worth  revels; 
and  it  is  most  expedient — most  needful — most  necessary  that 
she  fly  not  thither.  Of  these  necessities  and  their  causes  it 
is  not  needful  that  she  should  know  aught,  and  it  is  to  be 
thought  that  her  own  wish  may  lead  her  to  combat  all  ordi- 
nary reasons  which  can  be  urged  for  her  remaining  a  house- 
keeper." 

"  That  is  but  natural,"  said  the  alchemist,  with  a  strange 
smile,  which  yet  bore  a  greater  reference  to  the  human  char- 
acter than  the  uninterested  and  abstracted  gaze  which  his 
physiognomy  had  hitherto  expressed,  where  all  seemed  to 
refer  to  some  world  distant  from  that  which  was  existing 
around  him. 

"  It  is  so,"  answered  Vamey:  "  you  understand  women 
well,  though  it  may  have  been  long  since  you  were  conver- 
sant amongst  them.  Well,  then,  she  is  not  to  be  contradicted, 
yet  she  is  not  to  be  humored.  Understand  me — a  slight  ill- 
ness, sufficient  to  take  away  the  desire  of  removing  from 
thence,  and  to  make  such  of  your  wise  fraternity  as  may  be 
called  in  to  aid  recommend  a  quiet  residence  at  home,  will,  in 
one  word,  be  esteemed  good  service,  and  remunerated  as 
such." 

"  I  am  not  to  be  asked  to  affect  the  House  of  Life?  "  said 
the  chemist. 

"  On  the  contrary,  we  will  have  thee  hanged  if  thou  dost," 
replied  Vamey. 

*^  And  I  must,"  added  Alasco,  "  have  opportunity  to  do  my 
turn,  and  all  facilities  for  concealment  or  escape,  should  there 
be  detection?" 

"  All — all,  and  everything,  thou  infidel  in  all  but  the  im- 
possibilities of  alchemy.  Why,  man,  for  what  dost  thou  take 
me?" 

The  old  man  rose,  and  taking  a  light,  walked  toward  the 
end  of  the  apartment,  where  was  a  door  that  led  to  the  small 
sleeping-room  destined  for  his  reception  during  the  night. 
At  the  door  he  turned  round,  and  slowly  repeated  Vamey's 


KBNILWORTE.  221 

question  ere  he  answered  it.  "For  what  do  I  take  thee, 
Richard  Vamey?  Why,  for  a  worse  devil  than  I  have  been 
myself.  But  I  am  in  your  toils,  and  I  must  serve  you  till  my 
term  be  out." 

"  Well — well,"  answered  Varney  hastily,  "  be  stirring  with 
gray  light.  It  may  be  we  shall  not  need  thy  medicine.  Do 
naught  till  I  myself  come  down.  Michael  Lamboume  shall 
guide  you  to  the  place  of  your  destination."  * 

When  Vamey  heard  the  adept's  door  shut  and  carefully 
bolted  within,  he  stepped  toward  it,  and  with  similar  precau- 
tion carefully  locked  it  on  the  outside,  and  took  the  key  from 
the  lock,  muttering  to  himself,  "Worse  than  thee,  thou 
poisoning  quacksalver  and  witch-monger,  who,  if  thou  art  not 
a  bounden  slave  to  the  devil,  it  is  only  because  he  disdains 
such  an  apprentice!  I  am  a  mortal  man,  and  seek  by  mortal 
means  the  gratification  of  my  passions  and  advancement  of 
my  prospecte.  Thou  art  a  vassal  of  hell  itself.  So  ho.  Lam- 
bourne!  "  he  called  at  another  door,  and  Michael  made  his 
appearance,  with  a  flushed  cheek  and  an  unsteady  step. 

"  Thou  art  drunk,  thou  villain!  "  said  Vamey  to  him. 

"Doubtless,  noble  sir,"  replied  the  unabashed  Michael, 
"  we  have  been  drinking  all  even  to  the  glories  of  the  day,  and 
to  my  noble  Lord  of  Leicester,  and  his  valiant  master  of  the 
horse.  Drunk!  odds  blades  and  poniards,  he  that  would  re- 
fuse to  swallow  a  dozen  healths  on  such  an  evening  is  a  base 
besognio  and  a  puckfist,  and  shall  swallow  six  inches  of  my 
dagger! " 

"  Hark  ye,  scoundrel,"  said  Vamey,  "  be  sober  on  the  in- 
stant, I  command  thee.  I  know  thou  canst  throw  off  thy 
drunken  folly,  like  a  fool's  coat,  at  pleasure;  and  if  not,  it 
were  the  worse  for  thee." 

Lamboume  drooped  his  head,  left  the  apartment,  and  re- 
turned in  two  or  three  minutes  with  his  face  composed,  his 
hair  adjusted,  his  dress  in  order,  and  exhibiting  as  great  a 
difference  from  his  former  self  as  if  the  whole  man  had  been 
changed. 

"Art  thou  sober  now,  and  dost  thou  comprehend  me?" 
said  Vamey  sternly. 

Lamboume  bowed  in  acquiescence. 

"Thou  must  presently  down  to  Cumnor  Place  with  the 
reverend  man  of  art  who  sleeps  yonder  in  the  little  vaulted 
chamber.  Here  is  the  key,  that  thou  mayst  call  him  betimes. 
Take  another  trusty  fellow  with  you.     Use  him  well  on  the 

•  See  Dr.  Julio.    Note  11. 


223  WAVERLE7  NOVELS, 

journey,  but  let  him  not  escape  you;  pistol  him  if  he  attempt 
it,  and  I  will  be  your  warrant.  I  will  give  thee  letters  to  Fos- 
ter. The  doctor  is  to  occupy  the  lower  apartments  of  the 
eastern  quadrangle,  with  freedom  to  use  the  old  elaboratory 
and  its  implements.  He  is  to  have  no  access  to  the  lady  but 
such  as  I  shall  point  out — only  she  may  be  amused  to  see  his 
philosophical  jugglery.  Thou  wilt  await  at  Cumnor  Place 
my  farther  orders;  and,  as  thou  livest,  beware  of  the  ale-bench 
and  the  aquavitse  flask.  Each  breath  drawn  in  Cumnor  Place 
must  be  kept  severed  from  common  air.^' 

"  Enough,  my  lord — I  mean  my  worshipful  master — soon, 
I  trust,  to  be  my  worshipful  knightly  master.  You  have 
given  me  my  lesson  and  my  license;  I  will  execute  the  one 
and  not  abuse  the  other.  I  will  be  in  the  saddle  by  day- 
break." 

"  Do  so,  and  deserve  favor.  Stay — ere  thou  goest,  fill  me 
a  cup  of  wine;  not  out  of  that  flask,  sirrah,"  as  Lamboume 
was  pouring  out  from  that  which  Alasco  had  left  half  fin- 
ished, "  fetch  me  a  fresh  one." 

Lambourne  obeyed,  and  Vamey,  after  rinsing  his  mouth 
with  the  liquor,  drank  a  full  cup,  and  said,  as  he  took  up  a 
lamp  to  retreat  to  his  sleeping-apartment,  "  It  is  strange — I 
am  as  little  the  slave  of  fancy  as  anyone,  yet  I  never  speak  for 
a  few  minutes  with  this  fellow  Alasco,  but  my  mouth  and 
lungs  feel  as  if  soiled  with  the  fumes  of  calcined  arsenic — 
pah! " 

So  saying,  he  left  the  apartment.  Lamboume  lingered,  to 
drink  a  cup  of  the  freshly  opened  flask.  ^'  It  is  from  St. 
John's  Berg! "  he  said,  as  he  paused  on  the  draught  to  enjoy 
its  flavor,  "  and  has  the  true  relish  of  the  violet.  But  I  must 
forbear  it  now,  that  I  may  one  day  drink  it  at  my  own  pleas- 
ure." And  he  quaffed  a  goblet  of  water  to  quench  the  fumes 
of  the  Rhenish  wine,  retired  slowly  toward  the  door,  made  a 
pause,  and  then,  flnding  the  temptation  irresistible,  walked 
hastily  back,  and  took  another  long  pull  at  the  wine-flask, 
without  the  formality  of  a  cup. 

"  Were  it  not  for  this  accursed  custom,"  he  said,  "  I  might 
climb  as  high  as  Vamey  himself.  But  who  can  climb  when 
the  room  turns  round  with  him  like  a  parish-top?  I  would 
the  distance  were  greater,  or  the  road  rougher,  betwixt  my 
hand  and  mouth!  But  I  will  drink  nothing  to-morrow  save 
water — nothing  save  fair  water." 


CHAPTEE  XIX. 

Pistol.    And  tidings  do  I  bring,  and  lucky  joyg, 
And  happy  news  of  price. 

Falstaff.    I  prithee  now,  deliver  them  like  to  a  man  of  this  world. 

Pistol.    A  foutra  for  the  world,  and  worldings  base  ! 
I  speak  of  Africa,  and  golden  joys. 

—Henry  IV.  Part  H. 

The  public  room  of  the  Black  Bear  at  Cumnor,  to  which 
the  scene  of  our  story  now  returns,  boasted,  on  the  eyening 
which  we  treat  of,  no  ordinary  assemblage  of  guests.  There 
had  been  a  fair  in  the  neighborhood,  and  the  cutting  mercer 
of  Abingdon,  with  some  of  the  other  personages  whom  the 
reader  has  already  been  made  acquainted  with,  as  friends  and 
customers  of  Giles  Gosling,  had  already  formed  their  wonted 
circle  around  the  evening  fire,  and  were  talking  over  the  news 
of  the  day. 

A  lively,  bustling,  arch  fellow,  whose  pack  and  oaken  ell- 
wand, studded  duly  with  brass  points,  denoted  him  to  be  of 
Autolycus^  profession,  occupied  a  good  deal  of  the  attention, 
and  furnished  much  of  the  amusement  of  the  evening. 
The  peddlers  of  those  days,  it  must  be  remembered,  were  men 
of  far  greater  importance  than  the  degenerate  and  degraded 
hawkers  of  our  modern  times.  It  was  by  means  of  these  peri- 
patetic venders  that  the  country  trade,  in  the  finer  manu- 
factures used  in  female  dress  particularly,  was  almost  entirely 
carried  on;  and  if  a  merchant  of  this  description  arrived  at 
the  dignity  of  traveling  with  a  pack-horse,  he  was  a  person  of 
no  small  consequence,  and  company  for  the  most  substantial 
yeoman  or  franklin  whom  he  might  meet  in  his  wanderings. 

The  peddler  of  whom  we  speak  bore,  accordingly,  an  active 
and  unrebuked  share  in  the  merriment  to  which  the  rafters  of 
the  bonny  Black  Bear  of  Cumnor  resounded.  He  had  his 
smile  with  pretty  Mistress  Cicely,  his  broad  laugh  with  mine 
host,  and  his  jest  upon  dashing  Master  Goldthred,  who,  though 
indec^d  without  any  such  benevolent  intention  on  his  own 
part,  was  the  general  butt  of  the  evening.  The  peddler  and 
he  were  closely  engaged  in  a  dispute  upon  the  preference  due 
to  the  Spanish  nether-stocks  over  the  black  Gascoigne  hose, 
and  mine  host  had  just  winked  to  the  guests  around  him,  aa 
who  should  say,  "You  will  have  mirth  presently,  my  mas- 


224  WA  VERLET  NO  VEL8. 

ters/  when  the  trampling  of  horses  was  heard  in  the  court- 
yard, and  the  hostler  was  loudly  summoned,  with  a  few  of  the 
newest  oaths  then  in  vogue  to  add  force  to  the  invocation. 
Out  tumbled  Will  Hostler,  John  Tapster,  and  all  the  militia 
of  the  inn,  who  had  slunk  from  their  posts  in  order  to  collect 
some  scattered  crumbs  of  the  mirth  which  was  flying  about 
among  the  customers.  Out  into  the  yard  sallied  mine  host 
himself  also,  to  do  fitting  salutation  to  his  new  guests;  and 
presently  returned,  ushering  into  the  apartment  his  own 
worthy  nephew,  Michael  Lamboume,  pretty  tolerably  drunk, 
and  having  under  his  escort  the  astrologer.  Alasco,  though 
still  a  little  old  man,  had,  by  altering  his  gown  to  a  riding- 
dress,  trimming  his  beard  and  eyebrows,  and  so  forth,  struck 
at  least  a  score  of  years  from  his  apparent  age,  and  might  now 
seem  an  active  man  of  sixty,  or  little  upward.  He  appeared 
at  present  exceedingly  anxious,  and  had  insisted  much  with 
Lambourne  that  they  should  not  enter  the  inn,  but  go 
straight  forward  to  the  place  of  their  destination.  But  Lam- 
boume would  not  be  controlled.  "  By  Cancer  and  Capri- 
corn," he  vociferated,  "  and  the  whole  heavenly  host — be- 
sides all  the  stars  that  these  blessed  eyes  of  mine  have  seen 
sparkle  in  the  southern  heavens,  to  which  these  northern 
blinkers  are  but  farthing  candles — I  will  be  unkindly  for  no 
one's  humor — I  will  stay  and  salute  my  worthy  uncle  here. 
Chesu!  that  good  blood  should  ever  be  forgotten  betwixt 
friends!  A  gallon  of  your  best,  uncle,  and  let  it  go  round  to 
the  health  of  the  noble  Earl  of  Leicester!  What!  shall  we 
not  collogue  together,  and  warm  the  cockles  of  our  ancient 
kindness?     Shall  we  not  collogue,  I  say?  " 

"  With  all  my  heart,  kinsman,"  said  mine  host,  who  ob- 
viously wished  to  be  rid  of  him;  "  but  are  you  to  stand  shot 
to  all  this  good  liquor?  " 

This  is  a  question  has  quelled  many  a  jovial  toper,  but  it 
moved  not  the  purpose  of  Lambourne's  soul.  "  Question  my 
means,  nuncle  ?  "  he  said,  producing  a  handful  of  mixed  gold 
and  silver  pieces — "  question  Mexico  and  Peru — question  the 
Queen's  exchequer — God  save  her  Majesty!  She  is  my  good 
lord's  good  mistress." 

"  Well,  kinsman,"  said  mine  host,  "  it  is  my  business  to  sell 
wine  to  those  who  can  buy  it.  So,  Jack  Tapster,  do  me  thine 
office.  But  I  would  I  knew  how  to  come  by  money  as  lightly 
as  thou  dost,  Mike." 

"  Why,  uncle,"  said  Lambourne,  "  I  will  tell  thee  a  secret. 
Dost  see  this  little  old  fellow  here?  as  old  and  withered  a 


KEmLWORTH.  225 

chip  as  ever  the  devil  put  into  his  porridge;  and  yet,  uncle, 
between  you  and  me,  he  hath  Potosi  in  that  brain  of  his. 
'Sblood!  he  can  coin  ducats  faster  than  I  can  vent  oaths/' 

"I  will  have  none  of  his  coinage  in  my  purse  though, 
Michael,''  said  mine  host;  "  I  know  what  belongs  to  falsify- 
ing the  Queen's  coin." 

"  Thou  art  an  ass,  uncle,  for  as  old  as  thou  art.  Pull  me 
not  by  the  skirts,  doctor,  thou  art  an  ass  thyself  to  boot;  so, 
being  both  asses,  I  tell  ye  I  spoke  but  metaphorically." 
^  "  Are  you  mad?  "  said  the  old  man;  "is  the  devil  in  you? 
Can^you  not  let  us  begone  without  drawing  all  men's  eyes  on 
us  • 

"Sayst  thou?"  said  Lambourne.  "Thou  art  deceived 
now— no  man  shall  see  you  an  J  give  the  word.  By  Heavens, 
masters,  an  anyone  dare  to  look  on  this  old  gentleman,  I  will 
slash  the  eyes  out  of  his  head  with  my  poniard!  So  sit  down, 
old  friend,  and  be  merry;  these  are  mine  ingles — mine  an- 
cient inmates,  and  will  betray  no  man." 

"Had  you  not  better  withdraw  to  a  private  apartment, 
nephew,"  said  Giles  Gosling.  "  You  speak  strange  matter," 
he  added,  "  and  there  be  intelligencers  everywhere." 

"I  care  not  for  them,"  said  the  magnanimous  Michael. 

Intelhgencers!  pshaw!  I  serve  the  noble  Eari  of  Leicester. 
Here  comes  the  wine.  Fill  round.  Master  Skinker,  a  carouse 
to  the  health  of  the  flower  of  England,  the  noble  Eari  of 
Leicester!  I  say,  the  noble  Eari  of  Leicester!  He  that  does 
me  not  reason  is  a  swine  of  Sussex,  and  I'll  make  him  kneel 
to  the  pledge,  if  I  should  cut  his  hams  and  smoke  them  for 
bacon." 

None  disputed  a  pledge  given  under  such  formidable  penal- 
ties; and  Michael  Lambourne,  whose  drunken  humor  was  not 
of  course  diminished  by  this  new  potation,  went  on  in  the 
same  wild  way,  renewing  his  acquaintance  with  such  of  the 
guests  as  he  had  formerly  known,  and  experiencing  a  recep- 
tion in  which  there  was  now  something  of  deference,  mingled 
with  a  good  deal  of  fear;  for  the  least  servitor  of  the  favorite 
earl,  especially  such  a  man  as  Lambourne,  was,  for  very  suffi- 
cient reasons,  an  object  both  of  the  one  and  of  the  other. 

In  the  meanwhile,  the  old  man,  seeing  his  guide  in  this 
uncontrollable  humor,  ceased  to  remonstrate  with  him,  and 
sitting  down  in  the  most  obscure  comer  of  the  room,  called 
for  a  small  measure  of  sack,  over  which  he  seemed,  as  it  were, 
to  slumber,  withdrawing  himself  as  much  as  possible  from 
general  observation,  and  doinsr  nothing  which  could  recall  his 


226  WAVERLET  NOVELS, 

existence  to  the  recollection  of  his  fellow-traveler,  who  hy 
this  time  had  got  into  close  intimacy  with  his  ancient  com- 
rade, Goldthred  of  Abingdon. 

"  Never  believe  me,  bully  Mike,"  said  the  mercer,  "  if  I 
am  not  as  glad  to  see  thee  as  ever  I  was  to  see  a  customer's 
money!  Why,  thou  canst  give  a  friend  a  sly  place  at  a  mask 
or  a  revel  now,  Mike;  aye,  or,  I  warrant  thee,  thou  canst  say 
in  my  lord's  ear,  when  my  honorable  lord  is  down  in  these 
parts,  and  wants  a  Spanish  ruff  or  the  like — thou  canst  say  in 
his  ear,  *  There  is  mine  old  friend,  young  Laurence  Goldthred 
of  Abingdon,  has  as  good  wares,  lawn,  tiffany,  cambric,  and  sc 
forth — aye,  and  is  as  pretty  a  piece  of  man's  flesh,  too,  as  is  in 
Berkshire,  and  will  ruffle  it  for  your  lordship  with  any  man 
of  his  inches ';  and  thou  mayst  say " 

"  I  can  say  a  hundred  d d  lies  besides,  mercer,"  an- 
swered Lambourne;  "  what,  one  must  not  stand  upon  a  good 
word  for  a  friend!  " 

"  Here  is  to  thee,  Mike,  with  all  my  heart,"  said  the  mercer; 
"  and  thou  canst  tell  one  the  reality  of  the  new  fashions  too. 
Here  was  a  rogue  peddler  but  now  was  crying  up  the  old- 
fashioned  Spanish  nether-stocks  over  the  Gascoigne  hose, 
although  thou  seest  how  well  the  French  hose  set  off  the  leg 
and  knee,  being  adorned  with  parti-colored  garters  and  gar- 
niture in  conformity." 

"  Excellent — excellent,"  replied  Lambourne;  "  why,  thy 
limber  bit  of  a  thigh,  thrust  through  that  bunch  of  slashed 
buckram  and  tiffany,  shows  like  a  housewife's  distaff  when  the 
flax  is  half  spun  off! " 

^'  Said  I  not  so  ?  "  said  the  mercer,  whose  shallow  brain  was 
now  overflowed  in  his  turn;  "  where,  then — where  be  this 
rascal  peddler? — there  was  a  peddler  here  but  now,  methinks. 
Mine  host,  where  the  foul  fiend  is  this  peddler?  " 

"  Where  wise  men  should  be,  Master  Goldthred,"  replied 
Giles  Gosling:  "  even  shut  up  in  his  private  chamber,  telling 
over  the  sales  of  to-day,  and  preparing  for  the  custom  of 
to-morrow." 

"  Hang  him,  a  mechanical  chuff! "  said  the  mercer;  '''  but 
for  shame,  it  were  a  good  deed  to  ease  him  of  his  wares — a  set 
of  peddling  knaves,  who  stroll  through  the  land,  and  hurt  the 
established  trader.  There  are  good  fellows  in  Berkshire  yet, 
mine  host;  your  peddler  may  be  met  withal  on  Maiden 
Castle." 

"  Aye,"  replied  mine  host,  laughing,  "  and  he  who  meets 
him  may  meet  his  match:  the  peddler  is  a  tall  man." 


r '■;;■; 


KENILWORTff.  227 

"IsheP'^saidGoldthred. 

"  Is  he!  "  replied  the  host;  "  aye,  by  cock  and  pie,  is  he — 
the  very  peddler  he  who  raddled  Robin  Hood  so  tightly,  aa 
the  song  says: 

"  *  Now  Robin  Hood  drew  his  sword  so  good, 
The  peddler  drew  his  brand, 
And  he  hath  raddled  him  Eobin  Hood, 
Till  he  neither  could  see  nor  stand.' " 

"Hang  him,  foul  scroyle,  let  him  pass,"  said  the  mercer; 
"if  he  be  such  a  one,  there  were  small  worship  to  be  won 
upon  him.  And  now  tell  me,  Mike — my  honest  Mike,  how 
wears  the  hollands  you  won  of  me?  " 

"  Why,  well,  as  you  may  see.  Master  Goldthred,''  answered 
Mike;  "  I  will  bestow  a  pot  on  thee  for  the  handsel.  Fill  the 
flagon.  Master  Tapster." 

"  Thou  wilt  win  no  more  hollands,  I  think,  on  such  wager, 
friend  Mike,"  said  the  mercer;  "for  the  sulky  swain,  Tony 
Foster,  rails  at  thee  all  to  naught,  and  swears  you  shall  ne'er 
darken  his  doors  again,  for  that  your  oaths  are  enough  to 
blow  the  roof  off  a  Christian  man's  dwelling." 

"  Doth  he  say  so,  the  mincing,  hypocritical  miser?  "  vocif- 
erated Lambourne.  "  Why,  then,  he  shall  come  down  and 
receive  my  commands  here,  this  blessed  night,  under  my 
uncle's  roof!  And  I  will  ring  him  such  a  black  sanctus  that 
he  shall  think  the  devil  hath  him  by  the  skirts  for  a  month  to 
come,  for  barely  hearing  me." 

"  Nay,  now  the  pottle-pot  is  uppermost,  with  a  witness! " 
said  the  mercer.  "Tony  Foster  obey  thy  whistle!  Alas! 
good  Mike,  go  sleep — go  sleep." 

"  I  tell  thee  what,  thou  thin-faced  gull,"  said  Michael  Lam- 
bourne, in  high  chafe,  "  I  will  wager  thee  fifty  angels  against 
the  first  five  shelves  of  thy  shop,  numbering  upward  from  the 
false  light,  with  all  that  is  on  them,  that  I  make  Tony  Foster 
come  down  to  this  public-house  before  we  have  finished  three 
rounds." 

"  I  will  lay  no  bet  to  that  amount,"  said  the  mercer,  some- 
thing sobered  by  an  offer  which  intimated  rather  too  private 
a  knowledge,  on  Lambourne's  part,  of  the  secret  recesses  of 
his  shop — "  I  will  lay  no  such  wager,"  he  said;  "  but  I  will 
stake  five  angels  against  thy  five,  if  thou  wilt,  that  Tony  Fos- 
ter will  not  leave  his  own  roof,  or  come  to  alehouse  after 
prayer  time,  for  thee  or  any  man." 

"  Content,"  said  Lambourne.  "  Here,  uncle,  hold  stakes 
and  let  one  of  your  infant  tapsters  trip  presently  up  to  the 


228  WA VERLEY  HOVELS. 

Place,  and  give  this  letter  to  Master  Foster,  and  say  that  I, 
his  ingle,  Michael  Lambourne,  pray  to  speak  with  him  at 
mine  uncle's  castle  here,  upon  business  of  grave  import. 
Away  with  thee,  child,  for  it  is  now  sundown,  and  the  wretch 
goeth  to  bed  with  the  birds,  to  save  mutton-suet — faugh! " 

Shortly  after  this  messenger  was  dispatched — an  interval 
which  was  spent  in  drinking  and  buffoonery — he  returned 
with  the  answer  tha.t  Master  Foster  was  coming  presently. 

"  Won — won!  "  said  Lambourne,  darting  on  the  stakes. 

"  Not  till  he  comes,  if  you  please,''  said  the  mercer,  inter- 
fering. 

"  Why,  'sblood,  he  is  at  the  threshold,"  replied  Michael. 
*^  What  said  he,  boy?" 

"  If  it  please  your  worship,"  answered  the  messenger,  "  he 
looked  out  of  window,  with  a  musquetoon  in  his  hand, 
and  when  I  delivered  your  errand,  which  I  did  with  fear  and 
trembling,  he  said,  with  a  vinegar  aspect,  that  your  worship 
might  be  gone  to  the  infernal  regions." 

"  Or  to  hell,  I  suppose,"  said  Lambourne;  "  it  is  there  he 
disposes  of  all  that  are  not  of  the  congregation." 

"  Even  so,"  said  the  boy;  "  I  used  the  other  phrase  as  being 
the  more  poetical." 

"  An  ingenious  youth,"  said  Michael;  "  shalt  have  a  drop 
to  wet  thy  poetical  whistle.     And  what  said  Foster  next  ?  " 

"  He  called  me  back,"  answered  the  boy,  "  and  bid  me  say, 
yo-u  might  come  to  him,  if  you  had  aught  to  say  to  him." 

"And  what  next?"  said  Lambourne. 

"  He  read  the  letter,  and  seemed  in  a  fluster,  and  asked  if 
your  worship  was  in  drink;  and  I  said  you  were  speaking  a 
little  Spanish,  as  one  who  had  been  in  the  Canaries." 

"  Out,  you  diminutive  pint-pot,  whelped  of  an  overgrown 
reckoning! "  replied  Lambourne — "  out!  But  what  said  he 
then?" 

"  Why,"  said  the  boy,  "  he  muttered,  that  if  he  came  not, 
your  worship  would  bolt  out  what  were  better  kept  in;  and  so 
he  took  his  old  flat  cap  and  threadbare  blue  cloak,  and,  as  I 
said  before,  he  will  be  here  incontinent." 

"  There  is  truth  in  what  he  said,"  replied  Lambourne,  as  if 
speaking  to  himself.  "  My  brain  has  played  me  its  old  dog's 
trick;  but  corragio — let  him  approach!  I  have  not  rolled 
about  in  the  world  for  many  a  day,  to  fear  Tony  Foster,  be  I 
drunk  or  sober.  Bring  me  a  flagon  of  cold  water,  to  christen 
my  sack  withal." 

While  Lambourne,  whom  the  approach  of  Foster  seemed  to 


KENILWORTE,  229 

have  recalled  to  a  sense  of  his  own  condition,  was  busied  in 
preparing  to  receive  him,  Giles  Gosling  stole  up  to  the  apart- 
ment of  the  peddler,  whom  he  found  traversing  the  room  in 
much  agitation. 

"  You  withdrew  yourself  suddenly  from  the  company,"  said 
the  landlord  to  the  guest. 

"  It  was  time,  when  the  devil  became  one  among  you,"  re- 
plied the  peddler. 

"  It  is  not  courteous  in  you  to  term  my  nephew  by  such  a 
name,"  said  Gosling,  "  nor  is  it  kindly  in  me  to  reply  to  it; 
and  yet,  in  some  sort,  Mike  may  be  considered  as  a  limb  of 
Satan."' 

"  Pooh,  I  talk  not  of  the  swaggering  ruffian,"  replied  the 

peddler;  "  it  is  of  the  other,  who,  for  aught  I  know But 

when  go  they?  or  wherefore  come  they?  " 

"  Marry,  these  are  questions  I  cannot  answer,"  replied  the 
host.  "  But  look  you,  sir,  you  have  brought  me  a  token  from 
worthy  Master  Tressilian — a  pretty  stone  it  is."  He  took  out 
the  ring,  and  looked  at  it,  adding,  as  he  put  it  into  his  purse 
again,  that  it  was  too  rich  a  guerdon  for  anything  he  could 
do  for  the  worthy  donor.  He  was,  he  said,  in  the  public  line, 
and  it  ill  became  him  to  be  too  inquisitive  into  other  folks' 
concerns;  he  had  already  said  that  he  could  hear  nothing  but 
that  the  lady  lived  still  at  Cumnor  Place,  in  the  closest  seclu- 
sion, and,  to  such  as  by  chance  had  a  view  of  her,  seemed  pen- 
sive, and  discontented  with  her  solitude.  "  But  here,"  he 
said,  "  if  you  are  desirous  to  gratify  your  master,  is  the  rarest 
chance  that  hath  occurred  for  this  many  a  day.  Tony  Fos- 
ter is  coming  down  hither,  and  it  is  but  letting  Mike  Lam- 
bourne  smell  another  wine-flask,  and  the  Queen's  command 
would  not  move  him  from  the  ale-bench.  So  they  are  fast 
for  an  hour  or  so.  Now,  if  you  will  don  your  pack,  which 
will  be  your  best  excuse,  you  may,  perchance,  win  the  ear  of 
the  old  servant,  being  assured  of  the  master's  absence,  to  let 
vou  try  to  get  some  custom  of  the  lady,  and  then  you  may 
learn  more  of  her  condition  than  I  or  any  other  can  tell 
you." 

"  True — ^very  true,"  answered  Wayland,  for  he  it  was;  "  an 
excellent  device,  but  methinks  something  dangerous;  for,  say 
Foster  should  return?" 

"  Very  possible  indeed,"  replied  the  host. 

"  Or  say,"  continued  Wayland,  "  the  lady  should  render  me 
cold  thanks  for  my  exertions?  " 

"As  is  not  unlikely,"  replied  Giles  Gosling.     "I  marvel 


230  WAVEBLEY  NOVELS. 

Master  Tressilian  will  take  such  heed  of  her  that  cares  not 
for  him." 

"  In  either  case  I  were  foully  sped/'  said  Wayland;  "  and 
therefore  I  do  not,  on  the  whole,  much  relish  your  device." 

"  Nay,  hut  take  me  with  you,  good  master  serving-man," 
replied  mine  host,  "this  is  your  master's  business  and  not 
mine;  you  best  know  the  risk  to  he  encountered,  or  how  far 
you  are  willing  to  brave  it.  But  that  which  you  will  not 
yourself  hazard,  you  cannot  expect  others  to  risk." 

"  Hold — hold,"  said  Wayland;  "  tell  me  but  one  thing. 
Goes  yonder  old  man  up  to  Cumnor?  " 

"  Surely,  I  think  so,"  said  the  landlord;  "  their  servant 
said  he  was  to  take  their  baggage  thither,  but  the  ale-tap  has 
been  as  potent  for  him  as  the  sack-spigot  has  been  for 
Michael." 

"  It  is  enough,"  said  Wayland,  assuming  an  air  of  resolu- 
tion— "I  will  thwart  that  old  villain's  projects;  my  affright 
at  his  baleful  aspect  begins  to  abate,  and  my  hatred  to  arise. 
Help  me  on  with  my  pack,  good  mine  host.  And  look  to 
thyself,  old  Albumazar:  there  is  a  malignant  influence  in  thy 
horoscope,  and  it  gleams  from  the  constellation  Ursa  Major." 

So  saying,  he  assumed  his  burden,  and,  guided  by  the  land- 
lord through  the  postern  gate  of  the  Black  Bear,  took  the 
most  private  way  from  thence  up  to  Cumnor  Plaxse. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

GUnon.  You  have  of  these  peddlers,  that  have  more  in  'em  than  you'd  think, 
sister.  —  Winter's  Tale,  Act  iv.  Scene  3. 

In  his  anxiety  to  obey  the  earFs  repeated  charges  of  secrecy, 
as  well  as  from  his  own  unsocial  and  miserly  habits,  Anthony 
Foster  was  more  desirous,  by  his  mode  of  housekeeping,  to 
escape  observation  than  to  resist  intrusive  curiosity.  Thus, 
instead  of  a  numerous  household,  to  secure  his  charge  and 
defend  his  house,  he  studied,  as  much  as  possible,  to  elude 
notice  by  diminishing  his  attendants;  so  that,  unless  when 
there  were  followers  of  the  earl  or  of  Vamey  in  the  mansion, 
one  old  male  domestic  and  two  aged  crones,  who  assisted  in 
keeping  the  countess'  apartments  in  order,  were  the  only 
servants  of  the  family. 

It  was  one  of  these  old  women  who  opened  the  door  when 
Wayland  knocked,  and  answered  his  petition  to  be  admitted 
to  exhibit  his  wares  to  the  ladies  of  the  family  with  a  volley 
of  vituperation,  couched  in  what  is  there  called  the  "jow- 
ring  "  dialect.  The  peddler  found  the  means  of  checking  this 
vociferation  by  slipping  a  silver  groat  into  her  hand,  and  inti- 
mating the  present  of  some  stuff  for  a  coif,  if  the  lady  would 
buy  of  his  wares. 

"  God  ield  thee,  for  mine  is  aw  in  littocks.  Slocket  with 
thy  pack  into  gharn,  mon.  Her  walks  in  gham."  Into  the 
garden  she  ushered  the  peddler  accordingly,  and  pointing  to 
an  old  ruinous  garden-house,  said,  "  Yonder  he's  her,  mon — 
yonder  he's  her.     Zhe  will  buy  changes  an  zhe  loikes  stuffs." 

"  She  has  left  me  to  come  off  as  I  may,"  thought  Wayland, 
as  he  heard  the  hag  shut  the  garden  door  behind  him.  "  But 
they  shall  not  beat  me,  and  they  dare  not  murder  me  for  so 
little  trespass,  and  by  this  fair  twilight.  Hang  it,  I  will  on 
— a  brave  general  never  thought  of  his  retreat  till  he  was  de- 
feated. I  see  two  females  in  the  old  garden-house  yonder; 
but  how  to  address  them?  Sta.y — "Will  Shakspere,  be  my 
friend  in  need!  I  will  give  them  a  taste  of  Autolycus."  He 
then  sung  with  a  good  voice,  and  becoming  audacity,  the 
popular  playhouse  ditty: 

"  Lawn  as  white  as  driven  snow, 
Cyprus  black  as  e'er  was  crow, 
Gloves  as  sweet  as  damask  roses, 
Masks  for  faces  and  for  noses." 


232  WAVEBLET  NOVELS. 

"  What  hath  fortune  sent  us  here  for  an  unwonted  sight, 
Janet?  "  said  the  lady. 

"^  One  of  those  merchants  of  vanity  called  peddlers/'  an- 
swered Janet,  demurely,  "who  utters  his  light  wares  in 
lighter  measures.     I  marvel  old  Dorcas  let  him  pass." 

"  It  is  a  lucky  chance,  girl,"  said  the  countess;  "  we  lead  a 
heavy  life  here,  and  this  may  while  off  a  weary  hour." 

"  Aye,  my  gracious  lady,"  said  Janet;  "  but  my  father?  " 

"  He  is  not  my  father,  Janet,  nor,  I  hope,  my  master,"  an- 
swered the  lady.  "  I  say,  call  the  man  hither;  I  want  some 
things." 

"  Nay,"  replied  Janet,  "  your  ladyship  has  but  to  say  so  in 
the  next  packet,  and  if  England  can  furnish  them  they  will 
be  sent.  There  will  come  mischief  on't.  Pray,  dearest  lady, 
let  me  bid  the  man  begone!  " 

"  I  will  have  thee  bid  him  come  hither,"  said  the  countess; 
'^  or  stay,  thou  terrified  fool,  I  will  bid  him  myself,  and  spare 
thee  a  chiding." 

"  Ah!  well-a-day,  dearest  lady,  if  that  were  the  worst,"  said 
Janet,  sadly,  while  the  lady  called  to  the  peddler,  "  Good  fel- 
low, step  forward — undo  thy  pack;  if  thou  hast  good  wares, 
chance  has  sent  thee  hither  for  my  convenience  and  thy 
profit." 

"  What  may  your  ladyship  please  to  lack?  "  said  Wayland, 
unstrapping  his  pack,  and  displaying  its  contents  with  as 
much  dexterity  as  if  he  had  been  bred  to  the  trade.  Indeed, 
he  had  occasionally  pursued  it  in  the  course  of  his  roving  life, 
and  now  commended  his-  wares  with  all  the  volubility  of  a 
trader,  and  showed  some  skill  in  the  main  art  of  placing 
prices  upon  them. 

"What  do  I  please  to  lack?"  said  the  lady;  "why,  con- 
sidering I  have  not  for  six  long  months  bought  one  yard  of 
lawn  or  cambric,  or  one  trinket,  the  most  inconsiderable,  for 
my  own  use,  and  at  my  own  choice,  the  better  question  is, 
what  hast  thou  got  to  sell?  Lay  aside  for  me  that  cambric 
partlet  and  pair  of  sleeves;  and  those  roundells  of  gold  fringe, 
drawn  out  with  Cyprus;  and  that  short  cloak  of  cherry-colored 
fine  cloth,  garnished  with  gold  buttons  and  loops.  Is  it  not 
of  an  absolute  fancy,  Janet?  " 

"Nay,  my  lady,"  replied  Janet,  "if  you  consult  my  poor 
judgment,  it  is,  methinks,  over  gaudy  for  a  graceful  habit." 

"Now,  out  upon  thy  judgment,  if  it  be  no  brighter,  wench," 
said  the  countess;  "thou  shalt  wear  it  thyself  for  penance 
sake;  and  I  promise  thee  the  gold  buttons,  being  somewhat 


I 


"  *  What  may  your  ladyship  please  to  lack  ? '  said  Wayland. 


KENILWOBTH.  233 

massive,  will  comfort  thy  father,  and  reconcile  him  to  the 
cherry-colored  body.  See  that  he  snap  them  not  away,  Janet, 
and  send  them  to  bear  company  with  the  imprisoned  angela 
which  he  keeps  captive  in  his  strong  box." 

"  May  I  pray  your  ladyship  to  spare  my  poor  father!  '*  said 
Janet. 

"  Nay,  but  why  should  anyone  spare  him  that  is  so  sparing 
of  his  own  nature?"  replied  the  lady.  "Well,  but  tO'  our 
gear.  That  head  garniture  for  myself,  and  that  silver  bod- 
kin, mounted  with  pearl;  and  take  off  two  gowns  of  that  rus- 
set cloth  for  Dorcas  and  Alison,  Janet,  to  keep  the  old 
wretches  warm  against  winter  comes.  And  stay,  hast  thou 
no  perfumes  and  sweet  bags,  or  any  handsome  casting-bottles 
of  the  newest  mode  ?  " 

"  Were  I  a  peddler  in  earnest,  I  were  a  made  merchant," 
thought  Wayland,  as  he  busied  himself  to  answer  the  demands 
which  she  thronged  one  on  another,  with  the  eagerness  of  a 
young  lady  who  has  been  long  secluded  from  such  a  pleasing 
occupation.  "  But  how  to  bring  her  to  a  moment's  serious 
reflection  ?  "  Then,  as  he  exhibited  his  choicest  collection 
of  essences  and  perfumes,  he  at  once  arrested  her  attention  by 
observing,  that  these  articles  had  almost  risen  to  double  value, 
since  the  magnificent  preparations  made  by  the  Earl  of 
Leicester  to  entertain  the  Queen  and  court  at  his  princely 
Castle  of  Kenilworth. 

"Ha!  "  said  the  countess  hastily;  "  that  rumor  then  is  true, 
Janet." 

"  Surely,  madam,"  answered  Wayland;  "  and  I  marvel  it 
hath  not  reached  your  noble  ladyship's  ears.  The  Queen  of 
England  feasts  with  the  noble  earl  for  a  week  during  the  sum- 
me?s  progress;  and  there  are  many  who  will  tell  you  England 
will  have  a  king,  and  England's  Elizabeth — God  save  her! — 
a  husband,  ere  the  progress  be  over." 

"  They  lie  like  villains! "  said  the  countess,  bursting  forth 
impatiently. 

"  For  God's  sake,  madam,  consider,"  said  Janet,  trembling 
with  apprehension;  "who  would  cumber  themselves  about 
peddler's  tidings?  " 

"  Yes,  Janet! "  exclaimed  the  countess;  "  right,  thou  hast 
corrected  me  justly.  Such  reports,  blighting  the  reputation 
of  England's  brightest  and  noblest  peer,  can  only  find  cur- 
rency amongst  the  mean,  the  abject,  and  the  infamous!  " 

"  May  I  perish,  lady,"  said  Wayland  Smith,  observing  that 
her  violence  directed  itself  toward  him,  "  if  I  have  done  any- 


284  WA  VEBLE7  NO  VEL8. 

thing  to  merit  this  strange  passion!  I  have  said  but  what 
many  men  say." 

By  this  time  the  countess  had  recovered  her  composure, 
ajid  endeavored,  alarmed  by  the  anxious  hints  of  Janet,  to 
suppress  all  appearance  of  displeasure.  "  I  were  loath,"  she 
said,  "  good  fellow,  that  our  Queen  should  change  the  virgin 
style,  so  dear  to  us  her  people — think  not  of  it."  And  then, 
ae  if  desirous  to  change  the  subject,  she  added,  "  And  what  is 
this  paste,  so  carefully  put  up  in  the  silver  box?  "  as  she 
examined  the  contents  of  a  casket  in  which  drugs  and  per- 
fumes were  contained  in  separate  drawers. 

"  It  is  a  remedy,  madam,  for  a  disorder  of  which  I  trust 
your  ladyship  will  never  have  reason  to  complain.  The 
amount  of  a  small  Turkey  bean,  swallowed  daily  for  a  week, 
fortifies  the  heart  against  those  black  vapors  which  arise  from 
solitude,  melancholy,  unrequited  affection,  disappointed 
hope " 

"  Are  you  a  fool,  friend?  "  said  the  countess  sharply;  "  or 
do  you  think,  because  I  have  good-naturedly  purchased  your 
trumpery  goods  at  your  roguish  prices,  that  you  may  put  any 
gullery  you  will  on  me?  Who  ever  heard  that  affections  of 
the  heart  were  cured  by  medicines  given  to  the  body?  " 

*'  Under  your  honorable  favor,"  said  Wayland,  "  I  am  an 
honest  man,  and  I  have  sold  my  goods  at  an  honest  price. 
As  to  this  most  precious  medicine,  when  I  told  its  qualities, 
I  asked  you  not  to  purchase  it,  so  why  should  I  lie  to  you?  I 
say  not  it  will  cure  a  rooted  affection  of  the  mind,  which  only 
God  and  time  can  do;  but  I  say,  that  this  restorative  relieves 
the  black  vapors  which  are  engendered  in  the  body  of  that 
melancholy  which  broodeth  on  the  mind.  I  have  relieved 
many  with  it,  both  in  court  and  city,  and  of  late  one  Master 
Edmund  Tressilian,  a  worshipful  gentleman  in  Cornwall, 
who,  on  some  slight,  received,  it  was  told  me,  where  he  had 
set  his  affections,  was  brought  into  that  state  of  melancholy 
which  made  his  friends  alarmed  for  his  life." 

He  paused,  and  the  lady  remained  silent  for  some  time,  and 
then  asked  with  a  voice  which  she  strove  in  vain  to  render 
firm  and  indifferent  in  its  tone,  "  Is  the  gentleman  you  have 
mentioned  perfectly  recovered?  " 

"  Passably,  madam,"  answered  Wayland:  "  he  hath  at  least 
no  bodily  complaint." 

"  I  will  take  some  of  the  medicine,  Janet,"  said  the  count- 
ess. "I  too  have  sometimes  that  dark  melancholy  which 
overclouds  the  brain." 


KEMLWORTR.  a8« 

"You  shall  not  do  so,  madam,"  said  Janet;  "who  shall 
answer  that  this  fellow  vends  what  is  wholesome?  " 

"  I  will  myself  warrant  my  good  faith,"  said  Wayland;  and, 
taking  a  part  of  the  medicine,  he  swallowed  it  before  them. 
The  countess  now  bought  what  remained,  a  step  to  which 
Janet,  by  farther  objections,  only  determined  her  the  more 
obstinately.  She  even  took  the  first  dose  upon  the  instant, 
and  professed  to  feel  her  heart  lightened  and  her  spirits 
augmented — a  consequence  which,  in  all  probability,  existed 
only  in  her  own  imagination.  The  lady  then  piled  the  pur- 
chases she  had  made  together,  flung  her  purse  to  Janet,  and 
desired  her  to  compute  the  amount  and  to  pay  the  peddler; 
while  she  herself,  as  if  tired  of  the  amusement  she  at  first 
found  in  conversing  with  him,  wished  him  good  evening,  and 
walked  carelessly  into  the  house,  thus  depriving  Wayland  of 
every  opportunity  to  speak  with  her  in  private.  He  hastened, 
however,  to  attempt  an  explanation  with  Janet. 

"  Maiden,"  he  said,  "  thou  hast  the  face  of  one  who  should 
love  her  mistress.     She  hath  much  need  of  faithful  service." 

"  And  well  deserves  it  at  my  hands,"  replied  Janet;  "  but 
what  of  that?" 

"  Maiden,  I  am  not  altogether  what  I  seem,"  said  the  ped- 
dler, lowering  his  voice. 

"  The  less  like  to  be  an  honest  man,"  said  Janet. 

"  The  more  so,"  answered  Wayland,  "  since  I  am  no 
peddler." 

"  Get  thee  gone  then  instantly,  or  I  will  call  for  assistance," 
said  Janet;  "  my  father  must  ere  this  be  returned." 

"  Do  not  be  so  rash,"  said  Wayland;  "  you  will  do  what  you 
may  repent  of.  I  am  one  of  your  mistress'  friends;  and  she 
had  need  of  more,  not  that  thou  shouldst  ruin  those  she 
hath." 

"  How  shall  I  know  that?  "  said  Janet. 

"  Look  me  in  the  face,"  said  Wayland  Smith,  "  and  see  if 
thou  dost  not  read  honesty  in  my  looks." 

And  in  truth,  though  by  no  means  handsome,  there  was  in 
his  physiognomy  the  sharp,  keen  expression  of  inventive 
genius  and  prompt  intellect  which,  joined  to  quick  and  bril- 
liant eyes,  a  well-formed  mouth,  and  an  intelligent  smile, 
often  gives  grace  and  interest  to  features  which  are  both 
homely  and  irregular.  Janet  looked  at  him  with  the  sly 
simplicity  of  her  sect,  and  replied,  "  Notwithstanding  thy 
boasted  honesty,  friend,  and  although  I  am  not  accustomed 
to  read  and  pass  judgment  on  such  volumes  as  thou  hast  sub- 


236  WA  VERLET  NO  VEL8. 

mitted  to  my  perusal,  I  think  I  see  in  thy  countenance  some- 
thing of  the  peddler — something  of  the  picaroon." 

"  On  a  small  scale,  perhaps/'  said  Wayland  Smith,  laugh- 
ing. "  But  this  evening,  or  to-morrow,  will  an  old  man  come 
hither  with  thy  father,  who  has  the  stealthy  step  of  the  cat, 
the  shrewd  and  vindictive  eye  of  the  rat,  the  fawning  wile  of 
the  spaniel,  the  determined  snatch  of  the  mastiff;  of  him  be- 
ware, for  your  own  sake,  and  that  of  your  mistress.  See  you, 
fair  Janet,  he  brings  the  venom  of  the  aspic  under  the 
assumed  innocence  of  the  dove.  What  precise  mischief  he 
meditates  toward  you  I  cannot  guess;  but  death  and  disease 
have  ever  dogged  his  footsteps.  Say  naught  of  this  to  thy 
mistress:  my  art  suggests  to  me  that  in  her  state  the  fear  of 
evil  may  be  as  dangerous  as  its  operation.  But  see  that  she 
take  my  specific,  for  [he  lowered  his  voice,  and  spoke  low  but 
impressively  in  her  ear]  it  is  an  antidote  against  poison. 
Hark,  they  enter  the  garden! " 

In  effect,  a  sound  of  noisy  mirth  and  loud  talking  ap- 
proached the  garden  door,  alarmed  by  which,  Wayland  Smith 
sprung  into  the  midst  of  a  thicket  of  overgrown  shrubs,  while 
Janet  withdrew  to  the  garden-house  that  she  might  not  incur 
observation,  and  that  she  might  at  the  same  time  conceal,  at 
least  for  the  present,  the  purchases  made  from  the  supposed 
peddler,  which  lay  scattered  on  the  floor  of  the  summer- 
house. 

Janet,  however,  had  no  occasion  for  anxiety.  Her  father, 
his  old  attendant,  Lord  Leicester's  domestic,  and  the  astrolo- 
ger entered  the  garden  in  tumult  and  in  extreme  perplexity, 
endeavoring  to  quiet  Lambourne,  whose  brain  had  now  be- 
come completely  fired  with  liquor,  and  who  was  one  of  those 
unfortunate  persons  who,  being  once  stirred  with  the  vinous 
stimulus,  do  not  fall  asleep  like  other  drunkards  but  remain 
partially  influenced  by  it  for  many  hours,  until  at  length,  by 
successive  draughts,  they  are  elevated  into  a  state  of  uncon- 
trollable frenzy.  Like  many  men  in  this  state  also,  Lam- 
bourne neither  lost  the  power  of  motion,  speech,  or  expres- 
sion; but,  on  the  contrary,  spoke  with  unwonted  emphasis  and 
readiness,  and  told  all  that  at  another  time  he  would  have 
been  most  desirous  to  keep  secret. 

"  What!"  ejaculated  Michael,  at  the  full  extent  of  his  voice, 
"  am  I  to  have  no  welcome — no  carouse,  when  I  have  brought 
fortune  to  your  old  ruinous  dog-house  in  the  shape  of  a  devil's 
ally,  that  can  change  slate-shivers  into  Spanish  dollars? 
Here,  you  Tony  Fire-the-Eagot,  Papist,  Puritan,  hypocrite, 


KENILWORTH.  237 

miser,  profligate,  devil,  compounded  of  all  men^s  sins,  bow 
down  and  reverence  him  who  has  brought  into  thy  house  the 
very  mammon  thou  worshipest!  ^' 

"For  God's  sake,"  said  Foster,  "speak  low;  come  into 
the  house;  thou  shalt  have  wine,  or  whatever  thou 
wilt/' 

"No,  old  puckfist,  I  will  have  it  here,"  thundered  the 
inebriated  ruffian — "  here,  ^  al  fresco,'  as  the  Italian  hath  it. 
No — no,  I  will  not  drink  with  that  poisoning  devil  within 
doors,  to  be  choked  with  the  fumes  of  arsenic  and  quicksilver; 
I  learned  from  villain  Varney  to  beware  of  that." 

"  Fetch  him  wine,  in  the  name  of  all  the  fiends!  "  said  the 
alchemist. 

"Aha!  and  thou  wouldst  spice  it  for  me,  old  Truepenny, 
wouldst  thou  not?  Aye,  I  should  have  copperas,  and  helle- 
bore, and  vitriol,  and  aquafortis,  and  twenty  devilish  ma- 
terials, bubbling  in  my  brain-pan,  like  a  charm  to  raise  the 
devil  in  a  witch's  caldron.  Hand  me  the  flask  thyself,  old 
Tony  Fire-the-Fagot — ^and  let  it  be  cool;  I  will  have  no  wine 
mulled  at  the  pile  of  the  old  burnt  bishops.  Or  stay,  let 
Leicester  be  king  if  he  will — good — and  Varney,  villain  Var- 
ney, grand  vizier — why,  excellent!  And  what  shall  I  be, 
then?  Why,  emperor — Emperor  Lamboume!  I  will  see 
this  choice  piece  of  beauty  that  they  have  walled  up  here  for 
their  private  pleasures;  I  will  have  her  this  very  night  to 
serve  m}^  wine-cup  and  put  on  my  nightcap.  What  should 
a  fellow  do  with  two  wives,  were  he  twenty  times  an  earl? 
Answer  me  that,  Tony  boy,  you  old  reprobate,  hypocritical 
dog,  whom  God  struck  out  of  the  book  of  life,  but  tormented 
with  the  constant  wish  to  be  restored  to  it.  You  old  bishop- 
burning,  blasphemous  fanatic,  answer  me  that." 

"  I  will  stick  my  knife  to  the  haft  in  him,"  said  Foster,  in 
a  low  tone,  which  trembled  with  passion. 

"  For  the  love  of  Heaven,  no  violence!  "  said  the  astrologer. 
"  It  cannot  but  be  looked  closely  into.  Here,  honest  Lam- 
boume, wilt  thou  pledge  me  to  the  health  of  the  noble  Earl 
of  Leicester  and  Master  Eichard  Varney?" 

"  I  will,  mine  old  Albumazar — I  will,  my  trusty  vender  of 
ratsbane.'  I  .would  kiss  thee,  mine  honest  infractor  of  the 
Lex  Julia,  as  they  said  at  Leyden,  didst  thou  not  flavor  so 
damnably  of  sulphur  and  such  fiendish  apothecaries'  stuff. 
Here  goes  it,  ^  up  sey  es ' — to  Varney  and  Leicester!  Two 
more  noble,  mounting  spirits,  and  more  dark-seeking,  deep- 
diving,  high-flying,  malicious,  ambitious  miscreants — well,  I 


238  WAVERLET  JV0VEL8, 

say  no  more,  but  I  will  whet  my  dagger  on  his  heart-spone 
that  refuses  to  pledge  me!     And  so,  my  masters " 

Thus  speaking,  Lamhourne  exhausted  the  cup  which  the 
astrologer  had  handed  to  him,  and  which  contained  not  wine, 
but  distilled  spirits.  He  swore  half  an  oath,  dropped  the 
empty  cup  from  his  grasp,  laid  his  hand  on  his  sword  without 
being  able  to  draw  it,  reeled,  and  fell  without  sense  or  motion 
into  the  arms  of  the  domestic,  who  dragged  him  off  to  his 
chamber  and  put  him  to  bed. 

In  the  general  confusion,  Janet  regained  her  lady's  cham- 
ber unobserved,  trembling  like  an  aspen  leaf,  but  determined 
to  keep  secret  from  the  countess  the  dreadful  surmises  which 
she  could  not  help  entertaining  from  the  drunken  ravings  of 
Lamboume.  Her  fears,  however,  though  they  assumed  no 
certain  shape,  kept  pace  with  the  advice  of  the  peddler;  and 
she  confirmed  her  mistress  in  her  purpose  of  taking  the  medi- 
cine which  he  had  recommended,  from  which  it  is  probable 
she  would  otherwise  have  dissuaded  her. 

Neither  had  these  intimations  escaped  the  ears  of  Wayland, 
who  knew  much  better  how  to  interpret  them.  He  felt 
much  compassion  at  beholding  so  lovely  a  creature  as  the 
countess,  and  whom  he  had  first  seen  in  the  bosom  of  domes- 
tic happiness,  exposed  to  the  machinations  of  such  a  gang  of 
villains.  His  indignation,  too,  had  been  highly  excited  by 
hearing  the  voice  of  his  old  master,  against  whom  he  felt,  in 
equal  degree,  the  passions  of  hatred  and  fear.  He  nourished 
also  a  pride  in  his  own  art  and  resources;  and,  dangerous  as 
the  task  was,  he  that  night  formed  a  determination  to  attain 
the  bottom  of  the  mystery,  and  to  aid  the  distressed  lady,  if  it 
were  yet  possible.  From  some  words  which  Lamboume  had 
dropped  among  Ins  ravings,  Wayland  now,  for  the  first  time, 
felt  inclined  to  doubt  that  Vamey  had  acted  entirely  on  his 
own  account  in  wooing  and  winning  the  affecfions  of  this 
beautiful  creature.  Fame  asserted  of  this  zealous  retainer 
that  he  had  accommodated  his  lord  in  former  love  intrigues; 
and  it  occurred  to  Wayland  Smith  that  Leicester  himself 
might  be  the  party  chiefly  interested.  Her  marriage  with 
the  Earl  he  could  not  suspect;  but  even  the  discovery  of  such 
a  passing  intrigue  with  a  lady  of  Mistress  Amy  Bobsizf  s  rank 
was  a  secret  of  the  deepest  importance  to  the  stability  of  the 
favorite's  power  over  Elizabeth.  "If  Leicester  himself 
should  hesitate  to  stifle  such  a  rumor  by  very  strange  means," 
said  he  to  himself,  "  he  has  those  about  him  who  would  do 
Mm  that  favor  without  waiting  for  his  consent.     If  I  would 


KENILWORTH,  289 

meddle  in  this  business,  it  must  be  in  such  guise  as  my  old 
master  uses  when  he  compounds  his  manna  of  Satan,  and 
that  is  with  a  close  mask  on  my  face.  So  I  will  quit  Giles 
Gosling  to-morrow,  and  change  my  course  and  place  of  resi- 
dence as  often  as  a  hunted  fox.  I  should  like  to  see  this  little 
Puritan,  too,  once  more.  She  looks  both  pretty  and  intelli- 
gent, to  have  come  of  such  a  caitiff  as  Anthony  Fire-the- 
Fagot." 

Giles  Gosling  received  the  adieus  of  Wayland  rather  joy- 
fully than  otherwise.  The  honest  publican  saw  so  much 
peril  in  crossing  the  course  of  the  Earl  of  Leicester's  favorite, 
that  his  virtue  was  scarce  able  to  support  him  in  the  task, 
and  he  was  well  pleased  when  it  was  likely  to  be  removed 
from  his  shoulders;  still,  however,  professing  his  good-will 
and  readiness,  in  case  of  need,  to  do  Master  Tressilian  or  his 
emissary  any  service,  in  so  far  as  consisted  with  his  chazucter 
of  a  publican. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

Vaulting  ambition,  that  o'erleaps  itself, 
And  falls  on  t'other  side. 

—Macbeth. 

The  splendor  of  the  approaching  revels  at  Kenilworth  was 
now  the  conversation  through  all  England;  and  everything 
was  collected  at  home  or  from  abroad  which  could  add  to  the 
gayety  or  glory  of  the  prepared  reception  of  Elizabeth  at  the 
house  of  her  most  distinguished  favorite.  Meantime,  Leices- 
ter appeared  daily  to  advance  in  the  Queen's  favor.  He  was 
perpetually  by  her  side  in  council,  willingly  listened  to  in  the 
moments  of  courtly  recreation,  favored  with  approaches  even 
to  familiar  intimacy,  looked  up  to  by  all  who  had  aught  to 
hope  at  court,  courted  by  foreign  ministers  with  the  most 
flattering  testimonies  of  respect  from  their  sovereigns — the 
"alter  ego,"  as  it  seemed,  of  the  stately  Elizabeth,  who  was 
now  very  generally  supposed  to  be  studying  the  time  and 
opportunity  for  associating  him,  by  marriage,  into  her  sover- 
eign power. 

Amid  such  a  tide  of  prosperity,  this  minion  of  fortune  and 
of  the  Queen's  favor  was  probably  the  most  unhappy  man  in 
the  realm  which  seemed  at  his  devotion.  He  had  the  Fairy 
King's  superiority  over  his  friends  and  dependents,  and  saw 
much  which  they  could  not.  The  character  of  his  mistress 
was  intimately  known  to  him:  it  was  his  minute  and  studied 
acquaintance  with  her  humors,  as  well  as  her  noble  faculties, 
which,  joined  to  his  powerful  mental  qualities  and  his  emi- 
nent external  accomplishments,  had  raised  him  so  high  in  her 
favor;  and  it  was  that  very  knowledge  of  her  disposition 
which  led  him  to  apprehend  at  every  turn  some  sudden  and 
overwhelming  disgrace.  Leicester  was  like  a  pilot  possessed 
of  a  chart,  which  points  out  to  him  all  the  peculiarities  of  his 
navigation,  but  which  exhibits  so  many  shoals,  breakers,  and 
reefs  of  rocks  that  his  anxious  eye  reaps  little  more  from  ob- 
serving them  than  to  be  convinced  that  his  final  escape  can 
be  little  else  than  miraculous. 

In  fact.  Queen  Elizabeth  had  a  character  strangely  com- 
pounded of  the  strongest  masculine  sense  with  those  foibles 
which  are  chiefly  supposed  proper  to  the  female  sex.  Her 
subjects  had  the  full  benefit  of  her  virtues,  which  far  pre- 


KENILWOBTH,  241 

dominated  over  her  weaknesses;  but  her  courtiers  and  those 
about  her  person  had  often  to  sustain  sudden  and  embarrass- 
ing turns  of  caprice  and  the  sallies  of  a  temper  which  was 
both  jealous  and  despotic.  She  was  the  nursing-mother  of 
her  people,  but  she  was  also  the  true  daughter  of  Henry 
VIII.;  and  though  early  sufferings  and  an  excellent  education 
had  repressed  and  modified,  they  had  not  altogether  de- 
stroyed, the  hereditary  temper  of  that  "  hard-ruled  king." 
"  Her  mind,"  says  her  witty  godson.  Sir  John  Harrington, 
who  had  experienced  both  the  smiles  and  the  frowns  which 
he  describes,  "  was  ofttime  like  the  gentle  air,  that  cometh 
from  the  westerly  point  in  a  summer's  mom:  'twas  sweet  and 
refreshing  to  all  around  her.  Her  speech  did  win  all  affec- 
tions. .  .  Again,  she  could  put  forth  such  alterations,  when 
obedience  was  lacking,  as  left  no  doubting  whose  daughter 
she  was.  .  .  When  she  smiled,  it  was  a  pure  sunshine,  that 
everyone  did  choose  to  bask  in,  if  they  could;  but  anon  came 
a  storm,  from  a  sudden  gathering  of  clouds,  and  the  thunder 
fell  in  wondrous  manner  on  all  alike."  * 

This  variability  of  disposition,  as  Leicester  well  knew,  was 
chiefly  formidable  to  those  who  had  a  share  in  the  Queen's 
affections,  and  who  depended  rather  on  her  personal  regard 
than  on  the  indispensable  services  which  they  could  render  to 
her  councils  and  her  crown.  The  favor  of  Burleigh  or  of 
Walsingham,  of  a  description  far  less  striking  than  that  by 
which  he  was  himself  upheld,  was  founded,  as  Leicester  was 
well  aware,  on  Elizabeth's  solid  judgment,  not  on  her  par- 
tiality; and  was,  therefore,  free  from  all  those  principles  of 
change  and  decay  necessarily  incident  to  that  which  chiefly 
arose  from  personal  accomplishments  and  female  predilec- 
tion. These  great  and  sage  statesmen  were  judged  of  by  the 
Queen  only  with  reference  to  the  measures  they  suggested, 
and  the  reasons  by  which  they  supported  their  opinions  in 
council;  whereas  the  success  of  Leicester's  course  depended  on 
all  those  light  and  changeable  gales  of  caprice  and  humor 
which  thwart  or  favor  the  progress  of  a  lover  in  the  favor  of 
his  mistress,  and  she,  too,  a  mistress  who  was  ever  and  anon 
becoming  fearful  lest  she  should  forget  the  dignity,  or  com- 
promise the  authority,  of  the  queen  while  she  indulged  the 
affections  of  the  woman.  Of  the  difficulties  which  sur- 
rounded his  power,  "  too  great  to  keep  or  to  resign,"  Leicester 
was  fully  sensible;  and,  as  he  looked  anxiously  round  for  the 

*  Nuga  Antiqua,  Letter  of  Sir  J.  Harrington  to  Mr.  Robert^Markham,  1800, 


i. 


242  WA  VEBLET  NO  VEL8. 

means  of  maintaining  himself  in  his  precarious  situation,  and 
sometimes  contemplated  those  of  descending  from  it  in  safety, 
he  saw  but  little  hope  of  either.  At  such  moments,  his 
thoughts  turned  to  dwell  upon  his  secret  marriage  and  its 
co-nsequences;  and  it  was  in  bitterness  against  himself,  if  not 
against  his  unfortunate  countess,  that  he  ascribed  to  that 
hasty  measure,  adopted  in  the  ardor  of  what  he  now  called  in- 
considerate passion,  at  once  the  impossibility  of  placing  his 
power  on  a  solid  basis  and  the  immediate  prospect  of  its  pre- 
cipitate downfall. 

"  Men  say,"  thus  ran  his  thoughts,  in  these  anxious  and  re- 
pentant moments,  "  that  I  might  marry  Elizabeth,  and  be- 
come King  of  England.  All  things  suggest  this.  The 
match  is  caroled  in  ballads,  while  the  rabble  throw  their  caps 
up.  It  has  been  touched  upon  in  the  schools — whispered  in 
the  presence-chamber — recommended  from  the  pulpit — 
prayed  for  in  the  Calvinistic  churches  abroad — touched  on  by 
statists  in  the  very  council  at  home.  These  bold  insinuations 
have  been  rebutted  by  no  rebuke,  no  resentment,  no  chiding, 
scarce  even  by  the  usual  female  protestation  that  she  would 
live  and  die  a  virgin  princess.  Her  words  have  been  more 
courteous  than  ever,  though  she  knows  such  rumors  are 
abroad — ^her  actions  more  gracious — her  looks  more  kind: 
naught  seems  wanting  to  make  me  King  of  England,  and 
place  me  beyond  the  storms  of  court  favor,  excepting  the  put- 
ting forth  of  mine  own  hand  to  take  that  crown  imperial 
which  is  the  glory  of  the  universe!  And  when  I  might 
stretch  that  hand  out  most  boldly,  it  is  fettered  down  by  a 
secret  and  inextricable  bond!  And  here  I  have  letters  from 
Amy,"  he  would  say,  catching  them  up  with  a  movement  of 
peevishness,  "  persecuting  me  to  acknowledge  her  openly — ^to 
do  justice  to  her  and  to  myself — and  I  wot  not  what.  Me- 
thinks  I  have  done  less  than  justice  to  myself  already.  And 
she  speaks  as  if  Elizabeth  were  to  receive  the  knowledge  of 
this  matter  with  the  glee  of  a  mother  hearing  of  the  happy 
marriage  of  a  hopeful  son!  She,  the  daughter  of  Henry,  who 
spared  neither  man  in  his  anger  nor  woman  in  his  desire — 
she  to  find  herself  tricked,  drawn  on  with  toys  of  passion  to 
the  verge  of  acknowledging  her  love  to  a  subject,  and  he  dis- 
covered to  be  a  married  man!  Elizabeth  to  learn  that  she 
had  been  dallied  with  in  such  fashion,  as  a  gay  courtier  might 
trifle  with  a  country  wench.  "We  should  then  see  to  our  ruin 
*  furens  quid  foemina! ' " 

He  would  then  pause,  and  call  for  Vamey,  whose  advice 


"  *  Men  say,*   thus  ran  his  thoughts  .  .  .  <  that  I   might  marry  Elizabeth.'  " 


KENILWORTH.  243 

was  now  more  frequently  resorted  to  than  ever,  because  the 
earl  remembered  the  remonstrances  which  he  had  made 
against  his  secret  contract.  And  their  consultation  usually 
terminated  in  anxious  deliberation  how,  or  in  what  manner, 
the  countess  was  to  be  produced  at  Kenilworth.  These  com- 
munings had  for  some  time  ever  ended  in  a  resolution  to  de- 
lay the  progress  from  day  to  day.  But  at  length  a  peremp- 
tory decision  became  necessary. 

"  Elizabeth  will  not  be  satisfied  without  her  presence/'  said 
the  earl;  "  whether  any  suspicion  hath  entered  her  mind,  as 
my  own  apprehensions  suggest,  or  whether  the  petition  of 
Tressilian  is  kept  in  her  memory  by  Sussex  or  some  other 
secret  enemy,  I  know  not;  but  amongst  all  the  favorable  ex- 
pressions which  she  uses  to  me,  she  often  recurs  to  the  story 
of  Amy  Eobsart.  I  think  that  Amy  is  the  slave  in  the 
chariot,  who  is  placed  there  by  my  evil  fortune  to  dash  and  to 
confound  my  triumph,  even  when  at  the  highest.  Show  me 
thy  device,  Vamey,  for  solving  the  inextricable  difficulty.  I 
have  thrown  every  such  impediment  in  the  way  of  these  ac- 
cursed revels  as  I  could  propound  even  with  a  shade  of  de- 
cency, but  to-day's  interview  has  put  all  to  a  hazard.  She 
said  to  me  kindly  but  peremptorily,  '  We  will  give  you  no 
farther  time  for  preparations,  my  lord,  lest  you  should  alto- 
gether ruin  yourself.  On  Saturday,  the  9th  of  July,  we  will 
be  with  you  at  Kenilworth.  We  pray  you  to  forget  none  of 
our  appointed  guests  and  suitors,  and  in  especial  this  light  o' 
love.  Amy  Eobsart.  We  would  wish  to  see  the  woman  who 
could  postpone  yonder  poetical  gentleman.  Master  Tressilian, 
to  your  man,  Echard  Varney.'  Now,  Yamey,  ply  thine  in- 
vention, whose  forge  hath  availed  us  so  often;  for  sure  as  my 
name  is  Dudley,  the  danger  menaced  by  my  horoscope  is  now 
darkening  around  me." 

"  Can  my  lady  be  by  no  means  persuaded  to  bear  for  a  brief 
space  the  obscure  character  which  circumstances  impose  on 
her?  "  said  Vamey,  after  some  hesitation. 

"  How,  sirrah!  my  countess  term  herself  thy  wife!  that  may 
neither  stand  with  my  honor  nor  with  hers." 

"Alas!  my  lord,"  answered  Vamey,  "and  yet  such  is  the 
quality  in  which  Elizabeth  now  holds  her;  and  to  contradict 
this  opinion  is  to  discover  all." 

"  Think  of  something  else,  Varney,"  said  the  earl,  in  great 
agitation;  "  this  invention  is  naught.  If  I  could  give  way  to 
it,  she  would  not;  for  I  tell  thee,  Vamey,  if  thou  know'st  it 
not,  that  not  Elizabeth  on  the  throne  has  more  pride  than  the 


344  WAVBRLEY  NOVELS. 

daughter  of  this  obscure  gentleman  of  Devon.  She  is  flexible 
in  many  things,  but  where  she  holds  her  honor  brought  in 
question  she  hath  a  spirit  and  temper  as  apprehensive  as 
lightning,  and  as  swift  m  execution." 

"  We  have  experienced  that,  my  lord,  else  had  we  not  been 
thus  circumstanced,"  said  Vamey.  "  But  what  else  to  sug- 
gest I  know  not.  Methinks  she  whose  good  fortune  in  be- 
coming your  lordship's  bride  gives  rise  to  the  danger  should 
do  somewhat  toward  parrying  it." 

"  It  is  impossible,"  said  the  earl,  waving  his  hand:  "  I  know 
neither  authority  nor  entreaties  would  make  her  endure  thy 
name  for  an  hour." 

"  It  is  somewhat  hard,  though,"  said  Vamey,  in  a  dry  tone; 
and,  without  pausing  on  that  topic,  he  added,  "Suppose  some- 
one were  found  to  represent  her?  Such  feats  have  been  per- 
formed in  the  courts  of  as  sharp-eyed  monarchs  as  Queen 
Elizabeth." 

"  Utter  madness,  Vamey,"  answered  the  earl;  "  the  coun- 
terfeit would  be  confronted  with  Tressilian,  and  discovery 
become  inevitable." 

"  Tressilian  might  be  removed  from  court,"  said  the  un- 
hesitating Varney. 

"  And  by  what  means?  " 

"There  are  many,"  said  Vamey,  "by  which  a  statesman 
in  your  situation,  my  lord,  may  remove  from  the  scene  one 
who  pries  into  your  affairs,  and  places  himself  in  perilous 
opposition  to  you." 

"  Speak  not  to  me  of  such  policy,  Vamey,"  said  the  earl, 
hastily;  "  which,  besides,  would  avail  nothing  in  the  present 
case.  Many  others  there  be  at  court  to  whom  Amy  may  be 
known;  and  besides,  on  the  absence  of  Tressilian,  her  father 
or  some  of  her  friends  would  be  instantly  summoned  hither. 
Urge  thine  invention  once  more." 

"  My  lord,  I  know  not  what  to  say,"  answered  Vamey; 
*'but  were  I  myself  in  such  perplexity,  I  would  ride  post 
down  to  Cumnor  Place  and  compel  my  wife  to  give  her  con- 
sent to  such  measures  as  her  safety  and  mine  required." 

"  Vamey,"  said  Leicester,  "  I  cannot  urge  her  to  aught  so 
repugnant  to  her  noble  nature  as  a  share  in  this  stratagem:  it 
would  be  a  base  requital  for  the  love  she  bears  me." 

"  Well,  my  lord,"  said  Varney,  "  your  lordship  is  a  wise 
and  an  honorable  man,  and  skilled  in  those  high  points  of 
romantic  scruple  which  are  current  in  Arcadia,  perhaps,  as 
your  nephew,  Philip  Sidney,  writes.     I  am  your  humble  sei"- 


KENILWORTE.  246 

vitor — a  man  of  this  world,  and  only  happy  that  my  knowl- 
edge of  it  and  its  ways  is  such  as  your  lordship  has  not 
scorned  to  avail  yourself  of.  Now  I  would  fain  know  whether 
the  obligation  lies  on  my  lady  or  on  you  in  this  fortunate 
union;  and  which  has  most  reason  to  show  complaisance  to 
the  other,  and  to  consider  that  other^s  wishes,  conveniences, 
and  safety?" 

*•  I  tell  thee,  Varney,"  said  the  earl,  "  that  all  it  was  in  my 
power  to  bestow  upon  her  was  not  merely  deserved,  but  a 
thousand  times  overpaid,  by  her  own  virtue  and  beauty;  for 
never  did  greatness  descend  upon  a  creature  so  formed  by 
nature  to  grace  and  adorn  it." 

"  It  is  well,  my  lord,  you  are  so  satisfied,"  answered  Vamey, 
with  his  usual  sardonic  smile,  which  even  respect  to  his 
patron  could  not  at  all  times  subdue;  "you  will  have  time 
enough  to  enjoy  undisturbed  the  society  of  one  so  gracious 
and  beautiful — that  is,  so  soon  as  such  confinement  in  the 
Tower  be  over  as  may  correspond  to  the  crime  of  deceiving 
the  affections  of  Elizabeth  Tudor.  A  cheaper  penalty,  I  pre- 
sume, you  do  not  expect?  " 

"  Malicious  fiend!  "  answered  Leicester,  "  do  you  mock  me 
in  my  misfortune?     Manage  it  as  thou  wilt." 

"  If  you  are  serious,  my  lord,"  said  Varney,  "  you  must  set 
forth  instantly  and  post  for  Cumnor  Place." 

"  Do  thou  go  thyself,  Varney:  the  devil  has  given  thee  that 
sort  of  eloquence  which  is  most  powerful  in  the  worst  cause. 
I  should  stand  self-convicted  of  villainy  were  I  to  urge  such 
a  deceit.  Begone,  I  tell  thee.  Must  I  entreat  thee  to  mine 
own  dishonor! " 

"  No,  my  lord,"  said  Varney;  "  but,  if  you  are  serious  in 
intrusting  me  with  the  task  of  urging  this  most  necessary 
measure,  you  must  give  me  a  letter  to  my  lady  as  my  creden- 
tials, and  trust  to  me  for  backing  the  advice  it  contains  with 
all  the  force  in  my  power.  And  sueh  is  my  opinion  of  my 
lady's  love  for  your  lordship,  and  of  her  willingness  to  do 
that  which  is  at  once  to  contribute  to  your  pleasure  and  your 
safety,  that  I  am  sure  she  will  condescend  to  bear,  for  a  few 
brief  days,  the  name  of  so  humble  a  man  as  myself,  especially 
Ednce  it  is  not  inferior  in  antiquity  to  that  of  her  own  paternal 
house." 

Leicester  seized  on  writing-materials,  and  twice  or  thrice 
commenced  a  letter  to  the  countess,  which  he  afterward  tore 
into  fragments.  At  length  he  finished  a  few  distracted  lines, 
in  which  he  conjured  her,  for  reasons  nearly  concerning  his 


246  WAVERLT  NOVELS. 

life  and  honor,  to  consent  to  bear  the  name  of  Vamcy  for  a 
few  days,  during  the  revels  at  Kenilworth.  He  added,  that 
Vamey  would  communicate  all  the  reasons  which  rendered 
this  deception  indispensable;  and  having  signed  and  sealed 
these  credentials,  he  flung  them  over  the  table  to  Varney, 
with  a  motion  that  he  should  depart,  which  his  adviser  was 
not  slow  to  comprehend  and  to  obey. 

Leicester  remained  like  one  stupefied,  till  he  heard  the 
trampling  of  the  horses,  as  Varney,  who  took  no  time  even  to 
change  his  dress,  threw  himself  into  the  saddle,  and,  followed 
by  a  single  servant,  set  off  for  Berkshire.  At  the  sound,  the 
earl  started  from  his  seat  and  ran  to  the  window,  with  the 
momentary  purpose  of  recalling  the  unworthy  commission 
with  which  he  had  intrusted  one  of  whom  he  used  to  say,  he 
knew  no  virtuous  property  save  affection  to  his  patron.  But 
Varney  was  already  beyond  call;  and  the  bright  starry  firma- 
ment, which  the  age  considered  as  the  Book  of  Fate,  lying 
spread  before  Leicester  when  he  opened  the  casement,  di- 
verted him  from  his  better  and  more  manly  purpose. 

"  There  they  roll,  on  their  silent  but  potential  course,"  said 
the  earl,  looking  around  him,  "  without  a  voice  which  speaks 
to  our  ear,  but  not  without  influences  which  affect,  at  every 
change,  the  indwellers  of  this  vile  earthly  planet.  This,  if 
astrologers  fable  not,  is  the  very  crisis  of  my  fate!  The  hour 
approaches  of  which  I  was  taught  to  beware — the  hour,  too, 
which  I  was  encouraged  to  hope  for.  A  king  was  the  word — 
but  how?  The  crown  matrimonal — all  hopes  of  that  are  gone; 
let  them  go.  The  rich  Netherlands  have  demanded  me  for 
their  leader,  and  would  Elizabeth  consent,  would  yield  to  me 
their  crown.  And  have  I  not  such  a  claim,  even  in  this  king- 
dom? That  of  York,  descending  from  George  of  Clarence  to 
the  house  of  Huntingdon,  which,  this  lady  failing,  may  have 
a  fair  chance — Huntingdon  is  of  my  house.  But  I  will 
plunge  no  deeper  in  these  high  mysteries.  Let  me  hold  my 
course  in  silence  for  a  while,  and  in  obscurity,  like  a  subter- 
ranean river:  the  time  shall  come  that  I  will  burst  forth  in  my 
strength,  and  bear  all  opposition  before  me." 

While  Leicester  was  thus  stupefying  the  remonstrances  of 
his  own  conscience  by  appealing  to  political  necessity  for  his 
apology,  or  losing  himself  amidst  the  wild  dreams  of  ambi- 
tion, his  agent  left  town  and  tower  behind  him,  on  his  hasty 
journey  to  Berkshire.  He  also  nourished  high  hope.  He 
had  brought  Lord  Leicester  to  the  point  which  he  had  de- 
sired, of  committing  to  him  the  most  intimate  recesses  of  his 


KENILWOnTK  247 

breast,  and  of  using  him  as  the  channel  of  his  most  confiden- 
tial intercourse  with  his  lady.  Henceforward  it  would,  he 
foresaw,  be  difficult  for  his  patron  either  to  dispense  with  his 
services  or  refuse  his  requests,  however  unreasonable.  And 
if  this  disdainful  dame,  as  he  termed  the  countess,  should 
comply  with  the  request  of  her  husband,  Varney,  her  pre- 
tended husband,  must  needs  become  so  situated  with  respect 
to  her  that  there  was  no  knowing  where  his  audacity  might 
be  bounded;  perhaps  not  till  circumstances  enabled  him  to 
obtain  a  triumph  which  he  thought  of  with  a  mixture  of 
fiendish  feelings,  in  which  revenge  for  her  previous  scorn  was 
foremost  and  predominant.  Again  he  contemplated  the  pos- 
sibility of  her  being  totally  intractable,  and  refusing  obsti- 
nately to  play  the  part  assigned  to  her  in  the  drama  at  Kenil- 
worth. 

"  Alasco  must  then  do  his  part,"  he  said.  "  Sickness  must 
serve  her  Majesty  as  an  excuse  for  not  receiving  the  homage 
of  Mrs.  Varney — aye,  and  a  sore  and  a  wasting  sickness  it  may 
prove,  should  Elizabeth  continue  to  cast  so  favorable  an  eye 
on  my  Lord  of  Leicester.  I  will  not  forego  the  chance  of 
being  favorite  of  a  monarch  for  want  of  determined  measures, 
should  these  be  necessary.  Forward,  good  horse — forward: 
ambition,  and  haughty  hope  of  power,  pleasure,  and  revenge, 
strike  their  stings  as  deep  through  my  bosom  as  I  plunge  the 
rowels  in  thy  flanks.  On,  good  horse — on:  the  devil  urge« 
us  both  forward/' 


CHAPTER  XXn. 

Say  that  my  beauty  was  but  small, 

Among  court  ladies  all  despised, 
Why  didst  thou  rend  it  from  that  hr  11, 

Where,  scornful  earl,  'twas  deatl^'  prized  ir 

No  more  thou  com'st  with  wonted  speed, 

Thy  once  beloved  bride  to  see  ; 
But  be  she  alive,  or  be  she  dead, 

I  fear,  stern  earl,  's  the  same  to  thee. 

— Cumnor  HaUy  by  William  Julius  Micklb. 

The  ladies  of  fashion  of  the  present,  or  of  any  other,  period 
must  have  allowed  that  the  young  and  lovely  Countess  of 
Leicester  had,  besides  her  youth  and  beauty,  two  qualities 
which  entitled  her  to  a  place  amongst  women  of  rank  and 
distinction.  She  displayed,  as  we  have  seen  in  her  interview 
with  the  peddler,  a  liberal  promptitude  to  make  unnecessary 
purchases,  solely  for  the  pleasure  of  acquiring  useless  and 
showy  trifles,  which  ceased  to  please  as  soon  as  they  were  pos- 
sessed; and  she  was,  besides,  apt  to  spend  a  considerable  space 
of  time  every  day  in  adorning  her  person,  although  the  varied 
splendor  of  her  attire  could  only  attract  the  half-satirical 
praise  of  the  precise  Janet,  or  an  approving  glance  from  the 
bright  eyes  which  witnessed  their  own  beams  of  triumph  re- 
flected from  the  mirror. 

The  Countess  Amy  had,  indeed,  to  plead  for  indulgence  in 
those  frivolous  tastes,  that  the  education  of  the  times  had 
done  little  or  nothing  for  a  mind  naturally  gay  and  averse  to 
study.  If  she  had  not  loved  to  collect  finery  and  to  wear  it, 
she  might  have  woven  tapestry  or  sewed  embroidery,  till  her 
labors  spread  in  gay  profusion  all  over  the  walls  and  seats  at 
lidcote  Hall;  or  she  might  have  varied  Minerva's  labors  with 
the  task  of  preparing  a  mighty  pudding  against  the  time  that 
Sir  Hugh  Eobsart  returned  from  the  greenwood.  But  Amy 
had  no  natural  genius  either  for  the  loom,  the  needle,  or  the 
receipt-book.  Her  mother  had  died  in  [Amy's]  infancy;  her 
father  contradicted  her  in  nothing,  and  Tressilian,  the  only 
one  that  approached  her  who  was  able  or  desirous  to  attend  to 
the  cultivation  of  her  mind,  had  much  hurt  his  interest  with 
her  by  assuming  too  eagerly  the  task  of  a  preceptor;  so  that 
he  was  regarded  by  the  lively,  indulged,  and  idle  girl  with 
some  fear  and  much  respect,  but  with  little  or  nothing  of  thai 


KENILWORTE.  249 

softer  emotion  which  it  had  been  his  hope  and  his  ambition 
to  inspire.  And  thus  her  heart  lay  readily  open,  and  her 
fancy  became  easily  captivated  by  the  noble  exterior  and 
graceful  deportment  and  complacent  flattery  of  Leicester, 
even  before  he  was  known  to  her  as  the  dazzling  minion  of 
wealth  and  power. 

The  frequent  visits  of  Leicester  at  Cumnor  during  the 
earlier  part  of  their  union  had  reconciled  the  countess  to  the 
solitude  and  privacy  to  which  she  was  condemned;  but  when 
these  visits  became  rarer  and  more  rare,  and  when  the  void 
was  filled  up  with  letters  of  excuse,  not  always  very  warmly 
expressed,  and  generally  extremely  brief,  discontent  and  sus- 
picion began  to  haunt  those  splendid  apartments  which  love 
had  fitted  up  for  beauty.  Her  answers  to  Leicester  conveyed 
these  feelings  too  bluntly,  and  pressed  more  naturally  than 
prudently  that  she  might  be  relieved  from  this  obscure  and 
secluded  residence  by  the  earFs  acknowledgment  of  their  mar- 
riage; and  in  arranging  her  arguments,  with  all  the  skill  she 
was  mistress  of,  she  trusted  chiefly  to  the  warmth  of  the  en- 
treaties with  which  she  urged  them.  Sometimes  she  even 
ventured  to  mingle  reproaches,  of  which  Leicester  conceived 
he  had  good  reason  to  complain. 

"  I  have  made  her  countess,"  he  said  to  Vamey;  "  surely 
she  might  wait  till  it  consisted  with  my  pleasure  that  she 
should  put  on  the  coronet?  " 

The  Countess  Amy  viewed  the  subject  in  directly  an  oppo- 
site light. 

"  What  signifies,"  she  said,  "  that  I  have  rank  and  honor  in 
reality,  if  I  am  to  live  an  obscure  prisoner,  without  either 
society  or  observance,  and  suffering  in  my  character  as  one  of 
dubious  or  disgraced  reputation?  I  care  not  for  all  those 
strings  of  pearls  which  you  fret  me  by  warping  into  my 
tresses,  Janet.  I  tell  you  that,  at  Lidcote  Hall,  if  I  put  but  a 
fresh  rose-bud  among  my  hair,  my  good  father  would  call  me 
to  him  that  he  might  see  it  more  closely;  and  the  kind  old 
curate  would  smile,  and  Master  Mumblazen  would  say  some^ 
thing  about  roses  gules;  and  now  I  sit  here,  decked  out  like  an 
image  with  gold  and  gems,  and  no  one  to  see  my  finery  but 
you,  Janet.  There  was  the  poor  Tressilian,  too;  but  it  avails 
not  speaking  of  him." 

"  It  doth  not  indeed,  madam,"  said  her  prudent  attendant; 
"and  verily  you  make  me  sometimes  wish  you  would  not 
ipeak  of  him  so  often  or  so  rashly." 

"  It  signifies  nothing  to  warn  me,  Janet,"  said  the  impa- 


260  WAVBRLET  NOVELS. 

tient  and  incorrigible  countess;  "  I  was  born  free,  though  I 
am  now  mewed  up  like  some  fine  foreign  slave,  rather  than 
th-e  wife  of  an  English  noble.  I  bore  it  all  with  pleasure 
while  I  was  sure  he  loved  me;  but  now  my  tongue  and  heart 
shall  be  free,  let  them  fetter  these  limbs  as  they  will.  I  tell 
thee,  Janet,  I  love  my  husband — I  will  love  him  till  my  latest 
breath — I  cannot  cease  to  love  him,  even  if  I  would,  or  if  he 
— ^which,  God  knows,  may  chance — should  cease  to  love  me. 
But  I  will  say,  and  loudly,  I  would  have  been  happier  than  I 
now  am  to  have  remained  in  Lidcote  Hall,  even  although  I 
must  have  married  poor  Tressilian,  with  his  melancholy  look, 
and  his  head  full  of  learning,  which  I  cared  not  for.  He  said, 
if  I  would  read  his  favorite  volumes,  there  would  come  a  time 
that  I  should  be  glad  of  having  done  so.  I  think  it  is  come 
now.'' 

"  I  bought  you  some  books,  madam,"  said  Janet,  "  from  a 
lame  fellow  who  sold  them  in  the  market-place,  and  who 
stared  something  boldly  at  me,  I  promise  you." 

"  Let  me  see  them,  Janet,"  said  the  countess;  "  but  let 
them  not  be  of  your  own  precise  cast.  How  is  this,  most 
righteous  damsel?  ^  A  Pair  of  Snuffers  for  the  Golden  Can- 
dlestick ' — '  A  Handful  of  Myrrh  and  Hyssop  to  put  a  Sick 
Soul  to  Purgation ' — ^  A  Draught  of  Water  from  the  Valley 
of  Baca ' — *  Foxes  and  Firebrands.'  What  gear  call  you  this, 
maiden  ?  " 

"  Nay,  madam,"  said  Janet,  "  it  was  but  fitting  and  seemly 
to  put  grace  in  your  ladyship's  way;  but  an  you  will  none  of 
it,  there  are  play-books  and  poet-books,  I  trow." 

The  countess  proceeded  carelessly  in  her  examination,  turn- 
ing over  such  rare  volumes  as  would  now  make  the  fortune  of 
twenty  retail  booksellers.  Here  was  a  "  Boke  of  Cookery,  im- 
printed by  Eichard  Lant,"  and  Skelton's  "  Books  "— "  The 
Passtime  of  the  People  " — "  The  Castle  of  Knowledge,"  etc. 
But  neither  to  this  lore  did  the  countess'  heart  incHne,  and 
joyfully  did  she  start  up  from  the  listless  task  of  turning  over 
the  leaves  of  the  pamphlets,  and  hastily  did  she  scatter  them 
through  the  floor,  when  the  rapid  clatter  of  horses'  feet  heard 
in  the  courtyard,  called  her  to  the  window,  exclaiming,  "  It 
is  Leicester! — it  is  my  noble  earl! — it  is  my  Dudley!  Every 
stroke  of  his  horse's  hoofs  sounds  like  a  note  of  lordly 
music! " 

There  was  a  brief  bustle  in  the  mansion,  and  Foster,  with 
his  downward  look  and  sullen  manner,  entered  the  apartment 
to  say,  "  That  Master  Eichaxd  Vamey  was  arrived  from  my 


KENILWORTB.  261 

lord,  having  ridden  all  night,  and  craved  to  speaJi  with  her 
ladyship  instantly." 

"  Vaxney!  "  said  the  disappointed  countess;  "  and  to  speak 
with  me! — pshaw!  But  he  comes  with  news  from  Leicester, 
so  admit  him  instantly." 

Varney  entered  her  dressing-apartment,  where  she  sat  ar- 
rayed in  her  native  loveliness,  adorned  with  all  that  Janet^s 
art,  and  a  rich  and  tasteful  undress,  could  bestow.  But  the 
most  beautiful  part  of  her  attire  was  her  profuse  and  luxu- 
riant light-brown  locks,  which  floated  in  such  rich  abundance 
around  a  neck  that  resembled  a  swan's,  and  over  a  bosom 
heaving  with  anxious  expectation,  which  communicated  a 
hurried  tinge  of  red  to  her  whole  countenance. 

Varney  entered  the  room  in  the  dress  in  which  he  had 
waited  on  his  master  that  morning  to  court,  the  splendor  of 
which  made  a  strange  contrast  with  the  disorder  arising  from 
hasty  riding  during  a  dark  night  and  foul  ways.  His  brow 
bore  an  anxious  and  hurried  expression,  as  one  who  has  that 
to  say  of  which  he  doubts  the  reception,  and  who  hath  yet 
posted  on  from  the  necessity  of  communicating  his  tidings. 
The  countess'  anxious  eye  at  once  caught  the  alarm  as  she 
exclaimed,  "  You  bring  news  from  my  lord.  Master  Varney? 
Gracious  Heaven!  is  he  ill?" 

"No,  madam,  thank  Heaven!"  said  Varney.  "Compose 
yourself,  and  permit  me  to  take  breath  ere  I  communicate 
my  tidings." 

"  No  breath,  sir,"  replied  the  lady,  impatiently;  "  I  know 
your  theatrical  arts.  Since  your  breath  hath  sufficed  to  bring 
you  hither,  it  may  suffice  to  tell  your  tale,  at  least  briefly,  and 
in  the  gross." 

"  Madam,"  answered  Varney,  "  we  are  not  alone,  and  my 
lord's  message  was  for  your  ear  only." 

"  Leave  us,  Jaaet,  and  Master  Foster,"  said  the  lady;  "  but 
remain  in  the  next  apartment,  and  within  call." 

Foster  and  his  daughter  retired,  agreeably  to  the  Lady 
Leicester's  commands,  into  the  next  apartment,  which  was  the 
withdrawing-room.  The  door  which  led  from  the  sleeping- 
chamber  was  then  carefully  shut  and  bolted,  and  the  father 
and  daughter  remained  both  in  a  posture  of  anxious  atten- 
tion, the  first  with  a  stem,  suspicious,  lowering  cast  of  coun- 
tenance, and  Janet  with  folded  hands,  and  looks  which 
seemed  divided  betwixt  her  desire  to  know  the  fortunes  of  her 
mistress  and  her  prayers  to  Heaven  for  her  safety.  Anthony 
Foster  seemed  himself  to  have  some  idea  of  what  was  passing 


252  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

through  his  daughter's  mind,  for  he  crossed  the  apartment 
and  took  her  anxiously  by  the  hand,  saying,  "  That  is  right: 
pray,  Janet — pray;  we  have  all  need  of  prayers,  aud  some  of 
us  more  than  others.  Pray,  Janet;  I  would  pray  myself,  but 
I  must  listen  to  what  goes  on  within:  evil  has  been  brewing, 
love — evil  has  been  brewing.  God  forgive  our  sins;  but 
Vamey's  sudden  and  strange  arrival  bodes  us  no  good." 

Janet  had  never  before  heard  her  father  excite  or  even  per- 
mit her  attention  to  anything  which  passed  in  their  mysteri- 
ous family,  and  now  that  he  did  so,  his  voice  sounded  in  her 
ear — she  knew  not  why — like  that  of  a  screech-owl  denounc- 
ing some  deed  of  terror  and  of  woe.  She  turned  her  eyes 
fearfully  toward  the  door,  almost  as  if  she  expected  some 
sounds  of  horror  to  be  heard,  or  some  sight  of  fear  to  display 
itself. 

All,  however,  was  as  still  as  death,  and  the  voices  of  those 
who  spoke  in  the  inner  chamber  were,  if  they  spoke  at  all, 
carefully  subdued  to  a  tone  which  could  not  be  heard  in  the 
next.  At  once,  however,  they  were  heard  to  speak  fast,  thick, 
and  hastily;  and  presently  after  the  voice  of  the  countess  was 
heard  exclaiming,  at  the  highest  pitch  to  which  indignation 
could  raise  it,  "  Undo  the  door,  sir,  I  command  you!  Undo 
the  door!  I  will  have  no  other  reply! "  she  continued, 
drowning  with  her  vehement  accents  the  low  and  muttered 
sounds  which  Vamey  was  heard  to  utter  betwixt  whiles. 
**^  What  ho!  without  there! "  she  persisted,  accompanying  her 
words  with  shrieks,  "  Janet,  alarm  the  house.  Foster,  break 
open  the  door.  I  am  detained  here  by  a  traitor.  Use  ax  and 
lever.  Master  Foster — I  will  be  your  warrant." 

"  It  shall  not  need,  madam,"  Vamey  was  at  length  dis- 
tinctly heard  to  say.  "  If  you  please  to  expose  my  lord's  im- 
portant concerns  and  your  own  to  the  general  ear,  I  will  not 
be  your  hindrance." 

The  door  was  unlocked  and  thrown  open,  and  Janet  and 
her  father  rushed  in,  anxious  to  learn  the  cause  of  these  re- 
iterated exclamations. 

When  they  entered  the  apartment,  Vamey  stood  by  the 
door  grinding  his  teeth,  with  an  expression  in  which  rage,  and 
shame,  and  fear,  had  each  their  share.  The  countess  stood  in 
the  midst  of  her  apartment  like  a  juvenile  pythoness,  under 
the  influence  of  the  prophetic  fury.  The  veins  in  her  beau- 
tiful forehead  started  into  swollen  blue  lines  through  the 
hurried  impulse  of  her  articulation,  her  cheek  and  neck 
glowed  like  scarlet,  her  eyes  were  like  those  of  aix  imprisoned 


w 


KENILWORTH.  263 


eagle,  flashing  red  lightning  on  the  foes  whom  it  cannot 
reach  with  its  talons.  Were  it  possible  for  one  of  the  Graces 
to  have  been  animated  by  a  Fury,  the  countenance  could  not 
have  united  such  beauty  with  so  much  hatred,  scorn,  deffiance, 
and  resentment.  The  gesture  and  attitude  corresponded 
with  the  voice  and  looks,  and  altogether  presented  a  spectacle 
which  was  at  once  beautiful  and  fearful;  so  much  of  the 
sublime  had  the  energy  of  passion  united  with  the  Countess 
Amy^s  natural  loveliness.  Janet,  as  soon  as  the  door  was 
open,  ran  to  her  mistress;  and  more  slowly,  yet  with  more 
haste  than  he  was  wont,  Anthony  Foster  went  to  Richard 
Varney. 

"  In  the  Truth's  name,  what  ails  your  ladyship?  "  said  the 
former. 

"  What,  in  the  name  of  Satan,  have  you  done  to  her?  "  said 
Foster  to  his  friend. 

"  Who,  I  ? — nothing,"  answered  Varney,  hut  with  sunken 
head  and  sullen  voice — "  nothing  but  communicated  to  her 
her  lord's  commands,  which,  if  the  lady  list  not  to  obey, 
she  knows  better  how  to  answer  it  than  I  may  pretend 
to  do." 

"  Now,  by  Heaven,  Janet,"  said  the  countess,  "  the  false 
traitor  lies  in  his  throat!  He  must  needs  lie,  for  he  speaks  to 
the  dishonor  of  my  noble  lord;  he  must  needs  lie  doubly,  for 
he  speaks  to  gain  ends  of  his  own,  equally  execrable  and  un- 
attainable." 

"  You  have  misapprehended  me,  lady,"  said  Varney,  with 
a  sulky  species  of  submission  and  apology;  '*  let  this  matter 
rest  till  your  passion  be  abated,  and  I  will  explain  all." 

"  Thou  shalt  never  have  an  opportunity  to  do  so,"  said  the 
countess.  "  Ijook  at  him,  Janet.  He  is  fairly  dressed,  hath 
the  outside  of  a  gentleman,  and  hither  he  came  to  persuade 
me  it  was  my  lord's  pleasure — nay,  more,  my  wedded  lord's 
commands — that  I  should  go  with  him  to  Kenilworth,  and 
before  the  Queen  and  nobles,  and  in  presence  of  my  own 
wedded  lord,  that  I  should  acknowledge  him — him  there,  that 
very  cloak-brushing,  shoe-cleaning  fellow — him  there,  my 
lord's  lackey,  for  my  liege  lord  and  husband;  furnishing 
against  myself,  great  God!  whenever  I  was  to  vindicate  my 
right  and  my  rank,  such  weapons  as  would  hew  my  just  claim 
from  the  root,  and  destroy  my  character  to  be  regarded  as  an 
honorable  matron  of  the  English  nobility!  " 

"  You  hear  her,  Foster,  and  you,  young  maiden,  hear  this 
lady,"  answered  Varney,  taking  advantage  of  the  pause  which 


254     .  WAVBBLEY  NOVELS. 

the  countess  had  made  in  her  charge,  more  for  lack.of  breath 
than  for  lack  of  matter — "you  hear  that  her  heat  only  ob- 
jects to  me  the  course  which  our  good  lord,  for  the  purpose 
to  keep  certain  matters  secret,  suggests  in  the  very  letter 
which  she  holds  in  her  hands/' 

Foster  here  attempted  to  interfere  with  a  face  of  authority, 
which  he  thought  became  the  charge  intrusted  to  him. 
"  Nay,  lady,  I  must  needs  say  you  are  over  hasty  in  this. 
Such  deceit  is  not  utterly  to  be  condemned  when  practiced 
for  a  righteous  end;  and  thus  even  the  patriarch  Abraham, 
feigned  Sarah  to  be  his  sister  when  they  went  down  to 
Egypt." 

"  Aye,  sir,"  answered  the  countess;  "  but  God  rebuked  that 
deceit  even  in  the  father  of  His  chosen  people,  by  the  mouth 
of  the  heathen  Pharaoh.  Out  upon  you,  that  will  read  Scrip- 
ture only  to  copy  those  things  which  axe  held  out  to  us  as 
warnings,  not  as  examples!  " 

"  But  Sarah  disputed  not  the  will  of  her  husband,  an  it  be 
your  pleasure,"  said  Foster,  in  reply;  "but  did  as  Abraham 
commanded,  calling  herself  his  sister,  that  it  might  be  well 
with  her  husband  for  her  sake,  and  that  his  soul  might  live 
because  of  her  beauty." 

"  Now,  so  Heaven  pardon  me  my  useless  anger,"  answered 
the  countess,  "  thou  art  as  daring  a  hypocrite  as  yonder  fellow 
is  an  impudent  deceiver!  Never  will  I  believe  that  the  noble 
Dudley  gave  countenance  to  so  dastardly,  so  dishonorable  a 
plan.  Thus  I  tread  on  his  infamy,  if  indeed  it  be,  and  thus 
destroy  its  remembrance  forever!  " 

So  saying,  she  tore  in  pieces  Leicester's  letter,  and  stamped 
in  the  extremity  of  impatience,  as  if  she  would  have  annihi- 
lated the  minute  fragments  into  which  she  had  rent  it. 

"  Bear  witness,"  said  Vamey,  collecting  himself,  "  she  hath 
torn  my  lord's  letter,  in  order  to  burden  me  with  the  scheme 
of  his  devising;  and  although  it  promises  naught  but  danger 
and  trouble  to  me,  she  would  lay  it  to  my  charge,  as  if  I  had 
any  purpose  of  mine  own  in  it." 

"  Thou  liest,  thou  treacherous  slave!  "  said  the  countess,  in 
spite  of  Janet's  attempts  to  keep  her  silent,  in  the  sad  fore- 
sight that  her  vehemence  might  only  furnish  arms  against 
herself.  "  Thou  liest!  "  she  continued.  "  Let  me  go,  Janet. 
Were  it  the  last  word  I  have  to  speak,  he  lies:  he  ha!d  his  own 
foul  ends  to  seek;  and  broader  he  would  have  displayed  thefn, 
had  my  passion  permitted  me  to  preserve  the  silence  which  at 
first  encouraged  him  to  unfold  his  vile  projects." 


KENILWOBTE.  366 

"Madam/'  said  Varney,  overwhelmed  in  spite  of  his 
effrontery,  "  I  entreat  you  to  believe  yourself  mistaken." 

"  As  soon  will  I  believe  light  darkness,"  said  the  enraged 
countess.  "  Have  I  drank  of  oblivion  ?  Do  I  not  remember 
former  passages,  which,  known  to  Leicester,  had  given  thee 
the  preferment  of  a  gallows,  instead  of  the  honor  of  his  inti- 
macy? I  would  I  were  a  man  but  for  five  minutes!  It  were 
space  enough  to  make  a  craven  like  thee  confess  his  villainy. 
But  go — begone!  Tell  thy  master  that,  when  I  take  the  foul 
course  to  which  such  scandalous  deceits  as  thou  hast  recom- 
mended on  his  behalf  must  necessarily  lead  me,  I  will  give 
him  a  rival  something  worthy  of  the  name.  He  shall  not  be 
supplanted  by  an  ignominious  lackey,  whose  best  fortune  is 
to  catch  a  gift  of  his  master's  last  suit  of  clothes  ere  it  is 
threadbare,  and  who  is  only  fit  to  seduce  a  suburb  wench  by 
the  bravery  of  new  roses  in  his  master's  old  pantoufles.  Go — 
begone,  sir;  I  scorn  thee  so  much  that  I  am  ashamed  to  have 
been  angry  with  thee." 

Varney  left  the  room  with  a  mute  expression  of  rage,  and 
was  followed  by  Foster,  whose  apprehension,  naturally  slow, 
was  overpowered  by  the  eager  and  abundant  discharge  of  in- 
dignation which,  for  the  first  time,  he  had  heard  burst  from 
the  lips  of  a  being  who  had  seemed  till  that  moment  too  lan- 
guid and  too  gentle  to  nurse  an  angry  thought  or  utter  an  in- 
temperate expression.  Foster,  therefore,  pursued  Varney  from 
place  to  place,  persecuting  him  with  interrogatories,  to  which 
the  other  replied  not  until  they  were  in  the  opposite  side  of 
the  quadrangle,  and  in  the  old  library,  with  which  the  reader 
has  already  been  made  acquainted.  Here  he  turned  round  on 
his  persevering  follower,  and  thus  addressed  him,  in  a  tone 
tolerably  equal;  that  brief  walk  having  been  sufficient  to  give 
one  so  habituated  to  command  his  temper  time  to  rally  and 
recover  his  presence  of  mind. 

"  Tony,"  he  said,  with  his  usual  sneering  laugh,  "  it  avails 
not  to  deny  it — the  woman  and  the  devil,  who,  as  thine  oracle 
Holdforth  will  confirm  to  thee,  cheated  man  at  the  beginning, 
have  this  day  proved  more  powerful  than  my  discretion. 
Yon  termagant  looked  so  tempting,  and  had  the  art  to  pre- 
serve her  countenance  so  naturally,  while  I  communicated  my 
lord's  message,  that,  by  my  faith,  I  thought  I  might  say  some 
little  thing  for  myself.  She  thinks  she  hath  my  head  under 
her  girdle  now,  but  she  is  deceived.     Where  is  Dr.  Alasco  ?  " 

"  In  his  laboratory,"  answered  Foster;  "  it  is  the  hour  he  is 
not  spoken  withal;  we  must  wait  till  noon  is  past,  or  spoil  his 


256  WAVSRLET  NOVELS. 

important What  said  I,  important?    I  would  say,  inter- 

nipt  his  divine  studies." 

"  Aye,  he  studies  the  devil's  divinity,"  said  Varney;  ^'  but 
when  I  want  him  one  hour  must  suffice  as  well  as  another. 
Lead  the  way  to  his  pandemonium." 

So  spoke  Vamey,  and  with  hasty  and  perturbed  steps  fol- 
lowed Foster,  who  conducted  him  through  private  passages, 
many  of  which  were  well-nigh  ruinous,  to  the  opposite  side 
of  the  quadrangle,  where,  in  a  subterranean  apartment,  now 
occupied  by  the  chemist  Alasco,  one  of  the  abbots  of  Abing- 
don, who  had  a  turn  for  the  occult  sciences,  had,  much  to  the 
scandal  of  his  convent,  established  a  laboratory,  in  which,  like 
other  fools  of  the  period,  he  spent  much  precious  time,  and 
money  besides,  in  the  pursuit  of  the  grand  arcanum. 

Anthony  Foster  paused  before  the  door,  which  was  scrupu- 
lously secured  within,  and  again  showed  a  marked  hesitation 
to  disturb  the  sage  in  his  operations.  But  Varney,  less 
scrupulous,  roused  him,  by  knocking  and  voice,  until  at 
length,  slowly  and  reluctantly,  the  inmate  of  the  apartment 
undid  the  door.  The  chemist  appeared,  with  his  eyes  bleared 
with  the  heat  and  vapors  of  the  stove  or  alembic  over  which 
he  brooded,  and  the  interior  of  his  cell  displayed  the  confused 
assemblage  of  heterogeneous  substances  and  extraordinary 
implements  belonging  to  his  profession.  The  old  man  was 
muttering,  with  spiteful  impatience,  "  Am  I  forever  to  be  re- 
called to  the  affairs  of  earth  from  those  of  heaven?  " 

"  To  the  affairs  of  hell,"  answered  Vamey,  "  for  that  is 
thy  proper  element.  Foster,  we  need  thee  at  our  con- 
ference." 

Foster  slowly  entered  the  room.  Varney,  following,  barred 
the  door,  and  they  betook  themselves  to  secret  council. 

In  the  meanwhile,  the  countess  traversed  the  apartment, 
with  shame  and  anger  contending  on  her  lovely  cheek. 

"  The  villain,"  she  said — "  the  cold-blooded,  calculating 
slave!  But  I  unmasked  him,  Janet — I  made  the  snake  uncoil 
all  his  folds  before  me,  and  crawl  abroad  in  his  naked 
deformity.  I  suspended  my  resentment,  at  the  danger  of 
suffocating  under  the  effort,  until  he  had  let  me  see  the  very 
bottom  of  a  heart  more  foul  than  hell's  darkest  corner.  And 
thou,  Leicester,  is  it  possible  thou  couldst  bid  me  for  a  mo- 
ment deny  my  wedded  right  in  thee,  or  thyself  yield  it  to  an- 
other! But  it  is  impossible:  the  villain  has  lied  in  all. 
.  Janet,  I  will  not  remain  here  longer.     I  fear  him — I  fear  thy 


KENILWOBTH,  267 

father;  I  grieve  to  say  it,  Janet,  but  I  fear  thy  father, 
and,  worst  of  all,  this  odious  Vamey.  I  will  escape  from 
Cumnor/' 

"  Alas!  madam,  whither  would  you  fly,  or  by  what  means 
will  you  escape  from  these  walls?  " 

"I  know  not,  Janet,"  said  the  unfortunate  young  lady, 
looking  upward  and  clasping  her  hands  together — "  I  know 
not  where  I  shall  fly,  or  by  what  means;  but  I  am  certain  the 
God  I  have  served  will  not  abaadon  me  in  this  dreadful 
crisis,  for  I  am  in  the  hands  of  wicked  men." 

^'  Do  not  think  so,  dear  lady,"  said  Janet;  "  my  father  is 
stern  and  strict  in  his  temper,  and  severely  true  to  his  trust; 
but  yet " 

At  this  moment,  Anthony  Foster  entered  the  apartment 
bearing  in  his  hand  a  glass  cup  and  a  small  flask.  His  man- 
ner was  singular;  for,  while  approaching  the  countess  with 
the  respect  due  to  her  rank,  he  had  till  this  time  suffered  to 
become  visible,  or  had  been  unable  to  suppress,  the  obdurate 
sulkiness  of  his  natural  disposition,  which,  as  is  usual  with 
those  of  his  unhappy  temper,  was  chiefly  exerted  toward 
those  over  whom  circumstances  gave  him  control.  But  at 
present  he  showed  nothing  of  that  sullen  consciousness  of 
authority  which  he  was  wont  to  conceal  under  a  clumsy  affec- 
tation of  civility  and  deference,  as  a  ruffian  hides  his  pistols 
and  bludgeon  under  his  ill-fashioned  gaberdine.  And  yet  it 
seemed  as  if  his  smile  was  more  in  fear  than  courtesy,  and  as 
if,  while  he  pressed  the  countess  to  taste  of  the  choice  cordial, 
which  should  refresh  her  spirits  after  her  late  alarm,  he  was 
conscious  of  meditating  some  farther  injury.  His  hand 
trembled  also,  his  voice  faltered,  and  his  whole  outward  be- 
havior exhibited  so  much  that  was  suspicious,  that  his  daugh- 
ter Janet,  after  she  had  stood  looking  at  him  in  astonishment 
for  some  seconds,  seemed  at  once  to  collect  herself  to  execute 
some  hardy  resolution,  raised  her  head,  assumed  an  attitude 
and  gait  of  determination  and  authority,  and  walking  slowly 
betwixt  her  father  and  her  mistress,  took  the  salver  from  the 
hand  of  the  former,  and  said  in  a  low,  but  marked  and  de- 
cided tone,  "  Father,  I  will  fill  for  my  noble  mistress,  when 
such  is  her  pleasure." 

"Thou,  my  child?"  said  Foster,  eagerly  and  apprehen- 
sively; "  no,  my  child,  it  is  not  thou  shalt  render  the  lady  this 
service." 

"  And  why,  I  pray  you,"  said  Janet,  "  if  it  be  fitting  that 
ttie  noble  lady  should  partake  of  the  cup  at  all?  " 


258  WAVERLBT  NOVELS. 

"Why — vy^hy?"  said  the  seneschal,  hesitating,  and  then 
bursting  into  passion  as  the  readiest  mode  of  supplying  the 
lack  of  all  other  reason.  "Why,  because  it  is  my  pleasure, 
minion,  that  you  shall  not!  Get  you  gone  to  the  evening 
lecture." 

"Now,  as  I  hope  to  hear  lecture  again,"  replied  Janet,  "I 
will  not  go  thither  this  night,  unless  I  am  better  assured  of 
my  mistress'  safety.  Give  me  that  flask,  father ";  and  she 
took  it  from  his  reluctant  hand,  while  he  resigned  it  as  if  con- 
science-struck. "And  now,"  she  said,  "father,  that  which 
shall  benefit  my  mistress  cannot  do  me  prejudice.  Father,  I 
drink  to  you." 

Foster,  without  speaking  a  word,  rushed  on  his  daughter 
and  wrested  the  flask  from  her  hand;  then,  as  if  embarrassed 
by  what  he  had  done,  and  totally  unable  to  resolve  what  he 
should  do  next,  he  stood  with  it  in  his  hand,  one  foot  ad- 
vanced and  the  other  drawn  back,  glaring  on  his  daughter 
with  a  countenance  in  which  rage,  fear,  and  convicted  villainy 
formed  a  hideous  combination. 

"This  is  strange,  my  father,"  said  Janet,  keeping  her  eye 
fixed  on  his,  in  the  manner  in  which  those  who  have  the 
charge  of  lunatics  are  said  to  overawe  their  unhappy  patients ; 
"will  you  neither  let  me  serve  my  lady  nor  drink  to  her 
myself?" 

The  courage  of  the  countess  sustained  her  through  this 
dreadful  scene,  of  which  the  import  was  not  the  less  obvious 
that  it  was  not  even  hinted  at.  She  preserved  even  the  rash 
carelessness  of  her  temper,  and  though  her  cheek  had  grown 
pale  at  the  first  alarm,  her  eye  was  calm  and  almost  scornful. 
"  Will  you  taste  this  rare  cordial.  Master  Foster  ?  Perhaps 
you  will  not  yourself  refuse  to  pledge  us,  though  you  permit 
not  Janet  to  do  so.     Drink,  sir,  I  pray  you." 

"  I  will  not,"  answered  Foster. 

"And  for  whom,  then,  is  the  precious  beverage  reserved, 
sir?  "  said  the  countess. 

"For  the  devil  who  brewed  it!"  answered  Foster;  and, 
turning  on  his  heel,  he  left  the  chamber. 

Janet  looked  at  her  mistrees  with  a  countenance  expressive 
in  the  highest  degree  of  shame,  dismay,  and  sorrow. 

"Do  not  weep  for  me,  Janet,"  said  the  countess  kindly. 

"  No,  madam,"  replied  her  attendant,  in  a  voice  broken  by 
sobs,  "it  is  not  for  you  I  weep,  it  is  for  myself— it  is  for  that 
unhappy  man.  Those  who  are  dishonored  before  man,  those 
who  are  condemned    by   God,    have  cause   to  mourn,    no^ 


KENILWORTH.  259 

those  who  are  innocent!  Farewell,  madam!  "  sh6  said,  hastily 
assuming  the  mantle  in  which  she  was  wont  to  go  abroad. 

"  Do  you  leave  me,  Janet?  ^'  said  her  mistress — "  desert  me 
in  such  an  evil  strait  ?  '^ 

"  Desert  you,  madam! "  exclaimed  Janet;  and,  running 
back  to  her  mistress,  she  imprinted  a  thousand  kisses  on  her 
hand — ^'  desert  you!  may  the  Hope  of  my  trust  desert  me 
when  I  do  so!  No,  madam;  well  you  said  the  God  you  serve 
will  open  you  a  path  for  deliverance.  There  is  a  way  of 
escape;  I  have  prayed  night  and  day  for  light,  that  I  might 
see  how  to  act  betwixt  my  duty  to  yonder  unhappy  man  and 
that  which  I  owe  to  you.  Sternly  and  fearfully  that  light 
has  now  dawned,  and  I  must  not  shut  the  door  which  God 
opens.     Ask  me  no  more.     I  will  return  in  brief  space.'' 

So  speaking,  she  wrapped  herself  in  her  mantle,  and  saying 
to  the  old  woman  whom  she  passed  in  the  outer  room  that  she 
was  going  to  evening  prayer,  she  left  the  house. 

Meanwhile,  her  father  had  reached  once  more  the  labora- 
tory, where  he  found  the  accomplices  of  his  intended  guilt. 

"  Has  the  sweet  bird  sipped?  "  said  Vamey,  with  half  a 
smile;  while  the  astrologer  put  the  same  question  with  his 
eyes,  but  spoke  not  a  word.* 

"  She  has  not,  nor  she  shall  not  from  my  hands,"  replied 
Foster;  "  wohM  you  have  me  do  murder  in  my  daughter's 
presence  ?  " 

"  Wert  thou  not  told,  thou  sullen  and  yet  faint-hearted 
slave,"  answered  Vamey,  with  bitterness,  "  that  no  murder, 
as  thou  call'st  it,  with  that  staring  look  and  stammering  tone, 
is  designed  in  the  matter?  Wert  thou  not  told  that  a  brief 
illness,  such  as  woman  puts  on  in  very  wantonness,  that  she 
may  wear  her  nightgear  at  noon,  and  lie  on  a  settle  when  she 
should  mind  her  domestic  business,  is  all  here  aimed  at? 
Here  is  a  learned  man  will  swear  it  to  thee,  by  the  key  of  the 
Castle  of  Wisdom." 

"  I  swear  it,"  said  Alasco,  "  that  the  elixir  thou  hast  there 
in  the  flask  will  not  prejudice  life!  I  swear  it  by  that  im- 
mortal and  indestructible  quintessence  of  gold  which  pervades 
every  substance  in  nature,  though  its  secret  existence  can  be 
traced  bv  him  only  to  whom  Trismegistus  renders  the  key  of 
the  Cabala." 

"An  oath  of  force,"  said  Yarney.  "Foster,  thou  wert 
worse  than  a  pagan  to  disbelieve  it.  Believe  me,  moreover, 
who  swear  by  nothing  but  by  my  own  word,  that,  if  you  be  not 
canf o-rmable,  there  is  no  hope — no,  not  a  glimpse  of  hop^-^ 


260  WA  VERLET  NO  VEL8. 

that  this  thy  leasehold  may  be  transmuted  into  a  copyhold. 
Thus,  Alasco  will  leave  your  pewter  artillery  untransmi- 
grated,  and  I,  honest  Anthony,  will  still  have  thee  for  my 
tenant.'' 

"  I  know  not,  gentlemen,"  said  Foster,  "  where  your  de- 
signs tend  to;  but  in  one  thing  I  am  bound  up,  that,  fall  back 
fall  edge,  I  will  have  one  in  this  place  that  may  pray  for  me, 
and  that  one  shall  be  my  daughter.  I  have  lived  ill,  and  the 
world  has  been  too  weighty  with  me;  but  she  is  as  innocent 
as  ever  she  was  when  on  her  mother's  lap,  and  she,  at  least, 
shall  have  her  portion  in  that  happy  City  whose  walls  are  of 
pure  gold,  and  the  foundations  garnished  with  all  manner  of 
precious  stones." 

"  Aye,  Tony,"  said  Vamey,  ^^  that  were  a  paradise  to  thy 
heart's  content.  iJebate  the  matter  with  him.  Dr.  Alasco; 
I  will  be  with  you  anon." 

So  speaking,  Vamey  arose,  and,  taking  the  flask  from  the 
cable,  he  left  the  room. 

"  I  tell  thee,  my  son,"  said  Alasco  to  Foster  as  soon  as  Var- 
ney  had  left  them,  "  that,  whatever  this  bold  and  profligate 
railer  may  say  of  the  mighty  science  in  which,  by  Heaven's 
blessing,  I  have  advanced  so  far,*  that  I  would  not  call  the 
wisest  of  living  artisits  my  better  or  my  teacher — I  say,  how- 
soever yonder  reprobate  may  scoff  at  things  too  holy  to  be 
apprehended  by  men  merely  of  carnal  and  evil  thoughts,  yet 
believe,  that  the  city  beheld  by  St.  John,  in  that  bright  vision 
of  the  Christian  Apocalypse,  that  New  Jerusalem  of  which 
all  Christian  men  hope  to  partake,  sets  forth  typically  the  dis- 
covery of  the  Grand  Secret,  whereby  the  most  precious  and 
perfect  of  nature's  works  are  elicited  out  of  her  basest  and 
most  crude  productions;  just  as  the  light  and  gaudy  butter- 
fly, the  most  beautiful  child  of  the  summer's  breeze,  breaks 
forth  from  the  dungeon  of  a  sordid  chrysalis." 

"  Master  Holdf  orth  said  naught  of  this  exposition,"  said 
Foster  doubtfully;  "  and  moreover.  Dr.  Alasco,  the  Holy 
Writ  says  that  the  gold  and  precious  stones  of  the  Holy  City 
are  in  no  sort  for  those  who  work  abomination  or  who  frame 
lies." 

"  Well,  my  son,"  said  the  doctor,  "  and  what  is  your  infer- 
ence from  thence?" 

"  That  those,"  said  Foster,  "  who  distill  poisons,  and  ad- 
minister them  in  secrecy,  can  have  no  portion  in  those  un- 
speakable riches." 

"You  are  to  distinguish,  my  son/'  replied  the  alchemist^ 


KENILWORTR,  261 

"  betwixt  that  which  is  necessarily  evil  in  its  progress  and  in 
ita  end  also,  and  that  which,  being  evil,  is  nevertheless  capable 
of  working  forth  good.  If,  by  the  death  of  one  person,  the 
happy  period  shall  be  brought  nearer  to  us  in  which  all  that  is 
good  shall  be  attained  by  wishing  its  presence,  all  that  is  evil 
escaped  by  desiring  its  absence;  in  which  sickness,  and  pain, 
and  sorrow  shall  be  the  obedient  servants  of  human  wisdom, 
and  made  to  fly  at  the  slightest  signal  of  a  sage;  in  which  that 
which  is  now  richest  and  rarest  shall  be  within  the  compass 
of  everyone  who  shall  be  obedient  to  the  voice  of  wisdom; 
when  the  art  of  healing  shall  be  lost  and  absorbed  in  the  one 
universal  medicine;  when  sages  shall  become  monarchs  of  the 
earth,  and  death  itself  retreat  before  their  frown — if  this 
blessed  consummation  of  all  things  can  be  hastened  by  the 
slight  circumstance  that  a  frail  earthly  body,  which  must 
needs  partake  corruption,  shall  be  consigned  to  the  grave  a 
short  space  earlier  than  in  the  course  of  nature,  what  is  such 
a  sacrifice  to  the  advancement  of  the  holy  millennium?  " 

"  Millennium  is  the  reign  of  the  saints,'^  said  Foster,  some- 
what doubtfully. 

"  Say  it  is  the  reign  of  the  sages,  my  son,"  answered  Alasco; 
*'  or  rather  the  reign  of  Wisdom  itself." 

"I  touched  on  the  question  with  Master  Holdforth  last 
exercising  night,"  said  Foster;  "  but  he  says  your  doctrine  is 
heterodox,  and  a  damnable  and  false  exposition." 

"  He  is  in  the  bonds  of  ignorance,  my  son,"  answered 
Alasco,  "and  as  yet  burning  bricks  in  Egypt;  or,  at  best, 
wandering  in  the  dr}^  desert  of  Sinai.  Thou  didst  ill  to  speak 
to  such  a  man  of  such  matters.  I  will,  however,  give  thee 
proof,  and  that  shortly,  which  I  will  defy  that  peevish  divine 
to  confute,  though  he  should  strive  with  me  as  the  magicians 
strove  with  Moses  before  King  Pharaoh.  I  will  do  projection 
in  thy  presence,  my  son — ^in  thy  very  presence,  amd  thine  eyes 
shall  witness  the  truth." 

"  Stick  to  that,  learned  sage,"  said  Yamey,  who  at  this 
moment  entered  the  apartment;  "if  he  refuse  the  testimony 
of  thy  tongue,  yet  how  shall  he  deny  that  of  his  own  eyes?  " 

"  Varney!  "  said  the  adept — "  Vamey  already  returned! 
Hast  thou "     He  stopped  short. 

"  Have  I  done  mine  errand,  thou  wouldst  say?  "  replied 
Vamey.  "I  have.  And  thou,"  he  added,  showing  more 
symptoms  of  interest  than  he  had  hitherto  exhibited — "art 
thou  sure  thou  hast  poured  forth  neither  more  nor  less  than 
the  just  measure?" 


262  WA  YERLEY  NO  VEL8. 

'^  Aye,"  replied  the  alchemist,  "  as  sure  as  men  can  be  in 
these  nice  proportions;  for  there  is  diversity  of  constitutions." 

"  Nay,  then,"  said  Varne}^  "  I  fear  nothing.  I  know  thou 
wilt  not  go  a  step  farther  to  the  devil  than  thou  art  justly 
considered  for.  Thou  wert  paid  to  create  illness,  and  wouldst 
esteem  it  thriftless  prodigality  to  do  murder  at  the  same 
price.  Come,  let  us  each  to  our  chamber.  We  shall  see  the 
event  to-morrow." 

"  What  didst  thou  do  to  make  her  swallow  it?  "  said  Foster, 
shuddering. 

"  Nothing,"  answered  Yarney,  "  but  looked  on  her  with 
that  aspect  which  governs  madmen,  women,  and  children. 
They  told  me,  in  St.  Luke's  Hospital,  that  I  have  the  right 
look  for  overpowering  a  refractory  patient.  The  keepers 
made  me  their  compliments  on't;  so  I  know  how  to  win  my 
bread  when  my  court  favor  fails  me." 

"  And  art  thou  not  afraid,"  said  Foster,  "  lest  the  dose  be 
disproportioned?  " 

"  If  so,"  replied  Vamey,  "  she  will  but  sleep  the  sounder, 
and  the  fear  of  that  shall  not  break  my  rest.  Good-night, 
my  masters." 

Anthony  Foster  groaned  heavily,  and  lifted  up  his  hands 
and  eyes.  The  alchemist  intimated  his  purpose  to  continue 
some  experiment  of  high  import  during  the  greater  part  of 
the  night,  and  the  others  separated  to  their  places  of  repose. 


CHAPTEK  XXm. 

Now  God  be  good  to  me  in  this  wide  pilgrimais^e ' 

All  hope  in  human  aid  I  cast  behind  me. 

Oh,  who  would  be  a  woman? — who  that  fool, 

A  weeping,  pining,  faithful,  loving  woman  ! 

She  hath  hard  measure  still  where  she  hopes  kindest, 

And  all  her  bounties  only  make  ingrates.' 

— Love's  Pilgrimage. 

Thi  summer  evening  was  closed,  and  Janet,  just  when  hei 
longer  stay  might  have  occasioned  suspicion  and  inquiry  in 
that  jealous  household,  returned  to  Ciminor  Place,  and  has- 
tened to  the  apartment  in  which  she  had  left  her  lady.  She 
found  her  with  her  head  resting  on  her  arms,  and  these 
crossed  upon  a  table  which  stood  before  her.  As  Janet  came 
in,  she  neither  looked  up  nor  stirred. 

Her  faithful  attendant  ran  to  her  mistress  with  the  speed 
of  lightning,  and  rousing  her  at  the  same  time  with  her  hand, 
conjured  the  countess,  in  the  most  earnest  manner,  to  look  up 
and  say  what  thus  affected  her.  The  unhappy  lady  raised  her 
head  accordingly,  and  looking  on  her  attendant  with  a  ghastly 
eye,  and  cheek  as  pale  as  clay,  "Janet,"  she  said,  "I  have 
dLrank  it." 

"God  be  praised!"  said  Janet  hastily.  "I  mean,  God  be 
praised  that  it  is  no  worse:  the  potion  will  not  harm  you. 
Rise,  shake  this  lethargy  from  your  limbs  and  this  despair 
from  your  mind. 

"  Janet,"  repeated  the  countess  again,  "  disturb  me  not — 
leave  me  at  peace — let  life  pass  quietly — I  am  poisoned." 

"  You  are  not,  my  dearest  lady,"  answered  the  maiden, 
eagerly;  "  what  you  have  swallowed  cannot  injure  you,  for  the 
antidote  has  been  taken  before  it,  and  I  hastened  hither  to  tell 
you  that  the  means  of  escape  are  open  to  you." 

"  Escape ! "  exclaimed  the  lady,  as  she  raised  herself  hastily 
in  her  chair,  while  light  returned  to  her  eye  and  life  to  her 
cheek;  "but  ah  I  Janet,  it  comes  too  late." 

"  Not  so,  dearest  lady.  Eise,  take  mine  arm,  walk  through 
the  apartment.  Let  not  fancy  do  the  work  of  poison !  So ; 
feel  you  not  now  that  you  are  possessed  of  the  full  use  of  your 
limbs?" 

"  The  torpor  seems  to  diminish,"  said  the  countess,  as,  sup- 
ported  by  Janet,  she  walked   to  and   fro  in   the  apartment; 

363 


264  WAVEBLET  NOVELS, 

"but  is  it  then  so,  and  liave  I  not  swallowed  a  deadly  draught? 
Varney  was  here  since  thou  wert  gone,  and  commanded  me, 
with  eyes  in  which  I  read  my  fate,  to  swallow  yon  horrible 
drug.  Oh,  Janet!  it  must  be  fatal:  never  was  harmless 
draught  served  by  such  a  cupbearer!  " 

"  He  did  not  deem  it  harmless,  I  fear,"  replied  the  maiden; 
"  but  God  confounds  the  devices  of  the  wicked.  Believe  me, 
as  I  swear  by  the  dear  Gospel  in  which  we  trust,  your  life  is 
safe  from  his  practice.     Did  you  not  debate  with  him?  " 

"  The  house  was  silent,"  answered  the  lady,  "  thou  gone,  no 
other  but  he  in  the  chamber,  and  he  capable  of  every  crime. 
I  did  but  stipulate  he  would  remove  his  hateful  presence,  and 
I  drank  whatever  he  offered.  But  you  spoke  of  escape,  Janet; 
can  I  be  so  happy?  " 

"  Are  you  strong  enough  to  bear  the  tidings  and  make  the 
effort?  "  said  the  maiden. 

"  Strong!  "  answered  the  countess — "  ask  the  hind,  when 
the  fangs  of  the  deer-hound  are  stretched  to  gripe  her,  if  she 
is  strong  enough  to  spring  over  a  chasm.  I  am  equal  to  every 
effort  that  may  relieve  me  from  this  place." 

"  Hear  me,'  then,"  said  Janet.  "  One,  whom  I  deem  an 
assured  friend  of  yours,  has  shown  himself  to  me  in  various 
disguises,  and  sought  speech  of  me,  which — for  my  mind  waa 
not  clear  on  the  matter  until  this  evening — I  have  ever  de- 
clined. He  was  the  peddler  who  brought  you  goods,  the 
itinerant  hawker  who  sold  me  books;  whenever  I  stirred 
abroad  I  was  sure  to  see  him.  The  event  of  this  night  deter- 
mined me  to  speak  with  him.  He  waits  even  now  at  the 
postern  gate  of  the  park  with  means  for  your  flight.  But 
have  you  strength  of  body?  Have  you  courage  of  mind? 
Can  you  undertake  the  enterprise?" 

"  She  that  flies  from  death,"  said  the  lady,  "  finds  strength 
of  body;  she  that  would  escape  from  shame  lacks  no  strength 
of  mind.  The  thoughts  of  leaving  behind  me  the  villain  who 
menaces  both  my  life  and  honor  would  give  me  strength  to 
rise  from  my  death-bed." 

"  In  God's  name,  then,  lady,"  said  Janet,  "  I  must  bid  you 
adieu,  and  to  God's  charge  I  must  commit  you! " 

"  Will  you  not  fly  with  me,  then,  Janet?  "  said  the  count- 
ess, anxiously.  "Am  I  to  lose  thee?  Is  this  thy  faithful 
service?  " 

"  Lady,  I  would  fly  with  you  as  willingly  as  bird  ever  fled 
from  cage,  but  my  doing  so  would  occasion  instant  discovery 
and  pursuit.     I  must  remain,  and  use  means  to  disguise  the 


KENILWOBTR.  2W 

truth  tor  some  time.     May  Heaven  pardon  the  falsehood  be- 
cause of  the  necessity! " 

"  And  am  I  then  to  travel  alone  with  this  stranger?  "  said 
the  lady.  "  Bethink  thee,  Janet,  may  not  this  prove  some 
deeper  and  darker  scheme  to  separate  me  perhaps  from  you, 
who  are  my  only  friend? '' 

"  No,  madam,  do  not  suppose  it,"  answered  Janet  readily; 
"  the  youth  is  an  honest  youth  in  his  purpose  to  you;  and  a 
friend  to  Master  Tressilian,  under  whose  direction  he  is  come 
hither." 

"  If  he  be  a  friend  of  Tressilian,"  said  the  countess,  "  I  will 
commit  myself  to  his  charge  as  to  that  of  an  angel  sent  from 
Heaven;  for  than  Tressilian  never  breathed  mortal  man  more 
free  of  whatever  was  base,  false,  or  selfish.  He  forgot  him- 
self whenever  he  could  be  of  use  to  others.  Alas!  and  how 
was  he  requited! " 

With  eager  haste  they  collected  the  few  necessaries  which 
it  was  thought  proper  the  countess  should  take  with  her,  and 
which  Janet,  with  speed  and  dexterity,  formed  into  a  small 
bundle,  not  forgetting  to  add  such  ornaments  of  intrinsic 
value  as  came  most  readily  in  her  way,  and  particularly  a 
casket  of  jewels,  which  she  wisely  judged  might  prove  of 
service  in  some  future  emergency.  The  Countess  of  Leicester 
next  changed  her  dress  for  one  which  Janet  usually  wore 
upon  any  brief  journey,  for  they  judged  it  necessary  to  avoid 
every  external  distinction  which  might  attract  notice.  Ere 
these  preparations  were  fully  made,  the  moon  had  arisen  in 
the  summer  heaven,  and  all  in  the  mansion  had  betaken  them- 
selves to  rest,  or  at  least  to  the  silence  and  retirement  of  their 
chambers. 

There  was  no  difficulty  anticipated  in  escaping,  whether 
from  the  house  or  garden,  provided  only  they  could  elude 
observation.  Anthony  Foster  had  accustomed  himself  to 
consider  his  daughter  as  a  conscious  sinner  might  regard  a 
visible  guardian  angel,  which,  notwithstanding  his  guilt,  con- 
tinued to  hover  around  him,  and  therefore  his  trust  in  her 
knew  no  bounds.  Janet  commanded  her  own  motions  dur- 
ing the  daytime,  and  had  a  master-key  which  opened  the  pos- 
tern door  of  the  park,  so  that  she  could  go  to  the  village  at 
pleasure,  either  upon  the  household  affairs,  which  were  en- 
tirely confided  to  her  management,  or  to  attend  her  devotions 
at  the  meeting-house  of  her  sect.  It  is  true,  the  daughter  of 
Foster  was  thus  liberally  intrusted  under  the  solemn  condi- 
tion that  she  should  not  avail  herself  of  these  privileges  to  do 


266  WAVEBLEY  NOVELS. 

anything  inconsistent  with  the  safe-keeping  of  the  countess; 
for  so  her  residence  at  Cumnor  Place  had  been  termed,  since 
she  began  of  late  to  exhibit  impatience  of  the  restrictions  to 
which  she  was  subjected.  Nor  is  there  reason  to  suppose  that 
anything  short  of  the  dreadful  suspicions  which  the  scene  of 
that  evening  had  excited  could  have  induced  Janet  to  violate 
her  word  or  deceive  her  father's  confidence.  But  from  what 
she  had  witnessed,  she  now  conceived  herself  not  only  justi- 
fied, but  imperatively  called  upon,  to  make  her  lady's  safety 
the  principal  object  of  her  care,  seitting  all  other  considera- 
tions aside. 

The  fugitive  countess,  with  her  guide,  traversed  with  hasty 
steps  the  broken  and  interrupted  path,  which  had  once  been 
an  avenue,  now  totally  darkened  by  the  boughs  of  spreading 
trees  which  met  above  their  head,  and  now  receiving  a  doubt- 
ful and  deceiving  light  from  the  beams  of  the  moon,  which 
peneftrated  where  the  ax  had  made  openings  in  the  wood. 
Their  path  was  repeatedly  interrupted  by  felled  trees,  or  ^he. 
large  boughs  which  had  been  left  on  the  ground  till  timo 
served  to  make  them  into  fagots  and  billets.  The  incon- 
venience and  difiiculty  attending  these  interruptions,  the 
breathless  haste  of  the  first  part  of  their  route,  the  exhausting 
sensations  of  hope  and  fear,  so  much  affected  the  countess' 
strength  that  Janet  was  forced  to  propose  that  they  should 
pause  for  a  few  minutes  to  recover  breath  and  spirits.  Both, 
therefore,  stood  still  beneath  the  shadow  of  a  huge  old 
gjnarled  oak-tree,  and  both  naturally  looked  back  to  the  man- 
sion which  they  had  left  behind  them,  whose  long  dark  front 
was  seen  in  the  gloomy  distance,  with  its  huge  stacks  of  chim- 
neys, turrets,  and  deckhouse,  rising  above  the  line  of  the 
roof,  and  definedly  visible  against  the  pure  azure  blue  of  the 
summer  sky.  One  light  only  twinkled  from  the  extended, 
and  shadowy  mass,  and  it  was  placed  so  low  that  it  rather 
seemed  to  glimmer  from  the  ground  in  front  of  the  mansion 
than  from  one  of  the  windows.  The  countess'  terror  was 
awakened.  "  They  follow  us! "  she  said,  pointing  out  to 
Janet  the  light  which  thus  alarmed  her. 

Less  agitated  than  her  mistress,  Janet  perceived  that  the 
gleam  was  stationary,  and  informed  the  countess,  in  a  whis- 
per, that  the  light  proceeded  from  the  solitary  cell  in  which 
the  alchemist  pursued  his  occult  experiments.  "  He  is  of 
those,"  she  added,  "  who  sit  up  and  watch  by  ni^ht  that  they 
may  commit  iniquity.  Evil  was  the  chance  which  sent  hither 
a  man  whose  mixed  speech  of  earthly  wealth  and  unearthly 


KENILWORTB,  SeV 

or  superhuman  knowledge  hath  in  it  what  does  so  especially 
captivate  my  poor  father.  Well  spoke  the  good  Master  Hold- 
forth,  and,  methought,  not  without  meaning  that  those  of  our 
household  should  lind  therein  a  practical  use.  *  There  be 
those/  he  said,  '  and  their  number  is  legion,  who  will  rather, 
like  the  wicked  Ahab,  listen  to  the  dreams  of  the  false  prophet 
Zedekiah  than  to  the  words  of  him  by  whom  the  Lord  has 
spoken.'  And  he  further  insisted — '  Ah,  my  brethren,  there 
be  many  Zedekiahs  among  you — men  that  promise  you  the 
light  of  their  carnal  knowledge,  so  you  will  surrender  to 
them  that  of  your  Heavenly  understanding.  What  are  they 
better  than  the  tyrant  Naas,  who  demanded  the  right  eye  of 
those  who  were  subjected  to  him?'  And  farther,  he  in- 
sisted  " 

It  is  uncertain  how  long  the  fair  Puritan's  memory  might 
have  supported  her  in  the  recapitulation  of  Master  Hold- 
forth's  discourse:  but  the  countess  interrupted  her,  and 
assured  her  she  was  so  much  recovered  that  she  could  now 
reach  the  postern  without  the  necessity  of  a  second  delay. 

They  set  out  accordingly,  and  performed  the  second  part  of 
their  journey  with  more  deliberation,  and  of  course  more 
easily,  than  the  first  hasty  commencement.  This  gave  them 
leisure  for  reflection;  and  Janet  now,  for  the  first  time,  ven- 
tured to  ask  her  lady  which  way  she  proposed  to  direct  her 
flight.  Eeceiving  no  immediate  answer — for,  perhaps,  in  the 
confusion  of  her  mind,  this  very  obvious  subject  of  delibera- 
tion had  not  occurred  to  the  countess — Janet  ventured  to 
add,  "  Probably  to  your  father's  house,  where  you  are  sure  of 
safety  and  protection?" 

"  No,  Janet,"  said  the  lady  mournfully,  "  I  left  Lidcote 
Hall  while  my  heart  was  light  and  my  name  was  honorable 
and  I  will  not  return  thither  till  my  lord's  permission  and 
public  acknowledgment  of  our  marriage  restore  me  to  my 
native  home  with  all  the  rank  and  honor  which  he  has  be- 
stowed on  me." 

"And  whither  will  you,  then,  madam?  "  said  Janet. 

"  To  Kenilworth,  girl,"  said  the  countess,  boldly  and 
freely.  "I  will  see  these  revels' — these  princely  revels — ^the 
preparation  for  which  makes  the  land  ring  from  side  to  side. 
Methinks,  when  the  Queen  of  England  feasts  within  my  hus- 
band's halls,  the  Countess  of  Leicester  should  be  no  unbe- 
seeming guest." 

"  I  pray  God  you  may  be  a  welcome  one! "  said  Janet 
hastily. 


268  WAVEBLET  NOVELS. 

"You  abuse  my  situation,  Janet,"  said  the  countess 
angrily,  "  and  you  forget  your  own." 

"  I  do  neither,  dearest  madam,"  said  the  sorrowful  maiden; 
"  but  have  you  forgotten  that  the  noble  earl  has  given  such 
strict  charges  to  keep  your  marriage  secret  that  he  may  pre- 
serve his  court  favor?  and  can  you  think  that  your  sudden 
appearance  at  his  castle  at  such  a  juncture,  and  in  such  a 
presence,  will  be  acceptable  to  him?  " 

"  Thou  thinkest  I  would  disgrace  him?  "  said  the  countess; 
"  nay,  let  go  my  arm,  I  can  walk  without  aid,  and  work  with- 
out counsel." 

"  Be  not  angry  with  me,  lady,"  said  Janet  meekly,  "  and  let 
me  still  support  you;  the  road  is  rough,  and  you  are  little 
accustomed  to  walk  in  darkness." 

"If  you  deem  me  not  so  mean  as  may  disgrace  my  hus- 
band," said  the  countess,  in  the  same  resentful  tone,  "  you 
suppose  my  Lord  of  Leicester  capable  of  abetting,  perhaps  of 
giving  aim  and  authority  to,  the  base  proceedings  of  your 
father  and  Vamey,  whose  errand  I  will  do  to  the  good  earl." 

"  For  God's  sake,  madam,  spare  my  father  in  your  report," 
said  Janet;  "  let  my  services,  however  poor,  be  some  atone- 
ment for  his  errors! " 

"I  were  most  unjust,  dearest  Janet,  were  it  otherwise," 
said  the  countess,  resuming  at  once  the  fondness  and  confi- 
dence of  her  manner  toward  her  faithful  attendant.  "No, 
Janet,  not  a  word  of  mine  shall  do  your  father  prejudice. 
But  thou  seest,  my  love,  I  have  no  desire  but  to  throw  myself 
on  my  husband's  protection.  I  have  left  the  abode  he 
assigned  for  me,  because  of  the  villainy  of  the  persons  by 
whom  I  was  surrounded;  but  I  will  disobey  his  commands  in 
no  other  particular.  I  will  appeal  to  him  alone;  I  will  be 
protected  by  him  alone.  To  no  other  than  at  his  pleasure 
have  I  or  will  I  communicate  the  secret  union  which  com- 
bines our  hearts  and  our  destinies.  I  will  see  him,  and  re- 
ceive from  his  own  lips  the  directions  for  my  future  conduct. 
Do  not  argue  against  my  resolution,  Janet;  you  will  only  con- 
firm me  in  it.  And  to  own  the  truth,  I  am  resolved  to  know 
my  fate  at  once,  and  from  my  husband's  own  mouth,  and  to 
seek  him  at  Kenilworth  is  the  surest  way  to  attain  my 
purpose." 

While  Janet  hastily  revolved  in  her  mind  the  difiiculties 
and  uncertainties  attendant  on  the  unfortunate  lady's  situa- 
tion, she  was  inclined  to  alter  her  first  opinion,  and  to  think, 
upon  the  whole,  that,  since  the  countess  had  withdrawn  her- 


KENILWORTH.  269 

self  from  the  retreat  in  which  she  had  been  placed  by  her 
husband,  it  was  her  first  duty  to  repair  to  his  presence,  and 
possess  him  with  the  reasons  of  such  conduct.  She  knew 
what  importance  the  earl  attached  to  the  concealment  of  their 
marriage,  and  could  not  but  own  that,  by  taking  any  step  to 
make  it  public  without  his  permission,  the  countess  would 
incur,  in  a  high  degree,  the  indignation  of  her  hu^and.  If 
she  retired  to  her  father's  house  without  an  explicit  avowal 
of  her  rank,  her  situation  was  likely  greatly  to  prejudice  her 
character;  and  if  she  made  such  an  avowal,  it  might  occasion 
an  irreconcilable  breach  with  her  husband.  At  Kenilworth, 
again,  she  might  plead  her  cause  with  her  husband  himself, 
whom  Janet,  though  distrusting  him  more  than  the  countess 
did,  believed  incapable  of  being  accessary  to  the  base  and  des- 
perate means  which  his  dependents,  from  whose  power  the 
lady  was  now  escaping,  might  resort  to,  in  order  to  stifle  her 
complaints  of  the  treatment  she  had  received  at  their  hands. 
But  at  the  worst,  and  were  the  earl  himself  to  deny  her  jus- 
tice and  protection,  still  at  Kenilworth,  if  she  chose  to  make 
her  wrongs  public,  the  countess  might  have  Tressilian  for  her 
advocate,  and  the  Queen  for  her  judge;  for  so  much  Janet 
had  learned  in  her  short  conference  with  Wayland.  She  was, 
therefore,  on  the  whole,  reconciled  to  her  lady's  proposal  of 
going  toward  Kenilworth,  and  so  expressed  herself;  recom- 
mending, however,  to  the  countess  the  utmost  caution  in  mak- 
ing her  arrival  known  to  her  husband. 

"  Hast  thou  thyself  been  cautious,  Janet?  "  said  the  count- 
ess: "this  guide,  in  whom  I  must  put  my  confidence,  hast 
thou  not  intrusted  to  him  the  secret  of  my  condition?  " 

"  From  me  he  has  learned  nothing,"  said  Janet;  "  nor  do  I 
think  that  he  knows  more  than  what  the  public  in  general 
believe  of  your  situation." 

"  And  what  is  that?  "  said  the  lady. 

"  That  you  left  your  father's  house — ^but  I  shall  offend  you 
again  if  I  go  on,"  said  Janet,  interrupting  herself. 

"  Nay,  go  on,"  said  the  countess;  "  I  must  learn  to  endure 
the  evil  report  which  my  folly  has  brought  upon  me.  They 
think,  I  suppose,  that  I  have  left  my  father's  house  to  follow 
lawless  pleasure.  It  is  an  error  which  will  soon  be  removed 
— ^indeed  it  shall,  for  I  will  live  with  spotless  fame  or  I  shall 
cease  to  live.  I  am  accounted,  then,  the  paramour  of  my 
Leicester?  " 

"  Most  men  say  of  Vamey,"  said  Janet;  "  yet  some  call  him 
oiily  the  convement  cloak  of  his  nj.aster's  pleasures;  for  re- 


270  WA  YERLEY  NO  VEL8. 

ports  of  the  profuse  expense  in  garnishing  yonder  apartments 
have  secretly  gone  abroad,  and  such  doings  far  surpass  the 
means  of  Yarney.  But  this  latter  opinion  is  Httle  prevalent; 
for  men  dare  hardly  even  hint  suspicion  when  so  high  a  name 
is  concerned,  lest  the  Star  Chamber  should  punish  them  for 
scandal  of  the  nobility/' 

"  They  do  well  to  speak  low,"  said  the  countess,  "  who 
would  mention  the  illustrious  Dudley  as  the  accomplice  of 
such  a  wretch  as  Vamey.  We  have  reached  the  postern. 
Ah!  Janet,  I  must  bid  thee  farewell!  Weep  not,  my  good 
girl,"  said  she,  endeavoring  to  cover  her  own  reluctajnce  to 
part  with  her  faithful  attendant  under  an  attempt  at  playful- 
ness, "  and  against  we  meet  again,  reform  me,  Janet,  that  pre- 
cise ruff  of  thine  for  an  open  rabatine  of  lace  and  cut-work, 
that  will  let  men  see  thou  hast  a  fair  neck;  and  that  kirtle  of 
Philippine  cheney,  with  that  bugle  lace  which  befits  only  a 
chambermaid,  into  three-piled  velvet  and  cloth  of  gold:  thou 
wilt  find  plenty  of  stuffs  in  my  chamber,  and  I  freely  bestow 
them  on  you.  Thou  must  be  brave,  Janet;  for  though  thou 
airt  now  but  the  attendant  of  a  distressed  and  errant  lady,  who 
is  both  nameless  and  fameless,  yet,  when  we  meet  again,  thou 
must  be  dressed  as  becomes  the  gentlewoman  nearest  in  love 
and  in  service  to  the  first  countess  in  England! " 

"Now,  may  God  grant  it,  dear  lady!"  said  Janet — "not 
that  I  may  go  with  gayer  apparel,  but  that  we  may  both  wear 
our  kirtles  over  lighter  hearts." 

By  this  time  the  lock  of  the  postern  door  had,  after  some 
hard  wrenching,  yielded  to  the  master-key;  and  the  countess, 
not  without  internal  shuddering,  saw  herself  beyond  the  walls 
which  her  husband's  strict  commands  had  assigned  to  her  as 
the  boundary  of  her  walks.  Waiting  with  much  anxiety  for 
their  appearance,  Wayland  Smith  stood  at  some  distance, 
shrouding  himself  behind  a  hedge  which  bordered  the  high- 
road. 

"  Is  all  safe? "  said  Janet  to  him,*  anxiously,  as  he  ap- 
proached them  with  caution. 

"  All,"  he  replied;  "  but  I  have  been  unable  to  procure  a 
horse  for  the  lady.  Giles  Gosling,  the  cowardly  hilding,  re- 
fused me  one  on  any  terms  whatever;  lest,  forsooth,  he  should 
suffer — ^but  no  matter.  She  must  ride  on  my  palfrey,  and  I 
must  walk  by  her  side  until  I  come  by  another  horse.  There 
will  be  no  pursuit,  if  you,  pretty  Mistress  Janet,  forget  not 
thy  lesson." 

''  No  more  than  the  wise  widow  of  Tekoa  forgot  the  words 


KENILWORTH.  271 

whicli    Joab   put   into   her   moutli,"   answered   Janei.     "To 
morrow,  I  say  that  my  lady  is  unable  to  rise." 

"Aye,  and  that  slie  hath  aching  and  heaviness  of  the  head, 
a  throbbing  at  the  heart,  and  lists  not  to  be  disturbed.  Fear 
not ;  they  will  take  the  hint,  and  trouble  thee  with  few  ques- 
tions: they  understand  the  disease." 

"But,"  said  the  lady,  "my  absence  must  be  soon  dis- 
covered, and  they  will  murder  her  in  revenge.  I  will  rather 
return  than  expose  her  to  such  danger." 

"Be  at  ease  on  my  account,  madam,"  said  Janet ;  "I  would 
you  were  as  sure  of  receiving  the  favor  you  desire  from  those 
to  whom  you  must  make  appeal,  as  I  am  that  my  father,  how- 
ever angry,  will  suffer  no  harm  to  befall  me." 

The  countess  was  now  placed  by  Wayland  upon  his  horse, 
around  the  saddle  of  which  he  had  placed  his  cloak,  so  folded 
as  to  make  her  a  commodious  seat. 

"Adieu,  and  may  the  blessing  of  God  wend  with  you!" 
said  Janet,  again  kissing  her  mistress'  hand,  who  returned 
her  benediction  with  a  mute  caress.  They  then  tore  them- 
selves asunder,  and  Janet,  addressing  Wayland,  exclaimed, 
"  May  Heaven  deal  with  you  at  your  need,  as  you  are  true  or 
false  to  this  most  injured  and  most  helpless  lady !  " 

"Amen!  dearest  Janet,"  replied  Wayland;  "and  believe 
me,  I  will  so  acquit  myself  of  my  trust,  as  may  tempt  even 
your  pretty  eyes,  saint-like  as  they  are,  to  look  less  scornfully 
on  me  when  we  next  meet." 

The  latter  part  of  this  adieu  was  whispered  into  Janet's  ear; 
and,  although  she  made  no  reply  to  it  directly,  yet  her  man- 
ner, influenced  no  doubt  by  her  desire  to  leave  every  motive  in 
force  which  could  operate  toward  her  mistress'  safety,  did  not 
discourage  the  hope  which  Wayland's  words  expressed.  She 
re-entered  the  postern  door,  and  locked  it  behind  her,  while, 
Wayland  taking  the  horse's  bridle  in  his  hand  and  walking 
close  by  its  head,  they  began  in  silence  their  dubious  and 
moonlight  journey. 

Although  Wayland  Smith  used  the  utmost  dispatch  which 
he  could  make,  yet  this  mode  of  traveling  was  so  slow  that, 
when  morning  began  to  dawn  through  the  eastern  mist,  he 
found  himself  no  farther  than  about  ten  miles  distant  from 
Cumnor.  "Now,  a  plague  upon  all  smooth-spoken  hosts!'* 
said  Wayland,  unable  longer  to  suppress  his  mortification  and 
uneasiness.  "Had  the  false  loon,  Giles  Gosling,  but  told  me 
plainly  two  days  since  that  I  was  to  reckon  naught  upon  him, 
I  had  shifted  better  for  myself.     But  your  hosts  have  such  a 


272  WAVEBLEY  NOVELS. 

custom  of  promising  whatever  is  called  for,  that  it  is  not  till 
the  steed  is  to  be  shod  you  find  they  are  out  of  iron.  Had  I 
but  known,  I  could  have  made  twenty  shifts;  nay,  for  that 
matter,  and  in  so  good  a  cause,  I  would  have  thought  little 
to  have  prigged  a  prancer  from  the  next  common — it  had  but 
been  sending  back  the  brute  to  the  head-borough.  The  farc>' 
and  the  founders  confound  every  horse  in  the  stables  of  the 
Black  Bear! " 

The  lady  endeavored  to  comfort  her  guide,  observing,  that 
the  dawn  would  enable  him  to  make  more  speed. 

^'  True,  madam,"  he  repHed;  "  but  then  it  will  enable  other 
folk  to  take  note  of  us,  and  that  may  prove  an  ill  beginning  of 
our  journey.  I  had  not  cared  a  spark  from  anvil  about  the 
matter  had  we  been  farther  advanced  on  our  way.  But  this 
Berkshire  has  been  notoriously  haunted  ever  since  I  knew  the 
country  with  that  sort  of  malicious  elves  who  sit  up  late  and 
rise  early  for  no  other  purpose  than  to  pry  into  other  folks' 
affairs.  I  have  been  endangered  by  them  ere  now.  But  do 
not  fear,"  he  added,  "  good  madam;  for  wit,  meeting  with 
opportunity,  will  not  miss  to  find  a  salve  for  every  sore." 

The  alarms  of  her  guide  made  more  impression  on  the 
countess'  mind  than  the  comfort  which  he  judged  fit  to  ad- 
minister along  with  it.  She  looked  anxiously  around  her, 
and  as  the  shadows  withdrew  from  the  landscape,  and  the 
heightening  glow  of  the  eastern  sky  promised  the  speedy  rise 
of  the  sun,  expected  at  every  turn  that  the  increasing  light 
would  expose  them  to  the  view  of  the  vengeful  pursuers,  or 
present  some  dangerous  and  insurmountable  obstacle  to  the 
prosecutioii  of  their  journey.  Wayland  Smith  perceived  her 
uneasiness,  and,  displeased  with  himself  for  having  given  her 
cause  of  alarm,  strode  on  with  affected  alacrity,  now  talking 
to  the  horse  as  one  expert  in  the  language  of  the  stable,  now 
whistling  to  himself  low  and  interrupted  snatches  of  tunes, 
and  now  assuring  the  lady  there  was  no  danger;  while  at  the 
same  time  he  looked  sharply  around  to  see  that  there  was 
nothing  in  sight  which  might  give  the  lie  to  his  words  while 
they  were  issuing  from  his  mouth.  Thus  did  they  journey 
on,  until  an  unexpected  incident  gave  them  the  means  of  con- 
tinuing their  pilgrimage  with  more  speed  and  convenience. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

Bichard.    A  horse  !— a  horse  !— my  kingdom  for  a  horse  I 

Catesby. My  lord,  I'll  help  you  to  a  horse. 

—Bichard  III. 

Our  travelers  were  in  the  act  of  passing  a  small  thicket  of 
trees  close  by  the  roadside,  when  the  first  living  being  pre- 
sented himself  whom  they  had  seen  since  their  departure  from 
Cumnor  Place.  This  was  a  stupid  lout,  seemingly  a  farmer's 
boy,  in  a  gray  jerkin,  with  his  head  bare,  his  hose  about  his 
heels,  and  huge  startups  upon  his  feet.  He  held  by  the  bridle 
what  of  all  things  they  most  wanted — a  palfrey,  namely,  with 
a  side-saddle  and  all  other  garniture  for  a  woman's  mount- 
ing; and  he  hailed  Wayland  Smith  with,  "  Zur,  ye  be  zure  the 
party?" 

"  Aye,  that  I  be,  my  lad,"  answered  Wayland,  without  an 
instant's  hesitation,  and  it  must  be  owned  that  consciences 
trained  in  a  stricter  school  of  morality  might  have  given  way 
to  an  occasion  so  tempting.  While  he  spoke,  he  caught  the 
rein  out  of  the  boy's  hand,  and  almost  at  the  same  time  helped 
down  the  countess  from  his  own  horse,  and  aided  her  to 
mount  on  that  which  chance  had  thus  presented  for  her  ac- 
ceptance. Indeed,  so  naturally  did  the  whole  take  place,  that 
the  countess,  as  it  afterward  appeared,  never  suspected  but 
that  the  horse  had  been  placed  there  to  meet  them  by  the  pre- 
caution of  the  guide  or  some  of  his  friends. 

The  lad,  however,  who  was  thus  hastily  dispossessed  of  his 
charge,  began  to  stare  hard,  and  scratch  his  head,  as  if  seized 
with  some  qualms  of  conscience  for  delivering  up  the  animal 
on  such  brief  explanation.  "  I  be  right  zure  thou  be'st  the 
party,"  said  he,  muttering  to  himself,  "  but  thou  shouldst  ha 
zaid  '  Beans/  thou  knaw'st." 

"Aye — aye,"  said  Wayland,  speaking  at  a  venture;  "and 
thou  '  Bacon,'  thou  know'st." 

"Noa. — noa,"  said  the  lad;  "bide  ye — ^bide  ye;  it  was 
*  Pease '  a  should  ha  said." 

"  Well— well,"  answered  Wayland,  "  '  Pease '  be  it,  a  God's 
name!  though  ^  Bacon  '  were  the  better  password." 

And  being  by  this  time  mounted  on  his  own  horse,  he 
caught  the  rein  of  the  palfrey  from  the  uncertain  hold  of  the 

273 


2  74  WA  VEBLBY  NO  VEL8. 

hesitating  young  boor,  flung  him  a  small  piece  of  money,  and 
made  amends  for  lost  time  by  riding  briskly  off  without 
farther  parley.  The  lad  was  still  visible  from  the  hill  up 
which  they  were  riding,  and  Wayland,  as  he  looked  back,  be- 
held him  standing  with  his  fingers  in  his  hair  as  immovable  as 
a  guide-post,  and  his  head  turned  in  the  direction  in  which 
they  were  escaping  from  him.  At  length,  just  as  they  topped 
the  hill,  he  saw  the  clown  stoop  to  lift  up  the  silver  groat 
which  his  benevolence  had  imparted.  "  Now  this  is  what  I 
call  a  God-send,"  said  Wayland:  "  this  is  a  bonny  well-ridden 
bit  of  a  going  thing,  and  it  will  carry  us  so  far  till  we  get  you 
as  well  mounted,  and  then  we  will  send  it  back  time  enough 
to  satisfy  the  hue  and  cry." 

But  he  was  deceived  in  his  expectations;  and  fate,  which 
seemed  at  first  to  pro^mise  so  fairly,  soon  threatened  to  turn 
the  incident  which  he  thus  gloried  in  into  the  cause  of  their 
utter  ruin. 

They  had  not  ridden  a  short  mile  from  the  place  where  they 
left  the  lad  before  they  heard  a  man's  voice  shouting  on  the 
wind  behind  them,  "  Robbery! — robbery!  Stop  thief!  "  and 
similar  exclamations,  which  Wayland's  conscience  readily 
assured  him  must  arise  out  of  the  transaction  to  which  he  had 
been  Just  accessary. 

"I  had  better  have  gone  barefoot  all  my  life,"  he  said:  "it  is 
the  hue  and  cry,  and  I  am  a  lost  man.  Ah!  Wayland — Way- 
land,  many  a  time  thy  father  said  horse-flesh  would  be  the 
death  of  thee.  Were  I  once  safe  among  the  horse-coursers  in 
Smithfield  or  Tumball  Street,  they  should  have  leave  to  hang 
me  as  high  as  St.  Paul's  if  I  e'er  meddled  more  with  nobles, 
knights,  or  gentlewomen! " 

Amidst  these  dismal  reflections,  he  turned  his  head  repeat- 
edly to  see  by  whom  he  was  chased,  and  was  much  comforted 
when  he  could  only  discover  a  single  rider,  who  was,  however, 
well  mounted,  and  came  after  them  at  a  speed  which  left 
them  no  chance  of  escaping,  even  had  the  lady's  strength  per- 
mitted her  to  ride  as  fast  as  her  palfrey  might  have  been  able 
to  gallop. 

"  There  may  be  fair  play  betwixt  us,  sure,"  thought  Way- 
land,  "  where  there  is  but  one  man  on  each  side;  and  yonder 
fellow  sits  on  his  horse  more  like  a  monkey  than  a  cavalier. 
Pshaw!  if  it  come  to  the  worst,  it  will  be  easy  unhorsing  him. 
Nay,  'snails!  I  think  his  horse  will  take  the  matter  in  his 
own  hand,  for  he  has  the  bridle  betwixt  his  teeth.  Oons,  what 
care  I  for  him?  "  said  he,  as  the  pursuer  drew  yet  netirer;  *'  ii 


KENILWORTH.  275 

is  but  the  little  animal  of  a  mercer  from  Abingdon,  when  all 
is  over." 

Even  so  it  was,  as  the  experienced  eye  of  Wayland  had 
descried  at  a  distance.  For  the  valiant  mercer's  horse,  which 
was  a  beast  of  mettle,  feeling  himself  put  to  his  speed,  and 
discerning  a  couple  of  horses  riding  fast,  at  some  hundred 
yards'  distance  before  him,  betook  himself  to  the  road  with 
such  alacrity  as  totally  deranged  the  seat  of  his  rider,  who 
not  only  came  up  with,  but  passed  at  full  gallop,  those  whom 
he  had  been  pursuing,  pulling  the  reins  with  all  his  might, 
and  ejaculating,  "Stop! — stop!''  an  interjection  which 
seemed  rather  to  regard  his  own  palfrey  than  what  seamen 
call  "  the  chase."  With  the  same  involuntary  speed,  he  shot 
ahead,  to  use  another  nautical  phrase,  about  a  furlong  ere  he 
was  able  to  stop  and  turn  his  horse,  and  then  rode  back 
toward  our  travelers,  adjusting,  as  well  as  he  could,  his  disr- 
ordered  dress,  resettling  himself  in  the  saddle,  and  endeavor- 
ing to  substitute  a  bold  and  martial  frown  for  the  confusion 
and  dismay  which  sate  upon  his  visage  during  his  involuntary 
career. 

Wayland  had  just  time  to  caution  the  lady  not  to  be 
alarmed,  adding,  "  This  fellow  is  a  gull,  and  I  will  use  him  as 
such." 

When  the  mercer  had  recovered  breath  and  audacity 
enough  to  confront  them,  he  ordered  Wayland,  in  a  menacing 
tone,  to  deliver  up  his  palfrey. 

"  How?  "  said  the  smith,  in  King  Cambyses^  vein,  "  are  we 
commanded  to  stand  and  deliver  on  the  king's  highway? 
Then  out,  Excaliber,  and  tell  this  knight  of  prowess  that 
dire  blows  must  decide  between  us!  " 

"  Haro  and  help,  and  hue  and  cry,  every  true  man! "  said 
the  mercer,  "I  am  withstood  in  seeking  to  recover  mine  own!" 

"  Thou  swear'st  thy  gods  in  vain,  foul  paynim,"  said  Way- 
land,  "  for  I  will  through  with  mine  purpose,  were  death  at 
the  end  on't.  Nevertheless,  know,  thou  false  man  of  frail 
cambric  and  ferrateen,  that  I  am  he,  even  the  peddler,  whom 
thou  didst  boast  to  meet  on  Maiden  Castle  Moor  and  despoil 
of  his  pack;  wherefore  betake  thee  to  thy  weapons  presently." 

"  I  spoke  but  in  jest,  man,"  said  Goldthred;  "  I  am  an 
honest  shopkeeper  and  citizen,  who  scorns  to  leap  forth  on 
any  man  from  behind  a  hedge." 

"  Then,  by  my  faith,  most  puissant  mercer,"  answered 
Wayland,  "  I  am  sorry  for  my  vow,  which  was  that,  wherever 
I  met  thee,  I  would  despoil  thee  of  thy  palfrey  and  bestow  it 


276  WAYEBLEY  N0YEL8. 

upon  my  leman,  unless  thou  couldst  defend  it  by  blows  ol 
force.  But  the  vow  is  passed  and  registered;  and  all  I  can  do 
for  thee  is  to  leave  the  horse  at  Donnington,  in  the  nearest 
hostelry." 

"  But  I  tell  thee,  friend/'  said  the  mercer,  "  it  is  the  very 
horse  on  which  I  was  this  day  to  carry  Jane  Thackham  of 
Shottesbrook  as  far  as  the  parish  church  yonder,  to  become 
Dame  Goldthred.  She  hath  jumped  out  of  the  shot-window 
of  old  Gaffer  Thackham's  grange;  and  lo  ye,  yonder  she  stands 
at  the  place  where  she  should  have  met  the  palfrey,  with  her 
camlet  riding-cloak  and  ivory-handled  whip,  like  a  picture  of 
Lot's  wife.  I  pray  you,  in  good  terms,  let  me  have  back  the 
palfrey." 

"  Grieved  am  I,"  said  Wayland,  "  as  much  for  the  fair 
damsel  as  for  thee,  most  noble  imp  of  muslin.  But  vows 
must  have  their  course;  thou  wilt  find  the  palfrey  at  the 
Angel  yonder  at  Donnington.  It  is  all  I  may  do  for  thee 
with  a  safe  conscience." 

"  To  the  devil  with  thy  conscience! "  said  the  dismayed 
mercer.  "  Wouldst  thou  have  a  bride  walk  to  church  on 
foot?  " 

"  Thou  mayst  take  her  on  thy  crupper.  Sir  Goldthred,"  an- 
swered Wayland;  "  it  will  take  down  thy  steed's  mettle." 

"  And  how  if  you — if  you  forget  to  leave  my  horse,  as  you 
propose?  "  said  Goldthred,  not  without  hesitation,  for  his  soul 
was  afraid  within  him. 

"  My  pack  shall  be  pledged  for  it;  yonder  it  lies  with  Giles 
Gosling,  in  his  chamber  with  the  damask'd  leathern  hangings, 
stuffed  full  with  velvet — single,  double,  triple-piled — rash, 
taffeta  and  paropa,  shag,  damask,  and  mockado,  plush  and 
grogram " 

"  Hold! — hold!  "  exclaimed  the  mercer;  "  nay,  if  there  be, 
in  truth  and  sincerity,  but  the  half  of  these  wares — ^but  if 
ever  I  trust  bumpkin  with  bonny  Bayard  again!  " 

"  As  you  list  for  that,  good  Master  Goldthred,  and  so  good 
morrow  to  you — and  well  parted,"  he  added,  riding  on  cheer- 
fully with  the  lady,  while  the  discountenanced  mercer  rode 
back  much  slower  than  he  came,  pondering  what  excuse  he 
should  make  to  the  disappointed  bride,  who  stood  waiting  for 
her  gallant  groom  in  the  midst  of  the  king's  highway. 

"  Methought,"  said  the  lady  as  they  rode  on,  "  yonder  fool 
stared  at  me  as  if  he  had  some  remembrance  of  me;  yet  I  kept 
my  muffler  as  high  as  I  might." 

*'  If  I  thought  so,"  said  Wayland,  "  I  would  ride  back  and 


KENILWORTH,  377 

cut  him  over  the  pate:  there  would  be  no  fear  of  harming  his 
brains,  for  he  never  had  so  much  as  would  make  pap  to  a 
sucking  gosling.  We  must  now  push  on,  however,  and  at 
Donnington  we  will  leave  the  oaf's  horse,  that  he  may  have 
no  farther  temptation  to  pursue  us,  and  endeavor  to  assume 
such  a  change  of  shape  as  may  baffle  his  pursuit,  if  he  should 
persevere  in  it." 

The  travelers  reached  Donnington  without  farther  alarm, 
where  it  became  matter  of  necessity  that  the  countess  should 
enjoy  two  or  three  hours'  repose,  during  which  Wayland  dis- 
posed himself,  with  equal  address  and  alacrity,  to  carry 
through  those  measures  on  which  the  safety  of  their  future 
journey  seemed  to  depend. 

Exchanging  his  peddler's  gaberdine  for  a  smock-frock,' 'he 
carried  the  palfrey  of  Goldthred  to  the  Angel  Inn,  which  was 
at  the  other  end  of  the  village  from  that  where  our  travelers 
had  taken  up  their  quarters.  In  the  progress  of  the  morning, 
as  he  traveled  about  his  other  business,  he  saw  the  steed 
brought  forth  and  delivered  to  the  cutting  mercer  himself, 
who,  at  the  head  of  a  valorous  posse  of  the  hue  and  cry,  came 
to  rescue,  by  force  of  arms,  what  was  delivered  to  him  with- 
out any  other  ransom  than  the  price  of  a  huge  quantity  of  ale, 
drunk  out  by  his  assistants,  thirsty,  it  would  seem,  with  their 
walk,  and  concerning  the  price  of  which  Master  Goldthred 
had  a  fierce  dispute  with  the  head-borough,  whom  he  had 
summoned  to  aid  him  in  raising  the  country. 

Having  made  this  act  of  prudent,  as  well  as  just,  restitu- 
tion, Wayland  procured  such  change  of  apparel  for  the  lady, 
as  well  as  himself,  as  gave  them  both  the  appearance  of  coun- 
try people  of  the  better  class;  it  being  farther  resolved  that, 
in  order  to  attract  the  less  observation,  she  should  pass 
upon  the  road  for  the  sister  of  her  guide.  A  good,  but  not  a 
gay  horse,  fit  to  keep  pace  with  his  own,  and  gentle  enough 
for  a  lady's  use,  completed  the  preparations  for  the  journey; 
for  making  which,  and  for  other  expenses,  he  had  been  fur- 
nished with  sufficient  funds  by  Tressilian.  And  thus,  about 
noon,  after  the  countess  had  been  refreshed  by  the  sound  re- 
pose of  several  hours,  they  resumed  their  journey,  with  the 
purpose  of  making  the  be^  of  their  way  to  Kenil worth,  by 
Coventry  and  Warwick.  They  were  not,  however,  destined 
to  travel  far  without  meeting  some  cause  of  apprehension. 

It  is  necessary  to  premise,  that  the  landlord  of  the  inn  had 
informed  them  that  a  jovial  party,  intended,  as  he  understood, 
to  present  some  of  the  masques  or  mummeries  which  made  a 


S'76  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

part  of  the  entertainment  with  which  the  Queen  was  usually 
welcomed  on  the  royal  progresses,  had  left  the  village  of  Don- 
nington  an  hour  or  two  before  them,  in  order  to  proceed  to 
Kenilworth.  Now  it  had  occurred  to  Wayland  that,  by  at- 
taching themselves  in  some  sort  to  this  group,  as  soon  as  they 
should  overtake  them  on  the  road,  they  would  be  less  likely 
to  attract  notice  than  if  they  continued  to  travel  entirely  by 
themselves.  He  communicated  his  idea  to  the  countess,  who, 
only  anxious  to  arrive  at  Kenilworth  without  interruption, 
left  him  free  to  choose  the  manner  in  which  this  was  to  be 
accomplished.  They  pressed  forward  their  horses,  therefore, 
with  the  purpose  of  overtaking  the  party  of  intended  revelers, 
and  making  the  journey  in  their  company;  and  had  just  seen 
the  little  party,  consisting  partly  of  riders,  partly  of  people  on 
foot,  crossing  the  summit  of  a  gentle  hill,  at  about  half  a 
mile^s  distance,  and  disappearing  on  the  other  side,  when 
Wayland,  who  maintained  the  most  circumspect  observation 
of  all  that  met  his  eye  in  every  direction,  was  aware  that  a 
rider  was  coming  up  behind  them  on  a  horse  of  uncommon 
action,  accompanied  by  a  serving-man,  whose  utmost  efforts 
were  unable  to  keep  up  with  his  master's  trotting  hackney, 
and  who,  therefore,  was  fain  to  follow  him  at  a  hand-gallop. 
"Wayland  looked  anxiously  back  at  the  horsemen,  became 
considerably  disturbed  in  his  maimer,  looked  back  again,  and 
became  pale,  as  he  said  to  the  lady — "  That  is  Richard  Var- 
ney's  trotting  gelding:  I  would  know  him  among  a  thousand 
nags;  this  is  a  worse  business  than  meeting  the  mercer.^' 

"  Draw  your  sword,"  answered  the  lady,  "  and  pierce 
my  bosom  with  it,  rather  than  I  should  fall  into  his 
hands! " 

"  I  would  rather  by  a  thousand  times,"  answered  Wayland, 
"pass  it  through  his  body,  or  even  mine  own.  But  to  say 
truth,  fighting  is  not  my  best  point,  though  I  can  look  on  cold 
iron  like  another  when  needs  must  be.  And,  indeed,  as  for 
my  sword — put  on,  I  pray  you — ^it  is  a  poor  provant  rapier, 
and  I  warrant  you  he  has  a  special  Toledo.  He  has  a  serving- 
man,  too,  and  I  think  it  is  the  drunken  ruffian  Lamboume, 
upon  the  horse  on  which  men  say — I  pray  you  heartily  to 
put  on — he  did  the  great  robbery  of  the  west  country  grazier. 
It  is  not  that  I  fear  either  Varney  or  Lamboume  in  a  good 
cause — your  palfrey  will  go  yet  faster  if  you  urge  him — ^but 
yet — nay,  I  pray  you  let  him  not  break  off  into  the  gallop,  lest 
they  should  see  we  fear  them,  and  give  chase;  keep  him  only 
at  the  full  trot — but  yet,  though  I  fear  them  not,  I  would  we 


KENIL  WOBTH.  279 

were  well  rid  of  them,  and  that  rather  hy  policy  than  by  vio- 
lence. Could  we  once  reach  the  party  before  us,  we  may  herd 
among  them,  and  pass  unobserved,  unless  Varney  be  really 
come  in  express  pursuit  of  us,  and  then,  happy  man  be  his 
dole! " 

While  he  thus  spoke,  he  alternately  urged  and  restrained 
his  horse,  desirous  to  maintain  the  fleetest  pace  that  was  con- 
sistent with  the  idea  of  an  ordinary  journey  on  the  road,  but 
to  avoid  such  rapidity  of  movement  as  might  give  rise  to  sus- 
picion that  they  were  flying. 

At  such  a  pace,  they  ascended  the  gentle  hill  we  have  men- 
tioned, and,  looking  from  the  top,  had  the  pleasure  to  see  that 
the  party  which  ha3  left  Donnington  before  them  were  in  the 
little  valley  or  bottom  on  the  other  side,  where  the  road  was 
traversed  by  a  rivulet,  beside  which  was  a  cottage  or  two.  In 
this  place  they  seemed  to  have  made  a  pause,  which  gave  Way- 
land  the  hope  of  joining  them,  and  becoming  a  part  of  their 
company,  ere  Varney  should  overtake  them.  He  was  the 
more  anxious,  as  his  companion,  though  she  made  no  com- 
plaints and  expressed  no  fear,  began  to  look  so  deadly  pale 
that  he  was  afraid  she  might  drop  from  her  horse.  Notwith- 
standing this  symptom  of  decaying  strength,  she  pushed  on 
her  palfrey  so  briskly  that  they  joined  the  party  in  the  bot- 
tom of  the  valley  ere  Vamiey  appeared  on  the  top  of  the  gentle 
eminence  which  they  had  descended. 

They  found  the  company  to  which  they  meant  to  associate 
themselves  in  great  disorder.  The  women,  with  disheveled 
locks  and  looks  of  great  importance,  ran  in  and  out  of  one  of 
the  cottages,  and  the  men  stood  around  holding  the  horses, 
and  looking  silly  enough,  as  is  usual  in  cases  where  their 
assisitance  is  not  wanted. 

Wayland  and  his  charge  paused,  as  if  out  of  curiosity,  and 
then  gradually,  without  making  any  inquiries,  or  being  asked 
any  questions,  they  mingled  with  the  group,  as  if  they  had 
always  made  part  of  it. 

They  had  not  stood  there  above  five  minutes,  anxiously 
keping  as  much  to  the  side  of  the  road  as  possible,  so  as  to 
place  the  other  travelers  betwixt  them  and  Varney,  when 
Lord  Leicester's  master  of  the  horse,  followed  by  Lamboume, 
came  riding  fiercely  down  the  hill,  their  horses'  flanks  and  the 
rowels  of  their  spurs  showing  bloody  tokens  of  the  rate  at 
which  they  traveled.  The  appearance  of  the  stationary 
group  around  the  cottages,  wearing  their  buckram  suits  in 
order  to  protect  their  masking  dresses,  having  their  light  cart 


280  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

for  transporting  their  scenery,  and  carrying  various  fantastic 
properties  in  their  hands  for  the  more  easy  conveyance,  let 
the  riders  at  once  into  the  character  and  purpose  of  the 
company. 

"  You  are  revelers,"  said  Varney,  "  designing  for  Kenil- 
worth?" 

*"  *  Recte  quidem,  Domine  spectatissime,^  "  answered  one  of 
the  party. 

"  And  why  the  devil  stand  you  here,"  said  Varney,  "  when 
your  utmost  dispatch  will  but  bring  you  to  Kenilworth  in 
time?  The  Queen  dines  at  Warwick  to-morrow,  and  you 
loiter  here,  ye  knaves!  " 

"  In  very  truth,  sir,"  said  a  little  diminutive  urchin,  wear- 
ing a  vizard  with  a  couple  of  sprouting  horns  of  an  elegant 
scarlet  hue,  having  moreover  a  black  serge  jerkin  drawn  close 
to  his  body  by  lacing,  garnished  with  red  stockings,  and  shoes 
so  shaped  as  to  resemble  cloven  feet — "  in  very  truth,  sir,  and 
you  are  in  the  right  on't.  It  is  my  father  the  devil,  who, 
being  taken  in  labor,  has  delayed  our  present  purpose,  by 
increasing  our  company  with  an  imp  too  many." 

"  The  devil  he  has!  "  answered  Varney,  whose  laugh,  how- 
ever, never  eKceeded  a  sarcastic  smile. 

"  It  is  even  as  the  juvenal  hath  said,"  added  the  masquer 
who  spoke  first:  "  our  major  devil — for  this  is  but  our  minor 
one — is  even  now  at  *  Lucina  f er  opem,'  within  that  very 
*  tugurium.' " 

"  By  St.  George,  or  rather  by  the  Dragon,  who  may  be  a 
kinsman  of  the  fiend  in  the  straw,  a  mo«t  comical  chance! " 
said  Varney.  "  How  sayst  thou,  Lamboume,  wilt  thou  stand 
godfather  for  the  nonce?  If  the  devil  were  to  choose  a  gos- 
sip, I  know  no  one  more  fit  for  the  office." 

"  Saving  always  when  my  betters  are  in  presence,"  said 
Lamboume,  with  the  civil  impudence  of  a  servant  who  knows 
his  services  to  be  so  indispensable  that  his  jest  will  be  per- 
mitted to  pass  muster. 

"  And  what  is  the  name  of  this  devil  or  devil's  dam  who 
has  timed  her  turns  so  strangely?"  said  Varney.  "We  can 
ill  afford  to  spare  any  of  our  actors." 

"  '  Gaudet  nomine  Sibyllae,'  "  said  the  first  speaker:  "  she  is 
called  Sibyl  Laneham,  wife  of  Master  Richard  [Robert]  Lane- 
ham " 

"  Clerk  of  the  council-chamber  door,"  said  Varney;  "  why, 
she  is  inexcusable,  having  had  experience  how  to  have  ordered 
her  matters  bettier.     But  who  were  those,  a  man  and  a  woman. 


KENILWOUTE,  281 

I  think,  who  rode  so  hastily  up  the  hill  before  me  even  now? 
Do  they  belong  to  yonr  company? '' 

Wayland  was  about  to  hazard  a  reply  to  this  alarming  in- 
quiry, when  the  little  diablotin  again  thrust  in  his  oar. 

"  So  please  you,''  he  said,  coming  close  up  to  Vanrey,  and 
speaking  so  as  not  to  be  overheard  by  his  companions,  "  the 
man  was  our  devil  major,  who  has  tricks  enough  to  supply  the 
lack  of  a  hundred  such  as  Dame  Laneham;  and  the  woman, 
if  you  please,  is  the  sage  person  whose  assistance  is  most  par- 
ticularly necessary  to  our  distressed  comrade." 

"  Oh,  what,  you  have  got  the  wise  woman,  then?  "  said  Var-* 
ney.     "  Why,  truly,  she  rode  like  one  bound  to  a  place  where 
she  was  needed.     And  you  have  a  spare  limb  of  Satan,  besides, 
to  supply  the  place  of  Mrs.  Laneham?" 

"  Aye,  sir,"  said  the  boy,  "  they  are  not  so  scarce  in  this 
world  as  your  honor's  virtuous  eminence  would  suppose. 
This  master-fiend  shall  spit  a  few  flashes  of  fire  and  eruct  a 
volume  or  two  of  smoke  on  the  spot,  if  it  will  do  you  pleasure: 
you  would  think  he  had  JEtna  in  his  abdomen." 

"  I  lack  time  just  now,  most  hopeful  imp  of  darkness,  to 
witness  his  performance,"  said  Vamey;  "but  here  is  some- 
thing for  you  all  to  drink  the  lucky  hour;  and  so,  as  the  play 
says,  *  God  be  with  your  labo^r! ' " 

Thus  speaking,  he  struck  his  horse  with  the  spurs,  and 
rode  on  his  way. 

Lamboume  tarried  a  moment  or  two  behind  his  master,  and 
rummaged  his  pouch  for  a  piece  of  silver,  which  he  bestowed 
on  the  communicative  imp,  as  he  said,  for  his  encouragement 
on  his  path  to  the  infernal  regions,  some  sparks  of  whose  fire, 
he  said,  he  could  discover  flashing  from  him  already.  Then, 
having  received  the  boy's  thanks  for  his  generosity,  he  also 
spurred  his  horse,  and  rode  after  his  master  as  fast  as  the  fire 
flashes  from  flint. 

"  And  now,"  said  the  wily  imp,  sidling  close  up  to  Way- 
land's  horse,  and  cutting  a  gambol  in  the  air,  which  seemed  to 
vindicate  his  title  to  relationship  with  the  prince  of  that  ele- 
ment, "  I  have  told  them  who  you  are,  do  you  in  return  tell 
me  who  I  am?" 

"  Either  Flibbertigibbet,"  answered  Wayland  Smith,  "  or 
else  an  imp  of  the  devil  in  good  earnest." 

"  Thou  hast  hit  it,"  answered  Dickie  Sludge;  "  I  am  thine 
own  Flibbertigibbet,  man;  and  I  have  broken  forth  of  bounds, 
along  with  my  learned  preceptor,  as  I  told  thee  I  wo"ld  do^ 
whether  he  would  or  not.     But  what  lady  hast  thou  got  with 


282  WAVBMliSf  NOtBLS, 

thee?  I  saw  thou  wert  at  fault  the  first  question  was  asked, 
and  so  I  drew  up  for  thy  assistance.  But  I  must  know  all 
who  she  is,  dear  Wayland/' 

"Thou  shalt  know  fifty  finer  things,  my  dear  ingle/'  said 
Wayland;  "  but  a  truce  to  thine  inquiries  just  now;  and  since 
you  are  bound  for  Kenilworth,  thither  will  I  too,  even  for  the 
love  of  thy  sweet  face  and  waggish  company." 

''  Thou  shouldst  have  said  my  waggish  face  and  sweet  com- 
pany,'' said  Dickie;  "  but  how  wilt  thou  travel  with  us — I 
mean  in  what  character?  " 

*  "  E'en  in  that  thou  hast  assigned  me,  to  be  sure^ — as  a  Jug- 
gler; thou  know'st  I  am  used  to  the  craft,"  answered  Wayland. 

"Aye,  but  the  lady?"  answered  Flibbertigibbet;  "credit 
me,  I  think  she  is  one,  and  thou  art  in  a  sea  of  troubles  about 
her  at  this  moment,  as  I  can  perceive  by  thy  fidgeting." 

"  Oh,  she,  man! — -she  is  a  poor  sister  of  mine,"  said  Way- 
land.  "  She  can  sing  and  play  o'  the  lute,  would  win  the  fish 
out  o'  the  stream." 

"  Let  me  hear  her  instantly,"  said  the  boy.  "  I  love  the 
lute  rarely — I  love  it  of  all  things,  though  I  never  heard  it." 

"  Then  how  canst  thou  love  it.  Flibbertigibbet?  "  said  Way- 
land. 

"As  knights  love  ladies  in  old  tales,"  answered  Dickie,  "  on 
hearsay." 

"  Then  love  it  on  hearsay  a  little  longer,  till  my  sister  is 
recovered  from  the  fatigue  of  her  journey,"  said  Wayland, 
muttering  afterward  betwixt  his  teeth,  "  The  devil  take  the 
imp's  curiosity!  I  must  keep  fair  weather  with  him,  or  we 
shall  fare  the  worse." 

He  then  proceeded  to  state  to  Master  Holiday  his  own 
talents  as  a  juggler,  with  those  of  his  sister  as  a  musician. 
Some  proof  of  his  dexterity  was  demanded,  which  he  gave  in 
such  a  style  of  excellence  that,  delighted  at  obtaining  such  an 
accession  to  their  party,  they  readily  acquiesced  in  the 
apology  which  he  offered  when  a  display  of  his  sister's  talents 
was  required.  The  newcomers  were  invited  to  partake  of  the 
refreshments  with  which  the  party  were  provided;  and  it  was 
with  some  difficulty  that  Wayland  Smith  obtained  an  oppor- 
tunity of  being  apart  with  his  supposed  sister  during  the 
meal,  of  which  interval  he  availed  himself  to  entreat  her  to 
forget  for  the  present  both  her  rank  and  her  sorrows,  and  con- 
descend, as  the  most  probable  chance  of  remaining  concealed, 
to  mix  in  the  society  of  those  with  whom  she  was  to  travel. 

The  countess  allowed  the  necessity  of  the  case,  and  when 


KENILWORTH,  283 

they  resumed  their  journey,  endeavored  to  comply  with  her 
guide's  advice  by  addressing  herself  to  a  female  near  her,  and 
expressing  her  concern  for  the  woman  whom  they  were  thus 
obliged  to  leave  behind  them. 

"  Oh,  she  is  well  attended,  madam,"  replied  the  dame  whom 
she  addressed,  who,  from  her  jolly  and  laughter-loving  de- 
meanor, might  have  been  the  very  emblem  of  the  Wife  of 
Bath;  "  and  my  gossip  Laneham  thinks  as  little  of  these  mat- 
ters as  anyone.  By  the  ninth  day,  an  the  revels  last  so  long, 
we  shall  have  her  with  us  at  Kenilworth,  even  if  she  should 
travel  with  her  bantling  on  her  back.'' 

There  was  something  in  this  speech  which  took  away  all 
desire  on  the  Countess  of  Leicester's  part  to  continue  the  con- 
versation; but  having  broken  the  charm  by  speaking  to  her 
fellow-traveler  first,  the  good  dame,  who  was  to  play  Eare 
Gillian  of  Croydon  in  one  of  the  interludes,  took  care  that 
silence  did  not  again  settle  on  the  journey,  but  entertained 
her  mute  companion  with  a  thousand  anecdotes  of  revels,  from 
the  days  of  King  Harry  downward,  with  the  reception  given 
them  by  the  great  folk,  and  all  the  names  of  those  who  played 
the  principal  characters,  but  ever  concluding  with  "  They 
would  be  nothing  to  the  princely  pleasures  of  Kenilworth." 

'^  And  when  shall  we  reach  Kenilworth  ?  "  said  the  count- 
ess, with  an  agitation  which  she  in  vain  attempted  to  conceal. 

"  We  that  have  horses  may,  with  late  riding,  get  to  War- 
wick to-night,  and  Kenilworth  may  be  distant  some  four  or 
five  miles;  but  then  we  must  wait  till  the  foot-people  come  up; 
althou^gh  it  is  like  my  good  Lord  of  Leicester  will  have  horses 
or  light  carriages  to  meet  them,  and  bring  them  up  without 
being  travel-toiled,  which  last  is  no  good  preparation,  as 
you  may  suppose,  for  dancing  before  your  betters.  And  yet. 
Lord  help  me,  I  have  seen  the  day  I  would  have  tramped  five 
leagues  of  lea-land,  and  turned  on  my  toe  the  whole  evening 
after,  as  a  juggler  spins  a  pewter  platter  on  the  point  of  a 
needle.  But  age  has  clawed  me  somewhat  in  his  clutch,  as 
the  song  says;  though,  ii  I  like  the  tune  and  like  my  partner, 
I'll  dance  the  hays  yet  with  any  merry  lass  in  Warwickshire 
that  writes  that  unhappy  figure  four  with  a  round  0  after  it." 

If  the  countess  was  overwhelmed  with  the  garrulity  of  this 
good  dame,  Wayland  Smith,  on  his  part,  had  enough  to  do  to 
sustain  and  parry  the  constant  attacks  made  upon  him  by  the 
indefatigable  curiosity  of  his  old  acquaintance,  Eichard 
Sludge.  Nature  had  given  that  arch  youngster  a  prying  cast 
of  disposition,  which  matched  admirably  with  his  sharp  wit; 


284  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

the  former  inducing  him  to  plant  himself  as  a  spy  on  other 
people's  affairs,  and  the  latter  quality  leading  him  perpetually 
to  interfere,  after  he  had  made  himself  master  of  that  which 
concerned  him  not.  He  spent  the  livelong  day  in  attempt- 
ing to  peer  under  the  countess'  muffler,  and  apparently  what 
he  could  there  discern  greatly  s-harpened  his  curiosity. 

"  That  sister  of  thine,  Wayland,"  he  said,  "  has  a  fair  neck 
to  have  been  born  in  a  smithy,  and  a  pretty  taper  hand  to 
have  been  used  for  twirling  a  spindle;  faith,  I'll  believe  in 
your  relationship  when  the  crow's  egg  is  hatched  into  a 
cygnet." 

"  Go  to,"  said  Wayland,  "  thou  art  a  prating  boy,  and 
should  be  breeched  for  thine  assurance." 

"  Well,"  said  the  imp,  drawing  off,  "  all  I  say  is,  remember 
you  have  kept  a  secret  from  me,  and  if  I  give  thee  not  a  Eow- 
land  for  thine  Oliver,  my  name  is  not  Dickon  Sludge!  " 

This  threat,  and  the  distance  at  which  Hobgoblin  kept 
from  him  for  the  rest  of  the  way,  alarmed  Wayland  very 
much,  and  he  suggested  to  his  pretended  sister  that,  on  pre- 
text of  weariness  she  should  express  a  desire  to  stop  two  O'r 
three  miles  short  of  the  fair  town  of  Warwick,  promising  to 
rejoin  the  troop  in  the  morning.  A  small  village  inn  afforded 
them  a  resting-place;  and  it  was  with  secret  pleasure  that 
Wayland  saw  the  whole  party,  including  Dickon,  pass  on, 
after  a  courteous  farewell,  and  leave  them  behind. 

"  To-morrow,  madam,"  he  said  to  his  charge,  "  we  will, 
with  your  leave,  again  start  early,  and  reach  Kenilworth  be- 
fore the  rout  which  are  to  assemble  there." 

The  countess  gave  assent  to  the  proposal  of  her  faithful 
guide;  but,  somewhat  to  his  surprise,  said  nothing  farther  on 
the  subject,  which  left  Wayland  under  the  disagreeable  un- 
certainty whether  or  no  she  had  formed  any  plan  for  her  own 
future  proceedings,  as  he  knew  her  situation  demanded  cir- 
cumspection, although  he  was  but  imperfectly  acquainted 
with  all  its  peculiarities.  Concluding,  however,  that  she  must 
have  friends  within  the  castle,  whose  advice  and  assistance 
she  could  safely  trust,  he  supposed  his  task  would  be  best 
accomplished  by  conducting  her  thither  in  safety,  agreeably 
to  her  repeated  commandft. 


CHAPTEE   XXV. 

Hark,  the  bells  E-ummon  and  the  bugle  calls, 

But  she  the  fairest  answers  not ;  the  tide 

Of  nobles  and  of  ladies  throngs  the  halls, 

But  she  the  loveliest  must  in  secret  hide. 

What  eyes  were  thine,  proud  prince,  which  in  the  gleam 

Of  yon  gay  meteors  lost  that  better  sense, 

That  o'er  the  glow-worm  doth  the  star  esteem. 

And  merit's  modest  blush  o'er  courtly  insolence  ? 

— The  Glass  Slipper. 

The  unfortunate  Countess  of  Leicester  had,  from  her  in- 
fancy upward,  been  treated  by  those  around  her  with  indul- 
gence as  unbounded  as  injudicious.  The  natural  sweetness 
of  her  disposition  had  saved  her  from  becoming  insolent  and 
ill-humored;  but  the  caprice  which  preferred  the  handsome 
and  insinuating  Leicester  before  Tressilian,  of  whose  high 
honor  and  unalterable  aif  ection  she  herself  entertained  so  firm 
an  opinion — ^that  fatal  error,  which  ruined  the  happiness  of 
her  life,  had  its  origin  in  the  mistaken  kindness  that  had 
spared  her  childhood  the  painful,  but  most  necessary,  lesson 
of  submission  and  self-command.  From  the  same  indul- 
gence, it  followed  that  she  had  only  been  accustomed  to  form 
and  to  express  her  wishes,  leaving  to  others  the  task  of  fulfill- 
ing them;  and  thus,  at  the  most  momentous  period  of  her  life, 
she  was  alike  destitute  of  presence  of  mind  and  of  ability  to 
form  for  herself  any  reasonable  or  prudent  plan  of  conduct. 

These  difficulties  pressed  on  the  unfortunate  lady  with 
overwhelming  force,  on  the  morning  which  seemed  to  be  the 
crisis  of  her  fate.  Overlooking  every  intermediate  considera- 
tion, she  had  only  desired  to  be  at  Kenilworth,  and  to  ap- 
proach her  husband's  presence;  and  now,  when  she  was  in  the 
vicinity  of  both,  a  thousand  considerations  arose  at  once  upon 
her  mind,  startling  her  with  accumulated  doubts  and  dangers, 
some  real,  some  imaginary,  and  all  exalted  and  exaggerated 
by  a  situation  alike  helpless  and  destitute  of  aid  and  counsel. 

A  sleepless  night  rendered  her  so  weak  in  the  morning  that 
she  was  altogether  unable  to  attend  Wayland's  early  sum- 
mons. The  trusty  guide  became  extremely  distressed  on  the 
lady's  account,  and  somewhat  alarmed  on  his  own,  and  was 
on  the  point  of  going  alone  to  Kenilworih,  in  the  hope  of 
discovering  Tressilian,  and  intimating  to  him  the  ladv's  an- 


«86  WAVEBLET  NOVELS. 

praach,  when  about  nine  in  the  morning  he  was  summoned 
to  attend  her.  He  found  her  dressed,  and  ready  for  resum- 
ing her  journey,  but  with  a  paleness  of  countenance  which 
alarmed  him  for  her  health.  She  intimated  her  desire  that 
the  horses  might  be  got  instantly  ready,  and  resisted  with  im- 
patience her  guide's  request  that  she  would  taJ^e  some  re- 
freshment before  setting  forward.  "I  have  had,"  she  said, 
"a  cup  of  water:  the  wretch  who  is  dragged  to  execution 
needs  no  stronger  cordial,  and  that  may  serve  me  whicn 
suffices  for  him;  do  as  I  command  you.''  Wayland  Smith 
still  hesitated.  ''  What  would  you  have?  "  said  she.  "  Have 
I  not  spoken  plainly?" 

"  Yes,  madam,"  answered  Wayland;  "  but  may  I  ask  what 
is  3^our  farther  purpose?  I  only  desire  to  know,  that  I  may 
guide  myself  by  your  wishes.  The  whole  country  is  afloat, 
and  streaming  toward  the  Castle  of  Kenilworth.  It  will  be 
difficult  traveling  thither,  even  if  we  had  the  necessary  pass- 
ports for  safe-conduct  and  free  admittance.  Unknown  and 
unfriended,  we  may  come  by  mishap.  Your  ladyship  will 
forgive  my  speaking  my  poor  mind.  Were  we  not  better  try 
to  find  out  the  maskers,  and  again  join  ourselves  with  them?  " 
The  countess  shook  her  head,  and  her  guide  proceeded, 
*^  Then  I  see  but  one  other  remedy." 

"  Speak  out,  then,"  said  the  lady,  not  displeased,  perhaps, 
that  he  should  thus  offer  the  advice  which  she  was  ashamed 
to  ask;  "I  believe  thee  faithful — ^what  wouldst  thou  counsel?" 

'^That  I  should  warn  Master  Tressilian,"  said  Wayland, 
"  that  you  are  in  this  place.  I  am  right  certain  he  would  get 
to  horse  with  a  few  of  Lord  Sussex's  followers,  and  insure 
your  personal  safety." 

"  And  is  it  to  me  you  advise,"  said  the  countess,  "  to  put 
myself  under  the  protection  of  Sussex,  the  unworthy  rival  of 
the  noble  Leicester?  "  Then,  seeing  the  surprise  with  which 
Wayland  stared  upon  her,  and  afraid  of  having  too  strongly 
intimated  her  interest  in  Leicester,  she  added,  "And  foi' 
Tressilian,  it  must  not  be:  mention  not  to  him,  I  charge  you, 
my  unhappy  name;  it  would  but  double  my  misfortunes,  and 
involve  Mm.  in  dangers  beyond  the  power  of  rescue."  She 
paused;  but  when  she  observed  that  Wayland  continued  to 
look  on  her  with  that  anxious  and  uncertain  gaze  which  indi- 
cated a  doubt  whether  her  brain  was  settled,  she  assumed  an 
air  of  composure,  and  added,  "  Do  thou  but  guide  me  to 
Kenilworth  Castle,  good  fellow,  and  thy  task  is  ended,  since 
I  will  then  judge  what  farther  is  to  be  done.     Thou  hast  yet 


KENILWOBTH.  287 

been  true  to  me;  here  is  something  that  will  make  thee  rich 
amends." 

She  offered  the  artist  a  ring,  containing  a  valuable  stone. 
Wayland  looked  at  it,  hesitated  a  moment,  and  then  returned 
it.  "  Not,"  he  said,  "  that  I  am  above  your  kindness,  madam, 
being  but  a  poor  fellow,  who  have  been  forced,  God  help  me! 
to  live  by  worse  shifts  than  the  bounty  of  such  a  person  as 
you.  But,  as  my  old  master  the  farrier  used  to  say  to  his 
customers,  '  IN'o  cure,  no  pay.'  We  are  not  yet  in  Kenilworth 
Castle,  and  it  is  time  enough  to  discharge  your  guide,  as  they 
say,  when  you  take  your  boots  off.  I  trust  in  God  your  lady- 
ship is  as  well  assured  of  fitting  reception  when  you  arrive  as 
you  may  hold  yourself  certain  of  my  best  endeavors  to  con- 
duct you  thither  safely.  I  go  to  get  the  horses;  meantime,  let 
me  pray  you  once  more,  as  your  poor  physician  as  well  as 
guide,  to  take  some  sustenance." 

"  I  will — I  will,"  said  the  lady  hastily.  "  Begone — begone 
instantly!  It  is  in  vain  I  assume  audacity,"  said  she,  when 
he  left  the  room;  "  even  this  poor  groom  sees  through  my 
affectation  of  courage,  and  fathoms  the  n&vj  ground  of  my 
fears." 

She  then  attempted  to  follow  her  guide's  advice  by  taking 
some  food,  but  was  compelled  to  desist,  as  the  effort  to  swal- 
low even  a  single  morsel  gave  her  so  much  uneasiness  as 
amounted  well-nigh  to  suffocation.  A  moment  afterward  the 
horses  appeared  at  the  latticed  window;  the  lady  mounted, 
and  found  that  relief  from  the  free  air  and  change  of  place 
which  is  frequently  experienced  in  similar  circumstances. 

It  chanced  well  for  the  countess'  purpose  that  Wayland 
Smith,  whose  previous  wandering  and  unsettled  life  had  made 
him  acquainted  with  almost  all  England,  was  intimate  with 
all  the  by-roads,  as  well  as  direct  communications,  through 
the  beautiful  county  of  Warwick.  For  such  and  so  great  was 
the  throng  which  flocked  in  all  directions  toward  Kenilworth, 
to  see  the  entry  of  Elizabeth  into  that  splendid  mansion  of 
her  prime  favorite,  that  the  principal  foads  were  actually 
blocked  up  and  interrupted,  and  it  was  only  by  circuitous  by- 
paths that  the  travelers  could  proceed  on  their  journey. 

The  Queen's  purveyors  had  been  abroad,  sweeping  the 
farms  and  villages  of  those  articles  usually  exacted  during  a 
royal  progress,  and  for  which  the  owners  were  afterward  to 
obtain  a  tardy  payment  from  the  Board  of  Green  Cloth.  The 
Earl  of  Leicester's  household  officers  had  been  scouring  the 
country  for  the  same  purpose;  and  many  of  his  friends  and 


i 


288  WA  VEBLET  NO  VEL8. 

allies,  both  near  and  remote,  took  this  opportunity  of  ingra- 
tiating themselves  by  sending  large  quantities  of  provisions 
and  delicacies  of  all  kinds,  with  game  in  huge  numbers,  and 
whole  tuns  of  the  best  liquors,  foreign  and  domestic.  Thus 
the  highroads  were  filled  with  droves  of  bullocks,  sheep,  calves, 
and  hogs,  and  choked  with  loaded  wains,  whose  axle-trees 
cracked  under  their  burdens  of  wine-oasks  and  hogsheads 
of  ale,  and  huge  hampers  of  grocery  goods,  and  slaugh- 
tered game,  and  salted  provisions,  and  sacks  of  flour.  Per- 
petual stoppages  took  place  as  these  wains  became  entangled; 
and  their  rude  drivers,  swearing  and  brawling  till  their  wild 
passions  were  fully  raised,  began  to  debate  precedence  with 
their  wagon  whips  and  quarter-staves,  which  occasional  riots 
were  usually  quieted  by  a  purveyor,  deputy-marshal's-man,  or 
some  other  person  in  authority,  breaking  the  heads  of  both 
parties. 

Here  were,  besides,  players  and  mummers,  jugglers  and 
showmen,  of  every  description,  traversing  in  joyous  bands  the 
paths  which  led  to  the  Palace  of  Princely  Pleasure;  for  so  the 
traveling  minstrels  had  termed  Kenilworth  in  the  songs 
which  already  had  come  forth  in  anticipation  of  the  revels 
which  were  there  expected.*  In  the  midst  of  this  motley 
show,  mendicants  were  exhibiting  their  real  or  pretended 
miseries,  forming  a  strange,  though  common,  contrast  be- 
twixt the  vanities  and  the  sorrows  of  human  existence.  All 
these  floated  along  with  the  immense  tide  of  population, 
whom  mere  curiosity  had  drawn  together;  and  where  the  me- 
chanic, in  his  leathern  apron,  elbowed  the  dink  and  dainty 
dame,  his  city  mistress;  where  clowns,  with  hobnailed  shoes, 
were  treading  on  the  kibes  of  substantial  burghers  and  gen- 
tlemen of  worship;  and  where  Joan  of  the  dairy,  with  robust 
pace,  and  red,  sturdy  arms,  rowed  her  way  onward,  amongst 
those  prim  and  pretty  moppets  whose  sires  were  knights  and 
squires. 

The  throng  and  confusion  was,  however,  of  a  gay  and 
cheerful  character.  '  All  came  forth  to  see  and  to  enjoy,  and 
all  laughed  at  the  trifling  inconveniences  which  at  another 
time  might  have  chafed  their  temper.  Excepting  the  occa- 
sional brawls  which  we  have  mentioned  among  that  irritable 
race  the  carmen,  the  mingled  sounds  which  arose  from  the 
multitude  were  those  of  light-hearted  mirth  and  tiptoe  jollity. 
The  musicians  preluded  on  their  instruments,  the  minstrels 
hummed  their  songs,  the  licensed  jester  whooped  betwixt 

*  See  Pilgrims  to  Kenilworth.    Note  12. 


KENILWORTR,  289 

mirth  and  madness  as  he  brandished  his  bauble,  the  morris- 
dancers  jangled  their  bells,  the  rustics  hallooed  and  whistled, 
men  laughed  loud,  and  maidens  giggled  shrill,  while  many  a 
broad  jest  flew  like  a  shuttlecock  from  one  party,  to  be  caught 
in  the  air  and  returned  from  the  opposite  side  of  the  road  by 
another,  at  which  it  was  aimed. 

No  infliction  can  be  so  distressing  to  a  mind  absorbed  in 
melancholy  as  being  plunged  into  a  scene  of  mirth  and  rev- 
elry, forming  an  accompaniment  so  dissonant  from  its  own 
feelings.  Yet,  in  the  case  of  the  Countess  of  Leicester,  the 
noise  and  tumult  of  this  giddy  scene  distracted  her  thoughts, 
and  rendered  her  this  sad  service,  that  it  became  impossible 
for  her  to  brood  on  her  own  misery,  or  to  form  terrible  antici- 
pations of  her  approaching  fate.  She  traveled  on,  like  one  in 
a  dream,  following  implicitly  the  guidance  of  Wayland,  who, 
with  great  address,  now  threaded  his  way  through  the  general 
throng  of  passengers,  now  stood  still  until  a  favorable  oppor- 
tunity occurred  of  again  moving  forward,  and  frequently 
turning  altogether  out  of  the  direct  road,  followed  some  cir- 
cuitous by-path,  which  brought  them  into  the  highway 
again,  after  having  given  them  the  opportunity  of  traversing 
a  considerable  way  with  greater  ease  and  rapidity. 

It  was  thus  he  avoided  Warwick,  within  whose  castle  (that 
fairest  monument  of  ancient  and  chivalrous  splendor  which 
yet  remains  uninjured  by  time)  Elizabeth  had  passed  the 
previous  night,  and  where  she  was  to  tarry  until  past  noon, 
at  that  time  the  general  hour  of  dinner  throughout  England, 
after  which  repast  she  was  to  proceed  to  Kenilworth.  In  the 
mean  while,  each  passing  group  had  something  to  say  in  the 
sovereign's  praise,  though  not  absolutely  without  the  usual 
mixture  of  satire  which  qualifies  more  or  less  our  estimate  of 
our  neighbors,  especially  if  they  chance  to  be  also  our 
beiters. 

"  Heard  you,"  said  one,  '^  how  graciously  she  spoke  to  Mas- 
ter Bailiff  and  the  Recorder,  and  to  good  Master  Griffin,  the 
preacher,  as  they  kneeled  down  at  her  coach  window  ?  " 

"Aye,  and  how  she  said  to  little  Aglionby,  'Master  Re- 
corder, men  would  have  persuaded  me  that  you  were  afraid 
of  me,  but  truly  I  think,  so  well  did  you  reckon  up  to  me  the 
virtues  of  a  sovereign,  that  I  have  more  reason  to  be  afraid 
of  you.'  And  then  with  what  grace  she  took  the  fair- 
wrought  purse  with  the  twenty  gold  sovereigns,  seeming  as 
though  sh-e  would  not  willingly  handle  it,  and  yet  taking  it 
withal." 


290  WA  YERLEY  NO  VEL8. 

"  Aye — aye/'  said  another,  "  her  fingers  closed  on  it  pretty 
willingly,  methought,  when  all  was  done;  and  methought,  too, 
she  weighed  them  for  a  second  in  her  hand,  as  she  would  say, 
*  I  hope  they  be  avoirdupois.'  " 

"  She  needed  not,  neighbor,"  said  a  third;  "  it  is  only  when 
the  corporation  pay  the  accounts  of  a  poor  handicraft  like 
me  that  they  put  him  off  with  dipt  coin.  Well,  there  is  a 
God  above  all.  Little  Master  Eecorder,  since  that  is  the 
word,  will  be  greater  now  than  ever." 

"  Come,  good  neighbor,"  said  the  first  speaker,  "  be  not 
envious.  She  is  a  good  queen,  and  a  generous.  She  gave 
the  purse  to  the  Earl  of  Leicester." 

"  I  envious?  beshrew  thy  heart  for  the  word! "  replied  the 
handicraft.  "  But  she  will  give  all  to  the  Earl  of  Leicester 
anon,  methinks." 

"  You  are  turning  ill,  lady,"  said  Wayland  Smith  to  the 
Countess  of  Leicester,  and  proposed  that  she  should  draw  off 
from  the  road,  and  halt  till  she  recovered.  But,  subduing 
her  feelings  at  this  and  different  speeches  to  the  same  pur- 
pose which  caught  her  ear  as  they  passed  on,  she  insisted  that 
her  guide  should  proceed  to  Kenilworth  with  all  the  haste 
which  the  numerous  impediments  of  their  journey  permitted. 
Meanwhile,  Wayland's  anxiety  at  her  repeated  fits  of  indispo- 
sition and  her  obvious  distraction  of  mind,  was  hourly  in- 
creasing, and  he  became  extremely  desirous  that,  according 
to  her  reiterated  requests,  she  should  be  safely  introduced 
into  the  castle,  where,  he  doubted  not,  she  was  secure  of  a 
kind  reception,  though  she  seemed  unwilling  to  reveal  on 
whom  she  reposed  her  hopes. 

"  An  I  were  once  rid  of  this  peril,"  thought  he,  "  and  if  any 
man  shall  find  me  playing  squire  of  the  body  to  a  damosel- 
errant,  he  shall  have  leave  to  beat  my  brains  out  with  my  own 
sledge-hammer! " 

At  length  the  princely  castle  appeared,  upon  improving 
which,  and  the  domains  around,  the  Earl  of  Leicester  had,  it 
is  said,  expended  sixty  thousand  pounds  sterling,  a  sum  equal 
to  half  a  million  of  our  present  money. 

The  outer  wall  of  this  splendid  and  gigantic  structure 
inclosed  seven  acres,  a  part  of  which  was  occupied  by  exten- 
sive stables,  and  by  a  pleasure  garden,  with  its  trim  arbors 
and  parterres,  and  the  rest  formed  the  large  base^court,  or 
outer  yard,  of  the  noble  castle.  The  lordly  structure  itself, 
which  rose  near  the  center  of  this  spacious  inclosure,  was 
composed  of  a  huge  pile  of  magnificent  castellated  buildings. 


KENILWORTH.  291 

apparently  of  different  ages,  surrounding  an  inner  court,  and 
bearing,  in  the  names  attached  to  each  portion  of  the  mag- 
nificent mass,  and  in  the  armorial  bearings  which  were  there 
blazoned,  the  emblems  of  mighty  chiefs  who  had  long  passed 
away,  and  whose  history,  could  Ambition  have  lent  ear  to  it, 
might  have  read  a  lesson  to  the  haughty  favorite  who  had 
now  acquired,  and  was  augmenting,  the  fair  domain.  A 
large  and  massive  keep,  which  formed  the  citadel  of  the 
castle,  was  of  uncertain  though  great  antiquity.  It  bore  the 
name  of  Caesar,  perhaps  from  its  resemblance  to  that  in 
the  Tower  of  London  so  called.  Some  antiquaries  ascribe  its 
foundation  to  the  time  of  Kenelph,  from  whom  the  castle  had 
its  name,  a  Saxon  king  of  Mercia,  and  others  to  an  early  era 
after  the  Norman  Conquest.  On  the  exterior  walls  frowned 
the  scutcheon  of  the  Clintons,  by  whom  they  were  founded  in 
the  reign  of  Henry  I.,  and  of  the  yet  more  redoubted  Simon 
de  Montfort,  by  whom,  during  the  Barons'  Wars,  Kenilworth 
was  long  held  out  against  Henry  III.  Here  Mortimer,  Earl 
of  March,  famous  alike  for  his  rise  and  his  fall,  had  once 
gayly  reveled  in  Kenilworth,  while  his  dethroned  sovereign, 
Edward  II.,  languished  in  its  dungeons.  Old  John  of  Gaunt, 
*' time^honored  Lancaster,^'  had  widely  extended  the  castle, 
erecting  that  noble  and  massive  pile  which  yet  bears  the 
name  of  Lancaster's  Buildings;  and  Leicester  himself  had 
outdone  the  former  possessors,  princely  and  powerful  as  they 
were,  by  erecting  another  immense  structure,  which  now  lies 
crushed  under  its  own  ruins,  the  monument  of  its  owner's 
ambition.  The  external  wall  of  this  royal  castle  was,  on  the 
south  and  west  sides,  adorned  and  defended  by  a  lake  partly 
artificial,  across  which  Leicester  had  constructed  a  stately 
bridge,  that  Elizabeth  might  enter  the  castle  by  a  path 
hitherto  untrodden,  instead  of  the  usual  entrance  to  the 
northward,  over  which  he  had  erected  a  gate-house,  or  bar- 
bican, which  still  exists,  and  is  equal  in  extent,  and  superior 
in  architecture,  to  the  baronial  castle  of  many  a  northern 
chief. 

Beyond  the  lake  lay  an  extensive  chase,  full  of  red  deer, 
fallow  deer,  roes,  and  every  species  of  game,  and  abounding 
with  lofty  trees,  from  amongst  which  the  extended  front  and 
massive  towers  of  the  castle  were  seen  to  rise  in  majesty  and 
beauty.  We  cannot  but  add,  that  of  this  lordly  palace,  wliere 
princes  feasted  and  heroes  fought,  now  in  the  bloody  earnest 
of  storm  and  siege,  and  now  in  the  games  of  chivalry,  where 
beauty  dealt  the  prize  which  valor  won,  all  is  now  desolate. 


2M  WAV£JIiLBr  mYt!L8, 

The  bed  of  the  lake  is  but  a  rushy  swamp;  and  the  maasive 
ruins  of  the  castle  only  serve  to  show  what  their  splendor  once 
was,  and  to  impress  on  the  musing  visitor  the  transitory  value 
of  human  possessions,  and  the  happiness  of  those  who  enjoy 
a  humble  lot  in  virtuous  contentment. 

It  was  with  far  different  feelings  that  the  unfortunate 
Countess  of  Leicester  viewed  those  gray  and  massive  towers, 
when  she  first  beheld  them  rise  above  the  embowering  and 
richly  shaded  woods,  over  which  they  seemed  to  preside. 
She,  the  undoubted  wife  of  the  great  earl,  of  Elizabeth's 
minion  and  England's  mighty  favorite,  was  approaching  the 
presence  of  her  husband  and  that  husband's  sovereign  under 
the  protection,  rather  than  the  guidance,  of  a  poor  juggler; 
and  though  unquestioned  mistress  of  that  proud  castle, 
whose  lightest  word  ought  to  have  had  force  sufficient  to 
make  its  gates  leap  from  their  massive  hinges  to  receive  her, 
yet  she  could  not  conceal  from  herself  the  difficulty  and  peril 
which  she  must  experience  in  gaining  admission  into  her  own 
halls. 

The  risk  and  difficulty,  indeed,  seemed  to  increase  every 
moment,  and  at  length  threatened  altogether  to  put  a  stop 
to  her  farther  progress,  at  the  great  gate  leading  to  a  broad 
and  fair  road,  which,  traversing  the  breadth  of  the  chase  for 
the  space  of  two  miles,  and  commanding  several  most  beauti- 
ful views  of  the  castle  and  lake,  terminated  at.  the  newly  con- 
structed bridge,  to  which  it  was  an  appendage,  and  which  was 
destined  to  form  the  Queen's  approach  to  the  castle  on  that 
memorable  occasion. 

Here  the  countess  and  Wayland  found  the  gate  at  the  end 
of  this  avenue,  which  opened  on  the  Warwick  road,  guarded 
by  a  body  of  the  Queen's  mounted  yeomen  of  the  guard, 
armed  in  corslets  richly  carved  and  gilded,  and  wearing 
morions  instead  of  bonnets,  having  their  carabines  resting 
with  the  butt-end  on  their  thighs.  These  guards,  distin- 
guished for  strength  and  stature,  who  did  duty  wherever  the 
Queen  went  in  pei^on,  were  here  stationed  under  the  direc- 
tion of  a  pursuivant,  graced  with  the  bear  and  ragged  staff  on 
his  arm,  as  belonging  to  the  Earl  of  Leicester,  and  peremp- 
torily refused  all  admittance,  excepting  to  such  as  were  guests 
invited  to  the  festival,  or  persons  who  were  to  perform  some 
part  in  the  mirthful  exhibitions  which  were  proposed. 

The  press  was  of  consequence  great  around  the  entrance, 
and  persons  of  all  kinds  presented  every  sort  of  plea,  for  ad- 
mittance; to  which  the  guards  turned  an  inexorable  ear. 


KENILWORTH,  293 

pleading  in  return  to  fair  words,  and  even  to  fair  offers,  the 
strictness  of  their  orders,  founded  on  the  Queen's  well-known 
dislike  to  the  rude  pressing  of  a  multitude.  With  those 
whom  such  reasons  did  not  serve,  they  dealt  more  rudely,  re- 
pelling them  without  ceremony  hy  the  pressure  of  their 
powerful  harbed  horses,  and  good  round  blows  from  the  stock 
of  their  carabines.  These  last  maneuvers  produced  undu- 
lations amongst  the  crowd  which  rendered  Wayland  much 
afraid  that  he  might  perforce  be  separated  from  his  charge  in 
the  throng.  Neither  did  he  know  what  excuse  to  make  in 
order  to  obtain  admittance,  and  he  was  debating  the  matter 
in  his  head  with  great  uncertainty,  when  the  earl's  pursui- 
vant, having  cast  an  eye  upon  him,  exclaimed,  to  his  no  small 
surprise,  "  Yeomen,  make  room  for  the  fellow  in  the  orange- 
tawny  cloak.  Come  forward,  sir  coxcomb,  and  make  haste. 
What,  in  the  fiend's  name,  has  kept  you  waiting?  Come  for- 
ward with  your  bale  of  woman's  gear." 

While  the  pursuivant  gave  Wayland  this  pressing  yet  un- 
courteous  invitation,  which,  for  a  minute  or  two,  he  could 
not  imagine  was  applied  to  him,  the  yeomen  speedily  mad'e  a 
free  passage  for  him,  while,  only  cautioning  his  companion 
to  keep  the  muffler  close  around  her  face,  he  entered  the  gate 
leading  her  palfrey,  but  with  such  a  drooping  crest,  and  such 
a  look  of  conscious  fear  and  anxiety,  that  the  crowd,  not 
greatly  pleased  at  any  rate  with  the  preference  bestowed  upon 
them,  accompanied  their  admission  with  hooting  and  a  loud 
laugh  of  derision. 

Admitted  thus  within  the  chase,  though  with  no  very  flat- 
tering notice  or  distinction,  Wayland  and  his  charge  rode 
forward,  musing  what  difficulties  it  would  be  next  their  lot  to 
encounter,  through  the  broad  avenue,  which  was  sentineled 
on  either  side  by  a  long  line  of  retainers,  armed  with  swords 
and  partizans,  richly  dressed  in  the  Earl  of  Leicester's 
liveries  and  bearing  his  cognizance  of  the  bear  and  ragged 
staff,  each  placed  within  three  paces  of  his  comrade,  so  as  to 
line  the  whole  road  from  the  entrance  into  the  park  to  the 
bridge.  And,  indeed,  when  the  lady  obtained  the  first  com- 
manding view  of  the  castle,  with  its  stately  towers  rising  from 
within  a  long  sweeping  line  of  outward  walls,  ornamented 
with  battlements,  and  turrets,  and  platforms  at  every  point  of 
defense,  with  many  a  banner  streaming  from  its  walls,  and 
such  a  bustle  of  gay  crests  and  waving  plumes  disposed  on  the 
terraces  and  battlements,  and  all  the  gay  and  gorgeous  scene, 
her  heart,  unaccustomed  to  such  splendor,  sank  as  if  it  died 


294  WAYERLET  NOVELS. 

within  her,  and  for  a  moment  she  asked  herself  what  she  had 
offered  up  to  Leicester  to  deserve  to  become  the  partner  of 
this  princely  splendor.  But  her  pride  and  generous  spirit 
resisted  the  whisper  which  bade  her  despair. 

"  I  have  given  him/'  she  said,  "  all  that  woman  has  to  give. 
Name  and  fame,  heart  and  hand,  have  I  given  the  lord  of  all 
this  magnificence  at  the  altar,  and  England's  Queen  could 
give  him  no  more.  He  is  my  husbariS;  I  am  his  wife. 
Whom  God  hath  joined,  man  cannot  sunder.  I  will  be  bold 
in  claiming  my  right;  even  the  bolder,  that  I  come  thus  un- 
expected, and  thus  forlorn.  I  know  my  noble  Dudley  well! 
He  will  be  something  impatient  ait  my  disobeying  him;  but 
Amy  will  weep,  and  Dudley  will  forgive  her." 

These  meditations  were  interrupted  by  ^  cry  of  surprise 
from  her  guide  Wayland,  who  suddenly  felt  himself  grasped 
firmly  round  the  body  by  a  pair  of  long  thin  black  arms, 
belonging  to  someone  who  had  dropped  himself  out  of  an 
oak  tree  upon  the  croup  of  his  horse,  amidst  the  shouts  of 
laughter  which  burst  from  the  sentinels. 

'"This  must  be  the  devil  or  Flibbertigibbet  again!"  said 
Wayland,  with  a  vain  struggle  to  disengage  himself  and 
unhorse  the  urchin  who  clung  to  him.  "Do  Kenilworth 
oaks  bear  such  acorns?  " 

"  In  sooth  do  they,  Master  Wayland,"  said  his  unexpected 
adjunct,  "and  many  others  too  hard  for  you  to  crack,  for 
as  old  as  you  are,  without  my  teaching  you.  How  would  you 
have  passed  the  pursuivant  at  the  upper  gate  yonder,  had  not 
I  warned  him  our  principial  juggler  was  to  follow  us?  And 
here  have  I  waited  for  you,  having  clambered  up  into  the  tree 
from  the  top  of  our  wain,  and  I  suppose  they  are  all  mad  for 
want  of  me  by  this  time." 

"  Nay,  theii,  thou  art  a  limb  of  the  devil  in  good  earnest," 
said  Wayland.  "  I  give  thee  way,  good  imp,  and  will  walk  by 
thy  counsel;  only,  as  thou  art  powerful,  be  merciful." 

As  he  spoke,  they  approached  a  strong  tower,  at  the  south 
extremity  of  the  long  bridge  we  have  mentioned,  which  served 
to  protect  the  outer  gateway  of  the  Castle  of  Kenilworth. 

TJnder  such  disastrous  circumstances,  and  in  such  singular 
company,  did  the  unfortunate  Countess  of  Leicester  approach 
for  the  first  time  the  magnificent  abode  of  her  almost  princely 
husband.* 

*  See  Amy  BobMurt  at  SenUworth.    Note  18. 


I 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

Snug.    Have  you  the  lion's  part  written  ?    Pray  you,  if  it  be,  give  it  me,  fot 
I  am  slow  to  study. 
Q^ince.    You  may  do  it  extempore,  for  it  is  nothing  but  roaring. 

— Midsummer  NighVs  Dream. 

When  the  Countess  of  Leicester  arrived  at  the  outer  gate 
of  the  Castle  of  Kenilworth,  she  found  the  tower,  beneath 
which  its  ample  portal  arch  opened,  guarded  in  a  singular 
manner.  Upon  the  battlements  were  placed  gigantic  warders, 
with  clubs,  battle-axes,  and  other  implements  of  ancienit  war- 
fare, designed  to  represent  the  soldiers  of  King  Arthur;  those 
primitive  Britons  by  whom,  according  to  romantic  tradition, 
the  castle  had  been  first  tenanted,  though  history  carried  back 
its  antiquity  only  to  the  times  of  the  Heptarchy.  Some  of  these 
tremendous  figures  were  real  men,  dressed  up  with  vizards 
and  buskins;  others  were  mere  pageants  composed  of  paste- 
board and  buckram,  which,  viewed  from  beneath,  and  min- 
gled with  those  that  were  real,  formed  a  sufficiently  striking 
representation  of  what  was  intended.  But  the  gigantic  porter 
who  waited  at  the  gaie  beneath,  and  actually  discharged  the 
duties  of  warder,  owed  none  of  his  terrors  to  fictitious  means. 
He  was  a  man  whose  huge  stature,  thews,  sinews,  and  bulk 
in  proportion,  would  have  enabled  him  ix)  enact  Colbrand, 
Ascapart,  or  any  other  giant  of  romance,  without  raising  him- 
self nearer  to  heaven  even  by  the  altitude  of  a  chopin.*  The 
legs  and  knees  of  this  son  of  Anak  were  bare,  as  were  his 
arms,  from  a  span  below  the  shoulder;  but  his  feet  were  de- 
fended with  sandals,  fastened  with  cross  straps  of  scarlet 
leather,  studded  with  brazen  knobs.  A  close  jerkin  of  scarlet 
velvet,  looped  with  gold,  with  short  breeches  of  the  same, 
covered  his  body  and  a  part  of  his  limbs;  and  he  wore  on  his 
shoulders,  instead  of  a  cloak,  the  skin  of  a  black  bear.  The 
head  of  this  formidable  person  was  uncovered,  except  by  his 
shaggy  black  hair,  which  descended  on  either  side  around 
features  of  that  huge,  lumpish,  and  heavy  cast  which 
are  often  annexed  to  men  of  very  uncommon  size,  and 
which,  notwithstanding  some  distinguished  exceptions,  have 
Ci-eated  a  general  prejudice  against  giants,  as  being  a  dull  and 

*  See  Note  14. 
S96 


296  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

sullen  kind  of  persons.  This  tremendous  warder  was  ap- 
propriately armed  with  a  heavy  club  spiked  with  steel.  In 
fine,  he  represented  excellently  one  of  those  giants  of  popular 
romance  who  figure  in  every  fairy  tale  or  legend  of  knight- 
errantry. 

The  demeanor  of  this  modem  Titan,  when  Wayland  Smith 
bent  his  attention  to  him,  had  in  it  something  arguing  much 
mental  embarrassment  and  vexation;  for  sometimes  he  sat 
down  for  an  instant  on  a  massive  stone  bench,  which  seemed 
placed  for  his  accommodation  beside  the  gateway,  and  then 
ever  and  anon  he  started  up,  scratching  his  huge  head,  and 
striding  to  and  fro  on  his  post,  like  one  under  a  fit  of  impa- 
tience and  anxiety.  It  was  while  the  porter  was  pacing  be- 
fore the  gate  in  this  agitated  manner  that  Wayland,  mod- 
estly, yet  as  a  matter  of  course  (not,  however,  without  some 
mental  misgiving),  was  about  to  pass  him  and  enter  the  portal 
arch.  The  porter,  however,  stopped  his  progress,  bidding 
him,  in  a  thundering  voice,  "  Stand  back!  "  and  enforcing  his 
injunction  by  heaving  up  his  steel-shod  mace,  and  dashing 
it  on  the  ground  before  Wayland's  horse's  nose  with  such 
vehemence  that  the  pavement  flashed  fire  and  the  archway 
rang  to  the  clamor.  Wayland,  availing  himself  of  Dickie's 
hint,  began  to  state  that  he  belonged  to  a  band  of  performers 
to  which  his  presence  was  indispensable,  that  he  had  been 
accidentally  detained  behind,  and  much  to  the  same  purpose. 
But  the  warder  was  inexorable,  and  kept  muttering  and  mur- 
muring something  betwixt  his  teeth,  which  Wayland  could 
make  little  of;  and  addressing  betwixt  whiles  a  refusal  of  ad- 
mittance, couched  in  language  which  was  but  too  intelligible. 
A  specimen  of  his  speech  might  run  thus:  "  What,  how  now, 
my  masters?  (To  himself)  Here's  a  stir — here's  a  coil. 
(Then  to  Wayland)  You  are  a  loitering  knave,  and  shall  have 
no  entrance.  (Again  to  himself)  Here's  a  throng — here's  a 
thrusting.  I  shall  ne'er  get  through  with  it.  Here's  a — 
humph — ha.  (To  Wayland)  Back  from  the  gate,  or  I'll 
break  the  pate  of  thee.  (Once  more  to  himself)  Here's  a — 
no,  I  shall  never  get  through  it." 

"Stand  still,"  whispered  Flibbertigibbet  into  Wayland's 
ear;  "  I  know  where  the  shoe  pinches,  and  will  tame  him  in  -M 
an  instant."  fl 

He  dropped  down  from  the  horse,  and  skipping  up  to  the 
parter,  plucked  him  by  the  tail  of  the  bearskin,  so  as  to  induce 
him  to  decline  his  huge  head,  and  whispered  something  in  his 
ear.     Not  at  the  command  of  the  lord  of  some  Eastern  talis- 


KENILWOBTR.  29t 

man  did  ever  Afrite  change  his  horrid  frown  into  a  look  of 
smooth  suhmission  more  suddenly  than  the  gigantic  porter  of 
Kenilworth  relaxed  the  terrors  of  his  look  at  the  instant 
Flibbertigibbefs  whisper  reached  his  ears.  He  flung  his  club 
upon  the  ground  and  caught  up  Dickie  Sludge,  raising  him 
to  such  a  distance  from  the  earth  as  might  have  proved  peril- 
ous had  he  chanced  to  let  him  slip. 

"  It  is  even  so/'  he  said,  with  a  thundering  sound  of  exul- 
tation— "it  is  even  so,  my  little  dandieprat.  But  who  the 
devil  could  teach  it  thee?  " 

"Do   not   thou   care   about   that,"    said   Flibbertigibbet; 

"but "  he  looked  at  Wayland  and  the  lady,  and  then 

sunk  what  he  had  to  say  in  a  whisper,  which  needed  not  be  a 
loud  one,  as  the  giant  held  him  for  his  convenience  close  to 
his  ear.  The  porter  then  gave  Dickie  a  warm  caress,  and  set 
him  on  the  ground  with  the  same  care  which  a  careful  house- 
wife uses  in  replacing  a  cracked  china  cup  upon  her  mantel- 
piece, calling  out  at  the  same  time  to  Wayland  and  the  lady, 
"In  with  you — ^in  with  you;  and  take  heed  how  you  come 
too  late  another  day  when  I  chance  to  be  porter." 

"  Aye — aye,  in  with  you,"  added  Flibbertigibbet;  "  I  must 
stay  a  short  space  with  mine  honest  Philistine,  my  Goliath  of 
Gath  here;  but  I  will  be  Avith  you  anon,  and  at  the  bottom  of 
all  your  secrets,  were  they  as  deep  and  dark  as  the  castie  dun- 
geon." 

"  I  do  believe  thou  wouldst,"  said  Wayland;  "  but  I  trust 
the  secret  will  be  soon  out  of  my  keeping,  and  then  I  shall 
care  the  less  whether  thou  or  anyone  knows  it." 

They  now  crossed  the  entrance  tower,  which  obtained  the 
name  of  the  Gallery  Tower  from  the  following  circumstance: 
The  whole  bridge,  extending  from  the  entrance  to  another 
tower  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  lake,  called  Mortimer's 
Tower,  was  so  disposed  as  to  make  a  spacious  tilt-yard,  about 
one  hundred  and  thirty  yards  in  length  and  ten  in  breadth, 
strewed  with  the  finest  sand,  and  defended  on  either  side  by 
strong  and  high  palisades.  The  broad  and  fair  gallery,  des- 
tined for  the  ladies  who  were  to  witness  the  feats  of  chivalry 
presented  on  this  area,  was  erected  on  the  northern  side  of 
fhe  outer  tower  to  which  it  gave  name.  Our  travelers  passed 
slowly  along  the  bridge  or  tilt-yard,  and  arrived  at  Mortimer's 
Tower,  at  its  farthest  extremity,  through  which  the  approach 
led  into  the  outer  or  base  court  of  the  oastle.  Mortimer's 
Tower  bore  on  its  front  the  scutcheon  of  the  Earl  of  March, 
whose  daring  ambition  overthrew  the  throne  of  Edward  II., 


298  WAYEBLET  NOVELS, 

and   aspired  to   share   his  power  with   the   "  She-wolf   of 
France,"  to  whom  the  unhappy  monarch  was  wedded.     The 

fate  which  opened  under  this  ominous  memorial  was  guarded 
y  many  warders  in  rich  liveries;  but  they  offered  no  oppo- 
sition to  the  entrance  of  the  countess  and  her  guide,  who, 
having  passed  by  license  of  the  principal  porter  at  the  Gallery 
Tower,  were  not,  it  may  be  supposed,  liable  to  interruption 
from  his  deputies.  They  entered  accordingly,  in  silence,  the 
great  outward  court  of  the  castle,  having  then  full  before 
them  that  vast  and  lordly  pile,  with  all  its  stately  towers, 
each  gate  open,  as  if  in  sign  of  unlimited  hospitality,  and  the 
apartments  filled  with  noble  guests  of  every  degree,  besides 
dependents,  retainers,  domestics  of  every  description  and 
all  the  appendages  and  promoters  of  mirth  and  revelry. 

Amid  this  stately  and  busy  scene,  Wayland  halted  his 
horse,  and  looked  upon  the  lady,  as  if  waiting  her  commands 
what  was  next  to  be  done,  since  they  had  safely  reached  the 
place  of  destination.  As  she  remained  silent,  Wayland,  after 
waiting  a  minute  or  two,  ventured  to  ask  her,  in  direct  terms, 
what  were  her  next  commands.  She  raised  her  hand  to  her 
forehead,  as  if  in  the  act  of  collecting  her  thoughts  and  reso- 
lution, while  she  answered  him  in  a  low  and  suppressed  voice, 
like  the  murmurs  of  one  who  speaks  in  a  dream.  "  Com- 
mands! I  may  indeed  claim  right  to  command,  but  who  is 
there  will  obey  me?" 

Then  suddenly  raising  her  head,  like  one  who  has  formed 
a  decisive  resolution,  she  addressed  a  gayly  dressed  domestic, 
who  was  crossing  the  court  with  importance  and  bustle  in  his 
countenance.  "  Stop,  sir,"  she  said,  "  I  desire  to  speak  with 
the  Earl  of  Leicester." 

"  With  whom,  an  it  please  you?  "  said  the  man,  surprised  at 
the  demand;  and  then  looking  upon  the  mean  equipage  of 
her  who  used  toward  him  such  a  tone  of  authority,  he  added, 
with  insolence,  "  Why,  what  Bess  of  Bedlam  is  this,  would 
ask  to  see  my  lord  on  such  a  day  as  the  present  ?  " 

"  Friend,"  said  the  countess,  "  be  not  insolent;  my  business 
with  the  earl  is  most  urgent." 

"You  must  get  someone  else  to  do  it,  were  it  thrice  as 
urgent,"  said  the  fellow.  "  I  should  summon  my  lord  from 
the  Queen's  royal  presence  to  do  your  business,  should  I?  I 
were  like  to  be  thanked  with  a  horse- whip.  I  marvel  our  old 
porter  took  not  measure  of  such  ware  with  his  club,  instead 
of  giving  them  passage;  but  his  brain  is  addled  with  getting 
his  speech  by  heart." 


KBNILWORTH.  299 

Two  or  three  persons  stopped,  attracted  by  the  fleering  way 
in  which  the  serving-man  expressed  himself;  and  Way  land, 
alarmed  both  for  himself  and  the  lady,  hastily  addressed  him- 
self to  one  who  appeared  the  most  civil,  and  thrusting  a  piece 
of  money  into  his  hand,  held  a  moment's  counsel  with  him 
on  the  subject  of  finding  a  place  of  temporary  retreat  for  the 
lady.  The  person  to  whom  he  spoke,  being  one  in  some 
authority,  rebuked  the  others  for  their  incivility,  and  com- 
manding one  fellow  to  take  care  of  the  strangers'  horses,  he 
desired  them  to  follow  him.  The  countess  retained  pres- 
ence of  mind  sufficient  to  see  that  it  was  absolutely  necessary 
she  should  comply  with  his  request;  and,  leaving  the  rude 
lackeys  and  grooms  to  crack  their  Ijrutal  jests  about  light 
heads,  light  heels,  and  so  forth,  Wayland  and  she  followed  in 
silence  the  deputy-usher,  who  undertook  to  be  their 
conductor. 

They  entered  the  inner  court  of  the  castle  by  the  great 
gateway,  which  extended  betwixt  the  principal  keep,  or  don- 
jon, called  Caesar's  Tower,  and  a  stately  building  which  passed 
by  the  name  of  King  Henry's  Lodging,  and  were  thus  placed 
in  the  center  of  the  noble  pile,  which  presented  on  its  differ- 
ent fronts  magnificent  specimens  of  every  species  of  castel- 
lated architecture,  from  the  Conquest  to  the  reign  of  Eliza- 
beth, with  the  appropriate  style  and  ornaments  of  each. 

Across  this  inner  court  also  they  were  conducted  by  their 
guide  to  a  small  but  strong  tower,  occupying  the  northeast 
angle  of  the  building  adjacent  to  the  great  hall,  and  filling 
up  a  space  betwixt  the  immense  range  of  kitchens  and  the 
end  of  the  great  hall  itself.  The  lower  part  of  this  tower  was 
occupied  by  some  of  the  household  officers  of  Leicester,  owing 
to  its  convenient  vicinity  to  the  places  where  their  duty  lay; 
but  in  the  upper  story,  which  was  reached  by  a  narrow  wind- 
ing stair,  was  a  small  octangular  chamber,  which,  in  the  great 
demand  for  lodgings,  had  been  on  the  present  occasion  fitted 
up  for  the  reception  of  guests,  though  generally  said  to  have 
been  used  as  a  place  of  confinement  for  some  unhappy  person 
who  had  been  there  murdered.  Tradition  called  this  prisoner 
Mervyn,  and  transferred  his  name  to  the  tower.  That  it  had 
been  used  as  a  prison  was  not  improbable;  for  the  floor  of 
each  story  was  arched,  the  walls  of  tremendous  thickness, 
while  the  space  of  the  chamber  did  not  exceed  fifteen  feet  in 
diameter.  The  window,  however,  was  pleasant,  though  nar- 
row, and  commanded  a  delightful  view  of  what  was  called  the 
Pleaaance — a  space  of  ground  inclosed  and  decorated  with 


300  WAVEBLEY  NOVELS. 

arches,  trophies,  statues,  fountains,  and  other  architectural 
monuments,  which  formed  one  access  from  the  castle  itself 
into  the  garden.  There  was  a  bed  in  the  apartment,  and 
other  preparations  for  the  reception  of  a  guest,  to  which  the 
countess  paid  but  slight  attention,  her  notice  being  instantly 
arrested  by  the  sight  of  writing-materials,  placed  on  the  table 
(not  very  commonly  to  be  found  in  the  bedrooms  of  those 
days),  which  instantly  suggested  the  idea  of  writing  to 
Leicester,  and  remaining  private  until  she  had  received  his 
answer. 

The  deputy-usher,  having  introduced  them  into  this  com- 
modious apartment,  courteously  asked  Way  land,  whose  gener- 
osity he  had  experienced,  whether  he  could  do  anything 
farther  for  his  service.  Upon  receiving  a  gentle  hint  that 
some  refreshment  would  not  be  unacceptable,  he  presently 
conveyed  the  smith  to  the  buttery-hatch,  where  dressed  pro- 
visions of  all  sorts  were  distributed,  with  hospitable  profu- 
sion, to  all  who  asked  for  them.  Wayland  was  readily  sup- 
plied with  some  light  provisions,  such  as  he  thought  would 
best  suit  the  faded  appetite  of  the  lady,  and  did  not  omit  the 
opportunity  of  himself  making  a  hasty  but  hearty  meal  on 
more  substantial  fare.  He  then  returned  to  the  apartment 
in  the  turret,  where  he  found  the  countess,  who  had  finished 
her  letter  to  Leicester;  and,  in  lieu  of  a  seal  and  silken  thread, 
had  secured  it  with  a  braid  of  her  own  beautiful  tresses,  fas- 
tened by  what  is  called  a  true-love  knot. 

"  Good  friend,"  said  she  to  Wayland,  "  whom  God  hath 
sent  to  aid  me  at  my  utmost  need,  I  do  beseech  thee,  as  the 
last  trouble  you  shall  take  for  an  unfortunate  lady,  to  deliver 
this  letter  to  the  noble  Earl  of  Leicester.  Be  it  received  as  it 
may,"  she  said,  with  features  agitated  betwixt  hope  and  fear, 
"thou,  good  fellow,  shalt  have  no  more  cumber  with  me. 
But  I  hope  the  best;  and  if  ever  lady  made  a  poor  man  rich, 
thou  hast  surely  deserved  it  at  my  hand,  should  my  happy 
days  ever  come  round  again.  Give  it,  I  pray  you,  into  Lord 
Leicester's  own  hand,  and  mark  how  he  looks  on  receiving  it." 
Wayland,  on  his  part,  readily  undertook  the  commission,  but 
anxiously  prayed  the  lady,  in  his  turn,  to  partake  of  some 
refreshment;  in  which  he  at  length  prevailed,  more  through 
importunity,  and  her  desire  to  see  him  begone  on  his  errand, 
than  from  any  inclination  the  countess  felt  to  comply  with  his 
request.  He  then  left  her,  advising  her  to  lock  her  door  on 
the  inside,  and  not  to  stir  from  her  little  apartment,  and  went 
to  seek  an  opportunity  of  discharging  her  errand,  as  well  as 


KENILWORTH.  301 

of  carr}dng  into  effect  a  purpose  of  his  own  which  circum- 
gtances  had  induced  him  to  form. 

In  fact,  from  the  conduct  of  the  lady  during  the  journey, 
her  long  fits  of  profound  silence,  the  irresolution  and  uncer- 
tainty which  appeared  to  pen^ade  all  her  movements,  and  the 
obvious  incapacity  of  thinking  and  acting  for  herself,  under 
which  she  seemed  to  labor,  Wayland  had  formed  the  not  im- 
probable opinion  that  the  difficulties  of  her  situation  had  in 
some  degree  affected  her  understanding. 

When  she  had  escaped  from  the  seclusion  of  Cunmor  Place, 
and  the  dangers  to  which  she  was  there  exposed,  it  would 
have  seemed  her  most  rational  course  to  retire  to  her  father's 
or  elsewhere,  at  a  distance  from  the  power  of  those  by  whom 
these  dangers  had  been  created.  When,  instead  of  doing  so, 
she  demanded  to  be  conveyed  to  Kenilworth,  Wayland  had 
been  only  able  to  account  for  her  conduct,  by  supposing  that 
she  meant  to  put  herself  under  the  tutelage  of  Tressilian,  and 
to  appeal  to  the  protection  of  the  Queen.  But  now,  instead 
of  following  this  natural  course,  she  intrusted  him  with  a 
letter  to  Leicester,  the  patron  of  Yamey,  and  within  whose 
jurisdiction  at  least,  if  not  under  his  express  authority,  all 
the  evils  she  had  already  suffered  were  inflicted  upon  her. 
This  seemed  an  unsafe,  and  even  a  desperate,  measure,  and 
Wayland  felt  anxiety  for  his  own  safety,  as  well  as  that  of  the 
lady,  should  he  execute  her  commission  before  he  had  secured 
the  advice  and  countenance  of  a  protector.  He  therefore  re- 
solved, before  delivering  the  letter  to  Leicester,  that  he  would 
seek  out  Tressilian,  and  communicate  to  him  the  arrival  of 
the  lady  at  Kenilworth,  and  thus  at  once  rid  himself  of  all 
farther  responsibility  and  devolve  the  task  of  guiding  and 
protecting  this  unfortunate  lady  upon  the  patron  who  had  at 
first  employed  him  in  her  service. 

"He  will  be  a  better  judge  than  I  am,''  said  Wayland, 
*'  whether  she  is  to  be  gratified  in  this  humor  of  appeal  to  my 
Lord  of  Leicester,  which  seems  like  an  act  of  insanity;  and, 
therefore,  I  will  turn  the  matter  over  in  his  hands,  deliver 
him  the  letter,  receive  what  they  list  to  give  me  by  way  of 
guerdon,  and  then  show  the  Castle  of  Kenilworth  a  pair  of 
light  heels;  for,  after  the  work  I  have  been  engaged  in,  it 
will  be,  I  fear,  neither  a  safe  nor  wholesome  place  of  resi- 
dence; and  I  would  rather  shoe  colts  on  the  coldest  common 
in  England  than  share  in  their  gayest  revels.^' 


CHAPTER   XXVII. 

In  my  time  I  have  seen  a  boy  do  wonders. 
Bobin,  the  red  tinker,  had  a  boy 
Would  ha'  run  through  a  cat-hole. 

—  The  Coxcomb. 

Amid  the  universal  bustle  which  filled  the  castle  and  its 
environs,  it  was  no  easy  matter  to  find  out  any  individual; 
and  Wayland  was  still  less  likely  to  light  upon  Tressilian, 
whom  he  sought  so  anxiously,  because,  sensible  of  the  danger 
of  attracting  attention,  in  the  cdrcumstances  in  which  he  was 
placed,  he  dared  not  make  general  inquiries  among  the  re- 
tainers or  domestics  of  Leicester.  He  learned,  however,  by 
indirect  questions,  that,  in  all  probability,  Tressilian  mus-t 
have  been  one  of  a  large  party  of  gentlemen  in  attendance  on 
the  Earl  of  Sussex,  who  had  accompanied  their  patron  that 
morning  to  Kenilworth,  when  Leicester  had  received  them 
with  marks  of  the  most  formal  respect  and  distinction.  He 
farther  learned  that  both  earls,  with  their  followers,  and 
many  other  nobles,  knights,  and  gentlemen,  had  taken  horse, 
and  gone  toward  Warwick  several  hours  since,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  escorting  the  Queen  to  Kenilworth. 

Her  Majesty's  arrival,  like  other  great  events,  was  delayed 
from  hour  to  hour;  and  it  was  now  announced  by  a  breath- 
less post  that,  her  Majesty  being  detained  by  her  gracious  de- 
sire to  receive  the  homage  of  her  lieges  who  had  thronged  to 
wait  upon  her  at  Warwick,  it  would  be  the  hour  of  twilight 
ere  she  entered  the  castle.  The  intelligence  released  for  a 
time  those  who  were  upon  duty  in  the  immediate  expectation 
of  the  Queen's  appearance,  and  ready  to  play  their  part  in  the 
solemnities  with  which  it  was  to  be  accompanied;  and  Way- 
land,  seeing  several  horsemen  enter  the  castle,  was  not  with- 
out hopes  that  Tressilian  might  be  of  the  number.  That  he 
might  not  lose  an  opportunity  of  meeting  his  patron  in  the 
event  of  this  being  the  case,  Wayland  placed  himself  in  the 
base-court  of  the  castle,  near  Mortimer's  Tower,  and  watched 
everyone  who  went  or  came  by  the  bridge,  the  extremity  of 
which  was  protected  by  that  building.  Thus  stationed, 
nobody  could  enter  or  leave  the  castle  without  his  observa- 
tion, and  most  anxiously  did  he  study  the  garb  and  counte- 
nance of  every  horseman,  as,  passing  from  under  the  oppo- 


KENILWORTH.  303 

site  Gallery  Tower,  they  paced  slowly,  or  curveted,  along 
the  tilt-yard,  and  approached  the  entrance  of  the  basencourt. 

But  while  Wayland  gazed  thus  eagerly  to  discover  him 
whom  he  saw  not,  he  was  pulled  by  the  sleeve  by  one  by 
whom  he  himself  would  not  willingly  have  been  seen. 

This  was  Dickie  Sludge,  or  Flibbertigibbet,  who,  like  the 
imp  whose  name  he  bore,  and  whom  he  had  been  accoutered 
in  order  to  resemble,  seemed  to  be  ever  at  the  ear  of  those 
who  thought  least  of  him.  Whatever  were  Wayland's  inter- 
nal feelings,  he  judged  it  necessary  to  express  pleasure  at  their 
unexpected  meeting. 

"Ha?  is  it  thou,  my  minikin — ^my  miller's  thumb — ^my 
prince  of  cacodemons — my  little  mouse  ?  " 

"  Aye,"  said  Dickie,  "  the  mouse  which  gnawed  asunder  the 
toils,  just  when  the  lion  who  was  caught  in  them  began  to 
loo-k  wonderfully  like  an  ass." 

"Why,  thou  little  hop-the-gutter,  thou  art  as  sharp  as 
vinegar  this  afternoon!  But  tell  me,  how  didst  thou  come  off 
with  yonder  jolter-headed  giant,  whom  I  left  thee  with?  I 
was  afraid  he  would  have  stripped  thy  clothes,  and  so  swal- 
lowed thee,  as  men  peel  and  eat  a  roasted,  chestnut." 

"  Had  he  done  so,"  replied  the  boy,  "  he  would  have  had 
more  brains  in  his  guts  than  ever  he  had  in  his  noddle.  But 
the  giant  is  a  courteous  monster,  and  more  grateful  than 
manv  other  folk  whom  I  have  helped  at  a  pinch.  Master  Way- 
land  Smith." 

"Beshrew  me.  Flibbertigibbet,"  replied  Wayland,  "but 
thou  art  sharper  than  a  Sheffield  whittle!  I  would  I  knew  by 
what  charm  you  muzzled  yonder  old  bear." 

"  Aye,  that  is  in  your  own  manner,"  answered  Dickie:  "  you 
think  fine  speeches  will  pass  muster  instead  of  good-will. 
However,  as  to  this  honest  porter,  you  must  know  that,  when 
we  presented  ourselves  at  the  gate  yonder,  his  brain  was  over- 
burdened with  a  speech  that  had  been  penned  for  him,  and 
which  proved  rather  an  overmatch  for  his  gigantic  faculties. 
Now  this  same  pithy  oration  had  been  indited,  like  sundry 
others,  by  my  learned  magister,  Erasmus  Holiday,  so  I  had 
heard  it  often  enough  to  remember  every  line.  As  soon  as  I 
heard  him  blundering  and  floundering,  like  a  fish  upon  dry 
land,  through  the  first  verse,  and  perceived  him  at  a  stand,  I 
knew  where  the  shoe  pinched,  and  helped  him  to  the  next 
word,  when  he  caught  me  up  in  an  ecstasy,  even  as  you  saw 
but  now.  I  promised,  as  the  price  of  your  admission,  to  hide 
me  xmder  his  bearish  gaberdine  and  prompt  him  in  the  hour 


30i  WAVEBLET  NOVELS. 

of  need.  I  have  just  now  been  getting  some  food  in  the 
castle,  and  am  about  to  return  to  Mm." 

"  That's  right — that's  right,  my  dear  Dickie/'  replied  Way- 
land;  "  haste  thee,  for  Heaven's  sake!  else  the  poor  giant  will 
be  utteriy  disconsolate  for  want  of  his  dwarfish  auxiliary. 
Away  with  thee,  Dickie!  " 

"  Aye — aye!  "  answered  the  boy.  "  Away  with  Dickie, 
when  we  have  got  what  good  of  him  we  can.  You  will  not 
let  me  know  the  story  of  this  lady,  then,  who  is  as  much  sla- 
ter of  thine  as  I  am?  " 

"Why,  what  good  would  it  do  thee,  thou  silly  elf?"  said 
Wayland. 

"  Oh,  stand  ye  on  these  terms?  "  said  the  boy.  "  Well,  I 
care  not  greatly  about  the  matter;  only,  I  never  smell  out  a 
secret,  but  I  try  to  be  either  at  the  right  or  the  wrong  end  of 
it,  and  so  good-evening  to  ye." 

"  Nay,  but,  Dickie,"  said  Wayland,  who  knew  the  boy's 
restless  and  intriguing  disposition  too  well  not  to  fear  his 
enmity — "  stay,  my  dear  Dickie:  part  not  with  old  friends  so 
shortly!     Thou  shalt  know  all  I  know  of  the  lady  one  day." 

"  Aye,"  said  Dickie;  "  and  that  day  may  prove  a  nigh  one. 
Fare  thee  well,  Wayland;  I  will  to  my  large-limbed  friend, 
who,  if  he  have  not  so  sharp  a  wit  as  some  folk,  is  at  least 
more  grateful  for  the  service  which  other  folk  render  him. 
And  so  again,  good-evening  to  ye." 

So  saying,  he  cast  a  somerset  through  the  gateway,  and, 
lighting  on  the  bridge,  ran,  with  the  extraordinary  agility 
which  was  one  of  his  distinguishing  attributes,  toward  the 
Gallery  Tower,  and  was  out  of  sight  in  an  instant. 

"I  would  to  Grod  I  were  safe  out  of  this  castle  again!" 
prayed  Wayland,  internally;  "  for  now  that  this  mischievous 
imp  has  put  his  finger  in  the  pie,  it  cannot  but  prove  a  mess 
fit  for  the  devil's  eating.  I  would  to  Heaven  Master  Tres- 
silian  would  appear! " 

Tresflilian,  whom  he  was  thus  anxiously  expecting  in  one 
direction,  had  returned  to  Kenilworth  by  another  access.  It 
was  indeed  true,  as  Wayland  had  conjectured,  that,  in  the 
earlier  part  of  the  day,  he  had  accompanied  the  earls  on  their 
cavalcade  toward  Warwick,  not  without  hope  that  he  might 
in  that  town  hear  some  tidings  of  his  emissary.  Being  dis- 
appointed in  this  expectation,  and  observing  Vamey  amongst 
Leicester's  attendants,  seeming  as  if  he  had  some  purpose  of 
advancing  to  and  addressing  him,  he  conceived,  in  the  present 


KBNILWORTH,  30/1 

circTimstances,  it  was  wisest  to  avoid  the  interview.  He 
therefore  left  the  presence-chamber  when  the  high-sheriff  of 
the  county  was  in  the  very  midst  of  his  dutiful  address  to  her 
Majesty;  and,  mounting  his  horse,  rode  back  to  Kenilworth 
by  a  remote  and  circuitous  road,  and  entered  the  castle  by  a 
small  sally-port  in  the  western  wall,  at  which  he  was  readily 
admitted  as  one  of  the  followers  of  the  Earl  of  Sussex,  toward 
whom  Leicester  had  commanded  the  utmost  courtesy  to  be 
exercised.  It  was  thus  that  he  met  not  Wayland,  who  was 
impatiently  watching  his  arrival,  and  whom  he  himself  would 
have  been,  at  least,  equally  desirous  to  see. 

Having  delivered  his  horse  to  the  charge  of  his  attendant, 
he  walked  for  a  space  in  the  Pleasance  and  in  the  garden, 
rather  to  indulge  in  comparative  solitude  his  own  reflections 
than  to  admire  those  singular  beauties  of  nature  and  art 
which  the  magnificence  of  Leicester  had  there  assembled. 
The  greater  part  of  the  persons  of  condition  had  left  the 
castle  for  the  present,  to  form  part  of  the  earl's  cavalcade; 
others,  who  remained  behind,  were  on  the  battlemenjts,  outer 
walls,  and  towers,  eager  to  view  the  splendid  spectacle  of  the 
royal  entry.  The  garden,  therefore,  while  every  other  part 
of  the  castle  resounded  with  the  human  voice,  was  silent,  but 
for  the  whispering  of  the  leaves,  the  emulous  warbling  of  the 
tenants  of  a  large  aviary,  with  their  happier  companions  who 
remained  denizens  of  the  free  air,  and  the  plashing  of  the 
fountains,  which,  forced  into  the  air  from  sculptures  of  fan- 
tastic and  grotesque  forms,  fell  down  with  ceaseless  sound 
into  the  great  basins  of  Italian  marble. 

The  melancholy  thoughts  of  Tressilian  cast  a  gloomy  shade 
on  all  the  objects  with  which  he  was  surrounded.  He  com- 
pared the  magnificent  scenes  which  he  here  traversed  with 
the  deep  woodland  and  wild  moorland  which  surrounded  Lid- 
cote  Hall,  and  the  image  of  Amy  Eobsart  glided  like  a  phan- 
tom through  QYQYy  landscape  which  his  imagination  sum- 
moned up.  Nothing  is  perhaps  more  dangerous  to  the  future 
happiness  of  men  of  deep  thought  and  retired  habits  than  the 
entertaining  an  early,  long,  and  unfortunate  attachment.  It 
frequently  sinks  so  deep  into  the  mhid  that  it  becomes  their 
dream  by  night  and  their  vision  by  day,  mixes  itself  with 
every  source  of  interest  and  enjoyment;  and,  when  blighted 
and  withered  by  final  disappointment,  it  seems  as  if  the 
springs  of  the  spirit  were  dried  up  along  with  it.  This  ach- 
ing of  the  heart,  this  languishing  after  a  shadow  which  has 
lost  all  the  gayety  of  its  coloring,  this  dwelling  on  the  re- 


S06  WA  VBRLSr  NO  VEL8. 

membrance  of  a  dream  from  which  we  have  been  long  roughly 
awakened,  is  the  weakness  of  a  gentle  and  generous  heart, 
and  it  was  that  of  Tressilian. 

He  himself  at  length  became  sensible  of  the  necessity  of 
forcing  other  objects  upon  his  mind;  and  for  this  purpose  he 
left  the  Pleasance,  in  order  to  mingle  with  the  noisy  crowd 
upon  the  walls,  and  view  the  preparation  for  the  pageants. 
But  as  he  left  the  garden,  and  heard  the  busy  hum,  mixed 
with  music  and  laughter,  which  floated  around  him,  he  felt 
an  uncontrollable  reluctance  to  mix  with  society  whose  feel- 
ings were  in  a  tone  so  different  from  his  own,  and  resolved, 
instead  of  doing  so,  to  retire  to  the  chamber  assigned  him, 
and  employ  himself  in  study  until  the  tolling  of  the  great 
castle  bell  should  announce  the  arrival  of  Elizabeth. 

Tressilian  crossed  accordingly  by  the  passage  betwixt  the 
immense  range  of  kitchens  and  the  great  hall,  and  ascended 
to  the  third  story  of  Mervyn's  Tower,  and  applying  himself  to 
the  door  of  the  small  apartment  which  had  been  allotted 
to  him,  was  surprised  to  find  it  was  locked.  He  then  recol- 
lected that  the  deputy-chamberlain  had  given  him  a  master- 
key,  advising  him,  in  the  present  confused  state  of  the  castle, 
to  keep  his  door  as  much  shut  as  possible.  He  applied  this 
key  to  the  lock,  the  bolt  revolved,  he  entered,  and  in  the  same 
instant  saw  a  female  form  seated  in  the  apartment,  and  recog- 
nized that  form  to  be  Amy  Robsart.  His  first  idea  was,  that 
a  heated  imagination  had  raised  the  image  on  which  it  doted 
into  visible  existence;  his  second,  that  he  beheld  an  appari- 
tion; the  third  and  abiding  conviction,  that  it  was  Amy  her- 
self, paler,  indeed,  and  thinner  than  in  the  days  of  heedless 
happiness,  when  she  possessed  the  form  and  hue  of  a  wood- 
nymph,  with  the  beauty  of  a  sylph;  but  still  Amy,  unequaled 
in  loveliness  by  aught  which  had  ever  visited  his  eyes. 

The  astonishment  of  the  countess  was  scarce  less  than  that 
of  Tressilian,  although  it  was  of  shorter  duration,  because  she 
had  heard  from  Wayland  that  he  was  in  the  castle.  She  had 
started  up  at  his  first  entrance,  and  now  stood  facing  him, 
the  paleness  of  her  cheeks  having  given  way  to  a  deep  blush. 

"  Tressilian,"  she  said,  at  length,  "  why  come  you  here?  " 

"Nay,  why  come  you  here.  Amy,"  returned  Tressilian, 
"  unless  it  be  at  length  to  claim  that  aid  which,  as  far  as  one 
man's  heart  and  arm  can  extend,  shall  instantly  be  rendered 
to  you?" 

She  was  silent  a  moment,  and  then  answered  in  a  sorrowful 
rather  than  an  angry  tone — "  I  require  no  aid,  Tressilian,  and 


KENILWORTH.  SOlT 

would  rather  be  injured  than  benefited  by  any  which  your 
kindness  can  offer  me.  Believe  me,  I  am  near  one  whom  law 
and  love  oblige  to  protect  me." 

"  The  villain,  then,  hath  done  you  the  poor  justice  which 
remained  in  his  power,"  said  Tressilian;  "  and  I  behold  before 
me  the  wife  of  Varney  ?  " 

"  The  wife  of  Vamey! "  she  replied,  with  all  the  emphasis 
of  scorn.     "  With  what  base  name,  sir,  does  your  boldness 

stigmatize  the — the — the "     She  hesitated,  dropped  her 

tone  of  scorn,  looked  down,  and  was  confused  and  silent;  for 
she  recollected  what  fatal  consequences  might  attend  her 
completing  the  sentence  with  "  the  Countess  of  Leicester," 
which  were  the  words  that  had  naturally  suggested  them- 
selves. It  would  have  boen  a  betrayal  of  the  secret,  on  which 
her  husband  had  assured  her  that  his  fortunes  depended,  to 
Tressilian,  to  Sussex,  to  the  Queen,  and  to  the  whole  as- 
sembled court.  "  Never,"  she  thought,  "  will  I  break  my 
promised  silence.  I  will  submit  to  every  suspicion  rather 
than  that." 

The  tears  rose  to  her  eyes  as  she  stood  silent  before  Tres- 
silian; while,  looking  on  her  with  mingled  grief  and  pity,  he 
said,  "  Alas!  Amy,  your  eyes  contradict  your  tongue.  That 
speaks  of  a  protector,  willing  and  able  to  watch  over  you;  but 
these  tell  me  you  are  ruined,  and  deserted  by  the  wretch  to 
whom  you  have  attached  yourself." 

She  looked  on  him,  with  eyes  in  which  anger  sparkled 
through  her  tears,  but  only  repeated  the  word  "  wretch! " 
with  a  scornful  emphasis. 

"  Yes,  wretch!  "  said  Tressilian;  "  for  were  he  aught  better, 
why  are  you  here,  and  alone  in  my  apartment?  Why  was  not 
fitting  provision  made  for  your  honorable  reception  ?  " 

"  In  your  apartment?  "  repeated  Amy — "  in  your  apart- 
ment? It  shall  instantly  be  relieved  of  my  presence."  She 
hastened  toward  the  door;  but  the  sad  recollection  of  her  de- 
serted state  at  once  pressed  on  her  mind,  and,  pausing  on  the 
threshold,  she  added,  in  a  tone  unutterably  pathetic,  "  Alas!  I 
had  forgot;  I  know  not  where  to  go " 

'^  I  see — I  see  it  all,"  said  Tressilian,  springing  to  her  side, 
and  leading  her  back  to  the  seat,  on  which  she  sunk  down. 
"  You  do  need  aid — you  do  need  protection,  though  you  will 
not  own  it;  and  you  shall  not  need  it  long.  Leaning  on  my 
arm,  as  the  representative  of  your  excellent  and  broken- 
hearted father,  on  the  very  threshold  of  the  castle  gate,  you 
shall  meet  Elizabeth;  and  the  first  deed  she  shall  dk)  in  the 


808  WAVEBLBT  NOVELS, 

halls  of  Kenilwortli  shall  be  an  act  of  justice  to  her  sex  and 
her  subjects.  Strong  in  my  good  cause  and  in  the  Queen's 
justice,  the  power  of  her  minion  shall  not  shake  my  resolu- 
tion.    I  will  instantly  seek  Sussex." 

"Not  for  all  that  is  under  heaven!"  said  the  countess, 
much  alarmed,  and  feeling  the  absolute  necessity  of  obtaining 
time,  at  least,  for  consideration.  "  Tressilian,  you  were  wont 
to  be  generous.  Grant  me  one  request,  and  believe,  if  it  be 
your  wish  to  save  me  from  misery  and  from  madness,  you  will 
do  more  by  making  me  the  promise  I  ask  of  you  than  Eliza- 
beth can  do  for  me  with  all  her  power!  " 

"  Ask  me  anything  for  which  you  can  allege  reason,^'  said 
Tressilian;  "  but  demand  not  of  me " 

"  Oh,  limit  not  your  boon,  dear  Edmund! "  exclaimed  the 
countess, — "  you  once  loved  that  I  should  call  you  so, — limit 
not  your  boon  to  reason!  for  my  case  is  all  madness,  and 
frenzy  must  guide  the  counsels  which  alone  can  aid  me." 

"  If  you  speak  thus  wildly,"  said  Tressilian,  astonishment 
again  overpowering  both  his  grief  and  his  resolution,  "  I  must 
believe  you  indeed  incapable  of  thinking  or  acting  for 
yourself." 

"  Oh,  no!  "  she  exclaimed,  sinking  on  one  knee  before  him, 
"  I  am  not  mad.  I  am  but  a  creature  unutterably  miserable, 
and,  from  circumstances  the  most  singular,  dragged  on  to  a 
precipice  by  the  arm  of  him  who  thinks  he  is  keeping  me 
from  it — even  by  yours,  Tressilian — by  yours,  whom  I  have 
honored,  respected,  all  but  loved — and  yet  loved,  too — loved, 
too,  Tressilian,  though  not  as  you  wished  me." 

There  was  an  energy — a  self-possession — an  abandonment 
in  her  voice  and  manner — a  total  resignation  of  herself  to  his 
generosity,  which,  together  with  the  kindness  of  her  expres- 
sions to  himself,  moved  him  deeply.  He  raised  her,  and  in 
broken  accents  entreated  her  to  be  comforted. 

"I  cannot,"  she  said,  "I  will  not  be  comforted  till  you 
grant  me  my  request!  I  will  speak  as  plainly  as  I  dare.  I 
am  now  awaiting  the  commands  of  one  who  has  a  right  to 
issue  them.  The  interference  of  a  third  person — of  you  in 
especial,  Tressilian — will  be  ruin — utter  ruin  to  me.  Wait 
but  four-and-twenty  hours,  and  it  may  be  that  the  poor  Amy 
may  have  the  means  to  show  that  she  values,  and  can  reward, 
your  disinterested  friendship — that  she  is  happy  herself,  and 
has  the  means  to  make  you  so.  It  is  surely  worth  your 
patience,  for  so  short  a  space?" 

Tressilian  paused,  and  weighing  in  his  mind  the  various 


KENILWORTH,  309 

probabilities  whicb  might  render  a  violent  interference  on  his 
part  more  prejudicial  than  advantageous,  both  to  the  happi- 
ness and  reputation  of  Amy;  considering  also  that  she  was 
within  the  walls  of  Kenilworth,  and  could  suifer  no  injury  in 
a  castle  honored  with  the  Queen's  residence,  and  filled  with 
her  guards  and  attendants,  he  conceived,  upon  the  whole, 
that  he  might  render  her  more  evil  than  good,  service  by  in- 
truding upon  her  his  appeal  to  Elizabeth  in  her  behalf.  He 
expressed  his  resolution  cautiously,  however,  doubting  natu- 
rally whether  Amy's  hopes  of  extricating  herself  from  her 
difficulties  rested  on  anything  stronger  than  a  blinded  attach- 
ment to  Vamey,  whom  he  supposed  to  be  her  seducer. 

"  Amy,"  he  said,  while  he  fixed  his  sad  and  expressive  eyes 
on  hers,  which,  in  her  ecstasy  of  doubt,  terror,  and  perplexity, 
she  cast  up  toward  him,  "  I  have  ever  remarked  that,  when 
others  called  thee  girlish  and  willful,  there  lay  under  that  ex- 
ternal semblance  of  youthful  and  self-willed  folly  deep  feel- 
ing and  strong  sense.  In  this  I  will  confide,  trusting  your 
own  fate  in  your  own  hands  for  the  space  of  twenty-four 
hours,  without  my  interference  by  word  or  act." 

"  Do  you  promise  me  this,  Tressilia.n?  "  said  the  countess. 
"  Is  it  possible  you  can  yet  repose  so  much  confidence  in  me? 
Do  you  promise,  as  you  are  a  gentleman  and  a  man  of  honor, 
to  intrude  in  my  matters,  neither  by  speech  nor  action,  what- 
ever you  may  see  or  hear  that  seems  to  you  to  demand  your 
interference?     Will  you  so  far  trust  me?  " 

"  I  will,  upon  my  honor,"  said  Tressilian;  "  but  when  that 
space  is  expired " 

"  When  that  space  is  expired,"  she  said,  interrupting  him, 
"  you  are  free  to  act  as  your  judgment  shall  determine." 

"  Is  there  naught  besides  which  I  can  do  for  you.  Amy?  " 
said  Tressilian. 

"  Nothing,"  said  she,  "  save  to  leave  me;  that  is,  if — I  blush 
to  acknowledge  my  helplessness  by  asking  it — if  you  can 
spare  me  the  use  of  this  apartment  for  the  next  twenty-four 
hours." 

"  This  is  most  wonderful!  "  said  Tressilian;  "  what  hope  or 
interest  can  you  have  in  a  castle  where  you  cannot  com- 
mand even  an  apartment?  " 

'^  Argue  not,  but  leave  me,"  she  said;  and  added,  as  he 
slowly  and  unwillingly  retired,  "  Generous  Edmund;  the  time 
may  come  when  Amy  may  show  she  deserved  thy  noble 
attachment." 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

What,  man,  ne'er  lack  a  draught,  when  the  full  oui 
Stands  at  thine  elbow,  and  craves  emptying  1 
Nay,  fear  not  me,  for  I  have  no  delight 
To  watch  men's  vices,  since  I  have  myself 
Of  virtue  nought  to  boast  of.    I'm  a  striker, 
Would  have  the  world  strike  with  me,  pell-mell,  all. 

— Pandomionium. 

Teessilian,  in  strange  agitation  of  mind,  had  hardly 
stepped  down  the  first  two  or  three  steps  of  the  winding  stair- 
case, when,  greatly  to  his  surprise  and  displeasure,  he  met 
Michael  Lamboume,  wearing  an  impudent  familiarity  of 
visage,  for  which  Tressilian  felt  much  disposed  to  throw  him 
downstairs;  until  he  remembered  the  prejudice  which  Amy, 
the  only  object  of  his  solicitude,  was  likely  to  receive  from  his 
engaging  in  any  act  of  violence  at  that  time  and  in  that  place. 

He,  therefore,  contented  himself  with  looking  sternly  upon 
Lamboume,  as  upon  one  whom  he  deemed  unworthy  of 
notice,  and  attempted  to  pass  him  in  his  way  downstairs  with- 
out any  symptom  of  recognition.  But  Lamboume,  who, 
amidst  the  profusion  of  that  day's  hospitality,  had  not  failed 
to  take  a  deep,  though  not  an  overpowering,  cup  of  sack,  was 
not  in  the  humor  of  humbling  himself  before  any  man's 
looks.  He  stopped  Tressilian  upon  the  staircase  without  the 
least  bashfulness  or  embarrassment,  and  addressed  him  as  if 
they  had  been  on  kind  and  intimate  terms — "  What,  no 
grudge  between  us,  I  hope,  upon  old  scores.  Master  Tressilian? 
Nay,  I  am  one  who  remember  former  kindness  rather  than 
later  feud.  I'll  convince  you  that  I  meant  honestly  and 
kindly,  aye,  and  comfortably  by  you." 

"  I  desire  none  of  your  intimacy,"  said  Tressilian;  "  keep 
company  with  your  mates." 

"  Now,  see  how  hasty  he  is! "  said  Lamboume;  "  and  how 
these  gentles,  that  are  made  questionless  out  of  the  porcelain 
clay  of  the  earth,  look  down  upon  poor  Michael  Lamboume! 
You  would  take  Master  Tressilian  now  for  the  most  maid- 
like, modest,  simpering  squire  of  dames  that  ever  made  love 
when  candles  were  long  i'  the  stuff — snuff — call  you  it? 
Why,  you  would  play  the  saint  on  us,  Master  TressUian,  and 
forget  that  even  now  thou  hast  a  commodity  in  thy  very  bed- 


KENILWORTH,  311 

chamber,  to  the  shame  of  my  lord's  castle — ^ha!  ha!  ha!  Have 
I  touched  you,  Master  Tressilian?" 

"I  know  not  what  you  mean,"  said  Tressilian,  inferring, 
however,  too  surely  that  this  licentious  ruffian  must  have  been 
sensible  of  iVmy's  presence  in  his  apartment;  "  but  if,"  he 
continued,  "thou  art  varlet  of  the  chambers,  and  lackest  a 
fee,  there  is  one  to  leave  mine  unmolested." 

Lambourne  looked  at  the  piece  of  gold,  and  put  it  in  his 
pocket,  saying,  '^  Now,  I  know  not  but  you  might  have  done 
more  with  me  by  a  kind  word  than  by  this  chiming  rogue. 
But  after  all,  he  pays  well  that  pays  with  gold;  and  Mike 
Lambourne  was  never  a  make-bate,  or  a  spoil-sport,  or  the 
like.  E'en  live  and  let  others  live,  that  is  my  motto;  only,  I 
would  not  let  some  folks  cock  their  beaver  at  me  neither,  as  if 
they  were  made  of  silver  ore  and  I  of  Dutch  pewter.  So,  if  I 
keep  your  secret,  Master  Tressilian,  you  may  look  sweet  on 
me  at  least;  and  were  I  to  want  a  little  backing  or  counte- 
nance, being  caught,  as  you  see  the  best  of  us  may  be^  in  a 
sort  of  peccadillo — why,  you  owe  it  me;  and  so  e'en  make 
your  chamber  serve  you  and  that  same  bird  in  bower  beside 
— it's  all  one  to  Mike  Lamboiime." 

"  Make  way,  sir,"  said  Tressilian,  unable  to  bridle  his  in- 
dignation; "  you  have  had  your  fee." 

^^Um!"  said  Lambourne,  giving  place,  however,  while  he 
sulkily  muttered  between  his  teeth,  repeating  Tressilian's 
words — "  '  Make  way ' — and  '  you  have  had  your  fee ';  but  it 
matters  not.  I  will  spoil  no  sport,  as  I  said  before;  I  am  no 
dog  in  the  manger,  mind  that." 

He  spoke  louder  and  louder,  as  Tressilian,  by  whom  he  felt 
himself  overawed,  got  farther  and  farther  out  of  hearing. 

"  I  am  no  dog  in  the  manger;  but  I  will  not  carry  coals 
neither,  mind  that,  my  Master  Tressilian;  and  I  will  have  a 
peep  at  this  wench,  whom  you  have  quartered  so  commodi- 
ously  in  your  old  haunted  room,  afraid  of  ghosts,  belike,  and 
not  too  willing  to  sleep  alone.  If  I  had  done  this  now  in  a 
strange  lord's  castle,  the  word  had  been — '  The  porter's  lodge 
for  the  knave! '  and  '  Have  him  flogged;  trundle  him  down- 
stairs like  a  turnip! '  Aye,  but  your  virtuous  gentlemen  take 
strange  privileges  over  us,  who  are  downright  servants  of 
our  senses.  Well,  I  have  my  Master  Tressilian's  head  under 
my  belt  by  this  lucky  discovery,  that  is  one  thing  certain; 
and  I  will  try  to  get  a  sight  of  this  Lindabrides  of  his,  that 
is  another/' 


CHAPTEK  XXIX. 

Now  fare  the  well,  my  master  ;  if  true  service 
Be  guerdon'd  with  hard  looks,  e'en  cut  the  tow-line, 
And  let  our  barks  across  the  pathless  flood 
Hold  different  courses. 

—Shipwreck, 

Tbessilian  walked  into  the  outer  yard  of  the  castle,  scarce 
knowing  what  to  think  of  his  late  strange  and  most  unex- 
pected interview  with  Amy  Eobsart,  and  dubious  if  he  had 
done  well,  being  intrusted  with  the  delegated  authority  of 
her  father,  to  pass  his  word  so  solemnly  to  leave  her  to  her 
own  guidance  for  so  many  hours.  Yet  how  could  he  have 
denied  her  request,  dependent  as  she  had  too  probably  ren- 
dered herself  upon  Vamey?  Such  was  his  natural  reasoning. 
The  happiness  of  her  future  life  might  depend  upon  his  not 
driving  her  to  extremities,  and  since  no  authority  of  Tressil- 
ian^s  could  extricate  her  from  the  power  of  Varney,  supposing 
he  was  to  acknowledge  Amy  to  be  his  wife,  what  title  had 
he  to  destroy  the  hope  of  domestic  peace  which  might  yet 
remain  to  her  by  setting  enmity  betwixt  them?  Tressilian 
resolved,  therefore,  scrupulously  to  observe  his  word  pledged 
to  Amy,  both  because  it  had  been  given,  and  because,  as  he 
still  thought,  while  he  considered  and  reconsidered  that  ex- 
traordinary interview,  it  could  not  with  justice  or  propriety 
have  been  refused. 

In  one  respect  he  had  gained  mucji  toward  securing  effect- 
ual protection  for  this  unhappy  and  still  beloved  object  of  his 
early  affection.  Amy  was  no  longer  mewed  up  in  a  distant 
and  solitary  retreat,  under  the  charge  of  persons  of  doubtful 
reputation.  She  was  in  the  Castle  of  Kenilworth,  within  the 
verge  of  the  royal  court  for  the  time,  free  from  all  risk  ol' 
violence,  and  liable  to  be  produced  before  Elizabeth  on  the 
first  summons.  These  were  circumstances  which  could  not 
but  assist  greatly  the  efforts  which  he  might  have  occasion  to 
use  in  her  behalf. 

While  he  was  thus  balancing  the  advantages  and  perils 
which  attended  her  unexpected  presence  in  Kenilworth,  Tres- 
silian was  hastily  and  anxiously  accosted  by  Wayland,  who, 
after  ejaculating,  "  Thank  God,  your  worship  is  found  at 
last!  *'  proceeded  with  breathless  caution  to  pour  into  his  ear 


KENILWORTE.  313 

the  intelligence  that  the  lady  had  escaped  from  Cunmor 
Place. 

"  And  is  at  present  in  this  castle,"  said  Tressilian;  "  I  know 
it,  and  I  have  seen  her.  Was  it  by  her  own  choice  she  found 
refuge  in  my  apartment?" 

"  No,"  answered  Way  land;  "  but  I  could  think  of  no  other 
way  of  safely  bestowing  her,  and  was  but  too  happy  to  find 
a  deputy-usher  who  knew  where  you  were  quartered — in  jolly 
society  truly,  the  hall  on  the  one  hand  and  the  kitchen  on 
the  other! " 

"  Peace,  this  is  no  time  for  jesting,"  answered  Tressilian, 
sternly. 

*'  I  wot  that  but  too  well,"  said  the  artist,  "  for  I  have  felt 
these  three  days  as  if  I  had  an  halter  round  my  neck.  This 
lady  knows  not  her  own  mind;  she  will  have  none  of  your 
aid — commands  you  not  to  be  named  to  her — and  is  about 
to  put  herself  into  the  hands  of  my  Lord  Leicester.  I  had 
never  got  her  safe  into  your  chamber,  had  she  known  the 
owner  of  it." 

"Is  it  possible?  said  Tressilian.  "But  she  may  have 
hopes  the  earl  will  exert  his  influence  in  her  favor  over  his 
villainous  dependent." 

"  I  know  nothing  of  that,"  said  Wayland;  "  but  I  believe, 
if  she  is  to  reconcile  herself  with  either  Leicester  or  Vamey, 
the  side  of  the  Castle  of  Kenilworth  which  will  be  safest  for 
us  will  be  the  outside,  from  which  we  can  fastest  fly  away.  It 
is  not  my  purpose  to  abide  an  instant  after  delivery  of  the 
letter  to  Leicester,  which  waits  but  your  commands  to  find  its 
way  to  him.  See,  here  it  is;  but  no-  -a  plague  on  it — I  must 
have  left  it  in  my  dog-hole,  in  the  hayloft  yonder,  where  I  am 
to  sleep." 

"  Death  and  fury!  "  said  Tressilian,  transported  beyond  his 
usual  patience;  "  thou  hast  not  lost  that  on  which  may  depend 
a  stake  more  important  than  a  thousand  such  lives  as  thine?  " 

"  Lost  it! "  answered  Wayland  readily;  "  that  were  a  jest 
indeed!  No,  sir,  I  have  it  carefully  put  up  with  my  night- 
sack,  and  some  matters  I  have  occasion  to  use.  I  will  fetch 
it  in  an  instant." 

"Do  so,"  said  Tressilian;  "be  faithful,  and  thou  shalt  be 
well  rewarded.  But  if  I  have  reason  to  suspect  thee,  a  dead 
dog  were  in  better  case  than  thou!  " 

Wayland  bowed,  and  took  his  leave  with  seeming  confi- 
dence and  alacrity;  but,  in  fact,  filled  with  the  utmost  dread 
and  confusion.     The  letter  was  lost,  that  was  certain,  not- 


8U  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

withstanding  the  apology  which  he  had  made  to  appease  the 
impatient  displeasure  of  Tressilian.  It  was  lost;  it  might  fall 
into  wrong  hands;  it  would  then,  certainly,  occasion  a  dis- 
covery of  the  whole  intrigue  in  which  he  had  been  engaged; 
n-or,  indeed,  did  Wayland  see  much  prospect  of  its  remaining 
concealed  in  any  event.  He  felt  much  hurt,  besides,  at  Tres- 
silian^s  burst  of  impatience. 

^'  Nay,  if  I  am  to  be  paid  in  this  coin  for  services  where  my 
neck  is  concerned,  it  is  time  I  should  look  to  myself.  Here 
have  I  offended,  for  aught  I  know,  to  the  death  the  lord  of 
this  stately  castle,  whose  word  were  as  powerful  to  take  away 
my  life  as  the  breath  which  speaks  it  to  blow  out  a  farthing 
candle.  And  all  this  for  a  mad  lady  and  a  melancholy  gallant, 
who,  on  the  loss  of  a  four-nooked  bit  of  paper,  has  his  hand 
on  his  poignado,  and  swears  death  and  fury!  Then  there  is 
the  doctor  and  Vamey — I  will  save  myself  from  the  whole 
mess  of  them.  Life  is  dearer  than  gold:  I  will  fly  this  instant, 
though  I  leave  my  reward  behind  me.^' 

These  reflections  naturally  enough  occurred  to  a  mind  like 
Wayland^s,  who  found  himself  engaged  far  deeper  than  he 
had  expected  in  a  train  of  mysterious  and  unintelligible  in- 
trigue, in  which  the  actors  seemed  hardly  to  know  their  own 
course.  And  yet,  to  do  him  justice,  his  personal  fears  were, 
in  some  degree,  counterbalanced  by  his  compassion  for  the 
deserted  state  of  the  lady. 

"  I  care  not  a  groat  for  Master  Tressilian,"  he  said;  "  I 
have  done  more  than  bargain  by  him,  and  have  brought  his 
errant-dam ozel  within  his  reach,  so  that  he  may  look  after 
her  himself;  but  I  fear  the  poor  thing  is  in  much  danger 
amongst  these  stormy  spirits.  I  will  to  her  chamber,  and  tell 
her  the  fate  which  has  befallen  her  letter,  that  she  may 
write  another  if  she  list.  She  cannot  lack  a  messenger,  I 
trow,  where  there  are  so  many  lackeys  that  can  carry  a  letter 
to  their  lord.  And  I  will  tell  her  also  that  I  leave  the  castle, 
trusting  her  to  God,  her  own  guidance,  and  Master  Tres- 
silian's  care  and  looking  after.  Perhaps  she  may  remember 
the  ring  she  offered  me;  it  was  well  earned,  I  trow.  But  she 
is  a  lovely  creature,  and — marry  hang  the  ring!  I  will  not 
bear  a  base  spirit  for  the  matter.  If  I  fare  ill  in  this  world 
for  my  good-nature,  I  shall  have  better  chance  in  the  next. 
So  now  for  the  lady,  and  then  for  the  road.'^ 

With  the  stealthy  step  and  jealous  eye  of  the  cat  that  steals 
on  her  prey,  Wayland  resumed  the  way  to  the  countess' 
chamber,  sliding  along  by  the  side  of  the  courts  and  passages. 


KBNILWORTH.  316 

alike  observant  of  all  around  him  and  studious  himself  to 
escape  observation.  In  this  manner  he  crossed  the  outward 
and  inward  castle-yard,  and  the  great  arched  passage,  which, 
running  betwixt  the  range  of  kitchen  offices  and  the  hall,  led 
to  the  bottom  of  the  little  winding  stair  that  gave  access  to 
the  chambers  of  Mervyn's  Tower. 

The  artist  congratulated  himself  on  having  escaped  the 
various  perils  of  his  journey,  and  was  in  the  act  of  ascending 
by  two  steps  at  once,  when  he  observed  that  the  shadow  of 
a  man,  thrown  from  a  door  which  stood  ajar,  darkened  the 
opposite  wall  of  the  staircase.  Wayland  drew  back  cautiously, 
went  down  into  the  inner  courtyard,  spent  about  a  quarter  of 
an  hour,  which  seemed  at  least  quadruple  its  usual  duration, 
in  walking  from  place  to  place,  and  then  returned  to  the 
tower,  in  hopes  to  find  that  the  lurker  had  disappeared.  He 
ascended  as  high  as  the  suspicious  spot — there  was  no  shadow 
on  the  wall;  he  ascended  a  few  yards  farther — the  door  was 
still  ajar,  and  he  was  doubtful  whether  to  advance  or  retreat, 
when  it  was  suddenly  thrown  wide  open,  and  Michael  Lam- 
bourne  bolted  out  upon  the  astonished  Wayland.  "  Who  the 
devil  art  thou?  and  what  seeFst  thou  in  this  part  of  the 
castle?     March  into  that  chamber,  and  be  hanged  to  thee! " 

"  I  am  no  dog,  to  go  at  every  man's  whistle,"  said  the  artist, 
affecting  a  confidence  which  was  belied  by  a  timid  shake  in 
his  voice. 

"  Say'st  thou  me  so?     Come  hither,  Laurence  Staples." 

A  huge,  ill-made  and  ill-looked  fellow,  upward  of  six  feet 
high,  appeared  at  the  door,  and  Lamboume  proceeded:  "  If 
thou  be'st  so  fond  of  this  tower,  my  friend,  thou  shalt  see  its 
foundations,  good  twelve  feet  below  the  bed  of  the  lake,  and 
tenanted  by  certain  jolly  toads,  snakes,  and  so  forth,  which 
thou  wilt  find  mighty  good  company.  Therefore,  once  more 
I  ask  you  in  fair  play  who  thou  art,  and  what  thou  seek'st 
here?" 

"If  the  dungeon-grate  once  clashes  behind  me,"  thought 
Wayland,  "  I  am  a  gone  man."  He  therefore  answered  sub- 
missively, "  He  was  the  poor  juggler  whom  his  honor  had 
met  yesterday  in  Weatherly  Bottom." 

"'  And  what  juggling  trick  art  thou  playing  in  this  tower? 
Thy  gang,"  said  Lamboume,  "lie  over  against  Clinton's 
Buildings." 

"  I  came  here  to  see  my  sister,"  said  the  juggler,  "  who  is 
in  Master  Tressilian's  chamber,  just  above." 

"  Aha!  "  said  Lamboume,  smiling,  "  here  be  truths!     Upon 


816  WA7ERLET  NOVELS. 

my  honor,  for  a  stranger,  this  same  Master  Treesilian  makes 
himself  at  home  among  us,  and  furnishes  out  his  cell  hand- 
somely with  all  sorts  of  commodities.  This  will  be  a  precious 
tale  of  the  sainted  Master  Tressilian,  and  will  be  welcome  to 
some  folks,  as  a  purse  of  broad  pieces  to  me.  Hark  ye,  fel- 
low,^' he  continued,  addressing  Wayland,  "  thou  shalt  not 
give  puss  a  hint  to  steal  away:  we  must  catch  her  in  her  form. 
So,  back  with  that  pitiful  sheep-biting  visage  of  thine,  or  I 
will  fling  thee  from  the  window  of  the  tower,  and  try  if  your 
juggling  skill  can  save  your  bones." 

"  Your  worship  will  not  be  so  hard-hearted,  I  hope,"  said 
Wayland;  "  poor  folk  must  live.  I  trust  your  honor  will  allow 
me  to  speak  with  my  sister?  " 

"  Sister  on  Adam's  side,  I  warrant,"  said  Lamboume;  "  or, 
if  otherwise,  the  more  knave  thou.  But  sister  or  no  sister, 
thou  diest  on  point  of  fox,-  if  thou  comest  a-prying  to  this 
tower  once  more.  And  now  I  think  of  it — uds  daggers  and 
death! — I  will  see  thee  out  of  the  castle,  for  this  is  a  more 
main  concern  than  thy  jugglery." 

"  But,  please  your  worship,"  said  Wayland,  "  I  am  to  enact 
Arion  in  the  pageant  upon  the  lake  this  very  evening." 

"  I  will  act  it  myself,  by  St.  Christopher!  "  said  Lamboume. 
"  Orion,  call'st  thou  him?  I  will  act  Orion,  his  belt  and  his 
seven  stars  to  boot.  Come  along,  for  a  rascal  knave  as  thou 
art;  follow  me!  Or  stay;  Laurence,  do  thou  bring  him 
along." 

Laurence  seized  by  the  collar  of  the  cloak  the  unresisting 
juggler,  while  Lamboume,  with  hasty  steps,  led  the  way  to 
that  same  sally-port,  or  secret  postern,  by  which  Tressilian 
had  returned  to  the  castle,  and  which  opened  in  the  western 
wall,  at  no  great  distance  from  Mervyn's  Tower. 

While  traversing  with  a  rapid  foot  the  space  betwixt  the 
tower  and  the  sally-port,  Wayland  in  vain  racked  his  brain 
for  some  device  which  might  avail  the  poor  lady,  for  whom, 
notwithstanding  his  own  imminent  danger,  he  felt  deep  in- 
terest. But  when  he  was  thrust  out  of  the  castle,  and 
informed  by  Lamboume,  with  a  tremendous  oath,  that 
instant  death  would  be  the  consequence  of  his  again  approach- 
ing it,  he  cast  up  his  hands  and  eyes  to  heaven,  as  if  to  call 
God  to  witness  he  had  stood  to  the  uttermost  in  defense  of 
the  oppressed;  then  turned  his  back  on  the  proud  towers  of 
Kenilworth,  and  went  his  way  to  seek  a  hlimbler  and  safer 
place  of  refuge. 

Laurence  and  Lamboume  gazed  a  little  while  after  Way- 


J 


KENILWORTK  817 

land,  and  then  turned  to  go  back  to  their  tower,  wnen  the 
former  thus  addressed  his  companion:  "  Never  credit  me. 
Master  Lamboume,  if  I  can  guess  why  thou  hast  driven  this 
poor  caitiff  from  the  castle,  just  when  he  was  to  bear  a  part  in 
the  show  that  was  beginning,  and  all  this  about  a  wench." 

"  Ah,  Laurence,"  replied  Lambourne,  "  thou  art  thinking 
of  Black  Joan  Jugges  of  Slingdon,  and  hast  sympathy  with 
human  frailty.  But  corragio,  most  noble  Duke  of  the  Dun- 
geon and  Lord  of  Limbo,  for  thou  art  as  dark  in  this  matter 
as  thine  own  dominions  of  Little  Ease.  My  most  reverend 
Siguier  of  the  Low  Countries  of  Kenilworth,  know  that  our 
most  notable  master,  Eichard  Vamey,  would  give  as  much  to 
have  a  hole  in  this  same  Tressilian's  coat  as  would  make  us 
some  fifty  midnight  carousals,  with  the  full  leave  of  bidding 
the  steward  go  snick  up,  if  he  came  to  startle  us  too  soon  from 
our  goblets." 

"  Nay,  an  that  be  the  case,  thou  hast  right,"  said  Laurence 
Staples,  the  upper-warder;  or,  in  common  phrase,  the  first 
jailer  of  Kenilworth  Castle,  and  of  the  liberty  and  honor 
belonging  thereto;  "  but  how  will  you  manage  when  you  are 
absent  at  the  Queen's  entrance,  Master  Lamboume;  for  me- 
thinks  thou  must  attend  thy  master  there?  " 

"  Why,  thou,  mine  honest  prince  of  prisons,  must  keep 
ward  in  my  absence.  Let  Tressilian  enter  if  he  will,  but  see 
thou  let  no  one  come  out.  If  the  damsel  herself  would  make 
a  break,  as  'tis  not  unlikely  she  may,  scare  her  back  with 
rough  words;  she  is  but  a  paltry  player's  wench  after  all." 

"  Nay,  for  that  matter,"  said  Laurence,  "  I  might  shut  the 
iron  wicket  upon  her,  that  stands  without  the  double  door, 
and  so  force  per  force  she  will  be  bound  to  her  answer  with- 
out more  trouble." 

"  Then  Tressilian  will  not  get  access  to  her,"  said  Lam- 
boume, reflecting  a  moment.  "  But  'tis  no  matter;  she  will 
be  detected  in  his  chamber,  and  that  is  all  one.  But  confess, 
thou  old  bat's-eyed  dungeon-keeper,  that  you  fear  to  keep 
awake  by  yourself  in  that  Mervyn's  Tower  of  thine?  " 

"  Why,  as  to  fear,  Master  Lamboume,"  said  the  fellow,  "  1 
mind  it  not  the  turning  of  -a  key;  but  strange  things  have 
been  heard  and  seen  in  that  tower.  You  must  have  heard, 
for  as  short  time  as  you  have  been  in  Kenilworth,  that  it  is 
haunted  by  the  spirit  of  Arthur  ap  Mervyn,  a  wild  chief  taken 
by  fierce  Lord  Mortimer,  when  he  was  one  of  the  Lords 
Marchers  of  Wales,  and  murdered,  as  they  say,  in  that  san\e 
tower  which  bears  his  name?  " 


818  WA  VEBLET  NO  VEL8, 

*'  Oh,  I  have  heard  the  tale  five  hundred  times,"  said  Lam- 
boiime,  "  and  how  the  ghost  is  always  most  vociferous  when 
they  boil  leeks  and  stirabout,  or  fry  toasted  cheese,  in  the 
culinary  regions.  Santo  Diavolo,  man,  hold  thy  tongue,  I 
know  all  about  it!  " 

"  Aye,  but  thou  dost  not,  though,''  said  the  turnkey,  "  for 
as  wise  as  thou  wouldst  make  thyself.  Ah,  it  is  an  awful 
thing  to  murder  a  prisoner  in  his  ward!  You,  that  may  have 
given  a  man  a  stab  in  a  dark  street,  know  nothing  of  it.  To 
give  a  mutinous  fellow  a  knock  on  the  head  with  the  keys, 
and  bid  him  be  quiet,  that's  what  I  call  keeping  order  in  the 
ward;  but  to  draw  weapon  and  slay  him,  as  was  done  to 
this  Welsh  lord,  that  raises  you  a  ghost  that  will  render  your 
prison-house  untenantable  by  any  decent  captive  for  some 
hundred  years.  And  I  have  that  regard  for  my  prisoners, 
poor  things,  that  I  have  put  good  squires  and  men  of  worship, 
that  have  taken  a  ride  on  the  highway,  or  slandered  my  Lord 
of  Leicester,  or  the  like,  fifty  feet  under  ground,  rather  than 
I  would  put  them  into  that  upper  chamber  yonder  that  they 
call  Mervyn's  Bower.  Indeed,  by  good  St.  Peter  of  the 
Fetters,  I  marvel  my  noble  lord  or  Master  Varney  could  think 
of  lodging  guests  there;  and  if  this  Master  Tressilian  could 
get  anyone  to  keep  him  company,  and  in  especial  a  pretty 
wench,  why,  truly,  I  think  he  was  in  the  right  on't." 

"I  tell  thee,"  said  Lamboume,  leading  the  way  into  the 
turnkey's  apartment,  "  thou  art  an  ass.  Go  bolt  the  wicket 
on  the  stair,  and  trouble  not  thy  noddle  about  ghosts.  Give 
me  the  wine-stoup,  man;  I  am  somewhat  heated  with  chafing 
with  yonder  rascal." 

While  Lamboume  drew  a  long  draught  from  a  pitcher  of 
claret,  which  he  made  use  of  without  any  cup,  the  warder 
went  on  vindicating  his  own  belief  in  the  supernatural. 

"  Thou  hast  been  few  hours  in  this  castle,  and  hast  been 
for  the  whole  space  so  drunk,  Lamboume,  that  thou  art  deaf, 
dumb,  and  blind.  But  we  should  hear  less  of  your  bragging, 
were  you  to  pass  a  night  with  us  at  full  moon,  for  then  the 
ghost  is  busiest;  and  more  especially  when  a  rattling  wind  sets 
in  from  the  northwest,  with  some  sprinkling  of  rain,  and 
now  and  then  a  growl  of  thunder.  Body  o'  me,  what  crack- 
lings and  clashings,  what  groanings,  and  what  bowlings,  will 
there  be  at  such  times  in  Mervyn's  Bower,  right  as  it  were  over 
our  heads,  till  the  matter  of  two  quarts  of  distilled  waters  has 
not  been  enough  to  keep  my  lads  and  me  in  some  heart!  " 

"  Pshaw,  man! "  replied  Lamboume,  on  whom  his  last 


KENILWORTH,  319 

draught,  joined  to  repeated  visitations  of  the  pitcher  upon 
former  occasions,  began  to  make  some  innovation,  "  thou 
speak'st  thou  know^st  not  what  about  spirits.  No  one  knows 
justly  what  to  say  about  them;  and,  in  short,  least  said  may 
in  that  matter  be  soonest  amended.  Some  men  believe  in 
one  thing,  some  in  another:  it  is  all  matter  of  fancy.  I  have 
known  them  of  all  sorts,  my  dear  Laurence  Lock-the-Door, 
and  sensible  men,  too.  There's  a  great  lord — we'll  pass  his 
name,  Laurence — he  believes  in  the  stars  and  the  moon,  the 
planets  and  their  courses,  aind  so  forth,  and  that  they  twinkle 
exclusively  for  his  benefit;  when,  in  sober,  or  rather  drunken 
truth,  Laurence,  they  are  only  shining  to  keep  honest  fellows 
like  me  out  of  the  kennel.  Well,  sir,  let  his  humor  pass;  he 
is  great  enough  to  indulge  it.  Then  look  ye,  there  is  another 
— a  very  learned  man,  I  promise  you,  and  can  vent  Greek  and 
Hebrew  as  fast  as  I  can  thieves'  Latin — he  has  an  humor 
of  sympathies  and  antipathies,  of  changing  lead  into  gold, 
and  the  like;  why,  via,  let  that  pass,  too,  and  let  him  pay 
those  in  transmigrated  coin  who  are  fools  enough  to  let  it  be 
current  with  them.  Then  here  comest  thou  thyself,  another 
great  man,  though  neither  learned  nor  noble,  yet  full  six  feet 
high,  and  thou,  like  a  purblind  mole,  must  needs  believe  in 
ghosts  and  goblins,  and  such-like.  Now,  there  is,  besides, 
a  great  man — that  is,  a  great  little  man,  or  a  little  great  man, 
my  dear  Laurence — and  his  name  begins  with  V,  and  what 
believes  he?  Why,  nothing,  honest  Laurence — nothing  in 
earth,  heaven,  or  hell;  and  for  my  part,  if  I  believe  there  is 
a  devil,  it  is  only  because  I  think  there  must  be  someone  to 
catch  our  aforesaid  friend  by  the  back  ^  when  soul  and  body 
sever,'  as  the  ballad  says;  for  your  antecedent  will  have  a 
consequent — raw  antecedentem,  as  Dr.  Bricham  was  wont  to 
say.  But  this  is  Greek  to  you  now,  honest  Laurence,  and  in 
sooth  learning  is  dry  work.    Hand  me  the  pitcher  once  more." 

"In  faith,  if  you  drink  more,  Michael,"  said  the  warder, 
"  you  will  be  in  sorry  case  either  to  play  Arion  or  to  wait  on 
your  master  on  such  a  solemn  night;  and  I  expect  each  mo- 
ment to  hear  the  great  bell  toll  for  the  muster  at  Mortimer's 
Tower  to  receive  the  Queen." 

While  Staples  remonstrated,  Lamboume  drank;  and  then 
setting  down  the  pitcher,  which  was  nearly  emptied,  with  a 
deep  sigh,  he  said  in  an  undertone,  which  soon  rose  to  a  high 
one  as  his  speech  proceeded,  "  Never  mind,  Laurence;  if  I  be 
drunk,  I  know  that  shall  make  Varney  uphold  me  siober. 
But,  as  I  said,  never  mind,  I  can  carry  my  drink  discreetly. 


820  WAVBBLET  NOVELS. 

Moreover,  1  am  to  go  on  the  water  as  Orion,  ana  shall  take 
cold  unless  I  take  something  comfortable  beforehand.  Not 
play  Orion!  Let  us  see  the  best  roarer  that  ever  strained 
his  lungs  for  twelve  pence  out-mouth  me!  What  if  they  see 
me  a  little  disguised?  Wherefore  should  any  man  be  sober 
to-night?  Answer  me  that.  It  is  matter  of  loyalty  to  be 
merry;  and  I  tell  thee,  there  are  those  in  the  castle  who,  if 
they  are  not  merry  when  drunk,  have  little  chance  to  be 
merry  when  sober.  I  name  no  names,  Laurence.  But  your 
pottle  of  sack  is  a  fine  shoeing-hom  to  pull  on  a  loyal  humor 
and  a  merry  one.  Huzza  for  Queen  Elizabeth! — for  the  noble 
Leicester! — for  the  worshipful  Master  Vamey! — and  for 
Michael  Lamboume,  that  can  turn  them  all  round  his 
finger! '' 

So  saying,  he  walked  downstairs,  and  across  the  inner  court. 

The  warder  looked  after  him,  shook  his  head,  and,  while  he 
drew  close  and  locked  a  wicket,  which,  crossing  the  staircase, 
rendered  it  impossible  for  anyone  to  ascend  higher  than  the 
story  immediately  beneath  Mervv'n's  Bower,  as  Tressilian's 
chamber  was  named,  he  thus  soliloquized  with  himself — "  It's 
a  good  thing  to  be  a  favorite.  I  well-nigh  lost  mine  office 
because,  one  frosty  morning.  Master  Vamey  thought  I 
smelled  of  aquavitae;  and  this  fellow  can  appear  before  him 
drunk  as  a  wine-skin,  and  yet  meet  no  rebuke.  But  then  he 
is  a  pestilent  clever  fellow  withal,  fl^d  »o  one  can  understand 
above  one-half  of  what  he  says/' 


XXX. 

Now  bid  the  steeple  rock ;  she  comes— ghe  comes ! 
Speak  for  ub,  bells — speak  for  us,  shrill  tongued  tucketSo 
Stand  to  thy  linstock,  gunner  ;  let  thy  cannon 
Play  such  a  peal,  as  if  a  paynim  foe 
Came  stretch'd  in  turban'd  ranks  to  storm  the  ramparts. 
We  Trill  have  pageants  too  :  but  that  craves  wit, 
And  I'm  a  rough-hewn  soldier. 

— The  Virgin  Queen,  a  Tragi- Comedy, 

Teessilian,  when  Wayland  had  left  him,  as  mentioned  in 
the  last  chapter,  remained  uncertain  what  he  ought  next  to 
do,  when  Raleigh  and  Blount  came  up  to  him  arm  in  arm, 
yet,  according  to  their  wont,  very  eagerly  disputing  together. 
Tressilian  had  no  great  desire  for  their  society  in  the  present 
state  of  his  feelings,  but  there  was  no  possibility  of  avoiding 
them;  and  indeed  he  felt  that,  bound  by  his  promise  not  to 
approach  Amy,  or  take  any  step  in  her  behalf,  it  would  be  his 
best  course  at  once  to  mix  with  general  society,  and  to  exhibit 
on  his  brow  as  little  as  he  could  of  the  anguish  and  uncer- 
tainty which  sat  heavy  at  his  heart.  He  therefore  made  a 
virtue  of  necessity,  and  hailed  his  comrades  with,  ^'  All  mirth 
to  you,  gentlemen.     Whence  come  ye?  " 

"  From  Warwick,  to  be  sure,"  said  Blount;  "  we  must  needs 
home  to  change  our  habits,  like  poor  players,  who  are  fain  to 
multiply  their  persons  to  outward  appearance  by  change  of 
suits;  and  you  had  better  do  the  like,  Tressilian." 

"  Blount  is  right,"  said  Ealeigh;  "  the  Queen  loves  such 
marks  of  deference,  and  notices,  as  wanting  in  respect,  those 
who,  not  arriving  in  her  immediate  attendance,  may  appear 
in  their  soiled  and  ruffled  riding  dress.  But  look  at  Blount 
himself,  Tressilian,  for  the  love  of  laughter,  and  see  how  his 
villainous  tailor  hath  appareled  him — ^in  blue,  green,  and 
crimson,  with  carnation  ribands,  and  yellow  roses  in  his 
shoes! " 

"  Why,  what  wouldst  thou  have?  "  said  Blount.  "  I  told 
the  cross-legged  thief  to  do  his  best,  and  spare  no  cost;  and 
methinks  these  things  are  gay  enough — gayer  than  thine  own. 
I'll  be  judged  by  Tressilian." 

"  I  agree — ^I  agree,"  said  Walter  Raleigh.  "  Judge  betwixt 
us,  Tressilian,  for  the  love  of  Heaven!  " 

Tressilian,  thus  appealed  to,  looked  at  them  both,  and  waa 

m 


322  WAVERLET  NOVELS, 

immediately  sensible  at  a  single  glance  that  honest  Blount 
had  taken  upon  the  tailor's  warrant  the  pied  garments  which 
he  had  chosen  to  make,  and  was  as  much  embarrassed  by  the 
quantity  of  points  and  ribands  which  garnished  his  dress  as 
a  clown  is  in  his  holiday  clothes;  while  the  dress  of  Raleigh 
was  a  well-fancied  and  rich  suit,  which  the  wearer  bore  as 
a  garb  too  well  adapted  to  his  elegant  person  to  attract  par- 
ticular attention.  Tressilian  said,  therefore,  "  That  Blount's 
dress  was  finest,  but  Raleigh's  the  best  fancied." 

Blount  was  satisfied  with  his  decision.  "  I  knew  mine 
was  finest,"  he  said;  "  if  that  knave  Doublestich  had  brought 
me  home  such  a  simple  doublet  as  that  of  Raleigh's,  I  would 
have  beat  his  brains  out  with  his  own  pressing-iron.  Nay, 
if  we  must  be  fools,  ever  let  us  be  fools  of  the  first  head, 
say  I." 

"But  why  gettest  thou  not  on  thy  braveries,  Tressilian?" 
said  Raleigh. 

"  I  am  excluded  from  my  apartment  by  a  silly  mistake," 
said  Tressilian,  "  and  separated  for  the  time  from  my  baggage. 
I  was  about  to  seek  thee,  to  beseech  a  share  of  thy  lodging." 

"And  welcome,"  said  Raleigh;  "it  is  a  noble  one.  My 
Lord  of  Leicester  has  done  us  that  kindness,  and  lodged  us 
in  princely  fashion.  If  his  courtesy  be  extorted  reluctantly, 
it  is  at  least  extended  far.  I  would  advise  you  to  tell  your 
strait  to  the  earl's  chamberlain:  you  will  have  instant 
redress." 

"  Nay,  it  is  not  wo'rth  while,  since  you  can  spare  me  room," 
replied  Tressilian;  "  I  would  not  be  troublesome.  Has  any- 
one come  hither  with  you?  " 

"  Oh,  aye,"  said  Blount;  "  Vamey,  and  a  whole  tribe  of 
Leicestrians,  besides  about  a  score  of  us  honest  Sussex  folk. 
We  are  all,  it  seems,  to  receive  the  Queen  at  what  they  call 
the  Gallery  Tower,  and  witness  some  fooleries  there;  and 
then  we're  to  remain  in  attendance  upon  the  Queen  in  the 
great  hall — God  bless  the  mark! — while  those  who  are  now 
waiting  upon  her  Grace  get  rid  of  their  slough,  and  doff  their 
riding-suits.  Heaven  help  me,  if  her  Grace  should  speak  to 
me,  I  shall  never  know  what  to  answer! " 

"  And  what  has  detained  them  so  long  at  Warwick?  "  said 
Tressilian,  unwilling  that  their  conversation  should  return  to 
his  own  aifairs. 

"  Such  a  succession  of  fooleries,"  said  Blount,  "  as  were 
never  seen  at  Bartholomew  Fair.  We  have  had  speeches  and 
player*,  and  dogs  and  bears,  and  men  making  monkeys,  and 


women  moppets,  of  themselves.  I  marvel  the  Queen  could 
endure  it.  But  ever  and  anon  came  in  something  of  '  the 
lovely  light  of  her  gracious  countenance/  or  some  such  trash. 
Ah!  vamty  makes  a  fool  of  the  wisest.  But,  come,  let  us  on 
to  this  same  Gallery  Tower,  though  I  see  not  what  thou, 
Tressiiian,  canst  do  with  thy  riding-dress  and  boots." 

"  I  will  take  my  station  behind  thee,  Blount,"  said  Tres- 
siiian, who  saw  that  his  friend^s  unusual  finery  had  taken 
a  strong  hold  of  his  imagination;  "  thy  goodly  size  and  gay 
dress  will  cover  my  defects." 

"  And  so  thou  shalt,  Edmund,"  said  Blount.  "  In  faith,  I 
am  glad  thou  think^st  my  garb  well-fancied,  for  all  Mr.  Witty- 
pate  here;  for  when  one  does  a  foolish  thing,  it  is  right  to  do 
it  handsomely." 

So  saying,  Blount  cocked  his  beaver,  threw  out  his  leg, 
and  marched  manfully  forw^ard,  as  if  at  the  head  of  his 
brigade  of  pikemen,  ever  and  anon  looking  with  complaisance 
on  his  crimson  stockings  and  huge  yellow  roses  which  blos- 
somed on  his  shoes.  Tressiiian  followed,  wrapt  in  his  own 
sad  thoughts,  and  scarce  minding  Raleigh,  whose  quick 
fancy,  amused  by  the  awkward  vanity  of  his  respectable 
friend,  vented  itself  in  jests,  which  he  whispered  into  Tres- 
silian's  ear. 

In  this  manner  they  crossed  the  long  bridge,  or  tilt-yard, 
and  took  their  station,  with  other  gentlemen  of  quality,  before 
the  outer  gate  of  the  gallery,  or  entrance-tower.  The  whole 
amounted  to  about  forty  persons,  all  selected  as  of  the  first 
rank  under  that  of  knighthood,  and  were  disposed  in  double 
rows  on  either  side  of  the  gate,  like  a  guard  of  honor,  within 
the  close  hedge  of  pikes  and  partizans,  which  was  formed  by 
Leicester's  retainers,  wearing  their  liveries.  The  gentlemen 
carried  no  arms  save  their  swords  and  daggers.  These  gal- 
lants were  as  gayly  dressed  as  imagination  could  devise;  and 
as  the  garb  of  the  time  permitted  a  great  display  of  expensive 
magnificence,  naught  was  to  be  seen  but  velvet  and  cloth  of 
gold  and  silver,  ribands,  feathers,  gems,  and  golden  chains. 
In  spite  of  his  more  serious  subjects  of  distress,  Tressiiian 
could  not  help  feeling  that  he,  with  his  riding-suit,  however 
handsome  it  might  be,  made  rather  an  unworthy  figure 
among  these  "  fierce  vanities,"  and  the  rather  because  he  saw 
that  his  dishabille  was  the  subject  of  wonder  among  his  own 
friends  and  of  scorn  among  the  partizans  of  Leicester. 

We  could  not  suppress  this  fact,  though  it  may  seem  some- 
thing at  variance  with  the  gravity  of  Tressilian's  character; 


824  WAVBRLBT  NOVELS, 

but  the  truth  is,  that  a  regard  for  personal  appearance  is  a 
species  of  self-love  from  which  the  wisest  are  not  exempt,  and 
to  which  the  mind  clings  so  instinctively,  that  not  only  the 
soldier  advancing  to  almost  inevitable  death,  but  even  the 
doomed  criminal  who  goes  to  certain  execution,  shows  an 
anxiety  to  array  his  person  to  the  best  advantage.  But  this 
is  a  digression. 

It  was  the  twilight  of  a  summer  night  (9th  July,  1575), 
the  sun  having  for  some  time  set,  and  all  were  in  anxious 
expectation  of  the  Queen's  immediate  approach.  The  multi- 
tude had  remained  assembled  for  many  hours,  and  their  num- 
bers were  still  rather  on  the  increase.  A  profuse  distribution 
of  refreshments,  together  with  roasted  oxen,  and  barrels  of 
ale  set  a-broach  in  different  places  of  the  road,  had  kept  the 
populace  in  perfect  love  and  loyalty  toward  the  Queen  and 
her  favorite,  which  might  have  somewhat  abated  had  fasting 
been  added  to  watching.  They  passed  away  the  time,  there- 
fore, with  the  usual  popular  amusements  of  whooping,  halloo- 
ing, shrieking,  and  playing  rude  tricks  upon  each  other, 
forming  the  chorus  of  discordant  sounds  usual  on  such  occa- 
sions. These  prevailed  all  through  the  crowded  roads  and 
fields,  and  especially  beyond  the  gate  of  the  chase,  where  the 
greater  number  of  the  common  sort  were  stationed;  when,  all 
of  a  sudden,  a  single  rocket  was  seen  to  shoot  into  the  atmos- 
phere, and,  at  the  instant,  far  heard  over  the  flood  and  field, 
the  great  bell  of  the  castle  tolled. 

Immediately  thei-e  was  a  pause  of  dead  silence,  succeeded 
by  a  deep  hum  of  expectation,  the  united  voice  of  many 
thousands,  none  of  whom  spoke  above  thedr  breath;  or,  to  use 
a  singular  expression,  the  whisper  of  an  immense  multitude. 

"  They  come  now,  for  certain,''  said  Raleigh.  "  Tressilian, 
that  sound  is  grand.  We  hear  it  from  this  distance,  as 
mariners,  after  a  long  voyage,  hear,  upon  their  night-watch, 
the  tide  rush  upon  some  distant  and  unknown  shore." 

"  Mass! "  answered  Blount,  "  I  hear  it  rather  as  I  used  to 
hear  mine  own  kine  lowing  from  the  close  of  Wittens 
Westlowe." 

"  He  will  assuredly  graze  presently,"  said  Raleigh  to  Tres- 
silian: "his  thought  is  all  of  fat  oxen  and  fertile  meadows; 
he  grows  little  better  than  one  of  his  own  beeves,  and  only 
becomes  grand  when  he  is  provoked  to  pushing  and  goring." 

"  We  shall  have  him  at  that  presently,"  said  Tressilian,  "  if 
you  spare  not  your  wit." 

"Tush,  I  care  not,"  answered  Raleigh;  "but  thou,  too. 


KENILWORTE.  326 

Tressilian,  hast  turned  a  kind  of  owl,  that  flies  only  by  night; 
hast  exchanged  thy  songs  for  screechings,  and  good  company 
for  an  ivy-tod/' 

"  But  what  manner  of  animal  art  thou  thyself,  Raleigh," 
said  Tressilian,  "that  thou  holdest  us  all  so  lightly?  " 

" Who,  I? "replied  Raleigh.  " An  eagle  am  I,  that  never 
will  think  of  dull  earth  while  there  is  a  heaven  to  soar  in  and 
a  sun  to  gaze  upon." 

"  Well  bragged,  by  St.  Bamaby!  "  said  Blount;  "  but,  good 
Master  Eagle,  beware  the  cage,  and  beware  the  fowler.  Many 
birds  have  flown  as  high,  that  I  have  seen  stuffed  with  straw, 
and  hung  up  to  scare  kites.  But  hark,  what  a  dead  silence 
hath  fallen  on  them  at  once! " 

"  The  procession  pauses,"  said  Raleigh,  "  at  the  gate  of  the 
chase,  where  a  sibyl,  one  of  the  Fatidicce,  meets  the  Queen, 
to  tell  her  fortune.  I  saw  the  verses;  there  is  little  savor  in 
them,  and  her  Grace  has  been  already  crammed  full  with  such 
poetical  compliments.  She  whispered  to  me  during  the  Re- 
corder's speech  yonder,  at  Ford  Mill,  as  she  entered  the  liber- 
ties of  Warwick,  how  she  was  '  pertaesa  barbarae  loquelse.' " 

"  The  Queen  whispered  to  Mm ! "  said  Blount,  in  a 
kind  of  soliloquy.  "  Grood  God,  to  what  will  this  world 
come! " 

His  farther  meditations  were  interrupted  by  a  shout  of 
applause  from  the  multitude,  so  tremendously  vociferous  that 
the  country  echoed  for  miles  round.  The  guards,  thickly 
stationed  upon  the  road  by  which  the  Queen  was  to  advance, 
caught  up  the  acclamation,  which  ran  like  wildfire  to  the 
castle,  and  announced  to  all  within  that  Queen  Elizabeth  had 
entered  the  royal  chase  of  Kenilworth.  The  whole  music  of 
the  castle  sounded  at  once,  and  a  round  of  artillery,  with  a 
salvo  of  small-arms,  was  discharged  from  the  battlements;  but 
the  noise  of  drums  and  trumpets,  and  even  of  the  cannon 
themselves,  was  but  faintly  heard  amidst  the  roaring  and 
reiterating  welcomes  of  the  multitude. 

As  the  noise  began  to  abate,  a  broad  glare  of  light  was 
seen  to  appear  from  the  gate  of  the  park,  and,  broadening 
and  brightening  as  it  came  nearer,  advanced  along  the  open 
and  fair  avenue  that  led  toward  the  Gallery  Tower;  which, 
as  we  have  already  noticed,  was  lined  on  either  hand  by  the 
retainers  of  the  Earl  of  Leicester.  The  word  was  passed 
along  the  line,  "  The  Queen!  The  Queen!  Silence,  and 
stand  fast!  "  Onward  came  the  cavalcade  illuminated  by  two 
hundred  thick  waxen  torches,  in  the  hands  of  as  many  horse- 


826  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

men,  which  cast  a  light  like  that  of  hroad  day  all  around  the 
procession,  but  especially  on  the  principal  group,  of  which  the 
Queen  herself,  arrayed  in  the  most  splendid  manner,  and  blaz- 
ing with  jewels,  formed  the  central  figure.  She  was  mounted 
on  a  milk-white  horse,  which  she  reined  \^dth  peculiar  grace 
and  dignity;  and  in  the  whole  of  her  stately  and  noble  car- 
riage you  saw  the  daughter  of  an  hundred  kings. 

The  ladies  of  the  court,  who  rode  beside  her  Majesty,  had 
taken  especial  care  that  their  own  external  appearance  should 
not  be  more  glorious  than  their  rank  and  the  occasion  alto- 
gether demanded,  so  that  no  inferior  luminary  might  appear 
to  approach  the  orbit  of  royalty.  But  their  personal  charms, 
and  the  magnificence  by  which,  under  ever^^  prudential  re- 
straint, they  were  necessarily  distinguished,  exhibited  them 
as  the  very  flower  of  a  realm  so  far  famed  for  splendor  and 
beauty.  The  magnificence  of  the  courtiers,  free  from  such 
restraints  as  prudence  imposed  on  the  ladies,  was  yet  more 
unbounded, 

Leicester,  who  glittered  like  a  golden  image  with  jewels 
and  cloth  of  gold,  rode  on  her  Majesty's  right  hand,  as  well 
in  quality  of  her  host  as  of  her  master  of  the  horse.  The 
black  steed  which  he  mounted  had  not  a  single  white  hair 
on  his  body,  and  was  one  of  the  most  renowned  chargers  in 
Europe,  having  been  purchased  by  the  earl  at  large  expense 
for  this  royal  occasion.  As  the  noble  animal  chafed  at  the 
slow  pace  of  the  procession,  and,  arching  his  stately  neck, 
champed  on  the  silver  bits  which  restrained  him,  the  foam 
fleT\^  from  his  mouth  and  specked  his  well-formed  limbs,  as 
if  with  spots  of  snow.  The  rider  well  became  the  high  place 
which  he  held  and  the  proud  steed  which  he  bestrode;  for  no 
man  in  England,  or  perhaps  in  Europe,  was  more  perfect  than 
Dudley  in  horsemanship  and  all  other  exercises  belonging  to 
his  quality.  He  was  bare-headed,  as  were  all  the  courtiers  in 
the  train;  and  the  red  torchlight  shone  upon  his  long  curled 
tresses  of  dark  hair,  and  on  his  noble  features,  to  the  beauty 
of  which  even  the  severest  criticism  could  only  object  the 
lordly  fault,  as  it  may  be  termed,  of  a  forehead  somewhat  too 
high.  On  that  proud  evening,  those  features  wore  all  the 
grateful  solicitude  of  a  subject  to  show  himself  sensible  of  the 
high  honor  which  the  Queen  was  conferring  on  him,  and  all 
the  pride  and  satisfaction  which  became  so  glorious  a  mo- 
ment. Yet,  though  neither  eye  nor  feature  betrayed  aught 
but  feelings  which  suited  the  occasion,  some  of  the  earl's 
personal  attendants  remarked  that  he  was  unusually  pale,  and 


J 


I 


KENILWOBTH,  327 

they  expressed  to  each  other  their  fear  that  he  was  taking 
more  fatigue  than  consisted  with  his  health. 

Varney  followed  close  behind  his  master,  as  the  principal 
esquire  in  waiting,  and  had  charge  of  his  lordship's  black 
velvet  bonnet,  garnished  with  a  clasp  of  diamonds  and  sur- 
mounted by  a  white  plume.  He  kept  his  eye  constantly  on 
his  master;  and,  for  reasons  with  which  the  reader  is  not 
unacquainted,  was,  among  Leicester's  numerous  dependents, 
the  one  who  was  most  anxious  that  his  lord's  strength  and 
resolution  should  carry  him  successfully  through  a  day  so 
agitating.  For,  although  Varney  was  one  of  the  few — the 
very  few — moral  monsters  who  contrive  to  lull  to  sleep  the 
remorse  of  their  own  bosoms,  and  are  drugged  into  moral  in- 
sensibility by  atheism,  as  men  in  extreme  agony  are  lulled  by 
opium,  yet  he  knew  that  in  the  breast  of  his  patron  there 
was  already  awakened  the  fire  that  is  never  quenched,  and 
that  his  lord  felt,  amid  all  the  pomp  and  magnificence  we 
have  described,  the  gnawing  of  the  worm  that  dieth  not. 
Still,  however,  assured  as  Lord  Leicester  stood,  by  Varney's 
own  intelligence,  that  his  countess  labored  under  an  indis- 
position which  formed  an  unanswerable  apology  to  the 
Queen  for  her  not  appearing  at  Kenilworth,  there  was 
little  danger,  his  wily  retainer  thought,  that  a  man  so  am- 
bitious would  betray  himself  by  giving  way  to  any  external 
weakness. 

The  train,  male  and  female,  who  attended  immediately 
upon  the  Queen's  person  were,  of  course,  of  the  bravest  and 
the  fairest — the  highest  bom  nobles  and  the  wisest  counselors 
of  that  distinguished  redgn,  to  repeat  whose  names  were  but 
to  weary  the  reader.  Behind  came  a  long  crowd  of  knights 
and  gentlemen,  whose  rank  and  birth,  however  distinguished, 
were  thrown  into  the  shade,  as  their  persons  into  the  rear  of  a 
procession  whose  front  was  of  such  august  majesty. 

Thus  marshaled,  the  cavalcade  approached  the  Gallery 
Tower,  which  formed,  as  we  have  often  observed,  the  extreme 
barrier  of  the  castle. 

It  was  now  the  part  of  the  huge  porter  to  step  forward; 
but  the  lubbard  was  so  overwhelmed  with  confusion  of  spirit 
— the  contents  of  one  immense  black-jack  of  double  ale, 
which  he  had  just  drank  to  quicken  his  memory,  having 
treacherously  confused  the  brain  it  was  intended  to  clear — 
that  he  only  groaned  piteously,  and  remained  sitting  on  his 
stone  seat;  and  the  Queen  would  have  passed  on  without 
greeting,  had  not  the  gigantic  warder's  secret  ally,  Flibberti- 


828  WA  VERLET  NO  VEL8, 

gibbet,  who  lay  perdue  behind  him,  thrust  a  pin  into  the  real 
of  the  short  femoral  garment  which  we  elsewhere  described. 
The  porter  uttered  a  sort  of  a  yell,  which  came  not  amiss 
into  his  part,  started  up  with  his  club,  and  dealt  a  sound 
douse  or  two  on  each  side  of  him;  and  theai,  like  a  coach- 
horse  pricked  by  the  spur,  started  off  at  once  into  the  full 
career  of  his  address,  and,  by  dint  of  active  prompting  on  the 
part  of  Dickie  Sludge,  delivered,  in  sounds  of  gigantic  in- 
tonation, a  speech  which  may  be  thus  abridged,  the  reader 
being  to  suppose  that  the  first  lines  were  addressed  to  the 
throng  who  approached  the  gateway;  the  conclusion,  at  the 
approach  of  the  Queen,  upon  sight  of  whom,  as  struck  by 
some  Heavenly  vision,  the  gigantic  warder  dropped  his  club, 
resigned  his  keys,  and  gave  open  way  to  the  goddess  of  the 
night  and  all  her  magnificent  train: 

"  What  stir,  what  turmoil,  have  we  for  the  nones  ? 
Stand  back,  my  masters,  or  beware  your  bones  I 
Sirs,  I'm  a  warder,  and  no  man  of  straw, 
My  voice  keeps  order,  and  my  club  gives  law. 

Yet  soft — nay,  stay — what  vision  have  we  here? 

What  dainty  darling's  this — what  peerless  peer  ? 

What  loveliest  face,  that  loving  ranks  enfold, 

Like  brightest  diamond  chased  in  purest  gold? 

Dazzled  and  blind,  mine  office  I  forsake, 

My  club,  my  key,  my  knee,  my  homage  take. 

Bright  paragon,  pass  on  in  joy  and  bliss  ; — 

Beshrew  the  gate  that  opes  not  wide  at  such  a  sight  as  this !  *  * 

Elizabeth  received  most  graciousl}'^  the  homage  of  the 
Herculean  porter,  and,  bending  her  head  to  him  in  requital, 
passed  through  his  guarded  tower,  from  the  top  of  which 
was  poured  a  clamorous  blast  of  warlike  music,  which  was 
replied  to  by  other  bands  of  minstrelsy  placed  at  different 
points  on  the  castle  walls,  and  by  others  again  stationed  in 
the  chase;  while  the  tones  of  the  one,  as  they  yet  vibrated 
on  the  echoes,  were  caught  up  and  answered  by  new  harmony 
from  different  quarters. 

Amidst  these  bursts  of  music,  which,  as  if  the  work  of 
enchantment,  seemed  now  close  at  hand,  now  softened  by 
distance  space,  now  wailing  so  low  and  sweet  as  if  that  dis- 
tance were  gradually  prolonged  until  o^nly  the  last  lingering 
strains  could  reach  the  ear,  Queen  Elizabeth  crossed  the  Gal- 
lery Tower,  and  came  upon  the  long  bridge  which  extended 
from  thence  to  Mortimer's  Tower,  and  which  was  already  as 
light  as  day,  so  many  torches  had  been  fastened  to  the  pali- 
sades on  either  side.     Most  of  the  nobles  here  alighted,  and 

*  See  Imitation  of  Gascoigne.    Note  15. 


KENILWORTH,  82Q 

sent  their  horses  to  th«  neighboring  village  of  Kenilworth, 
following  the  Queen  on  foot,  as  did  the  gentlemen  who  had 
stood  in  array  to  receive  her  at  the  Galler}^  Tower. 

On  this  occasion,  as  at  different  times  during  the  evening, 
Ealeigh  addressed  himself  to  Tressilian,  and  was  not  a  little 
surprised  at  his  vague  and  unsatisfactory  answers;  which, 
joined  to  his  leaving  his  apartment  without  any  atsigned 
reason,  appearing  in  an  undress  when  it  was  likely  to  be 
offensive  to  the  Queen,  and  some  other  symptoms  of  irregu- 
larity which  he  thought  be  discovered,  led  him  to  doubt 
whether  his  friend  did  not  labor  under  some  temporary 
derangement. 

Meanwhile,  the  Queen  had  no  sooner  stepped  on  the  bridge 
than  a  new  spectacle  was  provided;  for,  as  soon  as  the  music 
gave  signal  that  she  was  so  far  advanced,  a  raft,  so  disposed 
as  to  resemble  a  small  floating  island,  illuminated  by  a  great 
variety  of  torches,  and  surrounded  by  floating  pageants 
formed  to  represent  sea-horses,  on  which  sat  Tritons,  Nereids, 
and  other  famous  deities  of  the  seas  and  rivers,  made  its 
appearance  upon  the  lake,  and,  issuing  from  behind  a  small 
heronry  where  it  had  been  concealed,  floated  gently  toward 
the  farther  end  of  the  bridge. 

On  the  islet  appeared  a  beautiful  woman,  clad  in  a  watchet- 
colored  silken  mantle,  bound  with  a  broad  girdle,  inscribed 
with  characters  like  the  phylacteries  of  the  HebTews.  Her 
feet  and  arms  were  bare,  but  her  wrists  and  ankles  were 
adorned  with  gold  bracelets  of  uncommon  size.  Amidst  her 
long  silky  black  hair  she  wore  a  crown  or  chaplet  of  artificial 
mistletoe,  and  bore  in  her  hand  a  rod  of  ebony  tipped  with 
silver.  Two  nymphs  attended  on  her,  dressed  in  the  same 
antique  and  mystical  guise. 

The  pageant  was  so  well  managed,  that  this  Lady  of  the 
Floating  Island,  having  performed  her  voyage  with  much 
picturesque  effect,  landed  at  Mortimer's  Tower,  with  her  two 
attendants,  just  as  Elizabeth  presented  herself  before  that 
outwork.  The  stranger  then,  in  a  well-penned  speech,  an- 
nounced herself  as  that  famous  Lady  of  the  Lake,  renowned 
in  the  stories  of  King  Arthur,  who  had  nursed  the  youth  of 
the  redoubted  Sir  Lancelot,  and  whose  beauty  had  proved 
too  powerful  both  for  the  wisdom  and  the  spells  of  the  mighty 
Merlin.  Since  that  early  period,  she  had  remained  possessed 
of  her  crystal  dominions,  she  said,  despite  the  various  men 
of  fame  and  might  by  whom  Kenilworth  had  been  success- 
ively tenanted.     The  Saxons,  the  Panes,  the  Normans,  the 


830  WAVEBLE7  NOVELS. 

Saintlowes,  the  Clintons,  the  Montforts,  the  Mortimeips,  the 
Plantagenets,  great  though  they  were  in  arms  and  magnifi- 
cenoe,  had  never,  she  siaid,  caused  her  to  raise  her  head  from 
the  waters  which  hid  her  crystal  palace.  But  a  greater  than 
all  these  great  names  had  now  appeared,  and  she  came  in 
homage  and  duty  to  welcome  the  peerless  Elizabeth  to  all 
sport  which  the  castle  and  its  environs,  which  lake  or  land, 
oould  afford. 

The  Queen  received  this  address  also  with  great  courtesy,  and 
made  answer  in  raillery,  "  We  thought  this  lake  had  belonged 
to  our  own  dominions,  fair  dame,  but  since  so  famed  a  lady 
claims  it  for  hers,  we  will  be  glad  at  some  other  time  to  have 
further  conmiuning  with  you  touching  our  joint  interests." 

With  this  gracious  answer,  the  Lady  of  the  Lake  vanished, 
and  Arion,  who  was  amongst  the  maritime  deities,  appeared 
upon  his  dolphin.  But  Lamboume,  who  had  taken  upon 
him  the  part  in  the  absence  of  Wayland,  being  chilled  with 
remaining  immersed  in  an  element  to  which  he  was  not 
friendly,  having  n-ever  got  his  speech  by  heart,  and  not  hav- 
ing, like  the  porter,  the  advantage  of  a  prompter,  paid  it  off 
with  impudence,  tearing  off  his  vizard,  and  swearing,  "  Cog's 
bones!  he  was  none  of  Arion  or  Orion  either,  but  honest  Mike 
Lamboume,  that  had  been  drinking  her  Majesty's  health 
from  morning  till  midnight,  and  was  come  to  bid  her  heartily 
welcome  to  Kenilworth  Castle." 

This  unpremeditated  buffoonery  answered  the  purpose 
probably  better  than  the  set  speech  would  have  done.  The 
Queen  laughed  heariily,  and  swore,  in  her  turn,  that  he  had 
made  the  best  speech  she  had  heard  that  day.  Lamboume, 
who  instantly  saw  his  jest  had  saved  his  bones,  jumped  ashore, 
gave  his  dolphin  a  kick,  and  declared  he  would  never  meddle 
with  fish  again,  except  at  dinner. 

At  the  same  time  that  the  Queen  was  about  to  enter  the 
castle,  that  memorable  discharge  of  fireworks  by  water  and 
land  took  place,  which  Master  Laneham,  formeriy  intro- 
duced to  the  reader,  has  strained  all  his  eloquence  to  describe. 

"  Such,"  says  the  clerk  of  the  council-chamber  door,  "  was 
the  blaze  of  burning  darts,  the  gleams  of  stars  coruscant, 
the  streams  and  hail  of  fiery  sparks,  lightnings  of  wildfire, 
and  flight-shot  of  thunderbolts,  with  continuance,  terror,  and 
vehemency,  that  the  heavens  thundered,  the  waters  surged, 
and  the  earth  shook;  and  for  my  part,  hardy  as  I  am,  it  made 
me  very  vengeably  afraid."  * 

*  See  Festivities  at  Eenilworth.    Note  18. 


CHAPTEE  XXXI. 

Nay,  this  is  matter  for  the  month  of  March, 
When  hares  are  maddest.     Either  speak  in  reason, 
Giving  cold  argument  the  wall  of  passion. 
Or  I  break  up  the  court. 

— Beaumont  and  Fletcheb. 

It  is  by  no  means  our  purpose  to  detail  nunutely  all  the 
princely  festivities  of  Kenilworth,  after  the  fashion  of  Master 
Robert  Laneham,  whom  we  quoted  in  the  conclusion  of  the 
last  chapter.  It  is  sufficient  to  say  that,  under  discharge  of 
the  splendid  fireworks,  which  we  have  borrowed  Laneham's 
eloquence  to  describe,  the  Queen  entered  the  base-court  of 
Kenilworth,  through  Mortimer's  Tower,  and  moving  on 
through  pageants  of  heathen  gods  and  heroes  of  antiquity, 
who  offered  gifts  and  compliments  on  the  bended  knee,  at 
length  found  her  way  to  the  great  hall  of  the  castle,  gor- 
geously hung  for  her  reception  with  the  richest  silken  tapes- 
try, misty  with  perfumes,  and  sounding  to  strains  of  soft  and 
delicious  music.  From  the  highly  carved  oaken  roof  hung 
a  superb  chandelier  of  gilt  bronze,  formed  like  a  spread  eagle, 
whose  outstretched  wings  supported  three  male  and  tlu*ee 
female  figures,  grasping  a  pair  of  branches  in  each  hand. 
The  hall  was  thus  illuminated  by  twenty-four  torches  of 
wax.  At  the  upper  end  of  the  splendid  apartment  was  a 
state  canopy,  overshadowing  a  royal  throne,  and  besdde  it  was 
a  door,  which  opened  to  a  long  suite  of  apartments,  decorated 
with  the  utmost  magnificence  for  the  Queen  and  her  ladies, 
whenever  it  should  be  her  pleasure  to  be  private. 

The  Earl  of  Leicester  having  handed  the  Queen  up  to  her 
throne  and  seated  her  there,  knelt  down  before  her,  and 
kissing  the  hand  which  she  held  out,  with  an  air  in  which 
romantic  and  respectful  gallantry  was  happily  mingled  with 
the  air  of  loyal  devotion,  he  thanked  her,  in  terms  of  the 
deepest  gratitude,  for  the  highest  honor  which  a  sovereign 
could  render  to  a  subject.  So  handsome  did  he  look  when 
kneeling  before  her,  that  Elizabeth  was  tempted  to  prolong 
the  scene  a  little  longer  than  there  was,  strictly  speaking, 
necessity  for;  and  ere  she  raised  him,  she  passed  her  hand 
over  his  head,  so  near  as  almost  to  touch  his  long  curled  and 
perfumed   hair,   and   with   a  movement   of   fondness,   that 


332  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

seemed  to  intimate  she  would,  if  she  dared,  have  made  the 
motion  a  sHght  caress.* 

She  at  length  raised  him;  and,  standing  beside  the  throne, 
he  explained  to  her  the  various  preparations  which  had  been 
made  for  her  amusement  and  accommodation,  all  of  which 
received  her  prompt  and  gracious  approbation.  The  earl 
then  prayed  Her  Majesty  for  permission  that  he  himself,  and 
the  nobles  who  had  been  in  attendance  upon  her  during  the 
journey,  might  retire  for  a  few  minutes,  and  put  themselves 
into  a  guise  more  fitting  for  dutiful  attendance,  during  which 
space,  those  gentiemen  of  worship  (pointing  to  Vamey, 
Blount,  Tressilian,  and  others),  who  had  already  put  them- 
selves into  fresh  attire,  would  have  the  honor  of  keeping  her 
presence-chamber. 

"  Be  it  so,  my  lord,"  answered  the  Queen;  "  you  could 
manage  a  theater  well,  who  can  thus  command  a  double  set 
of  actors.  For  ourselves,  we  will  receive  your  courtesies  this 
evening  but  clownishly,  since  it  is  not  our  purpose  to  change 
our  riding  attire,  being  in  effect  something  fatigued  with 
a  journey  which  the  concourse  of  our  good  people  hath  ren- 
dered slow,  though  the  love  they  have  shown  our  person  hath, 
at  the  same  time,  made  it  delightful." 

Leicester,  having  received  this  permission,  retired  accord- 
ingly, and  was  followed  by  those  nobles  who  bad  attended 
the  Queen  to  Kenilworth  in  person.  The  gentlemen  who 
had  preceded  them,  and  were  of  course  dressed  for  the 
Bolemnity,  remained  in  attendance.  But  being  most  of  them 
of  rather  inferior  rank,  they  remained  at  an  awful  distance 
from  the  throne  which  Elizabeth  occupied.  The  Queen's 
sharp  eye  soon  distinguished  Ealeigh  amongst  them,  with  one 
or  two  others  who  were  personally  known  to  her,  and  she 
instantly  made  them  a  sign  to  approach,  and  accosted  them 
very  graciously.  Ealeigh,  in  particular,  the  adventure  of 
whose  cloak,  as  well  as  the  incident  of  the  verses,  remained 
on  her  mind,  was  very  graciously  received;  and  to  him  she 
most  frequently  applied  for  information  concerning  the 
names  and  rank  of  those  who  were  in  presence.  These  he 
communicated  concisely,  and  not  without  some  traits  of 
humorous  satire,  by  which  Elizabeth  seemed  much  amused. 
"And  who  is  yonder  clownish  fellow?"  she  said,  looking  at 
Tressilian,  whose  soiled  dress  on  this  occasion  greatly 
obscured  his  good  mien. 

"  A  poet,  if  it  please  your  Grace,"  replied  Ealeigh. 

♦  See  Elizabeth  and  Leicester.    Note  17. 


KENILWORTH.  333 

"  I  might  have  guessed  that  from  his  ctureless  garb,  ^  said 
Elizabeth.  "  I  have  known  some  poets  so  thoughtlesis  as  to 
throw  their  cloaks  into  gutters/' 

"  It  must  have  been  when  the  sun  dazzled  both  their  eyes 
and  their  judgment/'  answered  Raleigh. 

Elizabeth  smiled,  and  proceeded — "  I  asked  that  slovenly 
fellow's  name,  and  you  only  told  me  his  profession." 

"  Tressilian  is  his  name,"  said  Raleigh,  with  internal  re- 
luctance, for  he  foresaw  nothing  favorable  to  his  friend  from 
the  manner  in  which  she  took  notice  of  him. 

"  Tressilian!  "  answered  Elizabeth.  "  Oh,  the  Menelaus  of 
our  romance.  Why,  he  has  dressed  himself  in  a  guise  that 
will  go  far  to  exculpate  his  fair  and  false  Helen.  And  where 
is  Famham,  or  whatever  his  name  is — ^my  Lord  of  Leicester's 
man,  I  mean — the  Paris  of  this  Devonshire  tale?  " 

With  still  greater  reluctance,  Raleigh  named  and  pointed 
out  to  her  Varney,  for  whom  the  tailor  had  done  all  that 
art  could  perform  in  making  his  exterior  agreeable;  and  who, 
if  he  had  not  grace,  had  a  sort  of  tact  and  habitual  knowl- 
edge of  breeding  which  came  in  place  of  it. 

The  Queen  turned  her  eye  from  one  to  the  other.  "  I 
doubt,"  she  said,  "  this  same  poetical  Master  Tressilian,  who 
is  too  learned,  I  warrant  me,  to  remember  what  preseoice  he 
was  to  appear  in,  may  be  one  of  those  of  whom  Geoffrey 
Chaucer  says  wittily,  the  wisest  clerks  are  not  the  wisest  men. 
I  remember  that  Varney  is  a  smooth-tongued  varlet.  I 
doubt  this  fair  runaway  hath  had  reasons  for  breaking  her 
faith." 

To  this  Raleigh  durst  make  no  answer,  aware  how  little  he 
should  benefit  Tressilian  by  contradicting  the  Queen's  senti- 
ments, and  not  at  all  certain,  on  the  whole,  whether  the  best 
thing  that  could  befall  him  would  not  be  that  she  should  put 
an  end  at  once  by  her  authority  to  this  affair,  upon  which  it 
seemed  to  him  Tressilian's  thoughts  were  fixed  with  unavail- 
ing and  distressing  pertinacitv.  As  these  reflections  passed 
through  his  active  brain,  the  lower  door  was  opened,  and 
Leicester,  accompanied  by  several  of  his  kinsmen  and  of  the 
nobles  who  had  embraced  his  faction,  re-entered  the  castle 
hall. 

The  favorite  earl  was  now  appareled  all  in  white,  his  shoes 
being  of  white  velvet;  his  understocks,  or  stockings,  of  knit 
silk;  his  upper  stocks  of  white  velvet,  lined  with  cloth  of 
silver,  which  was  shown  at  the  slashed  part  of  the  middle 
thigh;  his  doublet  of  cloth  of  silver,  the  close  jerkin  of  white 


834  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

velvet,  embroidered  with  silver  and  seed-pearl,  his  girdle  and 
the  scabbard  of  his  sword  of  white  velvet  with  golden  buckles; 
his  poniard  and  sword  hilted  and  mounted  with  gold;  and 
over  all,  a  rich  loose  robe  of  white  satin,  with  a  border  of 
golden  embroidery  a  foot  in  breadth.  The  collar  of  the 
Garter,  and  the  azure  Garter  itself  around  his  knee,  completed 
the  appointments  of  the  Earl  of  Leicester;  which  were  so  well 
matched  by  his  fair  stature,  graceful  gesture,  fine  proportion 
of  body,  and  handsome  countenance,  that  at  that  moment 
he  was  admitted  by  all  who  saw  him  as  the  goodliest  person 
whom  they  had  ever  looked  upon.  Sussex  and  the  other 
nobles  were  also  richly  attired;  but,  in  point  of  splendor  and 
gracefulness  of  mien,  Leicester  far  exceeded  them  all. 

Elizabeth  received  him  with  great  complacency.  "  We 
have  one  piece  of  royal  justice,^'  she  said,  "  to  attend  to.  It 
is  a  piece  of  justice,  too,  which  interests  us  as  a  woman,  as 
well  as  in  the  character  of  mother  and  guardian  of  the  Eng- 
lish people." 

An  involuntary  shudder  came  over  Leicester,  as  he  bowed 
low,  expressive  of  his  readiness  to  receive  her  royal  com- 
mands; and  a  similar  cold  fit  came  over  Vamey,  whose  eyes 
(seldom  during  that  evening  removed  from  his  patron)  in- 
stantly perceived,  from  the  change  in  his  looks,  slight  as  that 
wais,  of  what  the  Queen  was  speaking.  But  Leicester  had 
wrought  his  resolution  up  to  the  point  which,  in  his  crooked 
policy,  he  judged  necessary;  and  when  Elizabeth  added — "  It 
is  of  the  matter  of  Vamey  and  Treesilian  we  speak:  is  the 
lady  in  presence,  my  lord?  "  His  answer  was  ready — "  Gra- 
cious madam,  she  is  not." 

Elizabeth  bent  her  brows  and  compressed  her  lips.  "  Our 
orders  were  strict  and  positive,  my  lord,"  was  her  answer. 

"  And  should  have  been  obeyed,  good  my  liege,"  replied 
Leicester,  "  had  they  been  expressed  in  the  form  of  the  light- 
est wish.  But — Vamey,  step  forward — this  gentleman  will 
inform  your  Grace  of  the  cause  why  the  lady  [he  could  not 
force  his  rebellious  tongue  to  utter  the  words  "  his  wife  "] 
cannot  attend  on  your  royal  presence." 

Vamey  advanced,  and  pleaded  with  readiness,  what  indeed 
he  firmly  believed,  the  absolute  incapacity  of  the  party  (for 
neither  did  he  dare,  in  Leicester's  presence,  term  her  his  wife) 
to  wait  on  her  Grace. 

"  Here,"  said  he,  "  are  attestations  from  a  most  learned 
physician,  whose  skill  and  honor  are  w^ell  known  to  my  good 
Lord  of  Leicester;  and  from  an  honest  and  devout  Protestant, 


KENILWORTH.  836 

a  man  of  credit  and  substance,  one  Anthony  Foster,  the  gen- 
tleman in  whose  house  she  is  at  present  bestowed,  that  she 
now  labors  under  an  illness  which  altogether  unfits  her  for 
such  a  journey  as  betwixt  this  castle  and  the  neighborhood 
of  Oxford." 

"  This  alters  the  matter/'  said  the  Queen,  taking  the  cer- 
tificates in  her  hands,  and  glancing  at  their  contents.  "  Let 
Tressilian  come  forward.  Master  Treseihan,  we  have  much 
sympathy  for  your  situation,  the  rather  that  you  seem  to  have 
set  your  fieart  deeply  on  this  Amy  Robsart  or  Vamey.  Our 
power,  thanks  to  God  and  the  willing  obedience  of  a  loving 
people,  is  worth  much,  but  there  are  some  things  which  it 
cannot  compass.  We  cannot,  for  example,  command  the 
affections  of  a  giddy  young  girl,  or  make  her  love  sense  and 
learning  better  than  a  courtier's  fine  doublet;  and  we  cannot 
control  sickness,  with  which  it  seems  this  lady  is  afflicted, 
who  may  not,  by  reason  of  such  infirmity,  attend  our  court 
here,  as  we  had  required  her  to  do.  Here  are  the  testimonials 
of  the  physician  who  hath  her  under  his  charge,  and 
the  gentleman  in  whose  house  she  resides,  so  setting 
forth." 

"  Under  your  Majesty's  favor,"  said  Tressilian  hastily,  and, 
in  his  alarm  for  the  consequence  of  the  imposition  practiced 
on  the  Queen,  forgetting,  in  part  at  least,  his  own  promise 
to  Amy,  "  these  certificates  speak  not  the  truth." 

"  How,  sir! "  said  the  Queen.  "  Impeach  my  Lord  of 
Leicester's  veracity!  But  you  shall  have  a  fair  hearing.  In 
our  presence  the  meanest  of  our  subjects  shall  be  heard 
against  the  proudest,  and  the  least  known  against  the  most 
favored;  therefore  you  shall  be  heard  fairly,  but  beware  you 
speak  not  without  a  warrant!  Take  these  certificates  in 
your  own  hand;  look  at  them  carefully,  and  say  manfully  if 
you  impugn  the  truth  of  them,  and  upon  what  evidence." 

As  the  Queen  spoke,  his  promise  and  all  its  consequences 
rushed  on  the  mind  of  the  unfortunate  Tressilian,  and  while 
it  controlled  his  natural  inclination  to  pronounce  that  a  false- 
hood which  he  knew  from  the  evidence  of  his  senses  to  be 
untrue,  gave  an  indecision  and  irresolution  to  his  appearance 
and  utterance,  which  made  strongly  against  him  in  the  mind 
of  Elizabeth,  as  well  as  of  all  who  beheld  him.  He  turned 
the  papers  over  and  over,  as  if  he  had  been  an  idiot,  incapable 
of  comprehending  their  contents.  The  Queen's  impatience 
began  to  become  visible.  "  You  are  a  scholar,  sir,"  she  said, 
"  and  of  some  note,  as  I  have  heard;  yet  you  seem  wondrous 


336  WA  VEBLET  NO  VELS. 

slow  in  reading  text-hand.  How  say  you,  are  these  certifi- 
cates true  or  no?^^ 

"  Madam,"  said  Tressiliaa,  with  obvious  embarrassment 
and  hesitation,  aaxious  to  avoid  admitting  evidence  which 
he  might  afterward  have  reason  to  confute,  yet  equally  de- 
sirous to  keep  Ms  word  to  Amy,  and  to  give  her,  as  he  had 
promised,  space  to  plead  her  own  cause  in  her  own  way — 
"madam — madam,  your  Grace  calls  on  me  to  admit  evi- 
dence which  ought  to  be  proved  valid  by  those  who  found 
their  defense  upon  it." 

"  Why,  Tressilian,  thou  art  critical  as  well  as  poetical,"  said 
the  Queen,  bending  on  him  a  brow  of  displeasure;  "  me- 
thinks  these  writings,  being  produced  in  the  presence  of  the 
noble  earl  to  whom  this  castle  pertains,  and  his  honor  being 
appealed  to  as  the  guarantee  of  their  authenticity,  might  be 
evidence  enough  for  thee.  But  since  thou  lists  to  be  so 
formal — Vamey,  or  rather  my  Lord  of  Leicester,  for  the 
affair  becomes  yours  [these  words,  though  spoken  at  random, 
thrilled  through  the  earFs  marrow  and  bones] — what  evidence 
have  you  as  touching  these  certificates?  " 

Varney  hastened  to  reply,  preventing  Leicesiter — "  So 
please  your  Majesty,  my  young  Lord  of  Oxford,  who  is  here 
in  presence,  knows  Master  Anthony  Foster's  hand  and  his 
character." 

The  Earl  of  Oxford,  a  young  unthrift,  whom  Foster  had 
more  than  once  accommodated  with  loans  on  usurious  inter- 
est, acknowledged,  on  this  appeal,  that  he  knew  him  as  a 
wealthy  and  independent  franklin,  supposed  to  be  worth 
much  money,  and  verified  the  certificate  produced  to  be  his 
handwriting. 

"And  who  speaks  to  the  doctor's  certificate?"  said  the 
Queen.     "  Alasco,  methinks,  is  his  name." 

Masters,  her  Majesty's  physician  (not  the  less  willingly  that 
he  remembered  his  repulse  from  Say's  Court,  and  thought 
that  his  present  testimony  might  gratify  Leicester,  and  mor- 
tify the  Earl  of  Sussex  and  his  faction),  acknowledged  he  had 
more  than  once  consulted  with  Dr.  Alasco,  and  spoke  of  him 
as  a  man  of  extraordinary  learning  and  hidden  acquirements, 
though  not  altogether  in  the  regular  course  of  practice.  The 
Earl  of  Hun^tingdon,  Lord  Leicester's  brother-in-law,  and 
the  old  Countess  of  Eutland,  next  sang  his  praises,  and  both 
remembered  the  thin,  beautiful  Italian  hand  in  which  he  was 
wont  to  write  his  receipts,  and  which  corresponded  to  the 
certificate  produced  as  his. 


kmiLWOnTH.  387 

''And  now,  i  trust,  Master  Tressilian,  this  matter  is 
ended/'  said  the  Queen.  "  We  will  do  something  ere  the 
night  is  older  to  reconcile  old  Sir  Hugh  Robsart  to  the  match. 
You  have  done  your  duty  something  more  than  boldly;  but 
we  were  no  woman  had  we  not  compassion  for  the  wounds 
which  true  love  deals;  so  we  forgive  your  audacity,  and  your 
uncleansed  boots  withal,  which  have  well-nigh  overpowered 
my  Lord  of  Leicester's  perfumes." 

So  spoke  Elizabeth,  whose  nicety  of  scen't  was  one  of  the 
characteristics  of  her  organization,  as  appeared  long  after- 
wards when  she  expelled  Essex  from  her  presence  on  a  charge 
against  his  boots  similar  to  that  which  she  now  expressed 
against  those  of  Tressilian. 

But  Tressilian  had  by  this  time  collected  himself,  aston- 
ished as  he  had  at  first  been  by  the  audacity  of  the  falsehood 
so  feasibly  supported,  and  placed  in  array  against  the  evi- 
dence of  his  own  eyes.  He  rushed  forward,  kneeled  down, 
and  caught  the  Queen  by  the  skirt  of  her  robe.  "  As  you  are 
Christian  w^oman,"  he  said,  "  madam,  as  you  are  crowned 
queen,  to  do  equal  justice  among  your  subjects — ^as  you  hope 
yourself  to  have  fair  hearing — which  God  grant  you — at  that 
last  bar  at  which  we  must  all  plead,  grant  me  one  small  re- 
quest! Decide  not  this  matter  so  hastily.  Give  me  but  twenty- 
four  hours'  interval,  and  I  will,  at  the  end  of  that  brief 
space,  produce  evidence  which  will  show  to  demonstration 
that  these  certificates,  which  state  this  unhappy  lady  to  be 
now  ill  at  ease  in  Oxfordshire,  are  false  as  hell!  " 

"  Let  go  my  train,  sir! "  said  Elizabeth,  who  was  startled 
at  his  vehemence,  though  she  had  too  much  of  lion  in  her  to 
fear.  "  The  fellow  must  be  distraught;  that  witty  knave,  my 
godson  Harrington,  must  have  him  into  his  rhymes  of 
'  Orlando  Furioso '  !  And  yet,  by  this  light,  there  is  some- 
thing strange  in  the  vehemence  of  his  demand.  Speak,  Tres- 
silian; what  wilt  thou  do  if,  at  the  end  of  these  four-and- 
twenty  hours,  thou  canst  not  confute  a  fact  so  solemnly 
proved  as  this  lady's  illness?  " 

"  I  will  lay  dowTQ  my  head  on  the  block,"  answered  Tres- 
silian. 

"  Pshaw!  "  replied  the  Queen.  "  God's  light!  thou  speak'st 
like  a  fool.  What  head  falls  in  England  but  by  just  sen- 
tence of  English  law?  I  ask  thee,  man — if  thou  hast  sense 
to  understand  me — ^wilt  thou,  if  thou  shalt  fail  in  this  im- 
probable attempt  of  thine,  render  me  a  good  and  sufficient 
reason  why  thou  dost  undertake  it?  " 


338  WA  VERLET  NO  VEL8. 

Tressilian  paused,  and  again  hesitated;  because  he  felt  con- 
vinced that  if,  within  the  interval  demanded,  Amy  should 
become  reconciled  to  her  husband,  he  would  in  that  case  do 
her  the  worst  of  offices  by  again  ripping  up  the  whole  cir- 
cumstances before  Elizabeth,  and  showing  how  that  wise  and 
jealous  princess  had  been  imposed  upon  by  false  testimonials. 
The  consciousness  of  this  dilemma  renewed  his  extreme  em- 
barrassment of  look,  voice,  and  manner;  he  hesitated,  looked 
down,  and  on  the  Queen  repeating  her  question  with  a  stem 
voice  and  iiashing  eye,  he  admitted  with  faltering  words, 
"  That  it  might  be — he  could  not  positively — that  is,  in  cer- 
tain events — explain  the  reasons  and  grounds  on  which  he 
acted." 

"  Now,  by  the  soul  of  King  Henry,"  said  the  Queen,  "  this 
is  either  moonstruck  madness  or  very  knavery!  Seest  thou, 
Raleigh,  thy  friend  is  far  too  Pindaric  for  this  presence. 
Have  him  away,  and  make  us  quit  of  him,  or  it  shall  be  the 
worse  for  him;  for  his  flights  are  too  unbridled  for  any  place 
but  Parnassus  or  St.  Luke's  Hospital.  But  come  back  in- 
stantly thyself,  when  he  is  placed  under  fitting  restraint. 
We  wish  we  had  seen  the  beauty  which  could  make  such 
havoc  in  a  wise  man's  brain." 

Tressilian  was  again  endeavoring  to  address  the  Queen, 
when  Raleigh,  in  obedience  to  the  orders  he  had  received, 
interfered,  and,  with  Blount's  assistance,  half  led,  half  forced 
him  out  of  the  presence-chamber,  where  he  himself  indeed 
began  to  think  his  appearance  did  his  cause  more  harm  than 
good. 

When  they  had  attained  the  ante-chamber,  Raleigh  en- 
treated Blount  to  see  Tressilian  safely  conducted  into  the 
apartments  allotted  to  the  Earl  of  Sussex's  followers,  and,  if 
necessary,  recommend  that  a  guard  should  be  mounted  on 
him. 

"  This  extravagant  passion,"  he  said,  "  and,  as  it  would 
seem,  the  news  of  the  lady's  illness,  has  utterly  wrecked  his 
excellent  judgment.  But  it  will  pass  away  if  he  be  kept 
quiet.  Only  let  him  break  forih  again  at  no  rate;  for  he  is 
already  far  in  her  Highness'  displeasure,  and  should  she  be 
again  provoked,  she  will  find  for  him  a  worse  place  of  con- 
finement and  sterner  keepers." 

"I  judged  as  much  as  that  he  was  mad,"  said  Nicholas 
Blount,  looking  down  upon  his  own  crimson  stockings  and 
yellow  roses,  "  whenever  I  saw  him  wearing  yonder  damned 
boots,  which  stunk  so  in  her  nostrils.     I  will  but  se^  him 


KENILWOETE.  339 

stowed,  and  be  back  with  you  presently.  ■  But,  Walter,  did 
the  Queen  ask  who  I  was?  Methought  she  glanced  an  eye 
at  me/^ 

"  Twenty — twenty  eye-glanoes  she  sent,  and  I  told  her  all 

how  thou  wert  a  brave  soldier,  aad  a But,  for  God's 

sake,  get  off  Tressilian! " 

"  I  will — I  will,"  said  Blount;  "  but  methinks  this  court- 
haunting  is  no  such  bad  pastime,  after  all.  We  shall  rise  by 
it,  Walter,  my  brave  lad.  Thou  said'st  I  was  a  good  soldier, 
and  a What  besides,  dearest  Walter?  " 

"  An  all  unutterable — cod's-head.  For  God's  sake,  be- 
gone! " 

Tressilian,  without  farther  resistance  or  expostulation,  fol- 
lowed, or  rather  suffered  himself  to  be  conducted  by  Blount 
to  Raleigh's  lodgings,  where  he  was  formally  installed  into 
a  small  truckle-bed,  placed  in  a  wardrobe  and  designed  for 
a  domestic.  He  saw  but  too  plainly  that  no  remonstrances 
would  avail  to  procure  the  help  or  sympathy  of  his  friends, 
until  the  lapse  of  the  time  for  which  he  had  pledged  himself 
to  remain  inactive  should  enable  him  either  to  explain  the 
whole  circumstances  to  them,  or  remove  from  him  every  pre- 
text or  desire  of  farther  interference  with  the  fortunes  of 
Amy,  by  her  having  found  means  to  place  herself  in  a  state 
of  reconciliation  with  her  husband. 

With  great  difficulty,  and  only  by  the  most  patient  and 
mild  remonstrances  with  Blount,  he  escaped  the  disgrace  and 
mortification  of  having  two  of  Sussex's  stoutest  yeomen 
quartered  in  his  apartment.  At  last,  however,  when  Mcholas 
had  seen  him  fairly  deposited  in  his  truckle-bed,  and  had 
bestowed  one  or  two  hearty  kicks,  and  as  hearty  curs/es,  on 
the  boots,  which,  in  his  lately  acquired  spirit  of  foppery,  he 
considered  as  a  strong  symptom,  if  not  the  cause,  of  his 
friend's  malady,  he  contented  himself  with  the  modified 
measure  of  locking  the  door  on  the  unfortunate  Tressilian, 
whose  gallant  and  disinterested  efforts  to  save  a  female  who 
had  treated  him  with  ingi-atitude  thus  terminated,  for  the 
present,  in  the  displeasure  of  his  sovereign,  and  the  conviction 
of  his  friends  that  he  was  little  better  than  a  madman. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

The  wisest  soyereigns  err  like  private  men, 
And  royal  hand  has  sometimes  laid  the  sword 
Of  chivalry  upon  a  worthless  shoulder, 
Which  better  had  been  branded  by  the  hangman, 
What  then  ?    Kings  do  their  best ;  and  they  and  we 
Must  answer  for  the  intent,  and  not  the  event. 

—Old  Flay. 

"  It  is  a  melancholy  matter/'  said  the  Quieen,  when  Tres- 
siliaii  was  withdrawn,  "  to  see  a  wise  and  learned  man's  wit 
thus  pitifully  unsettled.  Yet  this  public  display  of  his  im- 
perfection of  brain  plainly  shows  us  that  his  supposed  injury 
and  accusation  were  fruitless;  and  therefore,  my  Lord  of 
Leicester,  we  remember  your  suit  formerly  made  good  to  us  in 
behalf  of  your  faithful  servant  Vamey,  whose  gifts  and 
fidelity,  as  they  are  useful  to  you,  ought  to  have  due  reward 
from  us,  knowing  well  that  your  lordship,  and  all  you  have, 
are  so  earnestly  devoted  to  our  service.  And  we  render  Var- 
ney  the  honor  more  especdally  that  we  are  a  guest,  and  we 
fear  a  chargeable  and  troublesome  one,  under  your  lordship's 
roof;  and  also  for  the  satisfaction  of  the  good  old  knight  of 
Devon,  Sir  Hugh  Eobsart,  whose  daughter  he  hath  married; 
and  we  trust  the  especial  mark  of  grace  which  we  are  about 
to  confer  may  reconcile  him  to  his  son-in-law.  Your  sword, 
my  Lord  of  Leicester." 

The  earl  unbuckled  his  sword,  and,  taking  it  by  the  point, 
presented  on  bended  knee  the  hilt  to  Elizabeth. 

She  took  it  slowly,  drew  it  from  the  scabbard,  and  while 
the  ladies  who  stood  around  turned  away  their  eyes  with  real 
or  affected  shuddering,  she  noted  with  a  curious  eye  the  high 
polish  and  rich  damasked  ornaments  upon  the  glittering 
blade. 

"  Had  I  been  a  man,"  she  said,  "  methinks  none  of  my  an- 
cestors would  have  loved  a  good  sword  better.  As  it  is  with 
me,  I  like  to  look  on  one,  and  could,  like  the  fairy  of  whom 
I  have  read  in  some  Italian  rhymes — ^^were  my  godson  Har- 
rington here,  he  could  tell  me  the  passage* — even  trim  my 
hair  and  arrange  my  head-gear  in  such  a  steel  mirror  as  tlus 
is.     Eichard  Vamey,  come  forth  and  kneel  down.     In  the 

*  See  Italian  Poetry.    Note  18. 
84P 


I 


KENILWORTR.  341 

name  of  God  and  St.  George,  we  dub  thee  knight!  Be  faith- 
ful, brave,  and  fortunate.     Arise,  Sir  Richard  Vamey." 

Varney  arose  and  retired,  making  a  deep  obeisance  to  the 
sovereign  who  had  done  him  so  much  honor. 

"  The  buckling  of  the  spur,  and  what  other  rites  remain," 
said  the  Queen,  "  may  be  finished  to-morrow  in  the  chapel; 
for  we  intend  Sir  Richard  Yamey  a  companion  in  his  honors. 
And  as  we  must  not  be  partial  in  conferring  such  distinction, 
we  mean  on  this  matter  to  confer  with  our  cousin  of  Sussex." 

That  noble  earl,  who,  since  his  arrival  at  Kenilworth,  and 
indeed  since  the  commencement  of  this  progress,  had  found 
himself  in  a  subordinate  situation  to  Leicester,  was  now  wear- 
ing a  heavy  cloud  on  his  brow — a  circumstance  which  had 
not  escaped  the  Queen,  who  hoped  to  appease  his  discontent, 
and  to  follow  out  her  system  of  balancing  policy,  by  a  mark 
of  peculiar  favor,  the  more  gratifying  as  it  was  tendered  at 
a  moment  when  his  rival's  triumph  appeared  to  be  complete. 

At  the  summons  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  Sussex  hastily  ap- 
proached her  person;  and  being  asked  on  which  of  his  fol- 
lowers, being  a  gentleman  and  of  merit,  he  wished  the  honor 
of  knighthood  to  be  conferred,  he  answered,  with  more 
sincerity  than  policy,  that  he  would  have  ventured  to  speak 
for  Tressilian,  to  whom  he  conceived  he  owed  his  own  life, 
and  who  was  a  distinguished  soldier  and  scholar,  besides  a 
man  of  unstained  lineage,  "  only,"  he  said,  "  he  feared  the 
events  of  that  nights "     And  then  he  stopped. 

"  I  am  glad  your  lordship  is  thus  considerate,"  said  Eliza- 
beth; "  the  events  of  this  night  would  make  us,  in  the  eyes 
of  our  subjects,  as  mad  as  this  poor  brain-sick  gentleman 
himself — for  we  ascribe  his  conduct  to  no  malice — should  we 
choose  this  moment  to  do  him  grace." 

"In  that  case,"  said  the  Earl  of  Sussex,  som-ewhat  dis- 
countenanced, "your  Majesty  will  allow  me  to  name  my 
master  of  the  horse,  Master  Nicholas  Blount,  a  gentleman  of 
fair  estate  and  ancient  name,  who  has  served  your  Majesty 
both  in  Scotland  and  Ireland,  and  brought  away  bloody 
marks  on  his  person,  all  honorably  taken  and  requited." 

The  Queen  could  not  help  shrugging  her  shoulders 
slightly  even  at  this  second  suggestion;  and  the  Duchess  of 
Rutland,  who  read  in  the  Queen's  manner  that  she  had 
expected  Sussex  would  have  named  Raleigh,  ajid  thus  would 
have  enabled  her  to  gratify  her  own  wish  while  she  honored 
his  recommendation,  only  waited  the  Queen's  assent  to  what 
he  had  proposed,  and  then  said,  that  she  hoped,  since  these 


342  WA  VERLEY  NO  YEL8. 

two  high  nobles  had  been  each  permitted  to  suggest  a  can- 
didate for  the  honors  of  chivalry,  she,  in  behalf  of  the  ladies 
in  presence,  might  have  a  similar  indulgence. 

"  I  were  no  woman  to  refuse  you  such  a  boon,"  said  the 
Queen,  smiling. 

"  Then,"  pursued  the  duchess,  "  in  the  name  of  these  fair 
ladies  present,  I  request  your  Majesty  to  confer  the  rank  of 
knighthood  on  Walter  Ealeigh,  whose  birth,  deeds  of  arms, 
and  promptitude  to  serve  our  sex  with  sword  or  pen,  deserve 
such  distinction  from  us  all." 

*•  Gramercy,  fair  ladies,"  said  Elizabeth,  smiling,  "  your 
boon  is  granted,  and  the  gentle  squire  Lack-Cloak  shall  be- 
come the  good  knight  La<3k-Cloak  at  your  desire.  Let  the 
two  aspirants  for  the  honor  of  chivalry  step  forward." 

Blount  was  not  as  yet  returned  from  seeing  Tressilian,  as 
he  conceived,  safely  disposed  of;  but  Raleigh  came  forth,  and, 
kneeling  down,  received  at  the  hand  of  the  Virgin  Queen  that 
title  of  honor,  which  was  never  conferred  on  a  more  dis- 
tinguished or  more  illustrious  object. 

Shortly  afterward,  Nicholas  Blount  entered,  and,  hastily 
apprised  by  Sussex,  who  met  him  at  the  door  of  the  hall,  of 
the  Queen^s  gracious  purpose  regarding  him,  he  was  desired 
to  advance  toward  the  throne.  It  is  a  sight  sometimes  seen, 
and  it  is  both  ludicrous  and  pitiable,  when  an  honest  man 
of  plain  common  sense  is  surprised,  by  the  coquetry  of  a  pretty 
woman  or  any  other  cause,  into  those  frivolous  fopperies 
which  only  sit  well  upon  the  youthful,  the  gay,  and  those 
to  whom  long  practice  has  rendered  them  a  second  nature. 
Poor  Blount  was  in  this  situation.  His  head  was  already 
giddy  from  a  consciousness  of  unusual  finery,  and  the  sup- 
posed necessity  of  suiting  his  manners  to  the  gayety  of  his 
dress;  and  now  this  sudden  view  of  promotion  altogether 
completed  the  conquest  of  the  newly  inhaled  spirit  of  foppery 
over  his  natural  disposition,  and  converted  a  plain,  honest, 
awkward  man  into  a  coxcomb  of  a  new  and  most  ridiculous 
kind. 

The  knight  expectant  advanced  up  the  hall,  the  whole 
length  of  which  he  had  unfortunately  to  traverse,  turning 
out  his  toes  wdth  so  much  zeal  that  he  presented  his  leg  at 
every  step  with  its  broad  side  foremost,  so  that  it  greatly 
resembled  an  old-fashioned  table-knife  with  a  curved  point, 
when  seen  sideways.  The  rest  of  his  gait  was  in  correspond- 
ence with  this  unhappy  amble;  and  the  implied  mixture  of 
bashful  fear  and  self-satisfaction  was  so  unutterably  ridicu- 


KENILWORTH.  343 

lous  that  Leicester's  friends  did  not  suppress  a  titter,  in  which 
many  of  Sussex's  partisans  were  unable  to  resist  joining, 
though  ready  to  eat  their  nails  with  mortification.  Sussex 
himself  lost  all  patience  and  could  not  forbear  whispering 
into  the  ear  of  his  friend,  "  Curse  thee!  canst  thou  not  walk 
like  a  man  and  a  soldier?  "  an  interjection  which  only  made 
honest  Blount  start  and  stop,  until  a  glance  at  his  yellow 
roses  and  crimson  stockings  restored  his  self-confidence,  when 
on  he  went  at  the  same  pace  as  before. 

The  Queen  conferred  on  poor  Blount  the  honor  of  knighi>- 
hood  with  a  marked  sense  of  reluctance.  That  wise  princess 
was  fully  aware  of  the  propriety  of  using  great  circumspection 
and  economy  in  bestowing  these  titles  of  honor,  which  the 
Stuarts,  who  succeeded  to  her  throne,  distributed  with  an 
imprudent  liberahty  which  greatly  diminished  their  value. 
Blount  had  no  sooner  arisen  and  retired  than  she  turned  to 
the  Duchess  of  Rutland.  "  Our  woman  wit,"  she  said,  "  dear 
Rutland,  is  sharper  than  that  of  those  proud  things  in  doub- 
let and  hose.  Seest  thou,  out  of  these  three  knights,  thine 
is  the  only  true  metal  to  stamp  chivalry's  imprint  upon?  " 

"  Sir  Richard  Vamey,  surel}^ — the  friend  of  my  Lord  of 
Leicester — surely  Tie  has  merit,"  replied  the  duchess. 

"  Vamey  has  a  sly  countenance  and  a  smooth  tongue," 
replied  the  Queen.  "  I  fear  me,  he  will  prove  a  knave;  but 
the  promise  was  of  ancient  standing.  My  Lord  of  Sussex 
must  have  lost  his  own  wits,  I  think,  to  recommend  to  us 
first  a  madman  15ke  Tressilian  and  then  a  clownish  fool  like 
this  other  fellow.  I  protest,  Rutl-and,  that  while  he  sat  on 
his  knees  before  me,  mopping  and  mowing  as  if  he  had  scald- 
ing porridge  in  his  mouth,  I  had  much  ado  to  forbear  cutting 
him  over  the  pate,  instead  of  striking  his  shoulder." 

"  Your  Majesty  gave  him  a  smart  accolade,"  said  the 
duchess;  "we  who  stood  behind  heard  the  blade  clatter  on 
his  collar-bone,  and  the  poor  man  fidgeted  too  as  if  he 
felt  it." 

**I  could  not  help  it,  wench,"  said  the  Queen,  laughing; 
"  but  we  will  have  this  same  Sir  Nicholas  sent  to  Ireland  or 
Scotland,  or  somewhere,  to  rid  our  court  of  so  antic  a  cheva- 
lier; he  may  be  a  good  soldier  in  the  field,  though  a  pre- 
posterous ass  in  a  banqueting-hall." 

The  discourse  became  then  more  general,  and  soon  after 
there  was  a  summons  to  the  banquet. 

In  order  to  obey  this  signal,  the  company  were  under  the 
necessity  of  crossing  the  inner  court  of  the  castle,  that  they 


844  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

might  reach  the  new  buildings,  containing  the  large  ban- 
queting-room,  in  which  preparations  for  supper  were  made 
upon  a  scale  of  profuse  magnificence  corresponding  to  the 
occasion. 

The  livery  cupboards  were  loaded  with  plate  of  the  richest 
description,  and  the  most  varied;  some  articles  tasteful,  some 
perhaps  grotesque,  in  the  invention  and  decoration,  but  all 
gorgeously  magnificent,  both  from  the  richness  of  the  work 
and  value  of  the  materials.  Thus  the  chief  table  was  adorned 
by  a  salt,  ship-fashion,  made  of  mother-of-pearl,  garnished 
with  silver  and  divers  warlike  ensigns,  and  other  ornaments, 
anchors,  sails,  and  sixteen  pieces  of  ordnance.  It  bore  a 
figure  of  Fortune,  placed  on  a  globe,  with  a  flag  in  her  hand. 
Another  salt  was  fashioned  of  silver,  in  the  form  of  a  swan 
in  full  sail.  That  chivalry  might  not  be  omitted  amid  this 
splendor,  a  silver  St.  George  was  presented,  mounted  and 
equipped  in  the  usual  fashion  in  which  he  bestrides  the 
dragon.  The  figures  were  molded  to  be  in  some  sort  useful. 
The  horse's  tail  was  managed  to  hold  a  case  of  knives,  while 
the  breast  of  the  dragon  presented  a  similar  accommodation 
for  oyster  knives.* 

In  the  course  of  the  passage  from  the  hall  of  reception 
to  the  banqueting-room,  and  especially  in  the  courtyard,  the 
new-made  knights  were  assailed  by  the  heralds,  pursuivants, 
minstrels,  etc.,  with  the  usual  cry  of  "  Largesse — largesse, 
chevaliers  tres  hardis! "  an  ancient  invocation,  intended  to 
awaken  the  bounty  of  the  acolytes  of  chivalry  toward  those 
whose  business  it  was  to  i*iegister  their  armorial  bearings,  and 
celebrate  the  deeds  by  which  they  were  illustrated.  The  call 
was,  of  course,  liberally  and  courteously  answered  by  those 
to  whom  it  was  addressed.  Vamey  gave  his  largesse  with  an 
affectation  of  complaisance  and  humility.  Ealeigh  bestowed 
his  with  the  graceful  ease  peculiar  to  one  who  has  attained 
his  own  place,  and  is  familiar  with  its  dignity.  Honest 
Blount  gave  what  his  tailor  had  left  him  of  his  half-year's 
rent,  dropping  some  pieces  in  his  hurry,  then  stooping  down 
to  look  for  them,  and  then  distributing  them  amongst  the 
various  claimants  with  the  anxious  face  and  mien  of  the 
parish  beadle  dividing  a  dole  among  paupers. 

These  donations  were  accepted  with  the  usual  clamor  and 
vivats  of  applause  common  on  such  occasions;  but,  as  the 
parties  gratified  were  chiefly  dependents  of  Lord  Leicester, 
it  was  Vaimey  whose  name  was  repeated  with  the  loudeet 

*  See  Famitare  of  Kenilworth.    Note  19. 


KENILWORTH.  845 

ftcclamations.  Lamboume,  especially,  distinguished  himself 
by  his  vociferations  of  "  Long  life  to  Sir  Eichard  Vamey! 
Health  and  honor  to  Sir  Eichard!     Never  was  a  more  worthy 

knight  dubbed "     Then,  suddenly  sinking  his  voice,  he 

added — "  since  the  valiant  Sir  Pandarus  of  Troy  " — a  wind- 
ing-up of  his  clanaorous  applause  which  set  all  men  a-laughing 
who  were  within  hearing  of  it. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  say  anything  farther  of  the  festivities 
of  the  evening,  which  were  so  brilliiant  in  themselves,  and 
received  with  such  obvious  and  willing  satisfaction  by  the 
Queen,  that  Leicester  retired  to  his  own  apartment  with  all 
the  giddy  raptures  of  successful  ambition.  Vamey,  who  had 
changed  his  splendid  attire,  and  now  waited  on  his  patron 
in  a  very  modest  and  plain  undress,  attended  to  do  the  honors 
of  the  earl's  coucher. 

"How!  Sir  Eichard,''  said  Leicester,  smiling,  "your  new 
rank  scarce  suits  the  humility  of  this  attendance." 

"  I  would  disown  that  rank,  my  lord,"  said  Varney,  "  could 
I  think  it  was  to  remove  me  to  a  distance  from  your  lord- 
ship's person." 

"  Thou  art  a  grateful  fellow,"  said  Leicester;  "  but  I  must 
not  allow  you  to  do  what  would  abate  you  in  the  opinion  of 
others." 

While  thus  speaking,  he  still  accepted,  without  hesitation, 
the  offices  about  his  person,  which  the  new-made  knight 
seemed  to  render  as  eagerly  as  if  he  had  really  felt,  in  dis- 
charging the  task,  that  pleasure  which  his  words  expressed. 

"  I  am  not  afraid  of  men's  misconstruction,"  he  said,  in 
answer  to  Leciester's  remark,  "  since  there  is  not — permit  me 
to  undo  the  collar — a  man  within  the  castle  who  does  not 
expect  very  soon  to  see  persons  of  a  rank  far  superior  to 
that  which,  by  your  goodness,  I  now  hold,  rendering  the 
duties  of  the  bed-chamber  to  you,  and  accounting  it  an 
honor." 

"It  might,  indeed,  so  have  been,"  said  the  earl,  with  an 
involuntary  sigh;  and  then  presently  added,  "  My  gown,  Var- 
ney— I  will  look  out  on  the  night.  Is  not  the  moon  near  to 
the  full?" 

"I  think  so,  my  lord,  according  to  the  calendar,"  answered 
Varney. 

There  was  an  abutting  window,  which  opened  on  a  small 
projecting  balcony  of  stone,  battlemented  as  is  uauai  in 
Gothic  castles.  The  earl  undid  the  lattice,  and  stepped  out 
into  the  open  air.     The  station  he  had  chosen  commanded  an 


^4i  WA  VERLET  NO  VM^, 

extensive  view  of  the  lake  and  woodlands  beyond,  where  the 
bright  moonlight  rested  on  the  clear  blue  waters  and  the 
distant  masses  of  oak  and  elm  trees.  The  moon  rode  high 
in  the  heavens,  attended  by  thousands  and  thousands  of 
inferior  luminaries.  All  seemed  already  to  be  hushed  in  the 
nether  world,  excepting  occasionally  the  voice  of  the  watch, 
for  the  yeomen  of  the  guard  performed  that  duty  wherever 
the  Queen  was  present  in  person,  and  the  distant  ba5dng  of 
the  hounds,  disturbed  by  the  preparations  amongst  the 
grooms  and  the  prickers  for  a  magnificent  hunt,  which  was 
to  be  the  amusement  of  the  next  day. 

Leicester  looked  out  on  the  blue  arch  of  heaven,  with 
gestures  and  a  countenance  expressive  of  anxious  exultation, 
while  Varney,  who  remained  within  the  darkened  apartment, 
could,  himself  unnoticed,  with  a  secret  satisfaction,  see  his 
patron  stretch  his  hands  with  earnest  gesticidation  toward 
the  heavenly  bodies. 

"Ye  distant  orbs  of  living  fire,"  so  ran  the  muttered  in- 
vocation of  the  ambitious  earl,  "  ye  are  silent  while  you  wheel 
your  mystic  rounds,  but  Wisdom  has  given  to  you  a  voice. 
Tell  me,,  then,  to  what  end  is  my  high  course  destined! 
Shall  the  greatness  to  which  I  have  aspired  be  bright,  pre- 
eminent, and  stable  as  your  own;  or  am  I  but  doomed  to  draw 
a  brief  and  glittering  train  along  the  nightly  darkness,  and 
then  to  sink  down  to  earth,  like  the  base  refuse  of  those 
artificial  fires  with  which  men  emulate  your  rays?  '* 

He  looked  on  the  heavens  in  profound  silence  for  a  minute 
or  two  longer,  and  then  again  stepped  into  the  apartment, 
where  Varney  seemed  to  have  been  engaged  in  putting  the 
earl's  jewels  into  a  casket. 

"  What  said  Alasco  of  my  horoscope?  "  demanded  Leices- 
ter. "You  already  told  me,  but  it  has  escaped  me,  for  I 
think  but  lightly  of  that  art." 

"Many  learned  and  great  men  have  thought  otherwise," 
said  Varney;  "  and,  not  to  flatter  your  lordship,  my  own 
opinion  leans  that  way." 

"  Aye,  Saul  among  the  prophets! "  said  Leicester.  "  I 
thought  thou  wert  skeptical  in  all  such  matters  as  thou 
couldst  neither  see,  hear,  smell,  taste,  or  touch,  and  that  thy 
belief  was  limited  by  thy  senses." 

"  Perhaps,  my  lord,"  said  Varney,  "  I  may  be  misled  on  the 
present  occasion  by  my  wish  to  find  the  predictions  of 
astrology  true.  Alasco  says  that  your  favorite  planet  is  cul- 
minating and  that  the  adverse  influence — he  would  not  use 


KENILWORTB,  347 

a  plainer  term — ^though  not  overcome,  was  evidently  com- 
bust, I  think  he  said,  or  retrograde." 

"It  is  even  so,"  said  Leicester,  looking  at  an  abstract  of 
astrological  calculations  which  he  had  in  his  hand:  "the 
stronger  influence  will  prevail,  and,  as  I  think,  the  evil  horn- 
pass  away.  Lend  me  your  hand.  Sir  Eichard,  to  doff  my 
gown;  and  remain  an  instant,  if  it  is  not  too  burdensome  to 
your  knighthood,  while  I  compose  myself  to  sleep.  I  believe 
the  bustle  of  this  day  has  fevered  my  blood,  for  it  streams 
through  my  veins  like  a  current  of  molten  lead — remain  an 
instant,  I  pray  you:  I  would  fain  feel  my  eyes  heavy  ere  I 
closed  them." 

Varney  officiously  assisted  his  lord  to  bed,  and  placed  a 
massive  silver  night-lamp,  with  a  short  sword,  on  a  marble 
table  which  stood  close  by  the  head  of  the  couch.  Either  in 
order  to  avoid  the  light  of  the  lamp  or  to  hide  his  counte- 
nance from  Varney,  Leicester  drew  the  curtain,  heavy  with 
entwined  silk  and  gold,  so  as  completely  to  shade  his  face. 
Varney  took  a  seat  near  the  bed,  but  with  his  back  toward 
his  master,  as  if  to  intimate  that  he  was  not  watching  him, 
and  quietly  waited  till  Leicester  himeelf  led  the  way  to  the 
topic  by  which  his  mind  was  engrossed. 

"  And  so,  Vamey,"  said  the  earl,  after  waiting  in  vain  till 
his  dependent  should  commence  the  conversation,  "  men  talk 
of  the  Queen's  favor  toward  me?  " 

"Aye,  my  good  lord,"  said  Vamey;  "of  what  can  they 
else,  since  it  is  so  strongly  manifested  ?  " 

"  She  is  indeed  my  good  and  gracious  mistress,"  said 
Leicester,  after  another  pause;  "  but  it  is  written,  '  Put  not 
thy  trust  in  princes.'  " 

"  A  good  sentence  and  a  true,"  said  Vamey,  "  unless  you 
cam  unite  their  interest  with  yours  so  absolutely  that  they 
must  needs  sit  on  your  wrist  like  hooded  hawks." 

"  I  know  what  thou  meanest,"  said  Leicester,  impatiently, 
"thooigh  thou  art  to-night  so  prudentially  careful  of  what 
thou  sayst  to  me.  Thou  wouldst  intimate,  I  might  marry  the 
Queen  if  I  would?" 

"It  is  your  speech,  my  lord,  not  mine,"  answered  Vamey; 
"but  whosesoever  be  the  speech,  it  is  the  thought  of 
ninety-nine  out  of  an  hundred  men  throughout  broad  Eng- 
land." 

"Aye,  but,"  said  Leicester,  turning  himself  in  his  bed, 
"the  hundredth  man  knows  better.  Thou,  for  example, 
jsnowest  the  obsta<jle  that  cannot  be  overleaped." 


348  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

"  It  must,  my  lord,  if  the  stars  speak  true,"  said  Vamey, 
composedly. 

"  What!  talk'st  thou  of  them,"  said  Leicester,  "  that  be- 
lievest  not  in  them  or  in  aught  else?  " 

"  You  mistake,  my  lord,  under  your  gracious  pardon,"  said 
Vamey:  "I  believe  in  many  things  that  predict  the  future. 
I  believe,  if  showers  fall  in  April,  that  we  shall  have  flowers 
in  May;  that  if  the  sim  shines,  grain  will  ripen;  and  I  believe 
in  much  natural  philosophy  to  the  same  effect,  which,  if  the 
stars  swear  to  me,  I  will  say  the  stars  speak  the  truth.  And 
in  like  manner,  I  will  not  disbelieve  that  which  I  see  wished 
f  OP- and  expected  on  earth,  solely  because  the  astrologers  have 
read  it  in  the  heavens." 

"  Thou  art  right,"  said  Leicester,  again  tossing  himself  on 
his  couch — "  earth  does  wish  for  it.  I  have  had  advices 
from  the  Reformed  Churches  of  Germany,  from  the  Low 
Countries,  from  Switzerland,  urging  this  as  a  point  on  which 
Europe's  safety  depends.  France  will  not  oppose  it.  The 
ruling  party  in  Scotland  look  to  it  as  their  best  security. 
Spain  fears  it,  but  cannot  prevent  it.  And  yet  thou  knowest 
it  is  impossible." 

"  I  know  not  that,  my  lord,"  said  Vamey:  "  the  countess 
is  indisposed." 

"Villain!"  said  Leicester,  starting  up  on  his  couch,  and 
seizing  the  sword  which  lay  on  the  table  beside  him,  "  go  thy 
thoughts  that  way?     Thou  wouldst  not  do  murder! " 

"  For  whom  or  what  do  you  hold  me,  my  lord?  "  said  Var- 
ney,  assuming  the  superiority  of  an  innocent  man  subjected 
to  unjust  suspicion.  "  I  said  nothing  to  deserve  such  a  horrid 
imputation  as  your  violence  infers.  I  said  but  that  the 
countess  was  ill.  And  countess  though  she  be — lovely  and 
beloved  as  she  is,  surely  your  lordship  must  hold  her  to  be 
mortal?  She  may  die,  and  your  lordship's  hand  become  once 
more  your  own." 

"  Away! — away!  "  said  Leicester,  "  let  me  have  no  more  of 
this." 

"  Good-night,  my  lord,"  said  Vamey,  seeming  to  under- 
stand this  as  a  command  to  depart;  but  Leicester's  voice 
interrupted  his  purpose. 

"  Thou  'scapest  me  not  thus,  sir  fool,"  said  he;  "  I  think 
thy  knighthood  has  addled  thy  brains.  Confess  thou  hast 
talked  of  impossibilities  as  of  things  which  may  come  to 

les." 

"  My  lord,  long  live  your  fair  countess,",  said  Vamey;  "  but 


KENILWOBTH,  849 

neither  your  love  nor  my  good  wishes  can  make  her  im- 
mortal. But  G-od  grant  she  live  long  to  be  happy  herself, 
and  to  render  you  so!  I  see  not  but  you  may  be  King  of 
England  notwithstanding." 

"  Nay,  now,  Vamey,  thou  art  stark  mad,'^  said  Leicester. 

"  I  would  I  were  myself  within  the  same  nearness  to  a  good 
estate  of  freehold,"  said  Varney.  "  Have  we  not  known  in 
other  countries,  how  a  left-handed  marriage  might  subsist 
betwixt  persons  of  differing  degree? — aye,  and  be  no  hin- 
drance to  prevent  the  husband  from  conjoining  himself  after- 
ward with  a  more  suitable  partner?  " 

"  I  ha  re  heard  of  such  things  in  Germany,"  said  Leicester. 

"  Aye,  and  the  most  learned  doctors  in  foreign  universities 
justify  the  practice  from  the  Old  Testament,"  said  Vamey. 
"And,  after  all,  where  is  the  harm?  The  beautiful  partner 
whom  you  have  chosen  for  true  love  has  your  secret  hours 
of  relaxation  and  affection.  Her  fame  is  safe;  her  conscience 
may  slumber  securely.  You  have  wealth  to  provide  royally 
for  your  issue,  should  Heaven  bless  you  with  offspring. 
Meanwhile,  you  may  give  to  Elizabeth  ten  times  the  leisure, 
and  ten  thousand  tames  the  affection,  that  ever  Don  Philip 
of  Spain  spared  to  her  sister  Mary;  yet  you  know  how  she 
doted  on  him  though  so  cold  and  neglectful.  It  requires  but 
a  close  mouth  and  an  open  brow,  and  you  keep  your  Eleanor 
and  your  fair  Rosamond  far  enough  separate.  Leave  me  to 
build  vou  a  bower  to  which  no  jealous  queen  shall  find  a 
clew."" 

Leicester  was  silent  for  a  moment,  then  sighed  and  said, 
"It  is  impossible.     Good-night,    Sir  Richard   Vamey;   yet 

stay Can  you  guess  what  meant  Tressilian  by  showing 

himself  in  such  careless  guise  before  the  Queen  to-day?  To 
strike  her  tender  heart,  I  should  guess,  wdth  all  the  sympa- 
thies due  to  a  lover  abandoned  by  his  mistress,  and  abandon- 
ing himself." 

Vamey,  smothering  a  sneering  laugh,  answered,  "  He  be- 
lieved Master  Tressilian  had  no  such  matter  in  his  head." 

"How!"  said  Ijeicester,  "what  meanest  thou?  There  is 
ever  knavery  in  that  laugh  of  thine,  Varney." 

"I  only  meant,  my  lord,"  said  Varney,  "that  Tressilian 
has  taken  the  sure  way  to  avoid  heart-breaking.  He  hath 
had  a  companion — a  female  companion — a  mistress — a  sort 
of  player's  wife  or  sister,  as  I  believe — with  him  in  Mervyn's 
Bower,  where  I  quartered  him  for  certain  reasons  of  my  own." 

"A  mistress!  mean'st  thou  a  paramour?" 


850  WA  VEBLET  NO  VEL8. 

'*  Aye,  my  lord;  what  female  else  waits  for  hours  in  a  gen- 
tleman's chamber?  " 

"  By  my  faith,  time  and  space  fitting,  this  were  a  good  tale 
to  tell/'  said  Leicester.  "I  ever  distrusted  those  bookish, 
hypocritical,  seeming-virtuous  scholars.  Well,  Master  Tres- 
silian  makes  somewhat  familiar  with  my  house;  if  I  look  it 
over,  he  is  indebted  for  it  to  certain  recollections.  I  would 
not  harm  him  more  than  I  can  help.  Keep  eye  on  him,  how- 
ever, Vamey." 

"  I  lodged  him  for  that  reason,"  said  Varney,  "  in  Mervyn's 
Tower,  where  he  is  under  the  eye  of  my  very  vigilant,  if  he 
were  not  also  my  very  drunken,  servant,  Michael  Lambourne, 
whom  I  have  told  your  Grace  of." 

"Grace!"  said  Leicester;  "what  mean'st  thou  by  that 
epithet?  " 

"  It  came  unawares,  my  lord;  and  yet  it  sounds  so  very 
natural  that  T  cannot  recall  it." 

"  It  is  thine  own  preferment  that  hath  turned  thy  brain," 
said  Leicester,  laughing;  "new  honors  are  as  heady  as  new 
wine." 

"  May  your  lordship  soon  have  cause  to  say  so  from  experi- 
ence," said  Vamey;  and,  wishing  his  patron  good-night,  ht 
withdrew. 


CHAPTER  XXXm. 

Here  stands  the  victim  :  there  the  proud  betrayer, 
E'en  as  the  hind  pull'd  down  by  strangling  dogi 
Lies  at  the  hunter's  feet,  who  courteous  proflfers 
To  some  high  dame,  the  Dian  of  the  chase. 
To  whom  he  looks  for  guerdon,  his  sharp  blade, 
To  gash  the  sobbing  throat. 

—The  Woodsman. 

WjL  are  now  to  return  to  Mervyn's  Bower,  the  apartment,  or 
rather  the  prison,  of  the  unfortunate  Countess  of  Leicester, 
who  for  some  time  kept  within  bounds  her  uncertainty  and 
her  impatience.  She  was  aware  that,  in  the  tumult  of  the 
day,  there  might  be  some  delay  ere  her  letter  could  be  safely 
conveyed  to  the  hands  of  Leicester,  and  that  some  time  more 
might  elapse  ere  he  could  extricate  himself  from  the  necessary 
attendance  on  Elizabeth,  to  come  and  visit  her  in  her  secret 
bower.  "I  will  not  expect  him,"  she  said,  "till  night:  he 
cannot  be  absent  from  his  royal  guest,  even  to  see  me.  He 
will,  I  know,  come  earlier  if  it  be  possible,  but  I  will  not  ex- 
pect him  before  night."  And  yet  all  the  while  she  did  expect 
him;  and,  while  she  tried  to  argue  herself  into  a  contrary  be- 
lief, each  hasty  noise,  of  the  hundred  she  heard,  sounded  like 
the  hurried  step  of  Leicester  on  the  staircase,  hastening  to  fold 
her  in  his  arms. 

The  fatigue  of  body  which  Amy  had  lately  undergone,  with 
the  agitation  of  mind  natural  to  so  cruel  a  state  of  uncertainty, 
began  by  degrees  strongly  to  affect  her  nerves,  and  she  almost 
feared  her  total  inability  to  maintain  the  necessary  self-com- 
mand through  the  scenes  which  might  lie  before  her.  But, 
although  spoiled  by  an  over-indulgent  system  of  education. 
Amy  had  naturally  a  mind  of  great  power,  united  with  a  frame 
which  her  share  in  her  father's  "woodland  exercises  had  ren- 
dered uncommonly  healthy.  She  summoned  to  her  aid  such 
mental  and  bodily  resources;  and  not  unconscious  how  much 
the  issue  of  her  fate  might  depend  on  her  own  self-possession, 
she  prayed  internally  for  strength  of  body  and  for  mental 
fortitude,  and  resolved,  at  the  same  time,  to  yield  to  no  nerv- 
ous impulse  which  might  weaken  either. 

Yet,  when  the  great  bell  of  the  castle,  which  was  placed  in 
Caesar's  Tower,  at  no  great  distance  from  that  called  Mervyn's, 
began  to  send  its  pealing  clamor  abroad,  in  signal  of  the 

S51 


8C2  WA  VEBLET  NO  VEL8, 

arrival  of  the  royal  procession,  the  din  was  so  painfully  acute 
to  ears  rendered  nervously  sensitive  by  anxiety,  that  she  could 
hardly  forbear  shrieking  with  anguish  in  answer  to  every  stun- 
ning clash  of  the  relentless  peal. 

Shortly  afterward,  when  the  small  apartment  was  at  once 
enlightened  by  the  shower  of  artificial  fires  with  which  the  air 
was  suddenly  filled,  and  which  crossed  each  other  like  fiery 
spirits,  each  bent  on  his  own  separate  mission,  or  like  sala- 
manders executing  a  frolic  dance  in  the  region  of  the  sylphs, 
the  countess  felt  at  first  as  if  each  rocket  shot  close  by  her 
eyes  and  discharged  its  sparks  and  flashes  so  nigh  that  she 
could  feel  a  sense  of  heat.  But  she  struggled  against  these 
fantastic  terrors,  and  compelled  herself  to  arise,  stand  by  the 
window,  look  out,  and  gaze  upon  a  sight  which  at  another 
time  would  have  appeared  to  her  at  once  captivating  and 
fearful.  The  magnificent  towers  of  the  castle  were  enveloped 
in  garlands  of  artificial  fire,  or  shrouded  with  tiaras  of  pale 
smoke.  The  surface  of  the  lake  glowed  like  molten  iron, 
while  many  fireworks  (then  thought  extremely  wonderful, 
though  now  common),  whose  flame  continued  to  exist  in  the 
opposing  element,  dived  and  rose,  hissed  and  roared,  and 
spouted  fire,  like  so  many  dragons  of  enchantment  sporting 
upon  a  burning  lake. 

Even  Amy  was  for  a  moment  interested  by  what  was  to  her 
so  new  a  scene.  "  I  had  thought  it  magical  art,"  she  said, 
*'but  poor  Tressilian  taught  me  to  judge  of  such  things  as 
they  are.  Great  God!  and  may  not  these  idle  splendors  re- 
semble my  own  hoped-for  happiness — a  single  spark,  which  is 
instantly  swallowed  up  by  surrounding  darkness — a  precarious 
glow,  which  rises  but  for  a  brief  spaee  in  the  air,  that  its  fall 
may  be  the  lower?  0  Leicester!  after  all — all  that  thou  hast 
said — hast  sworn — that  Amy  was  thy  love,  thy  life,  can  it  be 
that  thou  art  the  magician  at  whose  nod  these  enchantments 
arise,  and  that  she  sees  them  as  an  outcast,  if  not  a  captive?  " 

The  sustained,  prolonged,  and  repeated  bursts  of  music 
from  so  many  different  quarters,  and  at  so  many  varying 
points  of  distance,  which  sounded  as  if  not  the  Castle  of  Kenil- 
worth  nly,  but  the  whole  country  around,  had  been  at  once 
the  scene  of  solemnizing  some  high  national  festival,  carried 
the  same  oppressive  thought  still  closer  to  her  heart,  while 
some  notes  would  melt  in  distant  and  falling  tones,  as  if  in 
compassion  for  her  sorrows,  and  some  burst  close  and  near 
upon  her,  as  if  mocking  her  misery,  vrith  all  the  insolence  of 
unlimited  mirth.    "These  sounds,"  she  said,  "are  mine — • 


KEmL  WORTH.  853 

mine  because  they  are  his;  but  I  cannot  say,  '  Be  still,  these 
loud  strains  suit  me  not ';  and  the  voice  of  the  meanest  peas- 
ant that  mingles  in  the  dance  would  have  more  power  to 
modulate  the  music  than  the  command  of  her  who  is  mistress 
of  all! '' 

By  degrees  the  sounds  of  revelry  died  away,  and  the  count- 
ess withdrew  from  the  window  at  which  she  had  sat  listening 
to  them.  It  was  night,  but  the  moon  afforded  considerable 
light  in  the  room,  so  that  Amy  was  able  to  make  the  arrange- 
ment which  she  judged  necessary.  There  was  hope  that 
Leicester  might  come  to  her  apartment  as  soon  as  the  revel  in 
the  castle  had  subsided;  but  there  was  also  risk  she  might  be 
disturbed  by  some  unauthorized  intruder.  She  had  lost  con- 
fidence in  the  key,  since  Tressilian  had  entered  so  easily, 
though  the  door  was  locked  on  the  inside;  yet  all  the  ad- 
ditional security  she  could  think  of  was  to  place  the  table 
across  the  door  that  she  might  be  warned  by  the  noise  should 
anyone  attempt  to  enter.  Having  taken  these  necessary  pre- 
cautions, the  unfortunate  lady  withdrew  to  her  couch, 
stretched  herself  down  on  it,  mused  in  anxious  expectation, 
and  counted  more  than  one  hour  after  midnight,  till  ex- 
hausted nature  proved  too  strong  for  love,  for  grief,  for  fear, 
nay,  even  for  uncertainty,  and  she  slept. 

Yes,  she  slept.  The  Indian  sleeps  at  the  stake  in  the  inter- 
vals between  his  tortures;  and  mental  torments,  in  like  man- 
ner, exhaust  by  long  continuance  the  sensibility  of  the 
sufferer,  so  that  an  interval  of  lethargic  repose  must  neces- 
sarily ensue  ere  the  pangs  which  they  inflict  can  again  be 
renewed. 

The  countess  slept,  then,  for  several  hours,  and  dreamed 
that  she  was  in  the  ancient  house  at  Cumnor  Place,  listening 
for  the  low  whistle  with  which  Leicester  often  used  to  an- 
nounce his  presence  in  the  courtyard,  when  arriving  suddenly 
on  one  of  his  stolen  visits.  But  on  this  occasion,  instead  of 
a  whistle,  she  heard  the  peculiar  blast  of  a  bugle-horn,  such  as 
her  father  used  to  wind  on  the  fall  of  the  stag,  and  which 
huntsmen  then  called  a  "  mort."  She  ran,  as  she  thought,  to 
a  window  that  looked  into  the  courtyard,  which  she  saw  filled 
with  men  in  mourning  garments.  The  old  curate  seemed 
about  to  read  the  funeral  service.  Mumblazen,  tricked  out 
in  an  antique  dress,  like  an  ancient  herald,  held  aloft  a  scutch- 
eon, with  its  usual  decorations  of  skulls,  cross-bones,  and 
hour-glasses,  surrounding  a  coat-of-arms,  of  which  she  could 
only  distinguish  that  it  was  surmounted  with  an  earl's  coronet. 


854  WAVBRLET  NOVELS, 

The  old  man  looked  at  her  with  a  ghastly  smile,  and  daid, 
"  Amy,  are  they  not  rightly  quartered  ? ''  Just  as  he  spoke 
the  horns  again  poured  on  her  ear  the  melancholy  yet  wild 
strain  of  the  mort,  or  death-note,  and  she  awoke. 

The  countess  awoke  to  hear  a  real  bugle  note,  or  rather  the 
combined  breath  of  many  bugles,  sounding  not  the  mort,  but 
the  jolly  reveille,  to  remind  the  inmates  of  the  Castle  of  Kenil- 
worth  that  the  pleasures  of  the  day  were  to  commence  with  a 
magnificent  st^-hunting  in  the  neighboring  chase.  Amy 
started  up  from  her  couch,  listened  to  the  sound,  saw  the  first 
beams  of  the  summer  morning  already  twinkle  through  the 
lattice  of  her  window,  and  recollected,  with  feelings  of  giddy 
agony,  where  she  was,  and  how  circumstanced. 

"  He  thinks  not  of  me,"  she  said — "  he  will  not  come  nigh 
me!  A  queen  is  his  guest,  and  what  cares  he  in  what  corner 
of  his  huge  castle  a  wretch  like  me  pines  in  doubt,  which  is 
fast  fading  into  despair?  "  At  once  a  sound  at  the  door,  as 
of  someone  attempting  to  open  it  softly,  filled  her  with  an 
ineffable  mixture  of  joy  and  fear;  and,  hastening  to  remove 
the  obstacle  she  had  placed  against  the  door,  and  to  unlock  it, 
she  had  the  precaution  to  ask,  "  Is  it  thou,  my  love?  " 

*'  Yes,  my  countess,"  murmured  a  whisper  in  reply. 

She  threw  open  the  door,  and  exclaiming,  "  Leicester!  ■' 
flung  her  arms  around  the  neck  of  the  man  who  stood  -with- 
out, muffled  in  his  cloak. 

"  No — not  quite  Leicester,"  answered  Michael  Lamboume, 
for  he  it  was,  returning  the  caress  with  vehemence — *^  not 
quite  Leicester,  my  lovely  and  most  loving  duchess,  but  as 
good  a  m.an." 

With  an  exertion  of  force  of  which  she  would  at  another 
time  have  thought  herself  incapable,  the  countess  freed  her- 
self from  the  profane  and  profaning  grasp  of  the  drunken 
debauchee,  and  retreated  into  the  midst  of  her  apartment, 
where  despair  gave  her  courage  to  make  a  stand. 

As  Lamboume,  on  entering,  dropped  the  lap  of  his  cloak 
from  his  face,  she  knew  Varney's  profligate  servant,  the  very 
last  person,  excepting  his  detested  master,  by  whom  she  would 
have  wished  to  be  discovered.  But  she  was  still  closely 
muffled  in  her  traveling  dress,  and  as  Lamboume  had  scarce 
ever  been  admitted  to  her  presence  at  Cumnor  Place,  her  per- 
son, she  hoped,  might  not  be  so  well  known  to  him  as  his  was 
to  her,  owing  to  Janet's  pointing  him  frequently  out  as  he 
crossed  the  court,  and  telling  stories  of  his  wickedness.  She 
might  have  had  still  greater  confidence  in  her  disguise  had  her 


KENILWORTH.  355 

experience  enabled  her  to  discover  that  he  was  much  intoxi- 
cated; but  this  could  scarce  have  consoled  her  for  the  risk 
which  she  might  incur  from  such  a  character,  in  such  a  time, 
place,  and  circumstances. 

Lambourne  flung  the  door  behind  him  as  he  entered,  and 
folding  his  arms,  as  if  in  mockery  of  the  attitude  of  distrac- 
tion into  which  Amy  had  thrown  herself,  he  proceeded  thus: 
"  Hark  ye,  most  fair  Calipolis, — or  most  lovely  countess  of 
clouts,  and  divine  duchess  of  dark  comers, — if  thou  takest  all 
that  trouble  of  skewering  thyself  together,  like  a  trussed  fowl, 
that  there  may  be  more  pleasure  in  the  carving,  even  save 
thyself  the  labor.  I  love  thy  first  frank  manner  the  best;  like 
thy  present  as  little  [he  made  a  step  toward  her,  and  stag- 
gered]— as  little  as — such  a  damned  uneven  floor  as  this, 
where  a  gentleman  may  break  his  neck,  if  he  does  not  walk  as 
upright  as  a  posture-master  on  the  tight-rope." 

"  Stand  back!  "  said  the  countess:  "  do  not  approach  nearer 
to  me  on  thy  peril!  " 

"My  peril!  and  stand  back!  Why,  how  now,  madam? 
Must  you  have  a  better  mate  than  honest  Mike  Lambourne? 
I  have  been  in  America,  girl,  where  the  gold  grows,  and  have 
brought  off  such  a  load  on't " 

"  Good  friend,"  said  the  countess  in  great  terror  at  the 
ruffian's  determined  and  audacious  manner,  "I  prithee  be- 
gone, and  leave  me." 

"And  so  I  will,  pretty  one,  when  we  are  tired  of  each 
other's  company,  not  a  Jot  sooner."  He  seized  her  by  the 
arm,  while,  incapable  of  further  defense,  she  uttered  shriek 
upon  shriek.  "  Nay,  scream  away  if  you  like  it,"  said  he,  still 
holding  her  fast;  "  1  have  heard  the  sea  at  the  loudest,  and  I 
mind  a  squalling  woman  no  more  than  a  miauling  kitten. 
Damn  me!  I  have  heard  fifty  or  a  hundred  screaming  at  once, 
when  there  was  a  town  stormed." 

The  cries  of  the  countess,  however,  brought  unexpected  aid, 
in  the  person  of  Laurence  Staples,  who  had  heard  her  excla- 
mations from  his  apartment  below,  and  entered  in  good  time 
to  save  her  from  being  discovered,  if  not  from  more  atrocious 
violence.  Laurence  was  drunk  also  from  the  debauch  of  the 
preceding  night;  but  fortunately  his  intoxication  had  taken  a 
different  turn  from  that  of  Lambourne. 

"What  the  devil's  noise  is  this  in  the  ward?"  he  said. 
"What!  man  and  woman  together  in  the  same  cell!  that  is 
against  rule.  I  will  have  decency  under  my  rule,  by  St. 
Peter  of  the  Fetters." 


856  WA  VEBLET  NO  VEL8. 

"  Get  thee  downstairs,  thou  drunken  beast,"  said  Lam- 
bourne;  "  seest  thou  not  the  lady  and  I  would  be  private?  " 

"  Good  sir — worthy  sir,'^  said  the  countess,  addressing  the 
jailer,  "  do  but  save  me  from  him,  for  the  sake  of  mercy! " 

"  She  speaks  fairly,"  said  the  jailer,  "  and  I  will  take  her 
part.  I  love  my  prisoners;  and  I  have  as  good  prisoners  under 
my  key  as  they  have  had  in  Newgate  or  the  Compter.  And 
so,  being  one  of  my  lambkins,  as  I  say,  no  one  shall  disturb 
her  in  her  penfold.  So,  let  go  the  woman,  or  I'll  knock  your 
brains  out  with  my  keys." 

"  I'll  make  a  blood-pudding  of  thy  midriff  first/'  answered 
Lambourne,  laying  his  left  hand  on  his  dagger,  but  still  de- 
taining the  countess  by  the  arm  with  his  right.  "  So  have  at 
thee,  thou  old  ostrich,  whose  only  living  is  upon  a  bunch  of 
iron  keys! " 

Laurence  raised  the  arm  of  Michael,  and  prevented  him 
from  drawing  his  dagger;  and  as  Lambourne  struggled  and 
strove  to  shake  him  off,  the  countess  made  a  sudden  exertion 
on  her  side,  and  slipping  her  hand  out  of  the  glove  an  which 
the  ruffian  still  kept  hold,  she  gained  her  liberty  and,  escap- 
ing from  the  apartment,  ran  downstairs;  while,  at  the  same 
moment,  she  heard  the  two  combatants  fall  on  the  floor  with 
a  noise  which  increased  her  terror.  The  outer  wicket  offered 
no  impediment  to  her  flight,  having  been  opened  for  Lam- 
bourne's  admittance;  so  that  she  succeeded  in  escaping  down 
the  stair,  and  fled  into  the  Pleasance,  which  seemed  to  her 
hasty  glance  the  direction  in  which  she  was  most  likely  to 
avoid  pursuit. 

Meanwhile,  Laurence  and  Lambourne  rolled  on  the  floor 
of  the  apartment,  closely  grappled  together.  Neither  had, 
happily,  opportunity  to  draw  their  daggers;  but  Laurence 
found  space  enough  to  dash  his  heavy  keys  across  Michael's 
face,  and  Michael,  in  return,  grasped  the  turnkey  so  felly  by 
the  throat  that  the  blood  gushed  from  nose  and  mouth;  so 
that  they  were  both  gory  and  filthy  spectacles,  when  one  of 
the  other  officers  of  the  household,  attracted  by  the  noise  of 
the  fray,  entered  the  room,  and  with  some  difficulty  effected 
the  separation  of  the  combatants. 

''A  murrain  on  you  both,"  said  the  charitable  mediator, 
"  and  especially  on  you.  Master  Lambourne!  What  the  fiend 
lie  you  here  for,  fighting  on  the  floor,  like  two  butchers'  curs 
in  the  kennel  of  the  shambles  ?  " 

Lambourne  arose,  and,  somewhat  sobered  by  the  interposi- 
tion of  a  tliird  party,  looked  with  something  less  than  his 


KEmLWORTH.  357 

usual  brazen  impudence  of  visage.  "  We  fought  for  a  wench, 
an  thou  must  know,"  was  his  reply. 

"A  wench!     Where  is  she?"  said  the  officer. 

"  Why,  vanished,  I  think,"  said  Lambourne,  looking  around 
him;  "  unless  Laurence  hath  swallowed  her.  That  filthy 
paunch  of  his  devours  as  many  distressed  damsels  and  op- 
pressed orphans  as  e'er  a  giant  in  King  Arthur's  history:  they 
are  his  prime  food;  he  worries  them  body,  soul,  and  sub- 
stance." 

"Aye — aye!  It's  no  matter,"  said  Laurence,  gathering  up 
his  huge  ungainly  form  from  the  floor;  "  but  I  have  had  your 
betters.  Master  Michael  Lambourne,  under  the  little  turn  of 
my  forefinger  and  thumb;  and  I  shall  have  thee,  before  all's 
done,  under  my  hatches.  The  impudence  of  thy  brow  will 
not  always  save  thy  shin-bones  from  iron,  and  thy  foul,  thirsty 
gullet  from  a  hempen  cord."  The  words  were  no  sooner  out 
of  his  mouth  when  Lambourne  again  made  at  him. 

"  Nay,  go  not  to  it  again,"  said  the  sewer,  "  or  I  will  call  for 
him  shall  tame  you  both,  and  that  is  Master  Varney — Sir 
Richard,  I  mean;  he  is  stirring,  I  promise  you:  I  saw  him 
cross  the  court  just  now." 

"Didst  thou,  by  G ?"  said  Lambourne,  seizing  on  the 

basin  and  ewer  which  stood  in  the  apartment.  "  Nay,  then, 
element,  do  thy  work.  I  thought  I  had  enough  of  thee  last 
night,  when  I  floated  about  for  Orion,  like  a  cork  on  a  fer- 
menting cask  of  ale." 

So  saying,  he  fell  to  work  to  cleanse  from  his  face  and 
hands  the  signs  of  the  fray,  and  get  his  apparel  into  some 
order. 

"What  hast  thou  done  to  him?"  said  the  sewer,  speaking 
aside  to  the  jailer;  "  his  face  is  fearfully  swelled." 

"  It  is  but  the  imprint  of  the  key  of  my  cabinet,  too  good 
a  mark  for  his  gallows-face.  No  man  shall  abuse  or  insult  my 
prisoners;  they  are  my  jewels,  and  I  lock  them  in  safe  casket 
accordingly.  And  so,  mistress,  leave  off  your  wailing.  Hey! 
why,  surely  there  was  a  woman  here!  " 

"  I  think  you  are  all  mad  this  morning,"  said  the  sewer. 
"  I  saw  no  woman  here,  nor  no  man  neither  in  a  proper  sense, 
but  only  two  beasts  rolling  on  the  floor." 

"  Nay,  then,  I  am  undone,"  said  the  jailer:  "  the  prison's 
broken,  that  is  all.  Kenil worth  prison  is  broken,"  he  con- 
tinued, in  a  tone  of  maudlin  lamentation,  "  which  was  the 
strongest  jail  betwixt  this  and  the  Welsh  marches — aye.  and  a 
house  that  has  had  knights,  and  earls,  and  kings  sleeping  in  it. 


8«8  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

as  secure  as  ii  they  had  been  in  the  Tower  of  London.  It  is 
broken,  the  prisoners  fled,  and  the  jailer  in  much  danger  of 
being  hanged! " 

So  saying,  he  retreated  down  to  his  own  den  to  conclude  his 
lamentations,  or  to  sleep  himself  sober.  Lambourne  and  the 
sewer  followed  him  close,  and  it  was  well  for  them,  since  the 
jailer,  out  of  mere  habit,  was  about  to  lock  the  wicket  after 
him;  and  had  they  not  been  within  the  reach  of  interfering, 
they  would  have  had  the  pleasure  of  being  shut  up  in  the 
turret-chamber,  from  which  the  countess  had  been  just  de- 
livered. 

That  unhappy  lady,  as  soon  as  she  found  herself  at  liberty, 
fled,  as  we  have  already  mentioned,  into  the  Pleasance.  She 
had  seen  this  richly  ornamented  space  of  ground  from  the 
window  of  Mervyn^s  Tower;  and  it  occurred  to  her,  at  the 
moment  of  her  escape,  that,  among  its  numerous  arbors,  bow- 
ers, fountains,  statues,  and  grottoes,  she  might  find  some  re- 
cess in  which  she  could  lie  concealed  until  she  had  an 
opportunity  of  addressing  herself  to  a  protector,  to  whom  she 
might  communicate  as  much  as  she  dared  of  her  forlorn  situ- 
ation, and  through  those  means  she  might  supplicate  an  inter- 
view with  her  husband. 

"  If  I  could  see  my  guide,"  she  thought,  '^  I  would  learn  if 
he  had  delivered  my  letter.  Even  did  I  but  see  Tressilian,  it 
were  better  to  risk  Dudley's  anger,  by  confiding  my  whole 
situation  to  one  who  is  the  very  soul  of  honor,  than  to  run  the 
hazard  of  farther  insult  among  the  insolent  menials  of  this 
ill-ruled  place.  I  will  not  again  venture  into  an  inclosed 
apartment.  I  will  wait — I  will  watch;  amidst  so  many  human 
beings,  there  must  be  some  kind  heart  which  can  judge  and 
compassionate  what  mine  endures." 

In  truth,  more  than  one  party  entered  and  traversed  the 
Pleasance.  But  they  were  in  joyous  groups  of  four  or  five 
persons  together,  laughing  and  jesting  in  their  own  fullness  of 
mirth  and  lightness  of  heart. 

The  -retreat  which  she  had  chosen  gave  her  the  easy  alterna- 
tive of  avoiding  observation.  It  was  but  stepping  back  to 
the  farthest  recess  of  a  grotto,  ornamented  with  rustic  work 
and  moss-seats,  and  terminated  by  a  fountain,  and  she  might 
easily  remain  concealed,  or  at  her  pleasure  discover  herself 
to  any  solitary  wanderer  whose  curiosity  might  lead  him  to 
that  romantic  retirement.  Anticipating  such  an  opportunity, 
she  looked  into  the  clear  basin  which  the  silent  fountain  held 
up  to  her  like  a  mirror,  and  felt  shocked  at  ner  own  appear- 


KENILWORTH.  359 

ance,  and  doubtful  at  the  same  time,  muffled  and  disfigured 
as  her  disguise  made  her  seem  to  herself,  whether  any  female 
(and  it  was  from  the  compassion  of  her  own  sex  that  she 
chiefly  expected  sympathy)  would  engage  in  conference  with 
so  suspicious  an  object.  Eeasoning  thus  like  a  woman,  to 
whom  external  appearance  is  scarcely  in  any  circumstances 
a  matter  of  unimportance,  and  like  a  beauty,  who  had  some 
confidence  in  the  power  of  her  own  charms,  she  laid  aside  her 
traveling  cloak  and  capotaine  hat,  and  placed  them  beside  her, 
so  that  she  could  assume  them  in  an  instant,  ere  one  could 
penetrate  from  the  entrance  of  the  grotto  to  its  extremity,  in 
case  the  intrusion  of  Varney  or  of  Lambourne  should  render 
such  disguise  necessary.  The  dress  which  she  wore  under  these 
vestments  was  somewhat  of  a  theatrical  cast,  so  as  to  suit  the 
assumed  personage  of  one  of  the  females  who  was  to  act  in 
the  pageant.  Wayland  had  found  the  means  of  arranging  it 
thus  upon  the  second  day  of  their  journey,  having  experienced 
the  service  arising  from  the  assumption  of  such  a  character  on 
the  preceding  day.  The  fountain,  acting  both  as  a  mirror  and 
ewer,  afforded  Amy  the  means  of  a  brief  toilet,  of  which  she 
availed  herself  as  hastily  as  possible;  then  took  in  her  hand 
her  small  casket  of  jewels,  in  case  she  might  find  them  useful 
intercessors,  and  retiring  to  the  darkest  and  most  sequestered 
nook,  sat  down  on  a  seat  of  moss,  and  awaited  till  fate  should 
give  her  some  chance  of  rescue  or  of  propitiating  an  inter- 
cessor. 


CHAPTEK  XXXIV. 

Hare  you  not  seen  the  partridge  quake. 

Viewing  the  hawk  approaching  nigh  V 
She  cuddles  close  beneath  the  brake, 

Afraid  to  sit,  afraid  to  flj. 

— ^Pbiob. 

It  chanced,  upon  that  memorable  morning,  that  one  of  the 
earliest  of  the  huntress  train  who  appeared  from  her  chamber 
in  full  array  for  the  chase  was  the  princess  for  whom  all  these 
pleasures  were  instituted,  England's  Maiden  Queen.  I  know 
not  if  it  were  by  chance,  or  out  of  the  befitting  courtesy  due 
to  a  mistress  by  whom  he  was  so  much  honored,  that  she  had 
scarcely  made  one  step  beyond  the  threshold  of  her  chamber 
ere  Leicester  was  by  her  side,  and  proposed  to  her,  until  the 
preparations  for  the  chase  had  been  completed,  to  view  the 
Pleasance  and  the  gardens  which  it  connected  with  the  castle 
yard. 

To  this  new  scene  of  pleasures  they  walked,  the  eaxl's  arm 
affording  his  sovereign  the  occasional  support  which  she  re- 
quired, where  flights  of  steps,  then  a  favorite  ornament  in  a 
garden,  conducted  them  from  terrace  to  terrace  and  from 
parterre  to  parterre.  The  ladies  in  attendance,  gifted  with 
prudence,  or  endowed  perhaps  with  the  amiable  desire  of  act- 
ing as  they  would  be  done  by,  diH  not  conceive  their  duty  to 
the  Queen's  person  required  them,  though  they  lost  not  sight 
of  her,  to  approach  so  near  as  to  share,  or  perhaps  disturb,  the 
conversation  betwixt  the  Queen  and  the  earl,  who  was  not  only 
her  host,  but  also  her  most  trusted,  esteemed,  and  favored 
Bervant.  They  contented  themselves  with  admiring  the  grace 
of  this  illustrious  couple,  whose  robes  of  state  were  now  ex- 
changed for  hunting-suits,  almost  equally  magnificent. 

Elizabeth's  silvan  dress,  which  was  of  a  pale  blue  silk,  with 
silver  lace  and  aiguillettes,  approached  in  form  to  that  of  the 
ancient  Amazons;  and  was,  therefore,  well  suited  at  once  to 
her  height  and  to  the  dignity  of  her  mien,  which  her  conscious 
rank  and  long  habits  of  authority  had  rendered  in  some  degree 
too  masculine  to  be  seen  to  the  best  advantage  in  ordinary 
female  weeds.  Leicester's  hunting-suit  of  Lincoln  green, 
richly  embroidered  with  gold,  and  crossed  by  the  gay  baldric, 
which  sustained  a  bugle-horn,  and  a  wood-knife  instead  of  a 

360 


KENILWORTH.  361 

sword,  became  its  master,  as  did  his  other  vestments  of  court 
or  of  war.  For  such  were  the  perfections  of  his  form  and 
mien,  that  Leicester  was  always  supposed  to  be  seen  to  the 
greatest  advantage  in  the  character  and  dress  which  for  the 
time  he  represented  or  wore. 

The  conversation  of  Elizabeth  and  the  favorite  earl  has  not 
reached  us  in  detail.  But  those  who  watched  at  some  dis- 
tance (and  the  eyes  of  courtiers  and  court  ladies  are  right 
sharp)  were  of  opinion  that  on  no  occasion  did  the  dignity  of 
Elizabeth,  in  gesture  and  motion,  seem  so  decidedly  to  soften 
away  into  a  mien  expressive  of  indecision  and  tenderness. 
Her  step  was  not  only  slow,  but  even  unequal,  a  thing  most 
unwonted  in  her  carriage;  her  looks  seemed  bent  on  the 
ground,  and  there  was  a  timid  disposition  to  withdraw  from 
her  companion,  which  external  gesture  in  females  often  indi- 
cates exactly  the  opposite  tendency  in  the  secret  mind.  The 
Duchess  of  Eutland,  who  ventured  nearest,  was  even  heard  to 
aver  that  she  discerned  a  tear  in  Elizabeth's  eye  and  a  blush 
on  her  cheek;  and  still  farther,  "  She  bent  her  looks  on  the 
ground  to  avoid  mine,"  said  the  duchess;  "  she  who,  in  her 
ordinary  mood,  could  look  down  a  lion."  To  what  conclu- 
sion these  symptoms  led  is  sufficiently  evident;  nor  were  they 
probably  entirely  groundless.  The  progress  of  a  private  con- 
versation betwixt  two  persons  of  different  sexes  is  often  de- 
cisive of  their  fate,  and  gives  it  a  turn  very  different  perhaps 
from  what  they  themselves  anticipated.  Gallantry  becomes 
mingled  with  conversation,  and  affection  and  passion  come 
gradually  to  mix  with  gallantry.  Nobles,  as  well  as  shepherd 
swains,  will,  in  such  a  trying  moment,  say  more  than  they  in- 
tended; and  queens,  like  village  maidens,  will  listen  longer 
than  they  should. 

Horses  in  the  meanwhile  neighed  and  champed  the  bits 
with  impatience  in  the  base-court;  hounds  yelled  in  their 
couples,  and  yeomen,  rangers,  and  prickers  lamented  the  ex- 
haling of  the  dew,  which  would  prevent  the  scent  from  lying. 
But  Leicester  had  another  chase  in  view,  or,  to  speak  more 
justly  toward  him,  had  become  engaged  in  it  without  premedi- 
tation, as  the  high-spirited  hunter  which  follows  the  cry  of 
the  hounds  that  have  crossed  his  path  by  accident.  The 
Queen,  an  accomplished  and  handsome  woman — the  pride  of 
England,  the  hope  of  France  and  Holland,  and  the  dread  of 
Spain — ^had  probably  listened  with  more  than  usual  favor  to 
that  mixture  of  romantic  gallantry  with  which  she  always 
loved  to  be  addressed;  and  the  earl  had,  in  vanity,  in  ambition. 


362  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

or  in  both,  thrown  in  more  and  more  of  that  delicious  in- 
gredient, until  his  importunity  became  the  language  of  love 
itself. 

"  No,  Dudley/'  said  Elizabeth,  yet  it  was  with  broken  ac- 
cents— "  no,  I  must  be  the  mother  of  my  people.  Other  ties, 
that  make  the  lowly  maiden  happy,  are  denied  to  her  sov- 
ereign. No,  Leicester,  urge  it  no  more.  Were  I  as  others, 
free  to  seek  my  own  happiness,  then,  indeed' — ^but  it  cannot — 
cannot  be.  Delay  the  chase — delay  it  for  half  an  hour — and 
leave  me,  my  lord.'* 

"  How,  leave  you,  madam? ''  said  Leicester.  "  Has  my  mad- 
ness offended  you?  " 

"  No,  Leicester,  not  so!  "  answered  the  queen  hastily;  "  but 
it  is  madness,  and  must  not  be  repeated.  Go,  but  go  not  far 
from  hence;  and  meantime  let  no  one  intrude  on  my  privacy." 

While  she  spoke  thus,  Dudley  bowed  deeply,  and  retired 
with  a  slow  and  melancholy  air.  The  Queen  stood  gazing  after 
him,  and  murmured  to  herself,  "  Were  it  possible — were  it 
tut  possible!  But  no — ^no;  Elizabeth  must  be  the  wife  and 
mother  of  England  alone." 

As  she  spoke  thus,  and  in  order  to  avoid  someone  whose 
step  she  heard  approaching,  the  Queen  turned  into  the  grotto 
in  which  her  hapless,  and  yet  but  too  successful  rival  lay  con- 
cealed. 

The  mind  of  England's  Elizabeth,  if  somewhat  shaken  by 
the  agitating  interview  to  which  she  had  just  put  a  period, 
was  of  that  firm  and  decided  character  which  soon  recovers 
its  natural  tone.  It  was  like  one  of  those  ancient  druidical 
monuments  called  rocking-stones.  The  figure  of  Cupid,  boy 
as  he  is  painted,  could  put  her  feelings  in  motion,  but  the 
power  of  Hercules  could  not  have  destroyed  their  equilibrium. 
As  she  advanced  with  a  slow  pace  toward  the  inmost  ex- 
tremity of  the  grotto,  her  countenance,  ere  she  had  proceeded 
half  the  length,  had  recovered  its  dignity  of  look  and  her  mien 
its  air  of  command. 

It  was  then  the  Queen  became  aware  that  a  female  figure 
was  placed  beside,  or  rather  partly  behind,  an  alabaster  col- 
umn, at  the  foot  of  which  arose  the  pellucid  fountain,  which 
occupied  the  inmost  recess  of  the  twilight  grotto.  The 
classical  mind  of  Elizabeth  suggested  the  story  of  Numa  and 
Egeria,  and  she  doubted  not  that  some  Italian  sculptor  had 
here  represented  the  naid  whose  inspirations  gave  the  laws  to 
Eome.  As  she  advanced,  she  beeame  doubtful  whether  she 
beheld  a  statue  or  a  form  of  flesh  and  blood.    The  unfortu- 


KENILWORTH.  363 

nate  Amy,  indeed,  remained  motionless,  betwixt  the  desire 
which  she  had  to  make  her  condition  known  to  one  of  her 
own  sex  and  her  awe  for  the  stately  form  which  approached 
her,  and  which,  though  her  eyes  had  never  before  beheld,  her 
fears  instantly  suspected  to  be  the  personage  she  really  was. 
Amy  had  arisen  from  her  seat  with  the  purpose  of  addressing 
the  lady  who  entered  the  grotto  alone,  and,  as  she  at  first 
thought,  so  opportunely.  But  when  she  recollected  the  alarm 
which  Leicester  had  expressed  at  the  Queen^s  knowing  aught 
of  their  union,  and  became  more  and  more  satisfied  that  the 
person  whom  she  now  beheld  was  Elizabeth  herself,  she  stood 
with  one  foot  advanced  and  one  withdrawn,  her  arms,  head, 
and  hands  perfectly  motionless,  and  her  cheek  as  pallid  as  the 
alabaster  pedestal  against  which  she  leaned.  Her  dress  was 
of  pale  sea-green  silk,  little  distinguished  in  that  imperfect 
light,  and  somewhat  resembled  the  drapery  of  a  Grecian 
nymph,  such  an  antique  disguise  having  been  thought  the 
most  secure,  where  so  many  masquers  and  revelers  were 
assembled;  so  that  the  Queen's  doubt  of  her  being  a  living 
form  was  well  justified  by  all  contingent  circumstances,  as 
well  as  by  the  bloodless  cheek  and  the  fixed  eye. 

Elizabeth  remained  in  doubt,  even  after  she  had  approached 
within  a  few  paces,  whether  she  did  not  gaze  on  a  statue  so 
cunningly  fashioned  that  by  the  doubtful  light  it  could  not  be 
distinguished  from  reality.  She  stopped,  therefore,  and  fixed 
upon  this  interesting  object  her  princely  look  with  so  much 
keenness  that  the  astonishment  which  had  kept  Amy  im- 
movable gave  way  to  awe,  and  she  gradually  cast  down  her 
eyes  and  drooped  her  head  under  the  commanding  gaze  of  the 
sovereign.  Still,  however,  she  remained  in  all  respects,  saving 
this  slow  and  profound  inclination  of  the  head,  motionless 
and  silent. 

From  her  dress,  and  the  casket  which  she  instinctively  held 
in  her  hand,  Elizabeth  naturally  conjectured  that  the  beauti- 
ful but  mute  figure  which  she  beheld  was  a  performer  in  one 
of  the  various  theatrical  pageants  which  had  been  placed  in 
different  situations  to  surprise  her  with  their  homage,  and  that 
the  poor  player,  overcome  with  awe  at  her  presence,  had  either 
forgot  the  part  assigned  her  or  lacked  courage  to  go  through 
it.  It  was  natural  and  courteous  to  give  her  some  encourage- 
ment; and  Elizabeth  accordingly  said,  in  a  tone  of  condescend- 
ing kindness,  "  How  now,  fair  nymph  of  this  lovely  grotto, 
art  thou  spell-bound  and  struck  with  dumbness  by  the  charms 
of  the  wicked  enchanter  whom  men  term  fear?    We  are  his 


364  WAVERLEJ  NOVELS. 

sworn  enemy,  maiden,  and  can  reverse  his  charm.  Speak,  wa 
command  thee.'^ 

Instead  of  answering  her  by  speech,  the  unfortunate  count- 
ess dropped  on  her  knee  before  the  Queen,  let  her  casket  fall 
from  her  hand,  and  clasping  her  palms  together,  looked  up  io 
the  Queen's  face  with  such  a  mixed  agony  of  fear  and  suppli- 
cation that  Elizabeth  was  considerably  affected. 

"  What  may  this  mean?  "  she  said;  "  this  is  a  stronger  pas- 
sion than  befits  the  occasion.  Stand  up,  damsel;  what  wouldst 
thou  have  with  us?  " 

"  Your  protection,  madam,"  faltered  forth  the  unhappy 
petitioner. 

"  Each  daughter  of  England  has  it  while  she  is  worthy  of 
it,"  replied  the  Queen;  "  but  your  distress  seems  to  have  a 
deeper  root  than  a  forgotten  task.  Why,  and  in  what,  do  you 
crave  our  protection  ?  " 

Anay  hastily  endeavored  to  recall  what  she  were  best  to 
say,  which  might  secure  herself  from  the  imminent  dangers 
that  surrounded  her,  without  endangering  her  husband;  and 
plunging  from  one  thought  to  another,  amidst  the  chaos 
which  filled  her  mind,  she  could  at  length,  in  answer  to  the 
Queen's  repeated  inquiries  in  what  she  sought  protection,  only 
falter  out,  "  Alas!  I  know  not." 

"This  is  folly,  maiden,"  said  Elizabeth  impatiently;  for 
there  was  something  in  the  extreme  confusion  of  the  sup- 
pliant which  irritated  her  curiosity,  as  well  as  interested  her 
feelings.  "  The  sick  man  must  tell  his  malady  to  the  physi- 
cian, nor  are  we  accustomed  to  ask  questions  so  oft  without 
receiving  an  answer." 

"  I  request — I  implore,"  stammered  forth  the  unfortunate 
countess — "  I  beseech  your  gracious  protection — against — 
against  one  Varney."  She  choked  well-nigh  as  she  uttered 
the  fatal  word,  which  was  instantly  caught  up  by  the  Queen. 

"  What  Varney  ?  Sir  Eichard  Varney — the  servant  of  Lord 
Leicester?     What,  damsel,  are  you  to  him,  or  he  to  you?" 

"I — I — was  his  prisoner — and  he  practiced  on  my  life — 
and  I  broke  forth  to — to " 

"  To  throw  thyself  on  my  protection,  doubtless,"  said 
Elizabeth.  "  Thou  shalt  have  it — that  is,  if  thou  art  worthy; 
for  we  will  sift  this  matter  to  the  uttermost.  Thou  art,"  she 
said,  bending  on  the  countess  an  eye  which  seemed  designed 
to  pierce  her  verv  inmost  soul — "  thou  art  Amy,  daughter 
of  Sir  Hugh  Eobsart  of  Lidcote  Hall?  " 

"  Eorgive  me — forgive  me,  most  gracious  princess!  "  said 


i 


KENILWORTH.  365 

Amy,  dropping  once  more  on  her  knee,  from  which  she  had 
arisen. 

"  For  what  should  I  forgive  thee,  silly  wench?  "  said  Eliza- 
beth; "  for  being  the  daughter  of  thine  own  father?  Thou 
art  brain-sick  surely.  Well,  I  see  I  must  wring  the  story  from 
thee  by  inches.  Thou  didst  deceive  thine  old  and  honored 
father — thy  look  confesses  it;  cheated  Master  Tressilian — thy 
blush  avouches  it;  and  married  this  same  Varney?^' 

Amy  sprung  on  her  feet,  and  interrupted  the  Queen  eagerly, 
with,  "  No,  madam — no;  as  there  is  a  God  above  us,  I  am  not 
the  sordid  wretch  you  would  make  me!  I  am  not  the  wife  of 
that  contemptible  slave — of  that  most  deliberate  villain!  I 
am  not  the  wife  of  Vamey!  I  would  rather  be  the  bride  of 
destruction! " 

The  Queen,  overwhelmed  in  her  turn  by  Amy's  vehemence, 
stood  silent  for  an  instant,  and  then  replied,  "  Why,  God  ha' 
mercy,  woman!  I  see  thou  canst  talk  fast  enough  when  the 
theme  likes  thee.  Nay,  tell  me,  woman,''  she  continued,  for 
to  the  impulse  of  curiosity  was  now  added  that  of  an  un- 
defined jealousy  that  some  deception  had  been  practiced  on 
her — "  tell  me,  woman — for,  by  God's  day,  I  will  know — 
whose  wife,  or  whose  paramour,  art  thou?  Speak  out,  and  be 
speedy.  Thou  wert  better  dally  with  a  lioness  than  with 
Elizabeth." 

Urged  to  this  extremity,  dragged  as  it  were  by  irresistible 
force  to  the  verge  of  the  precipice,  which  she  saw  but  could 
not  avoid,  permitted  not  a  moment's  respite  by  the  eager 
words  and  menacing  gestures  of  the  offended  Queen,  Amy  at 
length  uttered  in  despair,  "  The  Earl  of  Leicester  knows 
it  all." 

"  The  Earl  of  Leicester!  "  said  Elizabeth,  in  utter  astonish- 
ment. "  The  Earl  of  Leicester!  "  she  repeated,  with  kindling 
anger.  "Woman,  thou  art  set  on  to  this — ^thou  dost  belie 
him:  he  takes  no  keep  of  such  things  as  thou  art.  Thou  art 
suborned  to  slander  the  noblest  lord  and  the  truest-hearted 
gentleman  in  England!  But  were  he  the  right  hand  of  our 
trust,  or  something  yet  dearer  to  us,  thou  shalt  have  thy  hear- 
ing, and  that  in  his  presence.  Come  with  me — come  with  me 
instantly! " 

As  Amy  shrunk  back  with  terror,  which  the  incensed  Queen 
interpreted  as  that  of  conscious  guilt,  Elizabeth  rapidly  ad- 
vanced, seized  on  her  arm,  and  hastened  with  swift  and  long 
steps  out  of  the  grotto,  and  along  the  principal  alley  of  the 
Pleasance,  dragging  with  her  the  terrified  countess,  whom  she 


366  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

still  held  by  the  arm,  and  whose  utmost  exertions  could  but 
just  keep  pace  with  those  of  the  indignant  Queen. 

Leicester  was  at  this  moment  the  center  of  a  splendid  group 
of  lords  and  ladies,  assembled  together  under  an  arcade,  or 
portico,  which  closed  the  alley.  The  company  had  drawn  to- 
gether in  that  place  to  attend  the  commands  of  her  Majesty 
when  the  hunting-party  should  go  forward,  and  their  aston- 
ishment may  be  imagined  when,  instead  of  seeing  Elizabeth 
advance  toward  them  with  her  usual  measured  dignity  of  mo- 
tion, they  beheld  her  walking  so  rapidly  that  she  was  in  the 
midst  of  them  ere  they  were  aware;  and  then  observed,  with 
fear  and  surprise,  that  her  features  were  flushed  betwixt  anger 
and  agitation,  that  her  hair  was  loosened  by  her  haste  of 
motion,  and  that  her  eyes  sparkled  as  they  were  wont  when 
the  spirit  of  Henry  VIII.  mounted  highest  in  his  daughter. 
Nor  were  they  less  astonished  at  the  appearance  of  the  pale, 
extenuated,  half-dead,  yet  still  lovely,  female  whom  the  Queen 
upheld  by  main  strength  with  one  hand,  while  with  the  other 
she  waved  aside  the  ladies  and  nobles  who  pressed  toward  her, 
under  the  idea  that  she  was  taken  suddenly  ill.  "  Where  is 
my  Lord  of  Leicester?  "  she  said  in  a  tone  that  thrilled  with 
astonishment  all  the  courtiers  who  stood  around.  "  Stand 
forth,  my  Lord  of  Leicester!  " 

If,  in  the  midst  of  the  most  serene  day  of  summer,  when  all 
is  light  and  laughing  around,  a  thunderbolt  were  to  fall  from 
the  clear  blue  vault  of  heaven,  and  rend  the  earth  at  the  very 
feet  of  some  careless  traveler,  he  could  not  gaze  upon  the 
smoldering  chasm  which  so  unexpectedly  yawned  before  him 
with  half  the  astonishment  and  fear  which  Leicester  felt  at  the 
sight  that  so  suddenly  presented  itself.  He  had  that  instant 
been  receiving,  with  a  political  affectation  of  disavowing  and 
misunderstanding  their  meaning,  the  half-uttered,  half-inti- 
mated congratulations  of  the  courtiers  upon  the  favor  of  the 
Queen,  carried  apparently  to  its  highest  pitch  during  the  in- 
terview of  that  morning;  from  which  most  of  them  seemed  to 
augur  that  he  might  soon  arise  from  their  equal  in  rank  to  be- 
come their  master.  And  now,  while  the  subdued  yet  proud 
smile  with  which  he  disclaimed  those  inferences  was  yet  curl- 
ing his  cheek,  the  Queen  shot  into  the  circle,  her  passions  ex- 
cited to  the  uttermost;  and,  supporting  with  one  hand,  and 
apparently  without  an  eifort,  the  pale  and  sinking  form  of  his 
almost  expiring  wife,  and  pointing  with  the  finger  of  the  other 
to  her  half-dead  features,  demanded  in  a  voice  that  sounded 
to  the  ears  of  the  astounded  statesman  Like  the  last  dread 


KEmLWORTH,  367 

trumpet-call,  that  is  to  summon  body  and  spirit  to  xhe  judg- 
ment-seat, "Knowest  thou  this  woman?" 

As,  at  the  blast  of  that  last  trumpet,  the  guilty  shall  call 
upon  the  mountains  to  cover  them,  Leicester's  inward 
thoughts  invoked  the  stately  arch  which  he  had  built  in  his 
pride  to  burst  its  strong  conjunction  and  overwhelm  them  in 
its  ruins.  But  the  cemented  stones,  architrave  and  battle- 
ment, stood  fast;  and  it  was  the  proud  master  himself  who, 
as  if  some  actual  pressure  had  bent  him  to  the  earth,  kneeled 
down  before  Elizabeth,  and  prostrated  his  brow  to  the  marble 
flagstones  on  which  she  stood. 

"  Leicester,"  said  Elizabeth,  in  a  voice  which  trembled  with 
passion,  "  could  I  think  thou  hast  practiced  on  me — on  me 
thy  sovereign — on  me  thy  confiding,  thy  too  partial  mistress, 
the  base  and  ungrateful  deception  which  thy  present  con- 
fusion surmises — by  all  that  is  holy,  false  lord,  that  head  of 
thine  were  in  as  great  peril  as  ever  was  thy  father's!  " 

Leicester  had  not  conscious  innocence,  but  he  had  pride,  to 
support  him.  He  raised  slowly  his  brow  and  features,  which 
were  black  and  swoln  with  contending  emotions,  and  only 
replied,  "My  head  cannot  fall  but  by  the  sentence  of  my 
peers;  to  them  I  will  plead,  and  not  to  a  princess  who  thus 
requites  my  faithful  service." 

"  What!  my  lords,"  said  Elizabeth,  looking  around,  "  we  are 
defied,  I  think — defied  in  the  castle  we  have  ourselves  be- 
stowed on  this  proud  man!  My  Lord  Shrewsbury,  you  are 
marshal  of  England,  attach  him  of  high  treason! " 

"Whom  does  your  Grace  mean!"  said  Shrewsbury,  much 
surprised,  for  he  had  that  instant  joined  the  astonished  circle. 

"Whom  should  I  mean  but  that  traitor,  Dudley  Earl  of 
Leicester!  Cousin  of  Hunsdon,  order  out  your  band  of  gen- 
tlemen pensioners,  and  take  him  into  instant  custody.  I 
say,  villain,  make  haste!  " 

Hunsdon,  a  rough  old  noble,  who,  frOm  his  relationship  to 
the  Boleyns,  was  accustomed  to  use  more  freedom  with  the 
Queen  than  almost  any  other  dared  to  do,  replied  bluntly, 
"And  it  is  like  your  Grace  might  order  me  to  the  Tower 
to-morrow  for  making  too  much  haste.  I  do  beseech  you  to 
be  patient." 

"Patient!  God's  life!"  exclaimed  the  Queen,  "name  not 
the  word  to  me;  thou  know'st  not  of  what  he  is  guilty!  " 

Amy,  who  had  by  this  time  in  some  degree  recovered  her- 
self, and  who  saw  her  husband,  as  she  conceived,  in  the  utmost 
danger  from  the  rage  of  an  offended  sovereign,  instantly  (and 


868  WA  YERLEY  NO  VEL8. 

alas!  how  many  women  have  done  the  same)  forgot  her  own 
wrongs  and  her  own  danger  in  her  apprehensions  for  him,  and 
throwing  herself  before  the  Queen,  embraced  her  knees,  while 
she  exclaimed,  "  He  is  guiltless,  madam — he  is  guiltless:  no 
one  can  lay  aught  to  the  charge  of  the  noble  Leicester!  " 

"  Why,  minion,"  answered  the  Queen,  "  didst  not  thou  thy- 
self say  that  the  Earl  of  Leicester  was  privy  to  thy  whole 
history?" 

"  Did  I  say  so?"  repeated  the  unhappy  Amy,  laying  aside 
every  consideration  of  consistency  and  of  self-interest.  "  Oh, 
if  I  did,  I  foully  belied  him.  May  God  so  judge  me,  as  I 
believe  he  was  never  privy  to  a  thought  that  would  harm  me!  " 

"  Woman! "  said  Elizabeth,  "  I  will  know  who  has  moved 
thee  to  this;  or  my  wrath — and  the  wrath  of  kings  is  a  flam- 
ing fire — shall  wither  and  consume  thee  like  a  weed  in  the 
furnace." 

As  the  Queen  uttered  this  threat,  Leicester's  better  angel 
called  his  pride  to  his  aid,  and  reproached  him  with  the 
utter  extremity  of  meanness  which  would  overwhelm  him  for- 
ever if  he  stooped  to  take  shelter  under  the  generous  inter- 
position of  his  wife,  and  abandoned  her,  in  return  for  her 
kindness,  to  the  resentment  of  the  Queen.  He  had  already 
raised  his  head,  with  the  dignity  of  a  man  of  honor,  to  avow 
his  marriage,  and  proclaim  himself  the  protector  of  his  count- 
ess, when  Varney,  bom,  as  it  appeared,  to  be  his  master's  evil 
genius,  rushed  into  the  presence,  with  every  mark  of  disorder 
on  his  face  and  apparel. 

"  What  means  this  saucy  intrusion?  "  said  Elizabeth. 

Varney,  with  the  air  of  a  man  altogether  overwhelmed  with 
grief  and  confusion,  prostrated  himself  before  her  feet,  ex- 
claiming, "  Pardon,  my  liege — pardon!  or  at  least  let  your 
justice  avenge  itself  on  me,  where  it  is  due;  but  spare  my 
noble,  my  generous,  my  innocent  patron  and  master!  " 

Amy,  who  was  yet  kneeUng,  started  up  as  she  saw  the  man 
whom  she  deemed  most  odious  place  himself  so  near  her,  and 
was  about  to  fly  toward  Leicester,  when,  checked  at  once 
by  the  uncertainty  and  even  timidity  which  his  looks  had  re- 
assumed  as  soon  as  the  appearance  of  his  confidant  seemed  to 
open  a  new  scene,  she  hung  back,  and  uttering  a  faint  scream, 
besought  of  her  Majesty  to  cause  her  to  be  imprisoned  in  the 
lowest  dungeon  of  the  castle — to  deal  with  her  as  the  worst  of 
criminals — "  but  spare,"  she  exclaimed,  "  my  sight  and  hear- 
ing what  will  destroy  the  little  judgment  I  have  left — the 
sight  of  that  unutterable  and  most  shameless  villain  I " 


KENILWORTH,  369 

"And  why,  sweetheart?  "  said  the  Queen,  moved  by  a  new 
impulse;  "what  hath  he,  this  false  knight,  since  such  thou 
accountest  him,  done  to  thee  ?  " 

"  Oh,  worse  than  sorrow,  madam,  and  worse  than  injury: 
he  has  sown  dissension  where  most  there  should  be  peace.  I 
shall  go  mad  if  I  look  longer  on  him!  '^ 

"Beshrew  me,  but  I  think  thou  art  distraught  already," 
answered  the  Queen.  "  My  Lord  Hunsdon,  look  to  this  poor 
distressed  young  woman,  and  let  her  be  safely  bestowed  and 
in  honest  keeping  till  we  require  her  to  be  forthcoming." 

Two  or  three  of  the  ladies  in  attendance,  either  moved  by 
compassion  for  a  creature  so  interesting  or  by  some  other 
motive,  offered  their  services  to  look  after  her;  but  the  Queen 
briefly  answered,  "Ladies,  under  favor,  no.  You  have  all, 
give  God  thanks!  sharp  ears  and  nimble  tongues;  our  kinsman 
Hunsdon  has  ears  of  the  dullest,  and  a  tongue  somewhat 
rough,  but  yet  of  the  slowest.  Hunsdon,  look  to  it  that  none 
have  speech  of  her." 

"By  Our  Lady!"  said  Hunsdon,  taking  in  his  strong, 
sinewy  arms  the  fading  and  almost  swooning  form  of  Amy, 
"  she  is  a  lovely  child;  and  though  a  rough  nurse,  your  Grace 
hath  given  her  a  kind  one.  She  is  safe  with  me  as  one  of  my 
own  ladybiids  of  daughters." 

So  saying,  he  carried  her  off,  unresistingly  and  almost  un- 
consciously; his  war-worn  locks  and  long  gray  beard  mingling 
with  her  light-brown  tresses,  as  her  head  reclined  on  his  strong 
square  shoulder.  The  queen  followed  them  with  her  eye;  she 
had  already,  with  that  self-command  which  forms  so  neces- 
sary a  part  of  a  sovereign's  accomplishments,  suppressed  every 
appearance  of  agitation,  and  seemed  as  if  she  desired  to  banish 
all  traces  of  her  burst  of  passion  from  the  recollection  of  those 
who  had  witnessed  it.  "  My  Lord  of  Hunsdon  says  well,"  she 
observed;  "he  is  indeed  a  rough  nurse  for  so  tender  a 
babe." 

"  My  Lord  of  Hunsdon,"  said  the  Dean  of  St.  Asaph's,  "  I 
speak  it  not  in  defamation  of  his  more  noble  qualities,  hath 
a  broad  license  in  speech,  and  garnishes  his  discourse  some- 
what too  freely  with  the  cruel  and  superstitious  oaths,  which 
savor  both  of  prof anen ess  and  of  old  Papistrie." 

"  It  is  the  fault  of  his  blood,  Mr.  Dean,"  said  the  Queen, 
turning  sharply  round  upon  the  reverend  dignitary  as  she 
spoke;  "  and  you  may  blame  mine  for  the  same  distempera- 
ture.  The  Boleyns  were  ever  a  hot  and  plain-spoken  race, 
more  hasty  to  speak  their  mind  than  careful  to  choose  their 


870  WAVERLET  NOVELS 

expressioiici.  And,  by  my  word, — I  hope  there  i&  no  sin  m 
that  affirmation? — I  question  if  it  were  much  cooled  by  mix- 
ing with  that  of  Tudor." 

Ab  she  made  this  last  observation,  she  smiled  graciously, 
and  stole  her  eyes  almost  insensibly  round  to  seek  those  of  the 
Earl  of  Leicester,  to  whom  she  now  began  to  think  she  had 
spoken  with  hasty  harshness  upon  the  unfounded  suspicion  of 
a  moment. 

The  Queen's  eye  found  the  earl  in  no  mood  to  accept  the 
implied  offer  of  conciliation.  His  own  looks  had  followed, 
with  late  and  rueful  repentance,  the  faded  form  which  Huns- 
don  had  just  borne  from  the  presence;  they  now  reposed 
gloomily  on  the  ground,  but  more — so  at  least  it  seemed  to 
Elizabeth — with  the  expression  of  one  who  has  received  an 
unjust  affront  than  of  him  who  is  conscious  of  guilt.  She 
turned  her  face  angrily  from  him,  and  said  to  Vamey, 
"  Speak,  Sir  Eichard,  and  explain  these  riddles;  thou  hast 
sense  and  the  use  of  speech,  at  least,  which  elsewhere  we  look 
for  in  vain." 

As  she  said  this,  she  darted  another  resentful  glance  toward 
Leicester,  while  the  wily  Varney  hastened  to  tell  his  own 
story. 

"  Your  Majesty's  piercing  eye,"  he  said,  "  has  already  de- 
tected the  cruel  malady  of  my  beloved  lady;  which,  unhappy 
that  I  am,  I  would  not  suffer  to  be  expressed  in  the  certificate 
of  her  physician,  seeking  to  conceal  what  has  now  broken  out 
with  so  much  the  more  scandal." 

"  She  is  then  distraught?  "  said  the  Queen;  "  indeed,  we 
doubted  not  of  it:  her  whole  demeanor  bears  it  out.  I  found 
her  moping  in  a  corner  of  yonder  grotto;  and  every  word  she 
spoke — which  indeed  I  dragged  from  her  as  by  the  rack — 
she  instantly  recalled  and  forswore.  But  how  came  she 
hither?     Why  had  you  her  not  in  safe-keeping?" 

"  My  gracious  liege,"  said  Varney,  "  the  worthy  gentleman 
under  whose  charge  I  left  her.  Master  Anthony  Foster,  has 
come  hither  but  now,  as  fast  as  man  and  horse  can  travel,  to 
show  me  of  her  escape,  but  she  managed  with  the  art  peculiar 
to  many  who  are  afflicted  with  this  malady.  He  is  at  hand 
for  examination." 

'^  Let  it  be  for  another  time,"  said  the  Queen.  ''  But,  Sir 
Richard,  we  envy  you  not  your  domestic  felicity:  your  lady 
railed  on  you  bitterly,  and  seemed  ready  to  swoon  at  beholding 
you." 

"  It  is  the  nature  of  persons  in  her  disorder,  so  please  your 


KENILWORTH.  871 

ijracc/'  answered  Yarney,  "  to  be  ever  most  inveterate  in  their 
spleen  against  those  whom,  in  their  better  moments,  they 
hold  nearest  and  dearest/' 

"We  have  heard  so,  indeed,"  said  Elizabeth,  "and  give 
faith  to  the  saying." 

"  May  your  Grace  then  be  pleased,"  said  Vamey,  "  to  com- 
mand my  unfortunate  wife  to  be  delivered  into  the  custody  of 
her  friends  ?  " 

Leicester  partly  started;  but,  making  a  strong  effort,  he 
subdued  his  emotion,  while  Elizabeth  answered  sharply,  "  You 
are  something  too  hasty,  Master  Varney;  we  will  have  first  a 
report  of  the  lady's  health  and  state  of  mind  from  Masters, 
our  own  physician,  and  then  determine  what  shall  be  thought 
Just.  You  shall  have  license,  however,  to  see  her,  that  if  there 
be  any  matrimonial  quarrel  betwixt  you — such  things  we  have 
heard  do  occur,  even  betwixt  a  loving  couple — you  may  make 
it  up,  without  further  scandal  to  our  court  or  trouble  to  our- 
selves." 

Vamey  bowed  low,  and  made  no  other  answer. 

Elizabeth  again  looked  toward  Leicester,  and  said,  with  a 
degree  of  condescension  which  could  only  arise  out  of  the 
most  heartful  interest,  "  Discord,  as  the  Italian  poet  says,  will 
find  her  way  into  peaceful  convents,  as  well  as  into  the  privacy 
of  families;  and  we  fear  our  own  guards  and  ushers  will 
hardly  exclude  her  from  courts.  My  Lord  of  Leicester,  you 
are  offended  with  us,  and  we  have  right  to  be  offended  with 
you.  We  will  take  the  lion's  part  upon  us,  and  be  the  first  to 
forgive." 

Leicester  smoothed  his  brow,  as  by  an  effort,  but  the  trouble 
was  too  deep-seated  that  its  placidity  should  at  once  return. 
He  said,  however,  that  which  fitted  the  occasion,  "  That  he 
could  not  have  the  happiness  of  forgiving,  because  she  who 
commanded  him  to  do  so  could  commit  no  injury  toward 
him." 

Elizabeth  seemed  content  with  this  reply,  and  intimated 
her  pleasure  that  the  sports  of  the  morning  should  proceed. 
The  bugles  sounded — the  hounds  bayed — the  horses  pranced; 
but  the  courtiers  and  ladies  sought  the  amusement  to  which 
they  were  summoned  with  hearts  very  different  from  those 
which  had  leaped  to  the  morning's  reveille.  There  was 
doubt,  and  fear,  and  expectation  on  every  brow,  and  surmise 
and  intrigue  in  every  whisper. 

Blount  took  an  opportunity  to  whisper  into  Ealeigh's  ear, 
"  This  storm  came  like  a  levanter  in  the  Mediterranean/' 


8V2  WAVEBLEY  NOVELS. 

"'Varium  et  mutabile/'^  answered  Ealeigh,  in  a  similar 
tone. 

"  Nay,  I  know  naught  of  your  Latin,"  said  Blount;  "  but  I 
thank  God  Tressilian  took  not  the  sea  during  that  hurricano. 
He  could  scarce  have  missed  shipwreck^  knowing  as  he  does  so 
little  how  to  trim  his  sails  to  a  court  gale." 

"  Thou  wouldst  have  instructed  him  ?  "  said  Ealeigh. 

"Why,  I  have  profited  by  my  time  as  well  as  thou,  Sir 
Walter,"  replied  honest  Blount.  "I  am  knight  as  well  as 
thou,  and  of  the  earlier  creation." 

"Now,  God  further  thy  wit,"  said  Ealeigh;  "but  for 
Tressilian,  I  would  I  knew  what  were  the  matter  with  him. 
He  told  me  this  morning  he  would  not  leave  his  chamber  for 
the  space  of  twelve  hours  or  thereby,  being  bound  by  promise. 
This  lady's  madness,  when  he  shall  learn  it,  will  not,  I  fear, 
cure  his  infirmity.  The  moon  is  at  the  fullest,  and  men's 
brains  are  working  like  yeast.  But  hark!  they  sound  to 
mount.  Let  us  to  horse,  Blount:  we  young  knights  must  de- 
serve our  spun." 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

Sincerity, 
Thou  first  of  virtues,  let  no  mortal  leave 
The  onward  path,  although  the  earth  should  gape, 
And  from  the  gulf  of  hell  destruction  cry, 
To  take  dissimulation's  winding  way. 

— Douglas. 

It  was  not  till  after  a  long  and  successful  morning's  sport, 
and  a  prolonged  repast  which  followed  the  return  of  the 
Queen  to  the  castle,  that  Leicester  at  length  found  himself 
alone  with  Vamey,  from  whom  he  now  learned  the  whole 
particulars  of  the  countess'  escape,  as  they  had  been  brought 
to  Kenilworth  by  Foster,  who,  in  his  terror  for  the  conse- 
quences, had  himself  posted  thither  with  the  tidings.  As 
Vamey,  in  his  narrative,  took  especial  care  to  be  silent  con- 
cerning those  practices  on  the  countess'  health  which  had 
driven  her  to  so  desperate  a  resolution,  Leicester,  who  could 
only  suppose  that  she  had  adopted  it  out  of  jealous  impatience 
to  attain  the  avowed  state  and  appearance  belonging  to  her 
rank,  was  not  a  little  offended  at  the  levity  with  which  his 
wife  had  broken  his  strict  commands,  and  exposed  him  \jo  the 
resentment  of  Elizabeth. 

"  I  have  given,"  he  said,  '^  to  this  daughter  of  an  obscure 
Devonshire  gentleman  the  proudest  name  in  England.  I 
have  made  her  sharer  of  my  bed  and  of  my  fortunes.  I  ask 
but  of  her  a  little  patience,  ere  she  launches  forth  upon  the 
full  current  of  her  grandeur,  and  the  infatuated  woman  will 
rather  hazard  her  own  shipwreck  and  mine,  will  rather  in- 
volve me  in  a  thousand  whirlpools,  shoals,  and  quicksands, 
and  compel  me  to  a  thousand  devices  which  shame  me  in 
mine  own  eyes,  than  tarry  for  a  little  space  longer  in  the 
obscurity  to  which  she  was  bom.  So  lovely,  so  delicate,  so 
fond,  so  faithful,  yet  to  lack  in  so  grave  a  matter  the  pru- 
dence which  one  might  hope  from  the  veriest  fool — ^it  puts 
me  beyond  my  patience." 

"  We  may  post  it  over  yet  well  enough,"  said  Vamey,  "  if 
my  lady  will  be  but  ruled,  and  take  on  her  the  character 
which  the  time  commands." 

"  It  is  but  too  true,  Sir  Richard,"  said  Leicester,  "  there  is 
indeed  no  other  remedy.     I  have  heard  her  termed  thy  wife 


874  WAVERLEY  HOVELS, 

in  my  presence,  without  contradiction.  She  must  bear  the 
title  until  she  is  far  from  Kenilworth/' 

"  And  long  afterward,  I  trust,"  said_Vamey;  then  instantly 
added,  "  for  I  cannot  but  hope  it  will  be  long  after  ere  she 
bear  the  title  of  Lady  Leicester:  I  fear  me  it  may  scarce  be 
with  safety  during  the  life  of  this  Queen.  But  your  lord- 
ship is  best  judge,  you  alone  knowing  what  passages  have 
taken  place  betwixt  Elizabeth  and  you." 

"You  are  right,  Varney,"  said  Leicester;  "I  have  this 
morning  been  both  fool  and  villain;  and  when  Elizabeth  hears 
of  my  unhappy  marriage,  she  cannot  but  think  herself 
treated  with  that  premeditated  slight  which  women  never 
forgive.  We  have  once  this  day  stood  upon  terms  little  short 
of  defiance;  and  to  those,  I  fear,  we  must  again  return." 

"  Is  her  resentment,  then,  so  implacable?  "  said  Varney. 

"  Far  from  it,"  replied  the  earl;  "  for,  being  what  she  is  in 
spirit  and  in  station,  she  has  even  this  day  been  but  too  con- 
descending, in  giving  me  opportunities  to  repair  what  she 
thinks  my  faulty  heat  of  temper." 

"  Aye,"  answered  Va-mey;  "  the  Italians  say  right:  in 
lovers^  quarrels  the  party  that  loves  most  is  always  most  will- 
ing to  acknowledge  the  greater  fault.  So  then,  my  lord,  if 
this  union  with  the  lady  could  be  concealed,  you  stand  with 
EHzabeth  as  you  did?  "  * 

Leicester  sighed,  and  was  silent  for  a  moment,  ere  he 
replied. 

"  Varney,  I  think  thou  art  true  to  me,  and  I  will  tell  thee 
all.  I  do  not  stand  where  I  did.  I  have  spoken  to  Elizabeth 
— ^under  what  mad  impulse  I  know  not — on  a  theme  which 
cannot  be  abandoned  without  touching  every  female  feeling 
to  the  quick,  and  which  yet  I  dare  not  and  cannot  prosecute. 
She  can  never,  never  forgive  me  for  having  caused  and  wit- 
nessed those  yieldings  to  human  passion." 

"  We  must  do  something,  my  lord,"  said  Varney,  "  and 
that  speedily." 

"  There  is  naught  to  be  done,"  answered  Leicester,  de- 
spondingly;  "I  am  like  one  that  has  long  toiled  up  a  dan- 
gerous precipice,  and  when  he  is  within  one  perilous  stride  of 
tiie  top,  finds  his  progress  arrested  when  retreat  has  become 
impossible.  I  see  above  me  the  pinnacle  which  I  cannot 
reach,  beneath  me  the  abyss  into  which  I  must  fall,  as  soon 
as  my  relaxing  grasp  and  dizzy  brain  join  to  hurl  me  from 
my  present  precarious  stance." 

*' Think  better  of  your  situation,  my  lord,"  said  Varney; 


KEmLWOBTH.  375 

'*  let  us  try  the  experiment  in  which  yau  have  but  now 
acquiesced.  Keep  we  your  marriage  from  Elizabeth^s  knowl- 
edge, and  all  may  yet  be  well.  I  will  instantly  go  to  the  lady 
myself.  She  hates  me,  because  I  have  been  earnest  with  your 
lordship,  as  she  truly  suspects,  in  opposition  to  what  she 
terms  her  rights.  I  caxe  not  for  her  prejudices.  She  shall 
listen  to  me;  and  I  will  show  her  such  reasons  for  yielding  to 
the  pressure  of  the  times,  that  I  doubt  not  to  bring  back  her 
consent  to  whatever  measures  these  exigences  may  require." 

"  No,  Varney,"  said  Leicester;  "  I  have  thought  upon  what 
is  to  be  done,  and  I  wdll  myself  speak  with  Amy." 

It  was  now  Vamey^s  turn  to  feel,  upon  his  own  account, 
the  terrors  which  he  affected  to  participate  solely  on  account 
of  his  patron.  "  Your  lordship  will  not  yourself  speak  with 
the  lady?" 

"  It  is  my  fixed  purpose,"  said  Leicester;  "  fetch  me  one  of 
the  livery  cloaks;  I  will  pass  the  sentinel  as  thy  servant. 
Thou  art  to  have  free  access  to  her." 

"  But,  my  lord " 

"  I  will  have  no  ^  buts,' "  replied  Ijeicester;  '^  it  shall  be 
even  thus,  and  not  otherwise.  Hunsdon  sleeps,  I-  think,  in 
Saintlowe's  Tower.  We  can  go  thither  from  these  apart- 
ments by  tbe  private  passage,  without  risk  of  meeting  anyone. 
Or  what  if  I  do  meet  Hunsdon?  he  is  more  my  friend  than 
enemy,  and  thick-witted  enough  to  adopt  any  belief  that  is 
thrust  on  him.     Fetch  me  the  cloak  instantly." 

Varney  had  no  alternative  save  obedience.  In  a  few 
minutes  Leicester  was  muffled  in  the  mantle,  pulled  his  bon- 
net over  his  brows,  and  followed  Varney  along  the  secret 
passage  of  the  castle  which  communicated  with  Hunsdon's 
apartments,  in  which  was  scarce  a  chance  of  meeting  any 
inquisitive  person,  and  hardly  light  enough  for  any  such  to 
have  satisfied  their  curiosity.  They  emerged  at  a  door  where 
Lord  Hunsdon  had,  with  military  precaution,  placed  a  sen- 
tinel, one  of  his  own  nothern  retainers  as  it  fortuned,  who 
readily  admitted  Sir  Eichard  Varney  and  his  attendant, 
saying  only,  in  his  northern  dialect,  "I  would,  man,  thou 
oouldst  make  the  mad  lady  be  still  yonder;  for  her  moans 
do  sae  dirl  through  my  head  that  I  would  rather  keep  watch 
on  a  snow-drift  in  the  wastes  of  Catlowdie." 

They  hastily  entered,  and  shut  the  door  behind  them. 

"Now,  good  devil,  if  there  be  one,"  said  Varney,  within 
himself,  "  for  once  help  a  votary  at  a  dead  pinch,  for  my  boat 
is  amongst  the  breakeral" 


378  WAVERLEY  NOVELS, 

The  Countess  Amy,  with  her  hair  and  her  garments  di- 
sheveled, was  seated  upon  a  sort  of  couch,  in  an  attitude  of 
the  deepest  affliction,  out  of  which  she  was  startled  by  the 
opening  of  the  door.  She  turned  hastily  round,  and,  fixing 
her  eye  on  Varney,  exclaimed,  "  Wretch!  art  thou  come  to 
frame  some  new  plan  of  villainy?  " 

Leicester  cut  short  her  reproaches  by  stepping  forward  and 
dropping  his  cloak,  while  he  said,  in  a  voice  rather  of 
authority  than  of  affection,  "  It  is  with  me,  madam,  you  have 
to  commune,  not  with  Sir  Richard  Varney." 

The  change  effected  on  the  countess'  look  and  manner  was 
like  magic.  "Dudley!"  she  exclaimed — "Dudley!  and  art 
thou  come  at  last?  "  And  with  the  speed  of  lightning  she 
flew  to  her  husband,  clung  around  his  neck,  and,  unheeding 
the  presence  of  Vamey,  overwhelmed  him  with  caresses,  while 
she  bathed  his  face  in  a  flood  of  tears;  muttering,  at  the 
same  time,  but  in  broken  and  disjointed  monosyllables,  the 
fondest  expressions  which  love  teaches  his  votaries. 

Leicester,  as  it  seemed  to  him,  had  reason  to  be  angry  with 
his  lady  for  transgressing  his  commands,  and  thus  placing 
him  in  the  perilous  situation  in  which  he  had  that  morning 
stood.  But  what  displeasure  could  keep  its  ground  before 
these  testimonies  of  affection  from  a  being  so  lovely  that  even 
the  negligence  of  dress,  and  the  withering  effects  of  fear, 
grief,  and  fatigue,  which  would  have  impaired  the  beauty  of 
others,  rendered  hers  but  the  more  interesting!  He  received 
and  repaid  her  caresses  with  fondness,  mingled  with  melan- 
choly, the  last  of  which  she  seemed  scarcely  to  observe,  until 
the  first  transport  of  her  own  joy  was  over;  when,  looking 
anxiously  in  his  face,  she  asked  if  he  was  ill. 

"  Not  in  my  body,  Amy,"  was  his  answer. 

"  Then  I  will  be  well,  toQ.  Oh,  Dudley!  I  have  been  iil!^- 
very  ill,  since  we  last  met! — for  I  call  not  this  morning's 
horrible  vision  a  meeting.  I  have  been  in  sickness,  in  grief, 
and  in  danger.  But  thou  art  come,  and  all  is  joy,  and 
health,  and  safety! " 

"Alas!  Amy,"  said  Leicester,  "thou  hast  undone  me!" 

"  I,  my  lord! "  said  Amy,  her  cheek  at  once  losing  its 
transient  flush  of  joy;  "  how  could  I  injure  that  which  I  love 
better  than  myself?  " 

^'  I  would  not  upbraid  you,  Amy,"  replied  the  earl;  "  but 
are  you  not  here  contrary  to  my  express  commands;  and  does 
not  your  presence  here  endanger  both  yourself  and  me?  " 

"  Does  it — does  it  indeed?  "  she  exclaimed,  eagerly;  "  then 


KENILWOBTE.  377 

why  am  I  here  a  moment  longer?  Oh,  if  you  knew  by  what 
fears  I  was  urged  to  quit  Cumnor  Place!  But  I  will  say 
nothing  of  myself,  only  that,  if  it  might  be  otherwise,  I 
would  not  wilUngly  return  thither;  yet  if  it  concern  your 

safety " 

"  We  will  think.  Amy,  of  some  other  retreat,''  said  Leices- 
ter; "  and  you  shall  go  to  one  of  my  northern  castles,  under 
the  personage — it  will  be  but  needful,  I  trust,  for  a  very  few 
days — of  Vamey's  wife." 

"  How,  my  Lord  of  Leicester! "  said  the  lady,  disengaging 
herself  from  his  embraces;  "is  it  to  your  wife  you  give  the 
dishonorable  counsel  to  acknowledge  herself  the  bride  of 
another — and  of  all  men,  the  bride  of  that  Vamey?  " 

"Madam,  I  speak  it  in  earnest.  Vamey  is  my  true  and 
faithful  servant,  trusted  in  my  deepest  secrets.  I  had  better 
lose  my  right  hand  than  his  service  at  this  moment.  You 
have  no  cause  to  scorn  him  as  you  do." 

"  I  could  assign  one,  my  lord,"  replied  th-e  countess;  "  and 
I  see  he  shakes  even  under  that  assured  look  of  his.  But  he 
that  is  necessary  as  your  right  hand  to  your  safety  is  free 
from  any  accusation  of  mine.  May  he  be  true  to  you;  and 
that  he  may  be  true,  trust  him  not  too  much  or  too  far.  But 
it  is  enough  to  say,  that  I  will  not  go  with  him  unless  by 
violence,  nor  would  I  acknowledge  him  as  my  husband  were 

all " 

"  It  is  a  temporary  deception,  madam,"  said  Leicester,  irri- 
tated by  her  opposition,  "necessary  for  both  our  safeties, 
endangered  by  you  through  female  caprice,  or  the  premature 
desire  to  seize  on  a  rank  to  which  I  gave  you  title  only  under 
condition  that  our  marriage,  for  a  time,  should  continue 
secret.  If  my  proposal  disgust  you,  it  is  yourself  has  brought 
it  on  both  of  us.  There  is  no  other  remedy:  you  must  do 
what  your  own  impatient  folly  hath  rendered  necessary — I 
command  you." 

"  I  cannot  put  your  commands,  my  lord,"  said  Amy,  "  in 
balance  with  those  of  honor  and  conscience.  I  will  not, 
in  this  instance,  obey  you.  You  may  achieve  your  own  dis- 
honor, to  which  these  crooked  policies  naturally  tend;  but 
I  will  do  naught  that  can  blemish  mine.  How  could  you 
again,  my  lord,  acknowledge  me  as  a  pure  and  chaste 
matron,  worthy  to  share  your  fortunes,  when,  holding:  that 
high  character,  I  had  strolled  the  country  the  acknowledged 
wife  of  such  a  profligate  fellow  as  your  servant  Vamey?  " 
"My  lord."  said  Vamey,  interposing,  "my  lady  is  toe 


878  WAVEBLEY  NOVELS, 

much  prejudiced  against  me,  unhappily,  to  listen  to  what  I 
caQ  offer;  yet  it  may  please  her  better  thaa  what  she  pro- 
poses. She  has  good  interest  with  Master  Edmund  Tres- 
silian,  and  could  doubtless  prevail  on  him  to  consent  to  be 
her  companion  to  Lidcote  Hall,  and  there  she  might  remain 
in  safety  until  time  permitted  the  development  of  this 
mystery.'^ 

Leicester  was  silent,  but  stood  looking  eagerly  on  Amy, 
with  eyes  which  seemed  suddenly  to  glow  as  much  with  sus^ 
picion  as  displeasure. 

The  countess  only  said,  "  Would  to  Grod  I  were  in  my 
father's  house!  When  I  left  it,  I  little  thought  I  was  leav- 
ing peace  of  mind  and  honor  behind  me." 

Vamey  proceeded  with  a  tone  of  deliberation.  "  Doubt- 
less this  will  make  it  necessary  to  take  strangers  into  my 
lord's  counsels;  but  surely  the  countess  will  be  warrant  for 
the  honor  of  Master  Tressilian  and  such  of  her  father's 
family '' 

"  Peace,  Vam«y,"  said  Leicester;  "  by  Heaven  I  will  strike 
my  dagger  into  thee,  if  again  thou  namest  Tressilian  as  a 
partner  of  my  counsels!  " 

"  And  wherefore  not? "  said  the  countess;  "  unless  they 
be  counsels  fitter  for  such  as  Vamey  than  for  a  man  of  stain- 
less honor  and  integrity.  My  lord — my  lord,  bend  no  angry 
brows  on  me;  it  is  the  truth,  and  it  is  I  who  speak  it.  I 
once  did  Tressilian  wrong  for  your  sake;  I  will  not  do  him 
the  further  injustice  of  being  silent  when  his  honor  is  brought 
in  question.  I  can  forbear,"  she  said,  looking  at  Vamey, 
"  to  pull  the  mask  off  hypocrisy,  but  I  will  not  permit  virtue 
to  be  slandered  in  my  hearing." 

There  was  a  dead  pause.  Leicester  stood  displeased,  yet 
undetermined,  and  too  conscious  of  the  weakness  of  his 
cause;  while  Vamey,  with  a  deep  and  hjrpocritical  affectation 
of  sorrow,  mingled  with  humility,  bent  his  eyes  on  the 
ground. 

It  was  then  that  the  Countess  Amy  displayed,  in  the  midst 
of  distress  and  difficulty,  the  natural  ener^  of  character 
which  would  have  rendered  her,  had  fate  allowed,  a  distin- 
guished ornament  of  the  rank  which  she  held.  She  walked 
up  to  Leicester  with  a  composed  step,  a  dignified  air,  and 
looks  in  which  strong  affection  essayed  in  vain  to  shake  the 
firmness  of  conscious  tmth  and  rectitude  of  principle.  "  You 
have  spoke  your  mind,  my  lord."  she  said,  "in  these  diffi- 
culties, with  which,  unhappily,  I  have  found  myself  unable 


KENILWORTH.  370 

to  comply.  This  gentleman — this  person,  I  would  say- — has 
hinted  at  another  scheme,  to  which  I  object  not  but  as  it  dis- 
pleases you.  Will  your  lordship  be  pleased  to  hear  what  a 
young  and  timid  woman,  but  your  most  affectionate  wife,  can 
suggest  in  the  present  extremity  ?  " 

Leicester  was  silent,  but  bent  his  head  toward  the  countess, 
as  an  intimation  that  she  was  at  liberty  to  proeeed. 

"  There  hath  been  but  one  cause  for  all  these  evils,  my 
lord,''  she  proceeded,  "  and  it  resolves  itself  into  the  mysteri- 
ous duplicity  with  which  you  have  been  induced  to  surround 
yourself.  Extricate  yourself  at  once,  my  lord,  from  the 
tyranny  of  these  disgraceful  trammels.  Be  like  a  true  Eng- 
lish gentleman,  knight,  and  earl,  who  holds  that  truth  is  the 
foundation  of  honor,  and  that  honor  is  dear  to  him  as  the 
breath  of  his  nostrils.  Take  your  ill-fated  wife  by  the  hand; 
lead  her  to  the  footstool  of  Elizabeth's  throne;  say  that,  ^  In 
a  moment  of  infatuation,  moved  by  supposed  beauty,  of  which 
none  perhaps  can  now  trace  even  the  remains,  I  gave  my 
hand  to  this  Amy  Eobsart.'  You  will  then  have  done  justice 
to  me,  my  lord,  and  to  your  own  honor;  and  should  law  or 
power  require  you  to  part  from  me,  I  will  oppose  no  objec- 
tion, since  I  may  then  with  honor  hide  a  grieved  and  broken 
heart  in  those  shades  from  which  your  love  withdrew  me. 
Then — have  but  a  little  patience,  and  Amy's  life  will  not 
long  darken  your  brighter  prospects." 

There  was  so  much  of  dignity,  so  much  of  tenderness,  in 
the  countess'  remonstrance  that  it  moved  all  that  was  noble 
and  generous  in  the  soul  of  her  husband.  The  scales  seemed 
to  fall  from  his  eyes,  and  the  duplicity  and  tergiversation  of 
which  he  had  been  guilty  stung  him  at  once  with  remorse  and 
shame. 

"I  am  not  worthy  of  you,  Amy,"  he  said,  ^Hhat  could 
weigh  aught  which  ambition  has  to  give  against  such  a  heart 
as  thine!  I  have  a  bitter  penance  to  perform,  in  disen- 
tangling, before  sneering  foes  and  astounded  friends,  all  the 
meshes  of  my  own  deceitful  policy.  And  the  Queen — but  let 
her  take  my  head,  as  she  has  threatened." 

"Your  head,  my  lord!"  said  the  countess;  "because  you 
used  the  freedom  and  liberty  of  an  English  subject  in  choos- 
ing a  wife?  For  shame;  it  is  this  distrust  of  the  Queen's 
justice,  this  apprehension  of  danger,  which  cannot  but  be 
imaginary,  that,  like  scarecrows,  have  induced  you  to  forsake 
the  straightforward  path,  which,  as  it  is  the  best,  is  also  the 
safest." 


880  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

"  Ah,  Amy,  thou  little  knowest! "  said  Dudley;  but,  in- 
stantly checking  himself,  he  added,  "  Yet  she  shall  not  find 
in  me  a  safe  or  easy  victim  of  arbitrary  vengeance.  I  have 
friends — I  have  allies — I  will  not,  like  Norfolk,  be  dragged 
to  the  block  as  a  victim  to  sacrifice.  Fear  not.  Amy;  thou 
shalt  see  Dudley  bear  himself  worthy  of  his  name.  I  must 
instantly  communicate  with  some  of  those  friends  on  whom 
I  can  best  rely;  for,  as  things  stand,  I  may  be  made  prisoner 
in  my  own  castle.'^ 

"  Oh,  my  good  lord,"  said  Amy,  "  make  no  faction  in  a 
peaceful  state!  There  is  no  friend  can  help  us  so  well  as  our 
own  candid  truth  and  honor.  Bring  but  these  to  our  assist- 
ance, and  you  are  safe  amidst  a  whole  army  of  the  envious 
and  malignant.  Leave  these  behind  you,  and  all  other 
defense  will  be  fruitless.  Truth,  my  noble  lord,  is  well 
painted  unarmed." 

"  But  wisdom,  Amy,"  answered  Leicester,  "  is  arrayed  in 
panoply  of  proof.  Argue  not  with  me  on  the  means  I  shall 
use  to  render  my  confession — since  it  must  be  called  so — as 
safe  as  may  be;  it  will  be  fraught  with  enough  of  danger,  do 
what  we  will.  Vamey,  we  must  hence.  Farewell,  Amy, 
whom  I  am  to  vindicate  as  mine  own  at  an  expense  and  risk 
of  which  thou  alone  eouldst  be  worthy!  You  shall  soon  hear 
farther  from  me." 

He  embraced  her  fervently,  muffled  himself  as  before,  and 
accompanied  Vamey  from  the  apartment.  The  latter,  as  he 
left  the  room,  bowed  low,  and,  as  he  raised  his  body,  re- 
garded Amy  with  a  peculiar  expression,  as  if  he  desired  to 
know  how  far  his  own  pardon  was  included  in  the  reconcilia- 
tion which  had  taken  place  betwixt  her  and  her  lord.  The 
countess  looked  upon  him  with  a  fixed  eye,  but  seemed  no 
more  conscious  of  his  presence  than  if  there  had  been  nothing 
but  vacant  air  on  the  spot  where  he  stood. 

'^  She  has  brought  me  to  the  crisis,"  he  muttered.  "  She 
or  I  are  lost.  There  was  something — I  wot  not  if  it  was  fear 
or  pity — that  prompted  me  to  avoid  this  fatal  crisis.  It  is 
now  decided.     She  or  I  must  perish." 

While  he  thus  spoke,  he  observed,  with  surprise,  that  a 
boy,  repulsed  by  the  sentinel,  made  up  to  Leicester  and  spoke 
with  him.  Yamey  was  one  of  those  politicians  whom  not 
the  slightest  appearances  escape  without  inquiry.  He  asked 
the  sentinel  what  the  lad  wanted  with  him,  and  received  for 
answer,  that  the  boy  had  wished  him  to  transmit  a  parcel 
to  the  mad  lady,  but  that  he  cared  not  to  take  charge  of  it, 


iuch  communication  being  beyond  his  commission.  His 
curiosity  satisfied  in  that  particular,  he  approached  his  patron, 
and  heard  him  say,  "  Well,  boy,  the  packet  shall  be  delivered/' 

"Thanks,  good  Master  Serving-man,''  said  the  boy,  and 
was  out  of  sight  in  an  instant. 

Leicester  and  Yamey  returned  with  hasty  steps  to  the  earl's 
private  apartment  by  the  same  passage  which  had  conducted 
them  to  Saintlowe's  Tower. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

I  have  said 
This  is  an  adulteress,  I  have  said  with  whom-' 
More,  she's  a  traitor,  and  Camillo  is 
'  A  federary  with  her,  and  one  that  knows 

What  she  should  shame  to  know  herself 

—  Winter's  Tale, 

They  were  no  sooner  in  the  earl's  cabinet  than,  taJdng  his 
tablets  from  his  pocket,  he  began  to  write,  speaking  partly 
to  Vamey  and  partly  to  himself:  "  There  are  many  of  them 
close  bounden  to  me,  and  especially  those  in  good  estate  and 
high  office;  many  who,  if  they  look  back  toward  my  benefits, 
or  forward  toward  the  perils  which  may  befall  themselves, 
will  not,  I  think,  be  disposed  to  see  me  stagger  unsupported. 
Let  me  see — Knollis  is  sure,  and  through  his  meanfi  Guernsey 
and  Jersey.  Horsey  commands  in  the  Isle  of  Wight.  My 
brother-in-law,  Huntingdon,  and  Pembroke  have  authority  in 
Wales.  Through  Bedford  I  lead  the  Puritans,  with  their 
interest,  so  powerful  in  all  the  boroughs.  My  brother  of 
Warwick  is  equal,  well-nigh,  to  myself  in  wealth,  followers, 
and  dependencies.  Sir  Owen  Hopton  is  at  my  devotion;  be 
commands  the  Tower  of  London,  and  the  national  treasure 
deposited  there.  My  father  and  grandfather  needed  never 
to  have  stooped  their  heads  to  the  block  had  they  thus  fore- 
cast their  enterprises.  Why  look  you  so  sad,  Vamey?  I 
tell  thee,  a  tree  so  deep-rooted  is  not  easily  to  be  torn  up  by 
the  tempest." 

"Alas!  my  lord,"  said  Vamey,  with  well-acted  passion, 
and  then  resumed  the  same  look  of  despondency  which 
Leicester  had  before  noted. 

"  Alas! "  repeated  Leicester,  "  and  wherefore  alas.  Sir 
Eichard?  Doth  your  new  spirit  of  chivalry  supply  no  more 
vigorous  ejaculation  when  a  noble  struggle  is  impending? 
Or,  if  '  alas '  means  thou  wilt  flinch  from  the  conflict,  thou 
mayst  leave  the  castle,  or  go  join  mine  enemies,  whichever 
thou  thinkest  best." 

''  Not  so,  my  lord,"  answered  his  confidant;  "  Vamey  will 
be  found  fighting  or  dying  by  your  side.  Forgive  me  if,  in 
love  to  you,  I  see  more  fully  than  your  noble  heart  permits 
you  to  do  the  inextricable  difficulties  with  which  you  are  tur- 


KENILWOBTB.  383 

rounded.  You  are  strong,  my  lord,  and  powerful;  yet,  let  me 
say  it  without  oft'ense,  you  are  so  only  by  the  reflected  light 
of  the  Queen's  favor.  While  you  are  Elizabeth's  favorite  you 
are  all,  save  in  name,  like  an  actual  sovereign.  But  let  hear 
call  back  the  honors  she  has  bestowed,  and  the  prophet's 
gourd  did  not  wither  more  suddenly.  Declare  against  the 
Queen,  and  I  do  not  say  that  in  the  wide  nation,  or  in  this 
province  alone,  you  would  find  yourself  instantly  deserted 
and  outnumbered;  but  I  will  say,  that  even  in  this  very- 
castle,  and  in  the  midst  of  your  vassals,  kinsmen,  and  de- 
pendents, you  would  be  a  captive,  nay,  a  sentenced 
captive,  should  she  please  to  say  the  word.  Think  upon 
Norfolk,  my  lord — upon  the  powerful  Northumberland — the 
splendid  Westmoreland — think  on  all  who  have  made  head 
against  this  sage  princess.  They  are  dead,  captive,  or  fugi- 
tive. This  is  not  like  other  thrones,  which  can  be  overturned 
by  a  combination  of  powerful  nobles:  the  broad  foundations 
which  support  it  are  in  the  extended  love  and  affections  of  the 
people.  You  might  share  it  with  Elizabeth,  if  you  would; 
but  neither  yours  nor  any  other  power,  foreign  or  domestic, 
will  avail  to  overthrow  or  even  to  shake  it.'' 

He  paused,  and  Leicester  threw  his  tablets  from  him  with 
an  air  of  reckless  despite.  "It  may  be  as  thou  say'st,"  he 
said;  "  and,  in  sooth,  I  care  not  whether  truth  or  cowardice 
dictate  thy  forebodings.  But  it  shall  not  be  said  I  fell  with- 
out a  struggle.  Give  orders  that  those  of  my  retainers  who 
served  under  me  in  Ireland  be  gradually  drawn  into  the  main 
keep,  and  let  our  gentlemen  and  friends  stand  on  their 
guard,  and  go  armed,  as  if  they  expected  an  onset  from  the 
followers  of  Sussex.  Possess  the  townspeople  with  some  ap- 
prehension; let  them  take  arms  and  be  ready,  at  a  signal 
given,  to  overpower  the  pensioners  and  yeomen  of  the 
guard." 

"  Let  me  remind  you,  my  lord,"  said  Yarney,  with  the  same 
appearance  of  deep  and  melancholy  interest,  "  that  you  have 
given  me  orders  to  prepare  for  disarming  the  Queen's  guard. 
It  is  an  act  of  high  treason,  but  you  shall  nevertheless  be 
obeyed." 

"I  care  not,"  said  Leicester,  desperately — "I  care  not. 
Shame  is  behind  me,  ruin  before  me;  I  must  on." 

Here  there  was  another  pause,  which  Yarney  at  length 
broke  with  the  following  words — "It  is  come  to  the  point 
I  have  long  dreaded.  I  must  either  witness,  like  an  ungrate- 
ful beast^  the  downfall  of  the  best  and  kindest  of  masteirs^ 


884  WA  VEBLET  NO  VELS. 

or  I  must  speak  what  I  would  have  buried  in  the  deepest 
oblivion,  or  told  by  any  other  mouth  than  mine." 

"  What  is  that  thou  sayst,  or  wouldst  say  ?  "  replied  the 
earl;  "  we  have  no  time  to  waste  on  words,  when  the  time 
calls  us  to  action." 

"  My  speech  is  soon  made,  my  lord — would  to  God  it  were 
as  soon  answered!  Your  marriage  is  the  sole  cause  of  the 
threatened  breach  with  your  sovereign,  my  lord,  is  it  not?  " 

"  Thou  knowest  it  is!  "  replied  Leicester.  "  What  needjs 
80  fruitless  a  question?  " 

"Pardon  me,  my  lord,"  said  Vamey;  "the  use  lies  here. 
Men  will  wager  their  lands  and  lives  in  defense  of  a  rich 
diamond,  my  lord;  but  were  it  not  first  prudent  to  look  if 
there  is  no  flaw  in  it  ?  " 

"  What  means  this? "  said  Leicester,  with  eyes  sternly 
fixed  on  his  dependent:  "  of  whom  dost  thou  dare  to 
speak?" 

"  It  is — of  the  Countess  Amy,  my  lord,  of  whom  I  am 
unhappily  bound  to  speak;  and  of  whom  I  will  speak,  were 
your  lordship  to  kill  mc  for  my  zeal." 

"  Thou  mayst  happen  to  deserve  it  at  my  hand,"  said  the 
eari;  "  but  speak  on,  I  will  hear  thee." 

"  Nay,  then,  my  lord,  I  will  be  bold.  I  speak  for  my  own 
life  as  well  as  for  your  lordship's.  I  like  not  this  lady's  tam- 
pering and  trickstering  with  this  same  Edmund  Tressilian. 
You  know  him,  my  lord.  You  know  he  had  formerly  an 
interest  in  her,  which  it  cost  your  lordship  some  pains  to 
supersede.  You  know  the  eagerness  with  which  he  has  prised 
on  the  suit  against  me  in  behalf  of  this  lady,  the  open  ol^ject 
of  which  is  to  drive  your  lordship  to  an  avowal  of  what  I 
must  ever  call  your  most  unhappy  marriage,  the  point  to 
which  my  lady  also  is  will!  ig,  at  any  risk,  to  urge  you." 

Leicester  smiled  constrainedly.  "  Thou  meanest  well,  good 
Sir  Eichard,  and  wouldst,  I  think,  sacrifice  thine  own  honor, 
as  well  as  that  of  any  other  person,  to  save  me  from  what 
thou  think'st  a  step  so  terrible.  But  remember  " — he  spoke 
these  words  with  the  most  stem  decision — "  you  speak  of  the 
Countess  of  Leicester." 

"  I  do,  my  lord,"  said  Vamey;  "  but  it  is  for  the  welfare  of 
the  Earl  of  Leicester.  My  tale  is  but  begun.  I  do  most 
strongly  believe  that  this  Tressilian  has,  from  the  beginning 
of  his  moving  in  her  cause,  been  in  connivance  with  her  lady- 
ship the  countess." 

"  Thou  apeak'st  wild  madneaa,  Vamey,  with  the  sober  face 


KENILWORTH.  385 

of  a  preacher.  Where  or  how  could  they  commimicate 
together?  " 

"  My  lord/'  said  Vamey,  "  unfortunately  I  can  show  that 
but  too  well.  It  was  just  before  the  supplication  was  pre- 
sented to  the  Queen,  in  Tressilian's  name,  that  I  met  him, 
to  my  utter  astonishment,  at  the  postern  gate  which  leads 
from  the  demesne  at  Cumnor  Place/' 

"  Thou  met'st  him,  villain!  and  why  didst  thou  not  strike 
him  dead?''  exclaimed  Leicester. 

"  I  drew  on  him,  my  lord,  and  he  on  me;  and  had  not  my 
foot  slipped,  he  would  not,  perhaps,  have  been  again  a  stum- 
bling-block in  your  lordship's  path." 

Leicester  seemed  struck  dumb  with  surprise.  At  length 
he  answered,  "What  other  evidence  hast  thou  of  this,  Var- 
ney,  save  thine  own  assertion?  for,  as  I  will  punish  deeply, 
I  will  examine  coolly  and  warily.  Sacred  Heaven!  but  no 
— I  will  examine  coldly  and  warily — coldly  and  warily."  He 
repeated  these  words  more  than  once  to  himself,  as  if  in  the 
very  sound  there  was  a  sedative  quality;  and  again  compress- 
ing his  lips,  as  if  he  feared  some  violent  expression  might 
escape  from  them,  he  asked  again,  "  What  farther  proof?  " 

"  Enough,  my  lord,"  said  Vamey,  "  and  to  spare.  I  would 
it  rested  with  me  alone,  for  with  me  it  might  have  been 
silenced  forever.  But  my  servant,  Michael  Lamboume,  wit- 
nessed the  whole,  and  was,  indeed,  the  means  of  first  intro- 
ducing Tressilian  into  Cumnor  Place;  and  therefore  I  took 
him  into  my  service,  and  retained  him  in  it,  though  something 
of  a  debauched  fellow,  that  I  might  have  his  tongue  always 
under  my  own  command."  He  then  acquainted  Lord  Leices- 
ter how  easy  it  was  to  prove  the  circumstance  of  their  inter- 
view true,  by  evidence  of  Anthony  Foster,  with  the  cor- 
roborative testimonies  of  the  various  persons  at  Cumnor, 
who  had  heard  the  wager  laid,  and  had  seen  Lamboume  and 
Tressilian  set  off  together.  In  the  whole  narrative,  Vamey 
hazarded  nothing  fabulous,  excepting  that,  not  indeed  by 
direct  assertion,  but  by  inference,  he  led  his  patron  to  sup- 
pose that  the  interview  betwixt  Amy  and  Tressilian  at  Cum- 
nor Place  had  been  longer  than  the  few  minutes  to  which  it 
was  in  reality  limited. 

"  And  wherefore  was  I  not  told  of  all  this?  "  said  Leicester, 
sternly.  "Why  did  all  of  ye — and  in  particular  thou,  Var- 
ney — keep  back  from  me  such  material  information?  " 

"Because,  my  lord,"  replied  Vamey,  "the  countess  pre- 
tended to  Foster  and  to  me  that  Tressilian.  had  intruded  him" 


8e«  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

self  upon  her;  and  I  concluded  their  interview  had  heen  in 
all  honor,  and  that  she  would  at  her  own  time  tell  it  to  your 
lordship.  Your  lordship  knows  with  what  unwilling  ears  we 
listen  to  evil  surmises  against  those  whom  we  love;  and  I 
thank  Heaven  I  am  no  make-bate  or  informer,  to  be  the  first 
to  sow  them." 

"  You  are  but  too  ready  to  receive  them,  however.  Sir 
Eichard,"  replied  his  patron.  "  How  know'st  thou  that  this 
interview  was  not  in  all  honor,  as  thou  hast  said?  Methinks 
the  wife  of  the  Earl  of  Leicester  might  speak  for  a  short 
time  with  such  a  person  as  Tressilian  without  injury  to  me 
or  suspicion  to  herself." 

"  Questionless,  my  lord,"  answered  Vamey;  "  had  I 
thought  otherwise,  I  had  been  no  keeper  of  the  secret.  But 
here  lies  the  rub^Tressilian  leaves  not  the  place  without 
establishing  a  correspondence  with  a  poor  man,  the  landlord 
of  an  inn  in  Cumnor,  for  the  purpose  of  canying  off  the  lady. 
He  sent  down  an  emissary  of  his,  whom  I  trust  soon  to  have 
in  right  sure  keeping  under  Mervyn's  Tower.  Killigrew  and 
Lambsbey  are  scouring  the  country  in  quest  of  him.  The  host 
is  rewarded  with  a  ring  for  keeping  counsel;  your  lordship 
may  have  noted  it  on  Tressilian^s  hand — here  it  is.  This 
fellow,  this  agent,  makes  his  way  to  the  Place  as  a  peddler, 
holds  conference  with  the  lady,  and  they  make  their  escape 
together  by  night;  rob  a  poor  fellow  of  a  horse  by  the  way, 
such  was  their  guilty  haste;  and  at  length  reach  this  castle, 
where  the  Countess  of  Leicester  finds  refuge — I  dare  not  say 
in  what  place." 

"  Speak,  I  command  thee,"  said  Leicester — "  speak,  while 
I  retain  sense  enough  to  hear  thee." 

"  Since  it  must  be  so,"  answered  Vamey,  "  the  lady  re- 
sorted immediately  to  the  apartment  of  Tressilian,  where  she 
remained  many  hours,  partly  in  company  with  him  and  partly 
alone.  I  told  you  Tressilian  had  a  paramour  in  his  chamber. 
I  little  dreamed  that  paramour  was " 

"  Amy,  thou  wouldst  say,"  answered  Leicester;  "  but  it  is 
false — false  as  the  smoke  of  hell!  Ambitious  she  may  be — 
fickle  and  impatient — 'tis  a  woman's  fault;  but  false  to  me! 
never,  never!     The  proof — the  proof  of  this!  "  he  exclaimed, 

"  Carrol,  the  deputy-marshal,  ushered  her  thither  by  her 
own  desire  on  yesterday  afternoon;  Lamboume  and  the  war- 
der both  found  her  there  at  an  early  hour  this  morning." 

"Was  Tressilian  there  with  her?"  said  Leicester  in  the 
eame  hurried  tone. 


KENILWORTH,  387 

"No,  my  lord.  You  may  remember,"  answered  Varney, 
*'that  he  was  that  night  placed  with  Sir  Nicholas  Blount, 
under  a  species  of  arrest." 

"  Did  Carrol,  or  the  other  fellows,  know  who  she  was?  " 
demanded  Leicester. 

"  No,  my  lord,"  replied  Varney.  "  Carrol  and  the  warder 
had  never  seen  the  countess,  and  Lambourne  knew  her  not  in 
her  disguise;  but,  in  seeking  to  prevent  her  leaving  the  cell, 
he  obtained  possession  of  one  of  her  gloves,  which,  I  think, 
your  lordship  may  know." 

He  gave  the  glove,  which  had  the  bear  and  ragged  staff,  the 
earFs  impress,  embroidered  upon  it  in  seed-pearls. 

"  I  do — I  do  recognize  it,"  said  Leicester.  "  They  were 
my  own  gift.  The  fellow  of  it  was  on  the  arm  which  she 
threw  this  very  day  around  my  neck! "  He  spoke  this  with 
violent  agitation. 

"Your  lordship,"  said  Varney,  "might  yet  further  in- 
quire of  the  lady  herself  respecting  the  truth  of  these  pase- 


"  It  needs  not — it  needs  not,"  said  the  tortured  earl:  "  it  is 
written  in  characters  of  burning  light,  as  if  they  were  branded 
on  my  very  eyeballs!  I  see  her  infamy — I  can  see  naught 
else;  and — gracious  Heaven! — for  this  vile  woman  was  I 
about  to  commit  to  danger  the  lives  of  so  many  noble  friends 
— shake  the  foundation  of  a  lawful  throne — carry  the  sword 
and  torch  through  the  bosom  of  a  peaceful  land — wrong  the 
kind  mistress  who  made  me  what  I  am,  and  would,  but  for 
that  hell-framed  marriage,  have  made  me  all  that  man  can 
be!  All  this  I  was  ready  to  do  for  a  woman  who  trinkets  and 
traffics  with  my  worst  foes!  And  thou,  villain,  why  didst 
thou  not  speak  sooner?  " 

"  My  lord,"  said  Varney,  "  a  tear  from  my  lady  would  have 
blotted  out  all  I  could  have  said.  Besides,  I  had  not  these 
proofs  until  this  very  morning,  when  Anthony  Foster's  sud- 
den arrival,  with  the  examinations  and  declarations  which  he 
had  extorted  from  the  innkeeper  Grosling  and  others,  ex- 
plained the  manner  of  her  flight  from  Cumnor  Place,  and  my 
own  researches  discovered  the  steps  which  she  had  taken 
here." 

"  Now,  may  God  be  praised  for  the  light  He  has  given!  so 
full,  so  saiisfactor}%  that  there  breathes  not  a  man  in  Eng- 
land who  shall  call  my  proceeding  rash  or  my  revenge  un- 
just. And  yet,  Varney,  so  young,  so  fair,  so  fawning,  and  so 
false!    Hence,  then,  her  hatred  to  thee,  my  trusty,  my  well- 


888  WA  VJSRLET  NO  VJSLS. 

beloved  servant,  because  you  withstood  her  plots  and  endan- 
gered her  paramour's  life! " 

"I  never  gave  her  any  other  cause  of  dislike,  my  lord," 
replied  Varney;  "but  she  knew  that  my  counsels  went  di- 
rectly to  diminish  her  influence  with  your  lordship,  and  that 
I  was,  and  have  been,  ever  ready  to  peril  my  life  against  your 
enemies/' 

"  It  is  too,  too  apparent,"  replied  Leicester;  "  yet,  with 
what  an  air  of  magnanimity  she  exhorted  me  to  commit  my 
head  to  the  Queen's  mercy  rather  than  wear  the  veil  of  false- 
hood a  moment  longer!  Methinks  the  angel  of  truth  himself 
can  have  no  such  tones  of  high-souled  impulse.  Can  it  be 
so,  Varney?  Can  falsehood  use  thus  boldly  the  language  of 
truth?  Can  infamy  thus  assume  the  guise  of  purity?  Var- 
ney, thou  hast  been  my  servant  from  a  child;  I  have  raised 
thee  high — can  raise  thee  higher.  Think — ^think  for  me! 
Thy  brain  was  ever  shrewd  and  piercing.  May  she  not  be 
innocent?  Prove  her  so,  and  all  I  have  yet  done  for  thee 
shall  be  as  nothing — nothing — ^in  comparison  of  thy  recom- 
pense! " 

The  agony  with  which  his  master  spoke  had  some  effect 
even  on  the  hardened  Varney,  who,  in  the  midst  of  his  own 
wicked  and  ambitious  designs,  really  loved  his  patron  as  well 
as  such  a  wretch  was  capable  of  loving  anything;  but  he 
comforted  himself,  and  subdued  his  self-reproaches,  with  the 
reflection  that,  if  he  inflicted  upon  the  earl  some  immediate 
and  transitory  pain,  it  was  in  order  to  pave  his  way  to  the 
throne,  which,  were  this  marriage  dissolved  by  death  or  other- 
wise, he  deemed  Elizabeth  would  willingly  share  with  his  bene- 
factor. He  therefore  persevered  in  his  diabolical  policy;  and, 
after  a  moment's  consideration,  answered  the  anxious  queries 
of  the  earl  with  a  melancholy  look,  as  if  he  had  in  vain  sought 
some  exculpation  for  the  countess;  then  suddenly  raising  his 
head,  he  said,  with  an  expression  of  hope,  which  instantly 
communicated  itself  to  the  countenance  of  his  patron — "  Yet 
wherefore,  if  guilty,  should  she  have  periled  herself  by  com- 
ing hither?  Why  not  rather  have  fled  to  her  father's  or  else- 
where?— though  that,  indeed,  might  have  interfered  with  her 
desire  to  be  acknowledged  as  Countess  of  Leicester." 

"  True — true — true!  "  exclaimed  Leicester,  his  transient 
gleam  of  hope  giving  way  to  the  utmost  bitterness  of  feeling 
and  expression;  "  thou  art  not  fit  to  fathom  a  woman's  depth 
of  wit,  Varney.  I  see  it  all.  She  would  not  quit  the  estate 
and  title  of  the  witto-1  who  had  wedded  her.    Aye,  and  if  in 


KENILWORTH.  889 

my  madness  I  had  started  into  rebellion,  or  if  the  angry 
Queen  had  taken  my  head,  as  she  this  morning  threatened, 
the  wealthy  dower  which  law  would  have  assigned  to  the 
Countess  Dowager  of  Leicester  had  been  no  bad  windfall  to 
the  beggarly  Tressilian.  Well  might  she  goad  me  on  to  dan- 
ger, which  could  not  end  otherwise  than  profitably  to  her. 
Speak  not  for  her,  Vamey;  I  will  have  her  blood!  " 

"  My  lord,"  replied  Vaxney,  "  the  wildness  of  your  distress 
breaks  forth  in  the  wildness  of  your  language." 

"  I  say,  speak  not  for  her,"  replied  Leicester;  "  she  has  dis- 
honored me — she  would  have  murdered  me;  all  ties  are  burst 
between  us.  She  shall  die  the  death  of  a  traitress  and  adul- 
teress, well  merited  both  by  the  laws  of  God  and  man!  And 
— what  is  this  casket,"  he  said,  "  which  was  even  now  thrust 
into  my  hand  by  a  boy,  with  the  desire  I  would  convey  it  to 
Tressilian,  as  he  could  not  give  it  to  the  countess?  By 
Heaven!  the  words  surprised  me  as  he  spoke  them,  though 
other  matters  chased  them  from  my  brain;  but  now  they  re- 
turn with  double  force.  It  is  her  casket  of  jewels!  Force  it 
open,  Vamey — force  the  hinges  open  with  thy  poniard." 

"  She  refused  the  aid  of  my  dagger  once,"  thought  Var- 
ney,  as  he  unsheathed  the  weapon,  "  to  cut  the  string  which 
bound  a  letter,  but  now  it  shall  work  a  mightier  ministry  in 
her  fortunes." 

With  this  reflection,  by  using  the  three-cornered  stiletto- 
blade  as  a  wedge,  he  forced  open  the  slender  silver  hinges  of 
the  casket.  The  Earl  no  sooner  saw  them  give  way  than  he 
snatched  the  casket  from  Sir  Eichard's  hand,  wrenched  off 
the  cover,  and  tearing  out  the  splendid  contents,  flung  them 
on  the  floor  in  a  transport  of  rage,  while  he  eagerly  searched 
for  some  letter  or  billet  which  should  make  the  fancied  guilt 
of  his  innocent  countess  yet  more  apparent.  Then  stamp- 
ing furiously  on  the  gems,  he  exclaimed,  "  Thus  I  annihi- 
late the  miserable  toys  for  which  thou  hast  sold  thyself,  body 
and  soul,  consigned  thyself  to  an  early  and  timeless  death, 
and  me  to  misery  and  remorse  forever!  Tell  me  not  of  for- 
giveness, Vamey.     She  is  doomed!  " 

So  saying,  he  left  the  room,  and  rushed  into  an  adjacent 
closet,  the  door  of  which  he  locked  and  bolted. 

Vamey  looked  after  him,  while  something  of  a  more  human 
feeling  seemed  to  contend  with  his  habitual  sneer.  "  I  am 
sorry  for  his  weakness,"  he  said,  "  but  love  has  made  him  a 
child.  He  throws  down  and  treads  on  these  costly  toys;  with 
the  same  vehemence  would  he  dash  to  pieces  this  frailest  toy 


390  WAVSBLET  NOVELS. 

of  all,  of  which  he  used  to  rave  so  fondly.  But  that  taste 
also  will  be  forgotten  when  its  object  is  no  more.  Well,  he 
has  no  eye  to  value  things  as  they  deserve,  and  that  nature 
has  given  to  Varney.  When  Leicester  shall  be  a  sovereign, 
he  will  think  as  little  of  the  gales  of  passion  through  which 
he  gained  that  royal  port  as  ever  did  sailor  in  harbor  of  the 
perils  of  a  voyage.  But  these  tell-tale  articles  must  not  re- 
main here:  they  are  rather  too  rich  vails  for  the  drudges  who 
drees  the  chamber." 

While  Varney  was  employed  in  gathering  together  and 
putting  them  into  a  secret  drawer  of  a  cabinet  that  chanced 
to  be  unlocked,  he  saw  the  door  of  Leicester's  closet  open,  the 
tapestry  pushed  aside,  and  the  earl's  face  thrust  out,  but  with 
eyes  so  dead,  and  lips  and  cheeks  so  bloodless  and  pale,  that 
he  started  at  the  sudden  change.  No  sooner  did  his  eyes  en- 
counter the  earl's  than  the  latter  withdrew  his  head  and  shut 
the  door  of  the  closet.  This  maneuver  Leicester  repeated 
twice,  without  speaking  a  word,  so  that  Varney  began  to 
doubt  whether  his  brain  was  not  actually  affected  by  his  men- 
tal agony.  The  third  time,  however,  he  beckoned,  and  Var- 
ney obeyed  the  signal.  When  he  entered,  he  soon  found  his 
patron's  perturbation  was  not  caused  by  insanity,  but  by  the 
fellness  of  purpose  which  he  entertained  contending  with 
various  contrary  passions.  They  passed  a  full  hour  in  close 
consultation;  after  which  the  Earl  of  Leicester,  with  an  in- 
credible exertion,  dressed  himself  and  went  to  attend  his 
royal  gu€«t. 


CHAPTEE  XXXVII. 

You  have  displaced  the  mirth,  broke  the  good  meeting 
With  most  admired  disorder, 

— Macbeth. 

It  was  afterward  remembered  that,  during  the  banquets  and 
revels  which  occupied  the  remainder  of  this  eventful  day,  the 
bearings  of  Leicester  and  of  Varney  were  totally  different  from 
their  usual  demeanor.  Sir  Eichard  Varney  had  been  held 
rather  a  man  of  counsel  and  of  action  than  a  votary  of  pleas- 
ure. Business,  whether  civil  or  military,  seemed  always  to 
be  his  proper  sphere;  and  while  in  festivals  and  revels,  al- 
though he  well  understood  how  to  trick  them  up  and  present 
them,  his  own  part  was  that  of  a  mere  spectator;  or,  if  he 
exercised  his  wit,  it  was  in  a  rough,  caustic,  and  severe  man- 
ner, rather  as  if  he  scoffed  at  the  exhibition  and  the  guests 
than  shared  the  common  pleasure. 

But  upon  the  present  day  his  character  seemed  changed. 
He  mixed  among  the  younger  courtiers  and  ladies,  and  ap- 
peared for  the  moment  to  be  actuated  by  a  spirit  of  light- 
hearted  gayety  which  rendered  him  a  match  for  the  liveliest. 
Those  who  had  looked  upon  him  as  a  man  given  up  to  graver 
and  more  ambitious  pursuits,  a  bitter  sneerer  and  passer  of  sar- 
casms at  the  expense  of  those  who,  taking  life  as  they  find  it, 
were  disposed  to  snatch  at  each  pastime  it  presents,  now  per- 
ceived with  astonishment  that  his  wit  could  carry  as  smooth  an 
edge  as  their  own,  his  laugh  be  as  lively,  and  his  brow  as  un- 
clouded. By  what  art  of  damnable  hypocrisy  he  could  draw 
this  veil  of  gayety  over  the  black  thoughts  of  one  of  the  worst 
of  human  bosoms  must  remain  unintelligible  to  all  but  his 
compeers,  if  any  such  ever  existed;  but  he  was  a  man  of 
extraordinary  powers,  and  those  powers  were  unhappily  dedi- 
cated in  all  their  energy  to  the  very  worst  of  purposes. 

It  was  entirely  different  with  Leicester.  However  habitu- 
ated his  mind  usually  was  to  play  the  part  of  a  good  courtier, 
and  appear  gay,  assiduous,  and  free  from  all  care  but  that  of 
enhancing  the  pleasure  of  the  moment,  while  his  bosom  in- 
ternally throbbed  with  the  pangs  of  unsatisfied  ambition,  jeal- 
ousy, or  resentment,  his  heart  had  now  a  yet  more  dreadful 
gueet,  whose  workings  could  not  be  overshadowed  or  sup- 


892  WA  VERLET  NO  VEL8. 

pressed;  and  you  might  read  in  his  vacant  eye  and  trouble^ 
brow  that  his  thoughts  were  far  absent  from  the  scenes  in 
which  he  was  compelhng  himself  to  play  a  part.  H©  looked, 
moved,  and  spoke  as  if  by  a  succession  of  continued  efforts; 
and  it  seemed  as  if  his  will  had  in  some  degree  lost  the 
promptitude  of  command  over  the  acute  mind  and  goodly 
form  of  which  it  was  the  regent.  His  actions  and  gestures, 
instead  of  appearing  the  consequence  of  simple  volition, 
seemed,  like  those  of  an  automaton,  to  wait  the  revolution  of 
some  internal  machinery  ere  they  could  be  performed;  and 
his  words  fell  from  him  piecemeal,  interrupted,  as  if  he  had 
first  to  think  what  he  was  to  say,  then  how  it  was  to  be  said, 
and  as  if,  after  all,  it  was  only  by  an  effort  of  continued 
attention  that  he  completed  a  sentence  without  forgetting 
both  the  one  and  the  other. 

The  singular  effects  which  these  distractions  of  mind  pro- 
duced upon  the  behavior  and  conversation  of  the  most  ac- 
complished courtier  of  England,  as  they  were  visible  to  the 
lowest  and  dullest  menial  who  approached  his  person,  could 
not  escape  the  notice  of  the  most  intelligent  princess  of  the 
age.  Nor  is  there  the  least  doubt  that  the  alternate  negli- 
gence and  irregularity  of  his  manner  would  have  called  down 
Elizabeth's  severe  displeasure  on  the  Earl  of  Leicester,  had 
it  not  occurred  to  her  to  account  for  it  by  supposing  that  the 
apprehension  of  that  displeasure  which  she  had  expressed  to- 
ward him  with  such  vivacity  that  very  morning  was  dwelling 
upon  the  spirits  of  her  favorite,  and,  spite  of  his  efforts  to  the 
contrary,  distracted  the  usual  graceful  tenor  of  his  mien  and 
the  charms  of  his  conversation.  When  this  idea,  so  flattering 
to  female  vanity,  had  once  obtained  possession  of  her  mind,  it 
proved  a  full  and  satisfactory  apology  for  the  numerous  errors 
and  mistakes  of  the  Earl  of  Leicester;  and  the  watchful  circle 
around  observed  with  astonishment  that,  instead  of  resenting 
his  repeated  negligence  and  want  of  even  ordinary  attention, 
although  these  were  points  on  which  she  was  usually  ex- 
tremely punctilious,  the  Queen  sought,  on  the  contrary,  to 
afford  him  time  and  means  to  recollect  himself,  and  deigned 
to  assist  him  in  doing  so,  with  an  indulgence  which  seemed 
altogether  inconsistent  with  her  usual  character.  It  was 
clear,  however,  that  this  could  not  last  much  longer,  and  that 
Elizabeth  must  finally  put  another  and  more  severe  construc- 
tion on  Leicester's  uncourteous  conduct,  when  the  earl  was 
summoned  by  Yamev  to  speak  with  him  in  a  different  apart- 
ment. 


KENILWORTH,  893 

After  having  had  the  message  twice  delivered  to  him,  he 
rose,  and  was  about  to  withdraw,  as  it  were,  by  instinct;  then 
stopped,  and,  turning  round,  entreated  permission  of  the 
Queen  to  absent  himself  for  a  brief  space  upon  matters  of 
pressing  importance. 

"  Go,  my  lord,"  said  the  Queen;  "  we  are  aware  our  pres- 
ence must  occasion  sudden  and  unexpected  occurrences,  which 
require  to  be  provided  for  on  the  instant.  Yet,  my  lord,  as 
you  would  have  us  believe  ourself  your  welcome  and  honored 
guest,  we  entreat  you  to  think  less  of  our  good  cheer,  and 
favor  us  with  more  of  your  good  countenance  than  we  have 
this  day  enjoyed;  for,  whether  prince  or  peasant  be  the  guest, 
the  welcome  of  the  host  will  always  be  the  better  part  of  the 
entertainment.  Go,  my  lord;  and  we  trust  to  see  you  return 
with  an  unwrinkled  brow  and  those  free  thoughts  which  you 
are  wont  to  have  at  the  disposal  of  your  friends." 

Leicester  only  bowed  low  in  answer  to  this  rebuke,  and  re- 
tired. At  the  door  of  the  apartment  he  was  met  by  Varney, 
who  eagerly  drew  him  apart,  and  whispered  in  his  ear,  "  All 
is  well! " 

"  Has  Masters  seen  her?  "  said  the  earl. 

'*He  has,  my  lord;  and  as  she  would  neither  answer  his 
queries  nor  allege  any  reason  for  her  refusal,  he  will  give  full 
testimony  that  she  labors  under  mental  disorder,  and  may  be 
best  committed  to  the  charge  of  her  friends.  The  opportu- 
nity is  therefore  free  to  remove  her  as  we  proposed." 

*^But  Tressilian?"  said  Leicester. 

'*  He  will  not  know  of  her  departure  for  some  time,"  replied 
Varney;  "  it  shall  take  place  this  very  evening,  and  to-mor- 
row he  shall  be  cared  for." 

*'  No,  by  my  soul,"  answered  Leicester;  "  I  will  take  ven- 
geance on  him  with  mine  own  hand!  " 

"You,  my  lord,  and  on  so  inconsiderable  a  man  as  Tres- 
silian! No,  my  lord,  he  hath  long  wished  to  visit  foreign 
parts.  Trust  him  to  me:  I  will  take  care  he  returns  not 
hither  to  tell  tales." 

**  Not  so,  by  Heaven,  Varney!  "  exclaimed  Leicester.  ''  In- 
considerable do  you  call  an  enemy  that  hath  had  power  to 
wound  me  so  deeply  that  my  whole  after  life  must  be  one 
scene  of  remorse  and  misery?  No;  rather  than  forego  the 
right  of  doing  myself  justice  with  my  own  hand  on  that  ac- 
cursed villain,  I  will  unfold  the  whole  truth  at  Elizabeth's 
footstool,  and  let  her  vehgeance  descend  at  once  Qn  them  and 
on  myself." 


394  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

Vamey  saw  with  great  alarm  that  his  lord  was  wrought  up 
to  such  a  pitch  of  agitation  that,  if  he  gave  not  way  to  him,  he 
was  perfectly  capable  of  adopting  the  desperate  resolution 
which  he  had  announced,  and  which  was  instant  ruin  to  all 
the  schemes  of  ambition  which  Vamey  had  formed  for  his 
patron  and  himself.  But  the  earFs  rage  seemed  at  once  un- 
controllable and  deeply  concentrated;  and  while  he  spoke  his 
rves  shot  fire,  his  voice  trembled  with  excess  of  passion,  and 
the  light  foam  stood  on  his  lip. 

His  confidant  made  a  bold  and  successful  effort  to  obtain 
the  mastery  of  him  even  in  this  hour  of  emotion.  "  My  lord,'' 
he  said,  leading  him  to  a  mirror,  "  behold  your  reflection  in 
that  glass,  and  think  if  these  agitated  features  belong  to  one 
who,  in  a  condition  so  extreme,  is  capable  of  forming  a  reso- 
lution for  himself." 

"What,  then,  wouldst  thou  make  me?"  said  Leicester, 
struck  at  the  change  in  his  own  physiognomy,  though 
offended  at  the  freedom  with  which  Vamey  made  the  appeal. 
"  Am  I  to  be  thy  ward,  thy  vassal — the  property  and  subject 
of  my  servant?" 

"  JSTo,  my  lord,"  said  Vaxney  firmly,  "  but  be  master  of  your- 
self and  of  your  own  passion.  My  lord,  I,  your  born  servant, 
am  ashamed  to  see  how  poorly  you  bear  yourself  in  the  storm 
of  fury.  Go  to  Elizabeth's  feet,  confess  your  marriage,  im- 
peach your  wife  and  her  paramour  of  adultery,  and  avow  your- 
self, amongst  all  your  peers,  the  wittol  who  married  a  country 
girl,  and  was  cozened  by  her  and  her  book-learned  gallant. 
Go,  my  lord;  but  first  take  farewell  of  Richard  Vamey,  with 
all  the  benefits  you  ever  conferred  on  him.  He  served  the 
noble,  the  lofty,  the  high-minded  Leicester,  and  was  more 
proud  of  depending  on  him  than  he  would.be  of  command- 
ing thousands.  But  the  abject  lord  who  stoops  to  every  ad- 
verse circumstance,  whose  judicious  resolves  are  scattered  like 
chaff  before  every  wind  of  passion,  him  Eichard  Varney  serves 
not.  He  is  as  much  above  him  in  constancy  of  mind  as  be- 
neath him  in  rank  and  fortune." 

Vamey  spoke  thus  without  hypocrisy,  for,  though  the  firm- 
ness of  mind  which  he  boasted  was  hardness  and  impenetra- 
bility, yet  he  really  felt  the  ascendency  which  he  vaunted; 
while  the  interest  which  he  actually  felt  in  the  fortunes  of 
Leicester  gave  unusual  emotion  to  his  voice  and  manner. 

Leicester  was  overpowered  by  his  assumed  superiority;  it 
seemed  to  the  unfortunate  earl  as  if  his  last  friend  was  about 
to  abandon  him.     He  stretched  his  hand  toward  Varney  as 


KENtLWOnTH,  305 

he  uttered  the  words,  "  Do  not  leave  me.  What  wouldst  thou 
have  me  do  ?  " 

"  Be  thyself,  my  nohle  master,"  said  Varney,  touching  the 
earl's  hand  with  his  lips,  after  having  respectfully  grasped  it 
in  his  own — "  be  yourself,  superior  to  those  storms  of  passion 
which  wreck  inferior  minds.  Are  you  the  first  who  has  been 
cozened  in  love?  The  first  whom  a  vain  and  licentious 
woman  has  cheated  into  an  affection  which  she  has  afterward 
scorned  and  misused?  And  will  you  suffer  yourself  to  be 
driven  frantic,  because  you  have  not  been  wiser  than  the 
wisest  men  whom  the  world  has  seen?  Let  her  be  as  if  she 
had  not  been — let  her  pas®  from  your  memory  as  unworthy  of 
ever  having  held  a  place  there.  Let  your  strong  resolve  of 
this  morning,  which  I  have  both  courage,  zeal,  and  means 
enough  to  execute,  be  like  the  fiat  of  a  superior  being,  a  pas- 
sionless act  of  justice.  She  hath  deserved  death — let  her 
die!'' 

While  he  was  speaking,  the  earl  held  his  hand  fast,  com- 
pressed his  lips  hard,  and  frowned,  as  if  he  labored  to  catch 
from  Varney  a  portion  of  the  cold,  ruthless,  and  dispassionate 
firmness  which  he  recommended.  When  he  was  silent,  the 
earl  still  continued  to  grasp  his  hand,  until,  with  an  effort  at 
calm  decision,  he  was  able  to  articulate,  "  Be  it  so — she  dies! 
But  one  tear  might  be  permitted." 

"  Not  one,  my  lord,"  interrupted  Varney,  who  saw  by  the 
quivering  eye  and  convulsed  cheek  of  his  patron  that  he  was 
about  to  give  way  to  a  burst  of  emotion,  "  not  a  tear — the  time 
permits  it  not.     Tressilian  must  be  thought  of " 

"  That  indeed  is  a  name,"  said  the  earl,  "  to  convert  tears 
into  blood.  Varney,  I  have  thought  on  this,  and  I  have  de- 
termined— neither  entreaty  nor  argument  .shall  move  me — 
Tressilian  shall  be  my  own  victim." 

"  It  is  madness,  my  lord;  but  you  are  too  mighty  for  me  to 
bar  your  way  to  your  revenge.  Yet  resolve  at  least  to  choose 
fitting  time  and  opportunity,  and  to  forbear  him  until  those 
shall  be  found." 

"  Thou  shalt  order  me  in  what  thou  wilt,"  said  Leicester, 
"  only  thwart  me  not  in  this." 

"  Then,  my  lord,"  said  Varney,  "  I  first  request  of  you  to 
lay  aside  the  wild,  suspected,  and  half-frenzied  demeanor 
which  hath  this  day  drawn  the  eyes  of  all  the  court  upon  you; 
and  which,  but  for  the  Queen's  partial  indulgence,  which  she 
hath  extended  towards  you  in  a  degree  far  beyond  her  nature, 
she  had  never  given  you  the  opportunity  to  atone  for." 


30«  WA  TBBLET  NO  VBL8. 

"  Have  I  indeed  been  so  negligent?  "  said  Leicester,  as  one 
who  awakes  from  a  dream.  "  I  thought  I  had  colored  it  well; 
but  fear  nothing,  my  mind  is  now  eased — I  am  calm.  My 
horoscope  shall  be  fulfilled;  and  that  it  may  be  fulfilled,  I  will 
tax  to  the  highest  every  faculty  of  my  mind.  Fear  me  not,  I 
say.  I  will  to  the  Queen  instantly;  not  thine  own  looks  and 
language  shall  be  more  impenetrable  than  mine.  Hast  thou 
aught  else  to  say?  " 

"  I  must  crave  your  signet-ring/'  said  Vamey  gravely,  "  in 
token  to  those  of  your  servants  whom  I  must  employ  that  I 
possess  your  full  authority  in  commanding  their  aid." 

Leicester  drew  off  the  signet-ring  which  he  commonly  used 
and  gave  it  to  Vamey  with  a  haggard  and  stern  expression 
of  countenance,  adding  only,  in  a  low,  half-whispered  tane, 
but  with  terrific  emphasis,  the  words,  "  What  thou  dost,  do 
quickly.'^ 

Some  anxiety  and  wonder  took  place,  meanwhile,  in  the 
presence-hall  at  the  prolonged  absence  of  the  noble  lord  of  the 
castle,  and  great  was  the  delight  of  his  friends  when  they  saw 
him  enter  as  a  man  from  whose  bosom,  to  all  human  seeming, 
a  weight  of  care  had  been  just  removed.  Amply  did  Leicester 
that  day  redeem  the  pledge  he  had  given  to  Vamey,  who  soon 
saw  himself  no  longer  under  the  necessity  of  maintaining  a 
character  so  different  from  his  own  as  that  which  he  had 
assumed  in  the  earlier  part  of  the  day,  and  gradually  relapsed 
into  the  same  grave,  shrewd,  caustic  observer  of  conversation 
and  incident  which  constituted  his  usual  part  in  society. 

With  Elizabeth,  Leicester  played  his  game  as  one  to  whom 
her  natural  strength  of  talent,  and  her  weakness  in  one  or  two 
particular  points,  were  well  known.  He  was  too  wary  to 
exchange  on  a  sudden  the  sullen  personage  which  he  had 
played  before  he  retired  with  Vamey;  but,  on  approaching 
her,  it  seemed  softened  into  a  melancholy,  which  had  a  touch 
of  tenderness  in  it,  and  which,  in  the  course  of  conversing 
with  Elizabeth,  and  as  she  dropped  in  compassion  one  mark 
of  favor  after  another  to  console  him,  passed  into  a  flow  of 
affectionate  gallantry  the  most  assiduous,  the  most  delicate, 
the  most  insinuating,  yet  at  the  same  time  the  most  respect- 
ful, with  which  a  queen  was  ever  addressed  by  a  subject. 
Elizabeth  listened  as  in  a  sort  of  enchantment;  her  jealousy 
of  power  was  lulled  asleep;  her  resolution  to  forsake  all  social 
or  domestic  ties,  and  dedicate  herself  exclusively  to  the  care 
of  her  people,  began  to  be  shaken,  and  once  more  the  star  of 
Dudley  culminate  in  the  court  horizon. 


EENILWORTH.  397 

But  Leicester  did  not  enjoy  this  triumph  over  nature  and 
over  conscience  without  its  being  embittered  to  him,  not  only 
by  the  internal  rebellion  of  his  feelings  against  the  violence 
which  he  exercised  over  them,  but  by  many  accidental  circum- 
stances, which,  in  the  course  of  the  banquet,  and  during  the 
subsequent  amusements  of  the  evening,  jarred  upon  that  nerve 
the  least  vibration  of  which  was  agony. 

The  courtiers  were,  for  example,  in  the  great  hall,  after 
having  left  the  banqueting-room,  awaiting  the  appearance  of 
a  splendid  masque,  which  was  the  expected  entertainment  of 
this  evening,  when  the  Queen  interrupted  a  wild  career  of  wit 
which  the  Earl  of  Leicester  was  running  against  Lord  Wil- 
loughby,  Ealeigh,  and  some  other  courtiers,  by  saying,  "We 
will  impeach  you  of  high  treason,  my  lord,  if  you  proceed  in 
this  attempt  to  slay  us  with  laughter.  And  here  comes  a 
thing  may  make  us  all  grave  at  his  pleasure,  our  learned 
physician  Masters,  with  news  belike  of  our  poor  suppliant. 
Lady  Vamey;  nay,  my  lord,  we  will  not  have  you  leave  us, 
for  this  being  a  dispute  betwixt  married  persons,  we  do  not 
hold  our  own  experience  deep  enough  to  decide  thereon,  with- 
out good  counsel.  How  now.  Masters,  what  think^st  thou  of 
the  runaway  bride?  " 

The  smile  with  which  Leicester  had  been  speaking  when 
the  Queen  interrupted  him  remained  arrested  on  his  lips,  as 
if  it  had  been  carved  there  by  the  chisel  of  Michael  Angelo  or 
of  Chantrey;  and  he  listened  to  the  speech  of  the  physician 
with  the  same  immovable  cast  of  countenance. 

"  The  Lady  Vamey,  gracious  sovereign,"  said  the  court 
physician  Masters,  "  is  sullen,  and  would  hold  little  conference 
with  me  touching  the  state  of  her  health,  talking  wildly  of 
being  soon  to  plead  her  own  cause  before  your  own  presence, 
and  of  answering  no  meaner  person's  inquiries.'^ 

"Now,  the  Heavens  forefend! "  said  the  Queen;  "we  have 
already  suffered  from  the  misconstructions  and  broils  which 
seem  to  follow  this  poor  brain-sick  lady  wherever  she  comes. 
Think  you  not  so,  my  lord?"  she  added,  appealing  to 
Leicester,  with  something  in  her  look  that  indicated  regret, 
even  tenderly  expressed,  for  their  disagreement  of  that  morn- 
ing. Leicester  compelled  himself  to  bow  low.  The  utmost 
force  he  could  exert  was  inadequate  to  the  farther  effort  of 
expressing  in  words  his  acquiescence  in  the  Queen's  sen- 
timent. 

"You  are  vindictive,"  she  said,  "my  lord;  but  we  will 
find  time  and  plac«  to  punish  you.    But  once  moje  to  this 


898  WAYERLEY  NOVELS. 

same  trouble-mirth — this  Lady  Varney.  What  of  her  health, 
Masters?  " 

"  She  is  sullen,  madam,  as  I  already  said/'  replied 
Masters,  "  and  refuses  to  answer  interrogatories  or  be  amen- 
able to  the  authority  of  the  mediciner.  I  conceive  her  to  be 
posessed  with  a  delirium,  which  I  incline  to  term  rather  hypo- 
chondria than  phrenesis;  and  I  think  she  were  best  cared  for 
by  her  husband  in  his  own  house,  and  removed  from  all  this 
bustle  of  pageants,  which  disturbs  her  weak  brain  with  the 
most  fantastic  phantoms.  She  drops  hints  as  if  she  were  some 
great  person  in  disguise — some  countess  or  princess  perchance. 
God  help  them,  such  are  often  the  hallucinations  of  these  in- 
firm persons! " 

"  Nay,  then,"  said  the  Queen,  "  away  with  her  with  ail 
speed.  Let  Varney  care  for  her  with  fitting  humanity;  but 
let  them  rid  the  castle  of  her  forthwith.  She  will  think  her- 
self lady  of  all,  I  warrant  you.  It  is  pity  so  fair  a  form, 
however,  should  have  an  infirm  understanding.  What  think 
you,  my  lord  ?  " 

"  It  is  pity  indeed,"  said  the  earl,  repeating  the  words  like 
a  task  which  was  set  him. 

"  But,  perhaps,"  said  Elizabeth,  "  you  do  not  join  with  '>s 
in  our  opinion  of  her  beauty;  and  indeed  we  have  known  men 
prefer  a  statelier  and  more  Juno-like  form  to  that  drooping, 
fragile  one,  that  hung  its  head  like  a  broken  lily.  Aye,  men 
are  tyrants,  my  lord,  who  esteem  the  animation  of  the  strife 
above  the  triumph  of  an  unresisting  conquest,  and,  like  sturdy 
champions,  love  best  those  women  who  can  wage  contest  with 
them.  I  could  think  with  you,  Eutland,  that,  give  my  Lord 
of  Leicester  such  a  piece  of  painted  wax  for  a  bride,  he  would 
have  wished  her  dead  ere  the  end  of  the  honeymoon." 

As  she  said  this,  she  looked  on  Leicester  so  expressively 
that,  while  his  heart  revolted  against  the  egregious  falsehood, 
he  did  himself  so  much  violence  as  to  reply  in  a  whisper,  that 
Leicester's  love  was  more  lowly  than  her  Majesty  deemed, 
since  it  was  settled  where  he  could  never  command,  but  must 
ever  obey. 

The  Queen  blushed,  and  bid  him  be  silent;  yet  looked  as 
if  she  expected  that  he  would  not  obey  her  commands.  But 
at  that  moment  the  flourish  of  trumpets  and  kettle-drums 
from  a  high  balcony  which  overlooked  the  hall  announced  the 
entrance  of  the  masquers,  and  relieved  Leicester  from  the  hor- 
rible state  of  constraint  and  dissimulation  in  which  the  result 
ol  his  own  duplicity  had  placed  him. 


KENILWORTH.  399 

The  masque  which  entered  consisted  of  four  separate  bands^ 
which  followed  each  other  at  brief  intervals,  each  consisting 
of  six  principal  persons  and  as  many  torch-bearers,  and  each 
representing  one  of  the  various  nations  by  which  England  had 
at  different  times  been  occupied. 

The  aboriginal  Britons,  who  first  entered,  were  ushered  in 
by  two  ancient  Druids,  whose  hoary  hair  was  crowned  with  a 
chaplet  of  oak,  and  who  bore  in  their  hands  branches  of 
mistletoe.  The  masquers  who  followed  these  venerable  figures 
were  succeeded  by  two  bards,  arrayed  in  white,  and  bearing 
harps,  which  they  occasionally  touched,  singing  at  the  same 
time  certain  stanzas  of  an  ancient  hymn  to  Belus,  or  the  Sun. 
The- aboriginal  Britons  had  been  selected  from  amongst  the 
tallest  and  most  robust  young  gentlemen  in  attendance  on  the 
court.  Their  masks  were  accommodated  with  long  shaggy 
beards  and  hair;  their  vestments  were  of  the  hides  of  wolves 
and  bears;  while  their  legs,  arms,  and  the  upper  parts  of  their 
bodies,  being  sheathed  in  flesh-colored  silk,  on  which  were 
traced  in  grotesque  lines  representations  of  the  heavenly 
bodies,  and  of  animals  and  other  terrestrial  objects,  gave  them 
the  lively  appearance  of  our  painted  ancestors,  whose  freedom 
was  first  trenched  upon  by  the  Romans. 

The  sons  of  Rome,  who  came  to  civilize  as  well  as  to  con- 
quer, were  next  produced  before  the  princely  assembly;  and 
the  manager  of  the  revels  had  correctly  imitated  the  high 
crest  and  military  habits  of  that  celebrated  people,  accom- 
modating them  with  the  light  yet  strong  buckler;  and  the 
short  two-edged  sword,  the  use  of  which  had  made  them  vic- 
tors of  the  world.  The  Roman  eagles  were  borne  before  them 
by  two  standard  bearers,  who  recited  a  hymn  to  Mars,  and  the 
classical  warriors  followed  them  with  the  grave  and  haughty 
step  of  men  who  aspired  at  universal  conquest. 

The  third  quadrille  represented  the  Saxons,  clad  in  the 
bearskins  which  they  had  brought  with  them  from  the  Ger- 
man forests,  and  bearing  in  their  hands  the  redoubtable  battle- 
axes  which  made  such  havoc  among  the  natives  of  Britain. 
They  were  preceded  by  two  scalds,  who  chanted  the  praises 
of  Odin. 

Last  came  the  knightly  Normans,  in  their  mail-shirts  and 
hoods  of  steel,  with  all  the  panoply  of  chivalry,  and  marshaled 
by  two  minstrels,  who  sung  of  war  and  ladies'  love. 

These  four  bands  entered  the  spacious  hall  with  the  utmost 
order,  a  short  pause  being  made  that  the  spectators  might 
satisfy  their  curiosity  as  to  each  quadrille  before  the  appear- 


400  WAVEBLBY  NOVELS. 

iuice  of  the  next.  They  then  marched  completely  round  the 
hall,  in  order  the  more  fully  to  display  themselves,  regulating 
their  steps  to  organs,  shalms,  hautboys,  and  virginals,  the 
music  of  the  Lord  Leicester's  household.  At  length  the  four 
quadrilles  of  masquers,  ranging  their  torch-bearers  behind 
them,  drew  up  in  their  several  ranks  on  the  two  opposite  sides 
of  the  hall,  so  that  the  Eomans  confronting  the  Britons,  and 
the  Saxons  the  Normans,  seemed  to  look  on  each  other  with 
eyes  of  wonder,  which  presently  appeared  to  kindle  into  anger, 
expressed  by  menacing  gestures.  At  the  burst  of  a  strain  of 
martial  music  from  the  gallery,  the  masquers  drew  their 
swords  on  all  sides,  and  advanced  against  each  other  in  the 
measured  steps  of  a  sort  of  Pyrrhic  or  military  dance,  clashing 
their  swords  against  their  adversaries'  shields,  and  clattering 
them  against  their  blades  as  they  passed  each  other  in  the 
progress  of  the  dance.  It  was  a  very  pleasant  spectacle  to 
see  how  the  various  bands,  preserving  regularity  amid  mo- 
tions which  seemed  to  be  totally  irregular,  mixed  together,  and 
then  disengaging  themselves  resumed  each  their  own  original 
rank  as  the  music  varied. 

In  this  symbolical  dance  were  represented  the  conflicts 
which  had  taken  place  among  the  various  nations  which  had 
anciently  inhabited  Britain. 

At  length,  after  many  mazy  evolutions,  which  afforded 
great  pleasure  to  the  spectators,  the  sound  of  a  loud-voiced 
trumpet  was  heard,  as  if  it  blew  for  instant  battle  or  for  vic- 
tory won.  The  masquers  instantly  ceased  their  mimic  strife, 
and  collecting  themselves  under  their  original  leaders,  or  pre- 
senters, for  such  was  the  appropriate  phrase,  seemed  to  share 
the  anxious  expectation  which  the  spectators  experienced  con- 
cerning what  was  next  to  appear. 

The  doors  of  the  hall  were  thrown  wide,  and  no  less  a  per- 
son entered  than  the  fiend-bom  Merlin,  dressed  in  a  strange 
and  mystical  attire,  suited  to  his  ambiguous  birth  and  magical 
power.  About  him  and  behind  him  fluttered  or  gamboled 
many  extraordinary  forms,  intended  to  represent  the  spirits 
who  waited  to  do  his  powerful  bidding;  and  so  much  did  this 
part  of  the  pageant  interest  the  menials  and  others  of  the 
lower  class  then  in  the  castle,  that  many  of  them  forgot  even 
the  reverence  due  to  the  Queen's  presence  so  far  as  to  thrust 
themselves  into  the  lower  part  of  the  hall. 

The  Earl  of  Leicester,  seeing  his  officers  had  some  difficulty 
to  repel  these  intruders,  without  more  disturbance  than  was 
.fitting  where  the  Queen  was  in  j)resence,  arose  and  went  him- 


KEmLWORTB.  401 

self  to  the  bottom  of  the  hall;  Elizabeth,  at  the  same  time, 
with  her  usual  feeling  for  the  common  people,  requesting  that 
they  might  be  permitted  to  remain  undisturbed  to  witness  the 
pageant.  Leicester  went  under  this  pretext;  but  his  real  mo- 
tive was  to  gain  a  moment  to  himself,  and  to  relieve  his  mind, 
were  it  but  for  one  instant,  from  the  dreadful  task  of  hiding, 
under  the  guise  of  gayety  and  gallantry,  the  lacerating  pangs 
of  shame,  anger,  remorse,  and  thirst  for  vengeance.  He  im- 
posed silence  by  his  look  and  sign  upon  the  vulgar  crowd  at 
the  lower  end  of  the  apartment;  but,  instead  of  instantly 
returning  to  wait  on  her  Majesty,  he  wrapped  his  cloak  around 
him,  and  mixing  with  the  crowd,  stood  in  some  degree  an 
undistinguished  spectator  of  the  progress  of  the  masque. 

Merlin,  having  entered  and  advanced  into  the  midst  of  the 
hall,  summoned  the  presenters  of  the  contending  bands 
around  him  by  a  wave  of  his  magical  rod,  and  announced  to 
them,  in  a  poetical  speech,  that  the  Isle  of  Britain  was  now 
commanded  by  a  royal  maiden,  to  whom  it  was  the  will  of 
fate  that  they  should  all  do  homage,  and  request  of  her  to  pro- 
nounce on  the  various  pretensions  which  each  set  forth  to  be 
esteemed  the  pre-eminent  stock  from  which  the  present 
natives,  the  happy  subjects  of  that  angelical  princess,  derived 
their  lineage. 

In  obedience  to  this  mandate,  the  bands,  each  moving  to 
solemn  music,  passed  in  succession  before  Elizabeth;  doing 
her,  as  they  passed,  each  after  the  fashion  of  the  people  whom 
they  represented,  the  lowest  and  most  devotional  homage, 
which  she  returned  with  the  same  gracious  courtesy  that 
had  marked  her  whole  conduct  since  she  came  to  Kenilworth, 

The  presenters  of  the  several  masques,  or  quadrilles,  thep 
alleged,  each  in  behalf  of  his  own  troop,  the  reason  which 
they  had  for  claiming  pre-eminence  over  the  rest;  and  when 
they  had  been  all  heard  in  turn,  she  returned  them  this  gra- 
cious answer:  "  That  she  was  sorry  she  was  not  better  quah*/ 
fied  to  decide  upon  the  doubtful  question  which  had  been 
propounded  to  her  by  the  direction  of  the  famous  Merlin,  but 
that  it  seemed  to  her  that  no  single  one  of  these  celebrated 
nations  could  claim  pre-eminence  over  the  others  as  having 
moet  contributed  to  form  the  Englishman  of  her  own  time, 
who  unquestionably  derived  from  each  of  them  some  worthy 
attribute  of  his  character.  Thus,"  she  said,  "the  English- 
man had  from  the  ancient  Briton  his  bold  and  tameless  spirit 
of  freedom;  from  the  Eoman  his  disciplined  courage  in  war, 
with  his  love  of  letters  and  civilization  in  time  of  peace;  from 


402  WAVBBLE7  NOVELS. 

the  Saxon  his  wise  and  equitable  laws;  and  from  the  chival- 
rous Norman  hie  love  of  honor  and  courtesy,  with  his  gener- 
ous desire  for  glory/' 

Merlin  answered  with  readiness,  that  it  did  indeed  require 
that  so  many  choice  qualities  should  meet  in  the  English  as 
might  render  them  in  some  measure  the  muster  of  the  per- 
fections of  other  nations,  since  that  alone  could  render  them 
in  some  degree  deserving  of  the  blessings  they  enjoyed  under 
the  reign  of  England's  Elizabeth. 

The  music  then  sounded,  and  the  quadrilles,  together  with 
Merlin  and  his  assistants,  had  begun  to  remove  from  the 
crowded  hall,  when  Leicester,  who  was,  as  we  have  mentioned, 
stationed  for  the  moment  near  the  bottom  of  the  hall,  and 
consequently  engaged  in  some  degree  in  the  crowd,  felt  him- 
self pulled  by  the  cloak,  while  a  voice  whispered  in  his  ear, 
"  My  lord,  I  do  desire  some  instant  conference  with  you.'' 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

How  is't  with  me,  when  every  noise  appalls  me  ? 

—Macbeth. 

"  I  DESIEE  some  conference  with  yon."  The  words  were 
simple  in  themselves,  but  Lord  Leicester  was  in  that  alarmed 
and  feverish  state  of  mind  when  the  most  ordinary  occur- 
rences seem  fraught  with  alarming  import;  and  he  turned 
hastily  round  to  survey  the  person  by  whom  they  had  been 
spoken.  There  was  nothing  remarkable  in  the  speaker's  ap- 
pearance, which  consisted  of  a  black  silk  doublet  and  short 
mantle,  with  a  black  vizard  on  his  face;  for  it  appeared  he 
had  been  among  the  crowd  of  masks  who  had  thronged  into 
the  hall  in  the  retinue  of  Merlin,  though  he  did  not  wear  any 
of  the  extravagant  disguises  by  which  most  of  them  were  dis- 
tinguished. 

"  Who  are  you,  or  what  do  you  want  with  me? "  said 
Leicester,  not  without  betraying,  by  his  accents,  the  hurried 
state  of  his  spirits. 

"  No  evil,  my  lord,"  answered  the  mask,  "  but  much  good 
and  honor,  if  you  will  rightly  understand  my  purpose.  But 
I  must  speak  with  you  more  privately." 

"  I  can  speak  with  no  nameless  stranger,"  answered  Leices- 
ter, dreading  he  knew  not  precisely  what  from  the  request  of 
the  stranger;  "  and  those  who  are  known  to  me  must  seek 
another  and  a  fitter  time  to  ask  an  interview." 

He  would  have  hurried  away,  but  the  mask  still  detained 
him. 

"  Those  who  talk  to  your  lordship  of  what  your  own  honor 
demands  have  a  right  over  your  time,  whatever  occupations 
you  may  lay  aside  in  order  to  indulge  them." 

"  How!  my  honor!    Who  dare  impeach  it?  "  said  Leicester. 

"Your  own  conduct  alone  can  furnish  grounds  for  accus- 
ing it,  my  lord,  and  it  is  that  topic  on  which  I  would  speak 
with  you." 

"You  are  insolent,"  said  Leicester,  "and  abuse  the  hos- 
pitable license  of  the  time,  which  prevents  me  from  having 
you  punished.     I  demand  your  name?  " 

"Edmund  Tressilian  of  Cornwall,"  answered  the  mask, 

408 


404  WA  VERLEY  NO  VEL8. 

"My  tongue  has  been  bound  by  a  promise  for  four-and- 
twenty  hours;  the  space  is  passed — I  now  speak,  and  do  your 
lordship  the  justice  to  addrej&s  myself  first  to  you." 

The  thrill  of  astonishment  which  had  penetrated  to  Leicee- 
ter's  very  heart  at  hearing  that  name  pronounced  by  the  voice 
of  the  man  he  most  detested,  and  by  whom  he  conceived 
himself  so  deeply  injured,  at  first  rendered  him  immovable, 
but  instantly  gave  way  to  such  a  thirst  for  revenge  as  the 
pilgrim  in  the  desert  feels  for  the  water-brooks.  He  had 
but  sense  and  self-government  enough  left  to  prevent  his 
stabbing  to  the  heart  the  audacious  villain  who,  after  the 
ruin  he  had  brought  upon  him,  dared,  with  such  unmoved 
assurance,  thus  to  practice  upon  him  farther.  Determined  to 
suppress  for  the  moment  every  symptom  of  agitation  in  order 
to  perceive  the  full  scope  of  Tressilian's  purpose,  as  well  as  to 
secure  his  own  vengeance,  he  answered  in  a  tone  so  altered 
by  restrained  passion  as  scarce  to  be  intelligible — "  And  what 
does  Master  Edmund  Tressilian  require  at  my  hand?  " 

"  Justice,  my  lord,"  answered  Tressilian,  calmly  but  firmly. 

"  Justice,"  said  Leicester,  "  all  men  are  entitled  to.  You, 
Master  Tressilian,  are  peculiarly  so,  and  be  assured  you  shall 
have  it." 

"I  expect  nothing  less  from  your  nobleness,"  answered 
Tressilian;  "but  time  presses,  and  I  must  speak  with  you 
to-night.     May  I  wait  on  you  in  your  chamber?  " 

"  No,"  answered  Leicester  sternly,  "  not  under  a  roof,  and 
that  roof  mine  own.  We  will  meet  under  the  free  cope  of 
heaven." 

"You  are  discomposed  or  displeased,  my  lord,"  replied 
Tressilian;  "yet  there  is  no  occasion  for  distemperature. 
The  place  is  equal  to  me,  so  you  allow  me  one  half-hour  of 
your  time  uninterrupted." 

"  A  shorter  time  will,  I  trust,  suffice,"  answered  Leicester. 
"  Meet  me  in  the  Pleasance,  when  the  Queen  has  retired  to 
her  chamber." 

"Enough,"  said  Tressilian,  and  withdrew;  while  a  sort  of 
rapture  seemed  for  the  moment  to  occupy  the  mind  of 
Leicester. 

"Heaven,"  he  said,  "is  at  last  favorable  to  me,  and  has 
put  within  my  reach  the  wretch  who  has  branded  me  with  this 
deep  ignominy — who  has  inflicted  on  me  this  cruel  agony.  I 
will  blame  fate  no  more,  since  I  am  afforded  the  means  of 
tracing  the  wiles  by  which  he  means  still  farther  to  practice 
on  me,  and  then  of  at  once  convicting  and  punishing  his 


KENILWORTH.  405 

villainy.  To  my  task — to  my  task!  I  will  not  sink  under  it 
now,  since  midnight,  at  farthest,  will  bring  me  vengeance." 

While  these  reflections  thronged  through  Leicester's  mind, 
he  again  made  his  way  amid  the  obsequious  crowd,  which 
divided  to  give  him  passage,  and  resumed  his  place,  envied 
and  admired,  beside  the  person  of  his  sovereign.  But,  could 
the  bosom  of  him  thus  admired  and  envied  have  been  laid 
•pen  before  the  inhabitants  of  .that  crowded  hall,  with  all  its 
dark  thoughts  of  guilty  ambition,  blighted  affection,  deep 
vengeance,  and  conscious  sense  of  meditated  cruelty  crossing 
each  other  like  specters  in  the  circle  of  some  foul  enchantress, 
which  of  them,  from  the  most  ambitious  noble  in  the  courtly 
circle  down  to  the  most  wretched  menial  who  lived  by  shift- 
ing of  trenchers,  would  have  desired  to  change  characters 
with  the  favorite  of  Elizabeth  and  the  Lord  of  Kenilworth! 

New  tortures  awaited  him  as  soon  as  he  had  rejoined 
Elizabeth. 

*^  You  come  in  time,  my  lord,"  she  said,  "  to  decide  a  dis- 
pute between  us  ladies.  Here  has  Sir  Eichard  Varney  asked 
our  permission  to  depart  from  the  castle  with  his  infirm  lady, 
having,  as  he  tells  us,  your  lordship's  consent  to  his  absence, 
so  he  can  obtain  ours.  Certes,  we  have  no  will  to  withhold 
him  from  the  affectionate  charge  of  this  poor  young  person; 
but  you  are  to  know,  that  Sir  Richard  Varney  hath  this  day 
shown  himself  so  much  captivated  with  these  ladies  of  ours, 
that  here  is  our  Duchess  of  Rutland  says,  he  will  carry  his 
poor  insane  wife  no  farther  than  the  lake,  plunge  her  in,  to 
tenant  the  crystal  palaces  that  the  enchanted  nymph  told  us 
of,  and  return  a  jolly  widower,  to  dry  his  tears  and  to  make 
up  the  loss  among  our  train.  How  say  you,  my  lord?  We 
have  seen  Varney  under  two  or  three  different  guises;  you 
know  what  are  his  proper  attributes — think  you  he  is  capable 
of  playing  his  lady  such  a  knave's  trick?  " 

Leicester  was  confounded,  but  the  danger  was  urgent,  and 
a  reply  absolutely  necessary.  "  The  ladies,"  he  said,  "  think 
too  lightly  of  one  of  their  own  sex  in  supposing  she  could  de- 
serve such  a  fate,  or  too  ill  of  ours,  to  think  it  could  be  in- 
flicted upon  an  innocent  female." 

"  Hear  him,  my  ladies,"  said  Elizabeth;  "  like  all  his  sex, 
he  would  excuse  their  cruelty  by  imputing  fickleness  to  us." 

"  Say  not  us,  madam,"  replied  the  earl;  "  we  say  that 
meaner  women,  like  the  lesser  lights  of  heaven,  have  revolu- 
tions and  phases,  but  who  shall  impute  mutability  to  the  sun 
or  to  Elizabeth?" 


406  WA  VERLET  NO  VEL8. 

The  discourse  presently  afterward  assumed  a  less  perilous 
tendency,  and  Leicester  continued  to  support  his  part  in  it 
with  spirit,  at  whatever  expense  of  mental  agony.  So  pleas- 
ing did  it  seem  to  Elizabeth,  that  the  castle  bell  had  sounded 
midnight  ere  she  retired  from  the  company,  a  circumstance 
unusual  in  her  quiet  and  regular  habits  of  disposing  of  time. 
Her  departure  was,  of  course,  the  signal  for  breaking  up  the 
company,  who  dispersed  to  their  several  places  of  repose,  to 
dream  over  the  pastimes  of  the  day  or  to  anticipate  those  of 
the  morrow. 

The  unfortunate  lord  of  the  castle,  and  founder  of  the 
proud  festival,  retired  to  far  different  thoughts.  His  direc- 
tion to  the  valet  who  attended  him  was  to  send  Vamey  in- 
stantly to  his  apartment.  The  messenger  returned  after  some 
delay,  and  informed  him  that  an  hour  had  elapsed  since  Sir 
Eichard  Vamey  had  left  the  castle  by  the  postern  gate,  with 
three  other  persons,  one  of  whom  was  transported  in  a  horse- 
litter. 

"  How  came  he  to  leave  the  castle  after  the  watch  was  set?  " 
said  Leicester.     "  I  thought  he  went  not  till  daybreak." 

"  He  gave  satisfactory  reasons,  as  I  understand,"  said  the 
domestic,  "  to  the  guard,  and,  as  I  hear,  showed  your  lord- 
ship's signet " 

"  True — true,"  said  the  earl;  "  yet  he  has  been  hasty.  Do 
any  of  his  attendants  remain  behind?  " 

"  Michael  Lambourne,  my  lord,"  said  the  valet,  "  was  not 
to  be  found  when  Sir  Eichard  Vamey  departed,  and  his  mas- 
ter was  much  incensed  at  his  absence.  I  saw  him  but  now 
saddling  his  horse  to  gallop  after  his  master." 

"  Bid  him  come  hither  instantly,"  said  Leicester;  "  I  have 
a  message  to  his  master." 

The  servant  left  the  apartment,  and  Leicester  traversed  it 
for  some  time  in  deep  meditation.  "  Vamey  is  over  zealous," 
h^  said —  "  over  pressing.  He  loves  me,  I  think;  but  he  hath 
his  own  ends  to  serve,  and  he  is  inexorable  in  pursuit  of  them. 
If  I  rise  he  rises,  and  he  hath  shown  himself  already  but  too 
eager  to  rid  me  of  this  obstacle  which  seems  to  stand  betwixt 
me  and  sovereignty.  Yet  I  will  not  stoop  to  bear  this  dis- 
grace. She  shall  be  punished,  but  it  shall  be  more  advisedly. 
I  already  feel,  even  in  anticipation,  that  over-haste  would 
light  the  flames  of  hell  in  my  bosom.  No;  one  victim  is 
enough  at  once,  and  that  victim  already  waits  me." 

He  seized  upon  writing-materials,  and  hastily  traced  these 
words: — "  Sir  Eichard  Vamey,  we  have  resolved  to  defer  the 


KENILWORTH.  407 

matter  intrusted  to  your  care,  and  strictly  command  you  to 
proceed  no  farther  in  relation  to  our  countess  until  our 
further  order.  We  also  command  your  instant  return  to 
Kenilworth,  as  soon  as  you  have  safely  bestowed  that  with 
which  you  are  intrusted.  But  if  the  safe-placing  of  your 
present  charge  shall  detain  you  longer  than  we  think  for,  we 
command  you,  in  that  case,  to  send  back  our  signet-ring  by  a 
trusty  and  speedy  messenger,  we  having  present  need  of  the 
same.  And  requiring  your  strict  obedience  in  these  things, 
and  commending  you  to  God's  keeping,  we  rest  your  assured 
good  friend  and  master, 

"R.  Leicester. 

"  Given  at  our  Castle  of  Kenilworth,  the  tenth  of  July,  in 
the  year  of  salvation  one  thousand  five  hundred  and  seventy- 
five." 

As  Leicester  had  finished  and  sealed  this  mandate,  Michael 
Lambourne,  booted  up  to  mid-thigh,  having  his  riding-cloak 
girthed  around  him  with  a  broad  belt,  and  a  felt  cap  on  his 
head,  like  that  of  a  courier,  entered  his  apartment,  ushered 
in  by  the  valet. 

"  What  is  thy  capacity  of  siervice?  "  said  the  earl. 

"Equerry  to  your  lordship's  master  of  the  horse,"  an- 
swered Lambourne,  with  his  customary  assurance. 

"  Tie  up  thy  saucy  tongue,  sir,"  said  Leicester;  "  the  jests 
that  may  suit  Sir  Richard  Varney's  presence  suit  not  mine. 
How  soon  wilt  thou  overtake  thy  master?  " 

"  In  one  hour's  riding,  my  lord,  if  man  and  horse  hold 
good,"  said  Lambourne,  with  an  instant  alteration  of  de- 
meanor from  an  approach  to  familiarity  to  the  deepest 
respect.  The  earl  measured  him  with  his  eye  from  top  to 
toe. 

"I  have  heard  of  thee,"  he  said:  "men  say  thou  ari:  a 
prompt  fellow  in  thy  service,  but  too  much  given  to  brawling 
and  to  wassail  to  be  trusted  with  things  of  moment." 

"  My  lord,"  said  Lambourne,  "  I  have  been  soldier,  sailor, 
traveler,  and  adventurer;  and  these  are  all  trades  in  which 
men  enjoy  to-day  because  they  have  no  surety  of  to-morrow. 
But  though  I  may  misuse  mine  own  leisure,  I  have  never 
neglected  the  duty  I  owe  my  master." 

"  See  that  it  be  so  in  this  instance,"  said  Leicester,  "  and  it 
shall  do  thee  good.  Deliver  this  letter  speedily  and  carefully 
into  Sir  Richard  Vaxney's  hands." 


408  WAVEBLET  NOVELS, 

"Does  my  commission  reach  no  farther?  "  said  Lamboume. 

"  No,"  answered  Leicester;  "  but  it  deeply  concerns  me 
that  it  be  carefully  as  well  as  hastily  executed." 

"  I  will  spare  neither  care  nor  horse-flesh,"  answered  Lam- 
bourne,  and  immediately  took  his  leave. 

"  So  this  is  the  end  of  my  private  audience,  from  which  I 
hoped  so  much!  "  he  muttered  to  himself,  as  he  went  through 
the  long  gallery  and  down  the  back  staircase.  "  Cog's  bones! 
I  thought  the  earl  had  wanted  a  cast  of  mine  office  in  some 
secret  intrigue,  and  it  all  ends  in  carrying  a  letter!  Well,  his 
pleasure  shall  be  done,  however,  and,  as  his  lordship  well  says, 
it  may  do  me  good  another  time.  The  child  must  creep  ere 
he  walk,  and  so  must  your  infant  courtier.  I  will  have  a  look 
into  this  letter,  however,  which  he  hath  sealed  so  sloven-like." 
Having  accomplished  this,  he  clapped  his  hands  together  in 
ecstacy,  exclaiming,  ^*  The  countess — the  countess!  I  have 
the  secret  that  shall  make  or  mar  me.  But  come  forth. 
Bayard,"  he  added,  leading  his  horse  into  the  courtyard,  "  for 
your  flanks  and  my  spurs  must  be  presently  acquainted." 

Lamboume  mounted  accordingly,  and  left  the  castle  by 
the  postern  gate,  where  his  free  passage  was  permitted,  in 
consequence  of  a  message  to  that  effect  left  by  Sir  Kichard 
Vamey. 

As  soon  as  Lamboume  and  the  valet  had  left  the  apart- 
ment, Leicester  proceeded  to  change  his  dress  for  a  very  plain 
one,  threw  his  mantle  around  him,  and,  taking  a  lamp  in  his 
hand,  went  by  the  private  passage  of  communication  to  a  small 
secret  postern  door  which  opened  into  the  courtyard,  near  to 
the  entrance  of  the  Pleasance.  His  reflections  were  of  a  more 
calm  and  determined  character  than  they  had  been  at  any 
late  period,  and  he  endeavored  to  claim,  even  in  his  own  eyes, 
the  character  of  a  man  more  sinned  against  than  sinning. 

"  I  have  suffered  the  deepest  injury,"  such  was  the  tenor  of 
his  meditations,  "yet  I  have  restricted  the  instant  revenge 
which  was  in  my  power,  and  have  limited  it  to  that  which  is 
manly  and  noble.  But  shall  the  union  which  this  false 
woman  has  this  day  disgraced  remain  an  abiding  fetter  on  me, 
to  check  me  in  the  noble  career  to  which  my  destinies  invite 
me?  No — ^there  are  other  means  of  disengaging  such  ties, 
without  unloosing  the  cords  of  life.  In  the  sight  of  God,  I 
am  no  longer  bound  by  the  union  she  has  broken.  King- 
doms shall  divide  us — oceans  roll  betwixt  us,  and  their  waves, 
whose  abysses  have  swallowed  whole  navies,  shall  be  the  sole 
depositories  of  the  deadly  mystery." 


KENILWOnrit.  40d 

By  such  a  train  of  argument  did  Leicester  labor  to  reconcile 
his  conscience  to  the  prosecution  of  plans  of  vengeance  so 
hastily  adopted,  and  of  schemes  of  ambition  which  had 
become  so  woven  in  with  every  purpose  and  action  of  his  life 
that  he  was  incapable  of  the  effort  of  relinquishing  them; 
until  his  revenge  appeared  to  him  to  wear  a  face  of  justice, 
and  even  of  generous  moderation. 

In  this  mood,  the  vindictive  and  ambitious  earl  entered 
the  superb  precincts  of  the  Pleasance,  then  illumined  by  the 
full  moon.  The  broad  yellow  light  was  reflected  on  all  sides 
from  the  white  freestone  of  which  the  pavement,  balustrades, 
and  architectural  ornaments  of  the  place  were  constructed, 
and  not  a  single  fleecy  cloud  was  visible  in  the  azure  sky,  so 
that  the  scene  was  nearly  as  light  as  if  the  sun  had  but  just 
left  the  horizon.  The  numerous  statues  of  white  marble 
glimmered  in  the  pale  light,  like  so  many  sheeted  ghosts  just 
arisen  from  {heir  sepulchers,  and  the  fountains  threw  their 
jets  into  the  air,  as  if  they  sought  that  their  waters  should  be 
brightened  by  the  moonbeams,  ere  they  fell  down  again  upon 
their  basins  in  showers  of  sparkling  silver.  The  day  had 
been  sultry,  and  the  gentle  night  breeze,  which  sighed  along 
the  terrace  of  the  Pleasance,  raised  not  a  deeper  breath  than 
the  fan  in  the  hand  of  youthful  beauty.  The  bird  of  sum- 
mer night  had  built  many  a  nest  in  the  bowers  of  the  adjacent 
garden,  and  the  tenants  now  indemnified  themselves  for 
silence  during  the  day  by  a  full  chorus  of  their  own  unrivaled 
warblings,  now  joyous,  now  pathetic,  now  united,  now  respon- 
sive to  each  other,  as  if  to  express  their  delight  in  the  placid 
and  delicious  scene  to  which  they  poured  their  melody. 

Musing  on  matters  far  different  from  the  fall  of  waters,  the 
gleam  of  moonlight,  or  the  song  of  the  nightingale,  the 
stately  Leicester  walked  slowly  from  the  one  end  of  the  ter- 
race to  the  other,  his  cloak  wrapped  around  him,  and  his 
sword  under  his  arm,  without  seeing  anything  resembling  the 
human  form. 

"  I  have  been  fooled  by  my  own  generosity,"  he  said,  "  if  I 
have  suffered  the  villain  to  escape  me — aye,  and  perhaps  to 
go  to  the  rescue  of  the  adulteress,  who  is  so  poorly  guarded." 

These  were  his  thoughts,  which  were  instantly  dispelled 
when,  turning  to  look  back  toward  the  entrance,  he  saw  a 
human  form  advancing  slowly  from  the  portico,  and  darken- 
ing the  various  objects  with  its  shadow,  as  passing  them  suc- 
cessively, in  its  approach  toward  him. 

"  Shall  T  strike  ere  I  again  hear  his  detested  voic«?  "  wm 


410  WAVBRLBT  NOVELS. 

Leicester's  thought,  as  he  grasped  the  hilt  of  the  sword. 
"But  no!  I  will  see  which  way  his  vile  practice  tends.  I 
will  watch,  disgusting  as  it  is,  the  coils  and  mazes  of  the 
loathsome  snake,  ere  I  put  forth  my  strength  and  crush  him." 

His  hand  quitted  the  sword-hilt,  and  he  advanced  slowly 
toward  Tressilian,  collecting,  for  their  meeting,  all  the  self- 
possession  he  could  command,  until  they  came  front  to  front 
with  each  other. 

Tressilian  made  a  profound  reverence,  to  which  the  earl 
replied  with  a  haughty  inclination  of  the  head,  and  the  words, 
"  You  sought  secret  conference  with  me,  sir;  I  am  here,  and 
attentive." 

"  My  lord,"  said  Tressilian,  "  I  am  so  earnest  in  that  which 
I  have  to  say,  and  so  desirous  to  find  a  patient,  nay,  a  favor- 
able, hearing,  that  I  will  stoop  to  exculpate  myself  from 
whatever  might  prejudice  your  lordship  against  me.  You 
think  me  your  enemy?  " 

"Have  I  not  some  apparent  cause?"  answered  Leicester, 
perceiving  that  Tressilian  paused  for  a  reply. 

"  You  do  me  wrong,  my  lord.  I  am  a  friend,  but  neither  a 
dependent  nor  partisan,  of  the  Earl  of  Sussex,  whom  cour- 
tiers call  your  rival;  and  it  is  some  considerable  time  since  I 
ceased  to  regard  either  courts  or  court  intrigues  as  suited  to 
my  temper  or  genius." 

"No  doubt,  sir,"  answered  Leicester,  "there  are  other 
occupations  more  worthy  a  scholar,  and  for  such  the  world 
holds  Master  Tressilian:  love  has  his  intrigues  as  well  as 
ambition." 

"  I  perceive,  my  lord,"  replied  Tressilian,  "  you  give  much 
weight  to  my  early  attachment  for  the  unfortunate  young 
person  of  whom  I  am  about  to  speak,  and  perhaps  think  I 
am  prosecuting  her  cause  out  of  rivalry  more  than  a  sense  of 
justice." 

"  No  matter  for  my  thoughts,  sir,"  said  the  earl;  "  proceed. 
You  have^  as  yet  spoken  of  yourself  only — an  important  and 
worthy  subject  doubtless,  but  which,  perhaps,  does  not  alto- 
gether so  deeply  concern  me  that  I  should  postpone  my  re- 
pose to  hear  it.  Spare  me  farther  prelude,  sir,  and  speak  to 
the  purpose,  if  indeed  you  have  aught  to  say  that  concerns 
me.  When  you  have  done,  I,  in  my  turn,  have  something  to 
communicate." 

"I  will  speak,  then,  without  farther  prelude,  my  lord," 
answered  Tressilian ;  "  having  to  say  that  which,  as  it  con- 
eys your  lordship's  honor,  I  am  confident  you  will  not 


KENILWOETH.  411 

think  your  time  wasted  in  listening  to.  I  have  to  request  an 
account  from  your  lordship  of  the  unhappy  Amy  Kobsart, 
whose  history  is  too  well  known  to  you.  I  regret  deeply  that 
I  did  not  at  once  take  this  course,  and  make  yourself  judge 
between  me  and  the  villain  by  whom  she  is  injured.  My 
lord,  she  extricated  herself  from  an  unlawful  and  most  peril- 
ous state  of  confinement,  trusting  to  the  effects  of  her  own 
remonstrance  upon  her  unworthy  husband,  and  extorted  from 
me  a  promise  that  I  would  not  interfere  in  her  behalf  until 
she  had  used  her  own  efforts  to  have  her  rights  acknowledged 
by  him." 

"  Ha! "  said  Leicester,  "  remember  you  to  whom  you 
speak  ?  " 

"I  speak  of  her  unworthy  husband,  my  lord,"  repeated 
Tressilian,  "and  my  respect  can  find  no  softer  language. 
The  unhappy  young  woman  is  withdrawn  from  my  knowl- 
edge, and  sequestered  in  some  secret  place  of  this  castle — if 
she  be  not  transferred  to  some  place  of  seclusion  better  fitted 
for  bad  designs.  This  must  be  reformed,  my  lord — I  speak 
it  as  authorized  by  her  father — and  this  ill-fated  marriage 
must  be  avouched  and  proved  in  the  Queen's  presence,  and 
the  lady  placed  without  restraint  and  at  her  own  free  dis- 
posal. And,  permit  me  to  say,  it  concerns  no  one's  honor 
that  these  most  just  demands  of  mine  should  be  complied 
with  so  much  as  it  does  that  of  your  lordship." 

The  earl  stood  as  if  he  had  been  petrified,  at  the  extreme 
coolness  with  which  the  man,  whom  he  considered  as  having 
injured  him  so  deeply,  pleaded  the  cause  of  his  criminal  para- 
mour, as  if  she  had  been  an  innocent  woman,  and  he  a  dis- 
interested advocate;  nor  was  his  wonder  lessened  by  the 
warmth  with  which  Tressilian  seemed  to  demand  for  her  the 
rank  and  situation  which  she  had  disgraced,  and  the  advan- 
tages of  which  she  was  doubtless  to  share  with  the  lover  who 
advocated  her  cause  with  such  effrontery.  Tressilian  had 
been  silent  for  more  than  a  minute  ere  the  earl  recovered  from 
the  excess  of  his  astonishment;  and,  considering  the  prepos- 
sessions with  which  his  mind  was  occupied,  there  is  little 
wonder  that  his  passion  gained  the  mastery  of  every  other 
consideration.  "  I  have  heard  you.  Master  Tressilian,"  said 
he,  "  without  interruption,  and  I  bless  God  that  my  ears  were 
never  before  made  to  tingle  by  the  words  of  so  frontless  a 
villain.  The  task  of  chaetising  you  is  fitter  for  the  hang- 
man's scourge  than  the  sword  of  a  nobleman,  but  yet r- 

Villain,  draw  and  defend  thyself! "  \  >ii»i>AiKl 


412  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

As  he  spoke  the  last  words,  he  dropped  his  mantle  on  the 
ground,  struck  Tressilian  smartly  with  his  sheathed  sword, 
and  instantly  drawing  his  rapier,  put  himself  into  a  posture 
of  assault.  The  vehement  fury  of  his  language  at  first  filled 
Tressilian,  in  his  turn,  with  surprise  equal  to  what  Leicester 
had  felt  when  he  addressed  him.  But  astonishment  gave  rise 
to  resentment,  when  the  unmerited  insults  of  his  language 
were  followed  by  a  blow,  which  immediately  put  to  flight 
every  thought  save  that  of  instant  combat.  Treesilian's 
sword  was  instantly  drawn,  and  though  perhaps  somewhat  in- 
ferior to  Leicester  in  the  use  of  the  weapon,  he  understood  it 
well  enough  to  maintain  the  contest  with  great  spirit,  the 
rather  that  of  the  two  he  was  for  the  time  the  more  cool,  since 
he  could  not  help  imputing  Leicester's  conduct  either  to 
actual  frenzy  or  to  the  influence  of  some  strong  delusion. 

The  rencontre  had  continued  for  several  minutes,  without 
either  party  receiving  a  wound,  when  of  a  sudden  voices  were 
heard  beneath  the  portico,  which  formed  the  entrance  of  the 
terrace,  mingled  with  the  steps  of  men  advancing  hastily. 
"  We  are  interrupted,"  said  Leicester  to  his  antagonist;  "  fol- 
low me." 

At  the  same  time  a  voice  from  the  portico  said,  "  The 
jackanape  is  right:  they  are  tilting  here." 

Leicester,  meanwhile,  drew  off  Tressilian  into  a  sort  of 
recess  behind  one  of  the  fountains,  which  served  to  conceal 
them,  while  six  of  the  yeomen  of  the  Queen's  guard  passed 
along  the  middle  walk  of  the  Pleasance,  and  they  could  hear 
one  say  to  the  rest,  "  We  shall  never  find  them  to-night 
amongst  all  these  squirting  funnels,  squirrel-cages,  and  rab- 
bit-holes; but  if  we  light  not  on  them  before  we  reach  the 
farther  end,  we  will  return,  and  mount  a  guard  at  the  en- 
trance, and  so  secure  them  till  morning." 

"  A  proper  matter,"  said  another,  "  the  drawing  of  swords 
60  near  the  Queen's  presence,  aye,  and  in  her  very  palace  as 
'twere!  Hang  it,  they  must  be  some  poor  drunken  game- 
cocks fallen  to  sparring;  'twere  pity  almost  we  should  find 
them — the  penalty  is  chopping  off  a  hand,  is  it  not?  'Twere 
hard  to  lose  hand  for  handling  a  bit  of  steel,  that  comes  so 
natural  to  one's  gripe." 

"  Thou  art  a  brawler  thyself,  George,"  said  another;  ''  but 
take  heed,  for  the  law  stands  as  thou  sayest." 

"  Aye,"  said  the  first,  "  an  the  act  be  not  mildly  construed; 
for  thou  know'ftt  'tis  not  the  Queen's  palace,  but  my  Lord  of 
Liic«it«r'i." 


KBNILWORTH,  418 

"Why,  for  that  matter,  the  penalty  may  be  as  severe," 
said  another;  "  for  an  our  gracious  mistress  be  queen,  as 
she  is,  God  save  her,  my  Lord  of  Leicester  is  as  good  as 
king." 

"Hush!  thou  knave!  ^'  said  a  third;  "how  know'st  thou 
who  may  be  within  hearing?  " 

They  passed  on,  making  a  kind  of  careless  search,  but 
seemingly  more  intent  on  their  own  conversation  than  bent 
on  discovering  the  persons  who  had  created  the  nocturnal  dis- 
turbance. 

They  had  no  sooner  passed  forward  along  the  terrace  than 
Leicester,  making  a  sign  to  Tressilian  to  follow  him,  glided 
away  in  an  opposite  direction,  and  escaped  through  the  por- 
tico undiscovered.  He  conducted  Tressilian  to  Mervyn's 
Tower,  in  which  he  was  now  again  lodged;  and  then,  ere  part- 
ing with  him,  said  these  words,  "  If  thou  hast  courage  to  con- 
tinue and  bring  to  an  end  what  is  thus  broken  off,  be  near  me 
when  the  court  goes  forth  to-morrow;  we  shall  find  a  time, 
and  I  will  give  you  a  signal  when  it  is  fitting." 

"My  lord,"  said  Tressilian,  "at  another  time  I  might 
have  inquired  the  meaning  of  this  strange  and  furious  invet- 
eracy against  me.  But  you  have  laid  that  on  my  shoulder 
which  only  blood  can  wash  away;  and  were  you  as  high  as 
your  proudest  wishes  ever  carried  you,  I  would  have  from  you 
satisfaction  for  my  wounded  honor." 

On  these  terms  they  parted,  but  the  adventures  of  the 
night  were  not  yet  ended  with  Leicester.  He  was  compelled 
to  pass  by  Saintlowe^s  Tower  in  order  to  gain  the  private 
passage  which  led  to  his  own  chamber,  and  in  the  entrance 
thereof  he  met  Lord  Hunsdon  half-clothed  and  with  a 
naked  sword  under  his  arm. 

"Are  you  awakened,  too,  with  this  'larum,  my  Lord  of 
Leicester?"  said  the  old  soldier.  " 'Tis  well.  By  gog^s 
nails,  the  nights  are  as  noisy  as  the  day  in  this  castle  of  yours. 
Some  two  hours  since,  I  was  waked  by  the  screams  of  that 
poor  brain-sick  Lady  Yarney,  whom  her  husband  was  forcing 
away.  I  promise  you,  it  rec^uired  both  your  warrant  and  the 
Queen's  to  keep  me  from  entering  into  the  game,  and  cutting 
that  Varney  of  yours  over  the  head;  and  now  there  is  a  brawl 
down  in  the  Pleasance,  or  what  call  you  the  stone  terrace- 
walk,  where  all  yonder  gimcracks  stand?" 

The  first  part  of  the  old  man's  speech  went  through  the 
earl's  heart  like  a  knife;  to  the  last  he  answered  that  he  him- 
•elf  had  heard  the  clash  of  swords,  and  had  come  down  to 


414  WAVERLBT  NOVELS, 

take  order  with  those  who  had  heen  so  insolent  so  near  the 
Queen^s  presence. 

"  Nay,  then,"  said  Hunsdon,  "  I  will  be  glad  of  your  lord- 
ship's company/* 

Leicester  was  thus  compelled  to  turn  back  with  the  rough 
old  lord  to  the  Pleasance,  where  Hunsdon  heard  from  the 
yeomen  of  the  guard,  who  were  under  his  immediate  com- 
mand, the  unsuccessful  search  they  had  made  for  the  authors 
of  the  disturbance;  and  bestowed  for  their  pains  some  round 
dozen  of  curses  on  them,  as  lazy  knaves  and  blind  whoresons. 
Leicester  also  thought  it  necessary  to  seem  angry  that  no  dis- 
covery had  been  effected;  but  at  length  suggested  to  Lord 
Hunsdon  that,  after  all,  it  could  only  be  some  foolish  young 
men  who  had  been  drinking  healths  pottle-deep,  and  who 
would  be  sufficiently  scared  by  the  search  which  had  taken 
place  after  them.  Hunsdon,  who  was  himself  attached  to  his 
cup,  allowed  that  a  pint-flagon  might  cover  many  of  the 
follies  which  it  had  caused.  "  But,"  he  added,  "  unless  your 
lordship  will  be  less  liberal  in  your  housekeeping,  and  re- 
strain the  overflow  of  ale,  and  wine,  and  wassail,  I  foresee  it 
will  end  in  my  having  some  of  these  good  fellows  into  the 
guard-house,  and  treating  them  to  a  dose  of  the  strappado. 
And  with  this  warning,  good-night  to  you." 

Joyful  at  being  rid  of  his  company,  Leicester  took  leave  of 
him  at  the  entrance  of  his  lodging,  where  they  had  first  met, 
and  entering  the  private  passage,  took  up  the  lamp  which  he 
had  left  there,  and  by  its  expiring  light  found  the  way  to  his 
own  apartment. 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

Boom  !  room  !  for  my  horse  will  wince 

If  he  comes  within  so  many  yards  of  a  prinoo  ; 

For  to  tell  you  true,  and  in  rhyme, 

He  was  foal'd  in  Queen  Elizabeth's  time  ; 

When  the  great  Earl  of  Lester 

In  his  castle  did  feast  her. 

—Ben  Jonson,  Mdsqvs  of  Otola. 

The  amusement  with  which  Elizabeth  and  her  court  were 
next  day  to  be  regaled  was  an  exhibition  by  the  true-hearted 
men  of  Coventry,  who  were  to  represent  the  strife  between 
the  English  and  the  Danes,  agreeably  to  a  custom  long  pre- 
served in  their  ancient  borough,  and  warranted  for  truth  by 
old  histories  and  chronicles.  In  this  pageant,  one  party  of 
the  townsfolk  presented  the  Saxons  and  the  other  the  Danes, 
and  set  forth,  both  in  rude  rhymes  and  with  hard  blows,  the 
contentions  of  these  two  fierce  nations,  and  the  Amazonian 
courage  of  the  English  women,  who,  according  to  the  story, 
were  the  principal  agents  in  the  general  massacre  of  the 
Danes,  which  took  place  at  Hocktide,  in  the  year  of  God  1012. 
This  sport,  which  had  been  long  a  favorite  pastime  of  the 
men  of  Coventry,  had,  it  seems,  been  put  down  by  the  in- 
fluence of  some  zealous  clergyman  of  the  more  precise  cast, 
who  chanced  to  have  considerable  influence  with  the  magis- 
trates. But  the  generality  of  the  inhabitants  had  petitioned 
the  Queen  that  they  might  have  their  play  again,  and  be  hon- 
ored with  permission  to  represent  it  before  her  Highness. 
And  when  the  matter  was  canvassed  in  the  little  council 
which  usually  attended  the  Queen  for  dispatch  of  business, 
the  proposal,  although  opposed  by  some  of  the  stricter  sort, 
found  favor  in  the  eyes  of  Elizabeth,  who  said  that  such  toys 
occupied,  without  offense,  the  minds  of  many  who,  lacking 
them,  might  find  worse  subjects  of  pastime;  and  that  their 
pastors,  however  commendable  for  learning  and  godliness, 
were  somewhat  too  sour  in  preaching  against  the  pastimes  of 
their  flocks;  and  so  the  pageant  was  permitted  to  proceed. 

Accordingly,  after  a  morning  repast,  which  Master  Lane- 
ham  calls  an  ambrosial  breakfast,  the  principal  persons  of  the 
court,  in  attendance  upon  her  Majesty,  pressed  to  the  Gal- 
lery Tower,  to  witness  the  approach  of  the  two  contending 
parties  of  English  and  Danes;  and  after  a  signal  had  been 


41«  WAVEBLET  NOVELS. 

given,  the  gate  which  opened  into  the  circuit  of  the  chase 
was  thrown  wide  to  admit  them.  On  they  came,  foot  and 
horse;  for  some  of  the  more  ambitious  burghers  and  yeomen 
had  put  themselves  into  fantastic  dresses,  imitating  knights, 
in  order  to  resemble  the  chivalry  of  the  two  different  nations. 
However,  to  prevent  fatal  accidents,  they  were  not  permitted 
to  appear  on  real  horses,  but  had  only  license  to  accouter 
themselves  with  those  hobby-horses,  as  they  are  called,  which 
anciently  formed  the  chief  delight  of  a  morrice-dance,  and 
which  still  are  exhibited  on  the  stage,  in  the  grand  battle 
fought  at  the  conclusion  of  Mr.  Bayes'  tragedy.  The  in- 
fantry followed  in  similar  disguises.  The  whole  exhibition 
was  to  be  considered  as  a  sort  of  anti-masque,  or  burlesque 
of  the  more  stately  pageants,  in  which  the  nobility  and  gentr}^ 
bore  part  in  the  show,  and,  to  the  best  of  their  knowledge, 
imitated  with  accuracy  the  personages  whom  they  repre- 
sented. The  Hocktide  play  was  of  a  different  character,  the 
actors  being  persons  of  inferior  degree,  and  their  habits  the 
better  fitted  for  the  occasion  the  more  incongruous  and  ridicu- 
lous that  they  were  in  themselves.  Accordingly,  their  array, 
which  the  progress  of  our  tale  allows  us  no  time  to  describe, 
was  ludicrous  enough,  and  their  weapons,  though  sufficiently 
formidable  to  deal  sound  blows,  were  long  alder-poles  instead 
of  lances,  and  sound  cudgels  for  swords;  and  for  fence,  both 
cavalry  and  infantry  were  well  equipped  with  stout  head- 
pieces and  targets,  both  made  of  thick  leather. 

Captain  Coxe,  that  celebrated  humorist  of  Coventry,  whose 
library  of  ballads,  almanacks,  and  penny  histories,  fairly 
wrapped  up  in  parchment,  and  tied  round  for  security  with  a 
piece  of  whipcord,  remains  still  the  envy  of  antiquaries,  be- 
ing himself  the  ingenious  person  under  whose  direction  the 
pageant  had  been  set  forth,  rode  valiantly  on  his  hobby-horse 
before  the  bands  of  English,  high-trussed,  saith  Laneham, 
and  brandishing  his  long  sword,  as  became  an  experienced 
man  of  war,  who  had  fought  under  the  Queen's  father,  bluff 
King  Henry,  at  the  siege  of  Bologne.  This  chieftain  wa3. 
as  right  and  reason  craved,  the  first  to  enter  the  lists,  and, 
passing  the  gallery  at  the  head  of  his  myrmidons,  kissed  the 
hilt  of  his  sword  to  the  Queen,  and  executed  at  the  same  time 
a  gambade,  the  like  whereof  had  never  been  practiced  by  two- 
legged  hobby-horse.  Then  passing  on  with  all  his  followers 
of  cavalry  and  infantry,  he  drew  them  up  with  martial  skill 
at  the  opposite  extremity  of  the  bridge,  or  tilt-yard,  until  hii 
tntagonista  should  be  fairly  prepared  for  the  onset. 


KBNILWORTH,  417 

This  was  no  long  interval;  for  the  Danish  cavalry  and  in- 
fantry, no  way  inferior  to  the  English  in'  number,  valor,  and 
equipment,  instantly  arrived,  with  the  northern  bagpipe  blow- 
ing before  them  in  token  of  their  country,  and  headed  by  a 
cunning  master  of  defense,  only  inferior  to  the  renowned 
Captain  Coxe,  if  to  him,  in  the  discipline  of  war.  The  Danes, 
as  invaders,  took  their  station  under  the  Gallery  Tower,  and 
opposite  to  that  of  Mortimer;  and,  when  their  arrangements 
were  completely  made,  a  signal  was  given  for  the  encounter. 

Their  first  charge  upon  each  other  was  rather  moderate,  for 
either  party  had  some  dread  of  being  forced  into  the  lake. 
But  as  re-enforcements  came  up  on  either  side,  the  encounter 
grew  from  a  skirmish  into  a  blazing  battle.  They  rushed 
upon  one  another,  as  Master  Laneham  testifies,  like  rams  in- 
flamed by  jealousy,  with  such  furious  encounter  that  both 
parties  were  often  overthrown,  and  the  clubs  and  targets  made 
a  most  horrible  clatter.  In  many  instances  that  happened 
which  had  been  dreaded  by  the  more  experienced  warriors 
who  began  the  day  of  strife.  The  rails  which  defended  the 
ledges  of  the  bridge  had  been,  perhaps  on  purpose,  left  but 
slightly  fastened,  and  gave  way  under  the  pressure  of  those 
who  thronged  to  the  combat,  so  that  the  hot  courage  of  many 
of  the  combatants  received  a  sufiicient  cooling.  These  inci- 
dents might  have  occasioned  more  serious  damage  than  be- 
came such  an  affray,  for  many  of  the  champions  who  met 
with  this  mischance  could  not  swim,  and  those  who  could  were 
encumbered  with  thedr  suits  of  leathern  and  of  paper  armor; 
but  the  case  had  been  provided  for,  and  there  were  several 
boats  in  readiness  to  pick  up  the  unfortunate  warriors  and 
convey  them  to  the  dry  land,  where,  dripping  and  dejected, 
they  comforted  themselves  with  the  hot  ale  and  strong  waters 
which  were  liberally  allowed  to  them,  without  showing  any 
desire  to  re-enter  so  desperate  a  conflict. 

Captain  Coxe  alone,  that  paragon  of  black-letter  anti- 
quaries, after  twice  experiencing,  horse  and  man,  the  peril- 
ous leap  from  the  bridge  into  the  lake,  equal  to  any  extremity 
to  which  the  favorite  heroes  of  chivalry,  whose  exploits  he 
studied  in  an  abridged  form,  whether  Amadis,  Belianis,  Bevis, 
or  his  own  Guy  of  Warwick,  had  ever  been  subjected  to — Cap- 
tain Coxe,  we  repeat,  did  alone,  after  two  such  mischance*, 
rush  again  into  the  heat  of  conflict,  his  bases  and  the  foot- 
cloth  of  his  hobby-horse  dropping  water,  and  twice  reani- 
mated by  voice  and  example  the  drooping  spirits  of  the  Eng- 
lish; 60  that  at  length  their  victory  over  the  Danish  invaden 


418  VTA  VERLET  JSTOYELS. 

became,  as  was  just  and  reasonable,  complete  and  decisive^ 
Worthy  he  was  to  be  rendered  immortal  by  the  pen  of  Ben 
Jonson,  who,  fifty  years  afterward,  deemed  that  a  masque, 
exhibited  at  Kenilworth,  could  be  ushered  in  by  none  with  so 
much  propriety  as  by  the  ghost  of  Captain  Coxe,  mounted 
upon  his  redoubted  hobby-horse. 

These  rough  rural  gambols  may  not  altogether  agree  with 
the  reader's  preconceived  idea  of  an  entertainment  presented 
before  Elizabeth,  in  whose  reign  letters  revived  with  such 
brilliancy,  and  whose  court,  governed  by  a  female  whose 
sense  of  propriety  was  equal  to  her  strength  of  mind,  was  no 
less  distinguished  for  delicacy  and  refinement  than  her  coun- 
cils for  wisdom  and  fortitude.  But  whether  from  the  politi- 
cal wish  to  seem  interested  in  popular  sports,  or  whether  from 
a  spark  o-f  old  Henry's  rough  masculine  spirit,  which  Eliza- 
beth sometimes  displayed,  it  is  certain  the  Queen  laughed 
heartily  at  the  imitation,  or  rather  burlesque,  of  chivalry 
which  was  presented  in  the  Coventry  play.  She  called  near 
her  person  the  Earl  of  Sussex  and  Lord  Hunsdon,  partly  per- 
haps to  make  amends  to  the  former  for  the  long  and  private 
audiences  with  which  she  had  indulged  the  Earl  of  Leicester, 
by  engaging  him  in  conversation  upon  a  pastime  which  better 
suited  his  taste  than  those  pageants  that  were  furnished  forth 
from  the  stores  of  antiquity.  The  disposition  which  the 
Queen  showed  to  laugh  and  jest  with  her  military  leaders 
gave  the  Earl  of  Leicester  the  opportunity  he  had  been  watch- 
ing for  withdrawing  from  the  royal  presence,  which  to  the 
court  around,  so  well  had  he  chosen  his  time,  had  the  grace- 
ful appearance  of  leaving  his  rival  free  access  to  the  Queen's 
person,  instead  of  availing  himself  of  his  right  as  her  land- 
lord to  stand  perpetually  betwixt  others  and  the  light  of  her 
countenance. 

Leicester's  thoughts,  however,  had  a  far  different  object 
from  mere  courtesy;  for  no  sooner  did  he  see  the  Queen  fairly 
engaged  in  conversation  with  Sussex  and  Hunsdon,  behind 
whose  back  stood  Sir  Nicholas  Blount,  grinning  from  ear  to 
ear  at  each  word  which  was  spoken,  than,  making  a  sign  to 
Tressilian,  who,  according  to  appointment,  watched  his  mo- 
tions at  a  little  distance,  he  extricated  himself  from  the  press, 
and  walking  toward  the  chase,  made  his  way  through  the 
crowds  of  ordinary  spectators,  who,  with  open  mouth,  stood 
gazing  on  the  battle  of  the  English  and  the  Danes.  When  he 
had  accomplished  this,  which  was  a  work  of  some  difficulty, 
he  shot  another  glance  behind  him  to  see  that  Tressilian.  had 


KENILWORTH,  41»> 

been  equally  successful,  and  as  soon  as  he  saw  him  also  free 
from  the  crowd,  he  led  the  way  to  a  small  thicket,  behind 
which  stood  a  lackey  with  two  horses  ready  saddled.  He 
flung  himself  on  the  one,  and  made  signs  to  Tressilian  to 
mount  the  other,  who  obeyed  without  speaking  a  single  word. 

Leicester  then  spurred  his  horse,  and  galloped  without 
stopping  until  he  reached  a  sequestered  spot,  environed  by 
lofty  oaks,  about  a  mile's  distance  from  the  castle,  and  in  an 
opposite  direction  from  the  scene  to  which  curiosity  was  draw- 
ing every  spectator.  He  there  dismounted,  bound  his  horse 
to  a  tree,  and  only  pronouncing  the  words,  "  Here  there  is  no 
risk  of  interruption,^'  laid  his  cloak  across  his  saddle,  and 
drew  his  sword. 

Tressilian  imitated  his  example  punctually,  yet  could  not 
forbear  saying,  as  he  drew  his  weapon,  "  My  lord,  as  I  have 
been  known  to  many  as  one  who  does  not  fear  death,  when 
placed  in  balance  with  honor,  methinks  I  may  without  dero- 
gation ask,  wherefore,  in  the  name  of  all  that  is  honorable, 
your  lordship  has  dared  to  offer  me  such  a  mark  of  disgrace 
as  places  us  on  these  terms  with  respect  to  each  other?  " 

"  If  you  like  not  such  marks  of  my  scorn,"  replied  the  earl, 
"  betake  yourself  instantly  to  your  weapon,  lest  I  repeat  the 
usage  you  complain  of." 

"It  shall  not  need,  my  lord,"  said  Tressilian.  "God 
judge  betwixt  us!  and  your  blood,  if  you  fall,  be  on  your  own 
head." 

He  had  scarcely  completed  the  sentence  when  they  in- 
stantly closed  in  combat. 

But  Leicester,  who  was  a  perfect  master  of  defense,  among 
all  other  exterior  accomplishments  of  the  time,  had  seen,  on 
the  preceding  night,  enough  of  Tressilian's  strength  and  skill 
to  make  him  fight  with  more  caution  than  heretofore,  and 
prefer  a  secure  revenge  to  a  hasty  one.  For  some  minutes 
they  fought  with  equal  skill  and  fortune,  till,  in  a  desperate 
lounge  which  Leicester  successfully  put  aside,  Tressilian  ex- 
posed himself  at  disadvantage;  and,  in  a  subsequent  attempt 
to  close,  the  earl  forced  his  sword  from  his  hand  and  stretched 
him  on  the  ground.  With  a  grim  smile,  he  held  the  point  of 
his  rapier  within  two  inches  of  the  throat  of  his  fallen  adver- 
sary, and  placing  his  foot  at  the  same  time  upon  his  breast, 
bid  him  confess  his  villainous  wrongs  toward  him,  and  pre- 
pare for  death. 

"I  have  no  villainy  nor  wrong  toward  thee  to  confess," 
answered  Tressilian,  "  and  am  better  prepared  for  death  than 


42a  WAVEELEY  NOVELS. 

thou!  Use  thine  advantage  as  thou  wilt,  and  may  God  for- 
give you!     I  have  given  you  no  cause  for  this." 

"No  cause!"  exclaimed  the  earl — "no  cause!  But  why 
parley  with  such  a  slave?     Die  a  liar,  as  thou  hast  lived! " 

He  had  withdrawn  his  arm  for  the  purpose  of  striking  the 
fatal  blow,  when  it  was  suddenly  seized  from  behind. 

The  earl  turned  in  wrath  to  shake  off  the  unexpected 
obstacle,  but  was  surprised  to  find  that  a  strange-looking  boy 
had  hold  of  his  sword-arm,  and  clung  to  it  with  such  tenacity 
of  grasp  that  he  could  not  shake  him  off  without  a  consider- 
able struggle,  in  the  course  of  which  Tressilian  had  oppor- 
tunity to  rise  and  possess  himself  once  more  of  his  weapon. 
Leicester  again  turned  toward  him  with  looks  of  unabated 
ferocity,  and  the  combat  would  have  recommenced  with  still 
more  desperation  on  both  sides,  had  not  the  boy  clung  to 
Lord  Leicester's  knees,  and  in  a  shrill  tone  implored  him  to 
listen  one  moment  ere  he  prosecuted  this  quarrel. 

"  Stand  up  and  let  me  go,"  said  Leicester,  "  or,  by  Heaven, 
I  will  pierce  thee  with  my  rapier!  What  hast  thou  to  do  to 
bar  my  way  to  revenge?  " 

"Much — much!"  exclaimed  the  undaunted  boy;  "since 
my  folly  has  been  the  cause  of  these  bloody  quarrels  between 
you,  and  perchance  of  worse  evils.  0,  if  you  would  ever  again 
enjoy  the  peace  of  an  innocent  mind,  if  you  hope  again  to 
sleep  in  peace  and  unhaunted  by  remorse,  take  so  much  lei- 
sure as  to  peruse  this  letter,  and  then  do  as  you  list." 

While  he  spoke  in  this  eager  and  earnest  manner,  to  which 
his  singular  features  and  voice  gave  a  goblin-like  effect,  he 
held  up  to  Leicester  a  packet,  secured  with  a  long  tress  of 
woman's  hair,  of  a  beautiful  light-brown  color.  Enraged  as 
he  was,  nay,  almost  blinded  with  fury  to  see  his  destined  re- 
venge so  strangely  frustrated,  the  Earl  of  Leicester  could  not 
resist  this  extraordinary  supplicant.  He  snatched  the  letter 
from  his  hand,  changed  color  as  he  looked  on  the  super- 
scription, undid,  with  faltering  hand,  the  knot  which  secured 
it,  glanced  over  the  contents,  and,  staggering  back,  would 
have  fallen,  had  he  not  rested  against  the  trunk  of  a  tree, 
where  he  stood  for  an  instant,  his  eyes  bent  on  the  letter,  and 
his  sword-point  turned  to  the  ground,  without  seeming  to  be 
conscious  of  the  presence  of  an  antagonist  toward  whom  he 
had  shown  little  mercy,  and  who  might  in  turn  have  taken  him 
at  advantage.  But  for  such  revenge  Tressilian  was  too  noble- 
minded;  he  also  stood  still  in  surprise,  waiting  the  issue  of 
this  itrange  fit  of  passion,  but  holding  his  weapon  ready  to 


KENILWORTff.  421 

defend  himself,  in  case  of  need,  against  some  new  and  sudden 
attack  on  the  part  of  Leicester,  whom  he  again  suspected  to 
be  under  the  influence  of  actual  frenzy.  The  boy,  indeed,  he 
easily  recognized  as  his  old  acquaintance  Dickon,  whose  face, 
once  seen,  was  scarcely  to  be  forgotten;  but  how  he  came 
thither  at  so  critical  a  moment,  why  his  interference  was  so 
energetic,  and,  above  all,  how  it  came  to  produce  so  powerful 
an  effect  upon  Leicester,  were  questions  which  he  could  not 
solve. 

But  the  letter  was  of  itself  powerful  enough  to  wark  effects 
yet  more  wonderful.  It  was  that  which  the  unfortunate  Amy 
had  written  to  her  husband,  in  which  she  alleged  the  rea- 
sons and  manner  of  her  flight  from  Cumnor  Place,  informed 
him  of  her  having  made  her  way  to  Kenil worth  to  enjoy  hig 
protection,  and  mentioned  the  circumstances  which  had  com- 
pelled her  to  take  refuge  in  Tressilian's  apartment,  earnestly 
requesting  he  would,  without  delay,  assign  her  a  more  suit- 
able asylum.  The  letter  concluded  with  the  most  earnest 
expressions  of  devoted  attachment  and  submission  to  his  will 
in  all  things,  and  particularly  respecting  her  situation  and 
place  of  residence,  conjuring  him  only  that  she  might  not 
be  placed  under  the  guardianship  or  restraint  of  Varney. 

The  letter  dropped  from  Leicester's  hand  when  he  had 
perused  it.  "  Take  my  sword,"  he  said,  "  Tressilian,  and 
pierce  my  heart,  as  I  would  but  now  have  pierced  yours! " 

"My  lord,"  said  Tressilian,  "you  have  done  me  great 
wrong;  but  something  within  my  breast  ever  whispered  that 
it  was  by  egregious  error." 

"  Error  indeed!  "  said  Leicester,  and  handed  him  the  letter; 
"  I  have  been  made  to  believe  a  man  of  honor  a  villain,  and 
the  best  and  purest  of  creatures  a  false  profligate.  Wretched 
boy,  why  comes  this  letter  now,  and  where  has  the  bearer 
lingered  ?  " 

"  I  dare  not  tell  you,  my  lord,"  said  the  boy,  withdrawing, 
as  if  to  keep  beyond  his  reach;  "  but  here  comes  one  who  was 
the  messenger." 

Wayland  at  the  same  moment  came  up;  and,  interrogated 
by  Leicester,  hastily  detailed  all  the  circumstances  of  his 
escape  with  Amy,  the  fatal  practices  which  had  driven  her  to 
flight,  and  her  anxious  desire  to  throw  herself  under  the  in- 
stant protection  of  her  husband,  pointing  out  the  evidence  of 
the  domestics  of  Kenilworth,  "  who  could  not,"  he  observed, 
"  but  remember  her  eager  inquiries  after  the  Earl  of  Leicester 
on  htr  first  arrival." 


422  WAVERLE7  NOVELS. 

"  The  villains! ''  exclaimed  Leicester;  "  but  0^  that  worst. 
of  villains,  Varney!  and  she  is  even  now  in  his  power!  " 

*^  But  not,  I  trust  in  God,"  said  Tressilian,  "  with  any  com- 
mands of  fatal  import?  " 

"  No — no — no!  "  exclaimed  the  earl  hastily.  "  I  said  some- 
thing in  madness;  but  it  was  recalled — fully  recalled — ^by  a 
hasty  messenger;  and  she  is  now — she  must  now  be  safe." 

"  Yes,"  said  Tressilian,  "  she  must  be  safe,  and  I  must  be 
assured  of  her  safety.  My  own  quarrel  with  you  is  ended,  my 
lord;  but  there  is  another  to  begin  with  the  seducer  of  Amy 
Robsart,  who  has  screened  his  guilt  under  the  cloak  of  the 
infamous  Varney." 

*'  The  seducer  of  Amy!  "  replied  Leicester,  with  a  voice  like 
thunder;  "  say  her  husband! — her  misguided,  blinded,  most 
unworthy  husband!  She  is  as  surely  Countess  of  Leicester  as 
I  am  belted  earl.  Nor  can  you,  sir,  point  out  that  manner  of 
justice  which  I  will  not  render  her  at  my  own  free  will.  I 
need  scarce  say,  I  fear  not  your  compulsion." 

The  generous  nature  of  Tressilian  was  instantly  turned 
from  consideration  of  anything  personal  to  himself,  and  cen- 
tered at  once  upon  Amy's  welfare.  He  had  by  no  means  un- 
doubting  confidence  in  the  fluctuating  resolutions  of 
Leicester,  whose  mind  seemed  to  him  agitated  beyond  the 
government  of  calm  reason;  neither  did  he,  notwithstanding 
the  assurances  he  had  received,  think  Amy  safe  in  the  hands 
of  his  dependents.  "  My  lord,"  he  said  calmly,  "  I  mean  you 
no  offense,  and  am  far  from  seeking  a  quarrel.  But  my  duty 
to  Sir  Hugh  Robsart  compels  me  to  carry  this  matter  in- 
stantly to  the  Queen,  that  the  countess'  rank  may  be  ac- 
knowledged in  her  person." 

"'You  shall  not  need,  sir,"  replied  the  earl  haughtily;  "  do 
not  dare  to  interfere.  No  voice  but  Dudley's  shall  proclaim 
Dudley's  infamy.  To  Elizabeth  herself  will  I  tell  it,  and 
then  for  Cumnor  Place  with  the  speed  of  life  and  death! " 

So  saying,  he  unbound  his  horse  from  the  tree,  threw  him- 
self into  the  saddle,  and  rode  at  full  gallop  toward  the  castle. 

"  Take  me  before  you.  Master  Tressilian,"  said  the  boy, 
seeing  Tressilian  mount  in  the  same  haste;  "  my  tale  is  not  all 
told  out,  and  I  need  your  protection." 

Tressilian  complied,  and  followed  the  earl,  though  at  a  less 
furious  rate.  By  the  way  the  boy  confessed,  with  much  con- 
trition, that  in  resentment  at  Wayland's  evading  all  his  in- 
quiries concerning  the  lady,  after  Dickon  conceived  he  had  in 
vaxioug  ways  merited  his  confidence,  he  had  purloined  from 


KENILWORTH.  423 

him,  in  revenge,  the  letter  with  which  Amy  had  intrusted 
him  for  the  Earl  of  Leicester.  His  purpose  was  to  have  re- 
stored it  to  him  that  evening,  as  he  reckoned  himself  sure  of 
meeting  with  him,  in  consequence  of  Wayland's  having  to 
perform  the  part  of  Arion  in  the  pageant.  He  was  indeed 
something  alarmed  when  he  saw  to  whom  the  letter  was  ad- 
dressed; but  he  argued  that,  as  Leicester  did  not  return  to 
Kenilworth  until  that  evening,  it  would  be  again  in  the  pos- 
session of  the  proper  messenger  as  soon  as,  in  the  nature  of 
things,  it  could  possibly  be  delivered.  But  Wayland  came 
not  to  the  pageant,  having  been  in  the  interim  expelled  by 
Lambourne  from  the  castle,  and  the  boy,  not  being  able  to 
find  him,  or  to  get  speech  of  Tressilian,  and  finding  himself 
in  possession  of  a  letter  addressed  to  no  less  a  person  than  the 
Earl  of  Leicester,  became  much  afraid  of  the  consequences  of 
his  frolic.  The  caution,  and  indeed  the  alarm,  which  Way- 
land  had  expressed  respecting  Vaxney  and  Lambourne,  led 
him  to  judge  that  the  letter  must  be  designed  for  the  earl's 
own  hand,  and  that  he  might  prejudice  the  lady  by  giving  it 
to  any  of  the  domestics.  He  made  an  attempt  or  two  to 
obtain  an  audience  with  Leicester,  but  the  singularity  of  his 
features  and  the  meanness  of  his  appearance  occasioned  his 
being  always  repulsed  by  the  insolent  menials  whom  he  ap- 
plied to  for  that  purpose.  Once,  indeed,  he  had  nearly  suc- 
ceeded, when,  in  prowling  about,  he  found  in  the  grotto  the 
casket  which  he  knew  to  belong  to  the  unlucky  countess,  hav- 
ing seen  it  on  her  journey,  for  nothing  escaped  his  prying 
eye.  Having  strove  in  vain  to  restore  it  either  to  Tressilian 
or  the  countess,  he  put  it  into  the  hands,  as  we  have  seen,  of 
Leicester  himself,  but  unfortunately  he  did  not  recognize  him 
in  his  disguise. 

At  length  the  boy  thought  he  was  on  the  point  of  suc- 
ceeding, when  the  earl  came  down  to  the  lower  part  of  the 
hall;  but  just  as  he  was  about  to  accost  him,  he  was  prevented 
by  Tressilian.  As  sharp  in  ear  as  in  wit,  the  boy  heard  the 
appointment  settled  betwixt  them  to  take  place  in  the  Pleas- 
ance,  and  resolved  to  add  a  third  to  the  party,  in  hopes  that, 
either  in  coming  or  in  returning,  he  might  find  an  oppor- 
tunity of  delivering  the  letter  to  Leicester;  for  strange  stories 
began  to  flit  among  the  domestics,  which  alarmed  him  for  the 
lady's  safety.  Accident,  however,  detained  Dickon  a  little 
behind  the  earl,  and,  as  he  reached  the  arcade,  he  saw  them 
engaged  in  combat;  in  consequence  of  which  he  hastened  to 
alarm  the  guard,  having  little  doubt  that  what  bloodshed 


424  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

took  place  betwixt  them  might  arise  out  of  his  own  frolic. 
Continuing  to  lurk  in  the  portico,  he  heard  the  second  ap- 
pointment which  Leicester,  at  parting,  assigned  to  Tressilian, 
and  was  keeping  them  in  view  during  the  encounter  of  the 
Coventry  men,  when,  to  his  surprise,  he  recognized  Wayland 
in  the  crowd,  much  disguised,  indeed,  but  not  sufficiently  so 
to  escape  the  prying  glance  of  his  old  comrade.  They  drew 
aside  out  of  the  crowd  to  explain  the  situation  to  each  other. 
The  boy  confessed  to  Wayland  what  we  would  have  above 
told,  and  the  artist,  in  return,  informed  him  that  his  deep 
anxiety  for  the  fate  of  the  unfortunate  lady  had  brought  him 
back  to  the  neighborhood  of  the  castle,  upon  his  learning 
that  morning  at  a  village  about  ten  miles  distant  that  Vamey 
and  Lambourne,  whose  violence  he  dreaded,  had  both  left 
Kenilworth  over-night. 

While  they  spoke,  they  saw  Leicester  and  Tressilian  sepa- 
rate themselves  from  the  crowd,  dogged  them  until  they 
mounted  their  horses,  when  the  boy,  whose  speed  of  foot  has 
been  before  mentioned,  though  he  could  not  possibly  keep  up 
with  them,  yet  arrived,  as  we  have  seen,  soon  enough  to  save 
Treesilian's  life.  The  boy  had  just  finished  his  tale  when 
they  reached  the  Gallery  Tower. 


CHAPTEE  XL. 

High  o'er  the  eastern  steep  the  sun  is  beaming, 
And  darkness  flies  with  her  deceitful  shadows ; 
So  truth  prevails  o'er  falsehood. 

—Old  Flay, 

As  Tressilian  rode  along  the  bridge  lately  the  scene  of  so 
much  riotous  sport,  he  could  not  but  observe  that  men's 
countenances  had  singularly  changed  during  the  space  of  his 
brief  absence.  The  mock  fight  was  over,  but  the  men,  still 
habited  in  their  masking  suits,  stood  together  in  groups,  like 
the  inhabitants  of  a  city  who  have  been  just  startled  by  some 
strange  and  alarming  news. 

When  he  reached  the  base-court,  appearances  were  the 
same:  domestics,  retainers,  and  under  officers  stood  together 
and  whispered,  bending  their  eyes  toward  the  windows  of  the 
great  hall,  with  looks  which  seemed  at  once  alarmed  and 
mysterious. 

Sir  Nicholas  Blount  was  the  first  person  of  his  own  par- 
ticular acquaintance  Tressilian  saw,  who  left  him  no  time  to 
make  inquiries,  but  greeted  him  with,  "  God  help  thy  heart, 
Tressihan,  thou  art  fitter  for  a  clown  than  a  courtier:  thou 
canst  not  attend,  as  becomes  one  who  follows  her  Majesty. 
Here  you  are  called  for,  wished  for,  waited  for — ^no  man  but 
you  will  serve  the  turn;  and  hither  you  come  with  a  misbe- 
gotten brat  on  thy  horse's  neck,  as  if  thou  wert  dry  nurse  to 
some  sucking  devil,  and  wert  just  returned  from  airing." 

"  Why,  what  is  the  matter?  "  said  Tressilian,  letting  go  the 
boy,  who  sprung  to  ground  like  a  feather,  and  himself  dis- 
mounting at  the  same  time. 

"  Why,  no  one  knows  the  matter,"  replied  Blount:  "  I  can- 
not smell  it  out  myself,  though  I  have  a  nose  like  other  cour- 
tiers. Only,  my  Lord  of  Leicester  has  galloped  along  the 
bridge,  as  if  he  would  have  rode  over  all  in  his  passage,  de- 
manded an  audience  of  the  Queen,  and  is  closeted  even  now 
with  her  and  Burleigh  and  Walsingham;  and  you  are  called 
for;  but  whether  the  matter  be  treason  or  worse,  .no  one 
knows." 

"  He  speaks  true,  by  Heaven! "  said  Ealeigh,  who  that  in- 
stant appeared;  "you  must  immediately  to  the  Queen's 
presence." 

^*  Be  not  rash,  Baleigh,"  said  Blount,  "  remember  his  boots. 


426  WAVBMLET  NOVELS. 

For  Heaven's  sake,  go  to  my  chamber,  dear  Tressilian,  and 
don  my  new  bloom-colored  silken  hose;  I  have  worn  them  but 
twice." 

"  Pshaw!  "  answered  Tressilian;  "  do  thou  take  care  of  this 
boy,  Blount;  be  kind  to  him,  and  look  he  escapes  you  not — 
miaeh  depends  on  him." 

So  saying,  he  followed  Ealeigh  hastily,  leaving  honest 
Blount  with  the  bridle  of  his  horse  in  one  hand  and  the  boy 
in  the  other. 

Blount  gave  a  long  look  after  him.  "Nobody,"  he  said, 
"  calls  me  to  these  mysteries;  and  he  leaves  me  here  to  play 
horse-keeper  and  child-keeper  at  once.  I  could  excuse  the 
one,  for  I  love  a  good  horse  naturally;  but  to  be  plagued  with 
a  bratchet  whelp!  Whence  come  ye,  my  fair-favored  little 
gossip?" 

"  From  the  Fens,"  answered  the  boy. 

"  And  what  didst  thou  learn  there,  forward  imp?  " 

"  To  catch  gulls,  with  their  webbed  feet  and  yellow  stock- 
ings," said  the  boy. 

"  Umph!  "  said  Blount,  looking  down  on  his  own  immense 
roses.  "  Nay,  then,  the  devil  take  him  asks  thee  more  ques- 
tions." 

Meantime,  Tressilian  traversed  the  full  length  of  the  great 
hall,  in  which  the  astonished  courtiers  formed  various  groups, 
and  were  whispering  mysteriously  together,  while  all  kept 
their  eyes  fixed  on  the  door  which  led  from  the  upper  end  of 
the  hall  into  the  Queen's  withdrawing-apartment.  Ealeigh 
pointed  to  the  door.  Tressilian  knocked,  and  was  instantly 
admitted.  Many  a  neck  was  stretched  to  gain  a  view  into 
the  interior  of  the  apartment;  but  the  tapestry  wliich  covered 
the  door  on  the  inside  was  dropped  too  suddenly  to  admit  the 
slightest  gratification  of  curiosity. 

Upon  entrance,  Tressilian  found  himself,  not  without  a 
strong  palpitation  of  heart,  in  the  presence  of  Elizabeth,  who 
was  walking  to  and  fro  in  a  violent  agitation,  which  she 
seemed  to  scorn  to  conceal,  while  two  or  three  of  her  most 
sage  and  confidential  counselors  exchanged  anxious  looks 
with  each  other,  but  delayed  speaking  till  her  wrath  had 
abated.  Before  the  empty  chair  of  state  in  which  she  had 
been  seated,  and  which  was  half  pushed  aside  by  the  violence 
with  which  she  had  started  from  it,  knelt  Leicester,  his  arms 
crossed  and  his  brows  bent  on  the  ground,  still  and  motionless 
as  the  efiigies  upon  a  sepulcher.  Beside  him  stood  the  Lord 
Shrewsbury,  then  Earl  Marshal  of  England,  holding  his  baton 


KENILWORTH.  427 

of  office;  the  earl's  sword  was  unbuckled,  and  lay  before  him 
on  the  floor. 

"  Ho,  sir,"  said  the  Queen,  coming  close  up  to  Tressilian, 
and  stamping  on  the  floor  with  the  action  and  manner  of 
Henry  himself;  ^^  you  knew  of  this  fair  work — you  are  an 
accompHce  in  this  deception  which  has  been  practiced  on  us 
— you  have  been  a  main  cause  of  our  doing  injustice? " 
Tressilian  dropped  on  his  knee  before  the  Queen,  his  good 
sense  showing  him  the  risk  of  attempting  any  defense  at  that 
moment  of  irritation.  "  Art  dumb,  sirrah?  "  she  continued; 
"  thou  know'st  of  this  affair,  dost  thou  not?  " 

"Not,  gracious  madam,  that  this  poor  lady  was  Countess 
of  Leicester." 

"  Nor  shall  anyone  know  her  for  such,"  said  Elizabeth. 
"  Death  of  my  life!  Countess  of  Leicester!  I  say  Dame  Amy 
Dudley;  and  well  if  she  have  not  cause  to  write  herself  widow 
of  the  traitor  Eobert  Dudley." 

"  Madam,"  said  Leicester,  "  do  with  me  what  it  may  be 
your  will  to  do,  but  work  no  injury  on  this  gentleman;  he 
hath  in  no  way  deserved  it." 

"  And  will  he  be  the  better  for  thy  intercession,"  said  the 
Queen,  leaving  Tressilian,  who  slowly  arose,  and  rushing  to 
Leicester,  who  continued  kneeling — "  the  better  for  thy  inter- 
cession, thou  doubly  false — thou  doubly  forsworn — of  thy 
intercession,  whose  villainy  hath  made  me  ridiculous  to  my 
subjects  and  odious  to  myself?  I  could  tear  out  mine  eyes 
for  their  blindness! " 

Burleigh  here  ventured  to  interpose. 

"  Madam,"  he  said,  "  remember  that  you  are  a  queen — 
Queen  of  England — mother  of  your  people.  Give  not  way 
to  this  wild  storm  of  passion." 

Elizabeth  turned  round  to  him,  while  a  tear  actually 
twinkled  in  her  proud  and  angry  eye.  "  Burleigh,"  she  said, 
"thou  art  a  statesman;  thou  dost  not,  thou  canst  not,  com- 
prehend half  the  scorn,  half  the  misery,  that  man  has  poured 
on  me! " 

With  the  utmost  caution,  with  the  deepest  reverence,  Bur- 
leigh took  her  hand  at  the  moment  he  saw  her  heart  was  at 
the  fullest,  and  led  her  aside  to  an  oriel  window,  apart  from 
the  others. 

"  Madam,"  he  said,  "  I  am  a  statesman,  but  I  am  also  a  man 
— a  man  already  grown  old  in  your  councils,  who  have  not, 
and  cannot  have,  a  wish  on  earth  but  your  glory  and  happi- 
ness; I  pray  you  to  be  composed." 


428  WAVBBLET  NOVELS. 

"Ah,  Burleigh/'  said  Elizabeth,  "thou  little  knowest ^" 

Here  her  tears  fell  over  her  cheeks  in  despite  of  her. 

"  I  do — I  do  know,  my  honored  sovereign.  Oh,  beware 
that  you  lead  not  others  to  guess  that  which  they  know  not!  " 

"  Ha!  "  said  Elizabeth,  pausing  as  if  a  new  train  of  thought 
had  suddenly  shot  across  her  brain.  "  Burleigh,  thou  art  right 
— thou  art  right — anything  but  disgrace — anything  but  a 
confession  of  weakness — anything  rather  than  seem  the 
cheated — slighted 'Sdeath!  to  think  on  it  is  distrac- 
tion! '' 

"  Be  but  yourself,  my  Queen,"  said  Burleigh;  "  and  soar 
far  above  a  weakness  which  no  Englishman  will  ever  believe 
his  Elizabeth  could  have  entertained,  unless  the  violence  of 
her  disappointment  carries  a  sad  conviction  to  his  bosom.'' 

"What  weakness,  my  lord?"  said  Elizabeth  haughtily; 
"  would  you  too  insinuate  that  the  favor  in  which  I  held  yon- 
der proud  traitor  derived  its  source  from  aught "     But 

here  she  could  no  longer  sustain  the  proud  tone  which  she 
had  assumed,  and  again  softened  as  she  said,  "But  why 
should  I  strive  to  deceive  even  thee,  my  good  and  wise 
servant?  " 

Burleigh  stooped  to  kiss  her  hand  with  affection,  and — rare 
in  the  annals  of  courts — a  tear  of  true  sympathy  dropped 
from  the  eye  of  the  minister  on  the  hand  of  his  sovereign. 

It  is  probable  that  the  consciousness  of  possessing  this 
sympathy  aided  Elizabeth  in  supporting  her  mortification 
and  suppressing  her  extrerae  resentment;  but  she  was  still 
more  moved  by  fear  that  her  passion  should  betray  to  the 
public  the  affront  and  the  disappointment  which,  alike  as  a 
woman  and  a  queen,  she  was  so  anxious  to  conceal.  She 
turned  from  Burleigh,  and  sternly  paced  the  hall  till  her 
features  had  recovered  their  usual  dignity  and  her  mien  its 
wonted  stateliness  of  regular  motion. 

"  Our  sovereign  is  her  noble  self  once  more,"  whispered 
Burleigh  to  Walsingham;  "mark  what  she  does,  and  take 
heed  you  thwart  her  not." 

She  then  approached  Leicester,  and  said,  with  calmness, 
"My  Ivord  Shrewsbury,  we  discharge  you  of  your  prisoner. 
My  Lord  of  Leicester,  rise  and  take  up  your  sword;  a  quarter 
of  an  hour's  restraint,  under  the  custody  of  our  marshal,  my 
lord,  is,  we  think,  no  high  penance  for  months  of  falsehood 
practiced  upon  us.  We  will  now  hear  the  progress  of  this 
affair."  She  then  seated  herself  in  her  chair,  and  said, 
"  You,  Tressilian,  step  forward  and  say  what  you  know." 


KENILWORTH.  429 

Tressilian  told  his  story  generously,  suppressing  as  much  as 
he  could  what  affected  Leicester,  and  saying  nothing  of  their 
having  twice  actually  fought  together.  It  is  very  prohahlc 
that,  in  doing  so,  he  did  the  earl  good  service;  for  had  the 
Queen  at  that  instant  found  anything  on  account  of  which 
^e  might  vent  her  wrath  upon  him,  without  laying  open 
sentiments  of  which  she  was  ashamed,  it  might  have  fared 
hard  with  him.  She  paused  when  Tressilian  had  finished 
his  tale. 

"We  will  take  that  Wayland,''  she  said,  "into  our  own 
service,  and  place  the  hoy  in  our  secretary  office  for  instruc- 
tion, that  he  may  in  future  use  discretion  toward  letters. 
For  you,  Tressilian,  you  did  wrong  in  not  communicating 
the  whole  truth  to  us,  and  your  promise  not  to  do  so  was  hoth 
imprudent  and  undutiful.  Yet,  having  given  your  word  to 
this  unhappy  lady,  it  was  the  part  of  a  man  and  a  gentleman 
to  keep  it;  and,  on  the  whole,  we  esteem  you  for  the  charac- 
ter you  have  sustained  in  this  matter.  My  Lord  of  Leicester, 
it  is  now  your  turn  to  tell  us  the  truth,  an  exercise  to  which 
you  seem  of  late  to  have  heen  too  much  a  stranger." 

Accordingly,  she  extorted,  by  successive  questions,  the 
whole  history  of  his  first  acquaintance  with  Amy  Robsart — 
their  marriage — his  jealousy — the  causes  on  which  it  was 
founded,  and  many  particulars  besides.  Leicester's  confes- 
sion, for  such  it  might  be  called,  was  wrenched  from  him 
piecemeal,  yet  was  upon  the  whole  accurate,  excepting  that 
he  totally  omitted  to  mention  that  he  had,  by  implication  or 
otherwise,  assented  to  Vamey's  designs  upon  the  life  of  his 
countess.  Yet  the  consciousness  of  this  was  what  at  that 
moment  lay  nearest  to  his  heart;  and  although  he  trusted  in 
great  measure  to  the  very  positive  counter-orders  which  he 
had  sent  by  Lamboume,  it  was  his  purpose  to  set  out  for 
Cumnor  Place  in  person  as  soon  as  he  should  be  dismissed 
from  the  presence  of  the  Queen,  who,  he  concluded,  would 
presently  leave  Kenilworth. 

But  the  earl  reckoned  without  his  host.  It  is  true,  his 
presence  and  his  communications  were  gall  and  wormwood  to 
his  once  partial  mistress.  But,  barred  from  every  other  and 
more  direct  mode  of  revenge,  the  Queen  perceived  that  she 
gave  her  false  suitor  torture  by  these  inquiries,  and  dwelt  on 
them  for  that  reason,  no  more  regarding  the  pain  which  she 
herself  experienced  than  the  savage  cares  for  the  searing  of 
his  own  hands  by  grasping  the  hot  pincers  with  which  he 
tears  the  flesh  of  his  captive  enemy. 


43€  WAVEBLET  NOVELS. 

At  lengtn^  however,  the  haughty  lord,  like  a  deer  that  turns 
to  bay,  gave  intimation  that  his  patience  was  failing. 
"  Madam,"  he  said,  "  I  have  been  much  to  blame,  more  than 
even  your  just  resentment  has  expressed.  Yet,  madam,  let 
me  say,  that  my  guilt,  if  it  be  unpardonable,  was  not  unpro- 
voked; and  that,  if  beauty  and  condescending  dignity  could 
seduce  the  frail  heart  of  a  human  being,  I  might  plead  both 
as  the  causes  of  my  concealing  this  secret  from  your  Majesty." 

The  Queen  was  so  much  struck  by  this  reply,  which 
Leicester  took  care  should  be  heard  by  no  one  but  herself, 
that  she  was  for  the  moment  silenced,  and  the  ear  had  the 
temerity  to  pursue  his  advantage.  "  Your  Grace,  who  has 
pardoned  so  much,  will  excuse  my  throwing  myself  on  your 
royal  mercy  for  those  expressions  which  were  yester-moming 
accounted  but  a  light  offense." 

The  Queen  fixed  her  eyes  on  him  while  she  replied,  "  Now, 
by  Heaven,  my  lord,  thy  efProntery  passes  the  bounds  of  be- 
lief as  well  as  patience!  But  it  shall  avail  thee  nothing. 
What,  ho!  my  lords,  come  all  and  hear  the  news.  My  Lord 
of  Leicester's  stolen  marriage  has  cost  me  a  husband  and  Eng- 
land a  king.  His  lordship  is  patriarchal  in  his  tastes:  one 
wife  at  a  time  was  insufficient,  and  he  designed  us  the  honor 
of  his  left  hand.  Now,  is  not  this  too  insolent — that  I  could 
not  grace  him  with  a  few  marks  of  court  favor,  but  he  must 
presume  to  think  my  hand  and  crown  at  his  disposal?  You, 
however,  think  better  of  me;  and  I  can  pity  this  ambitious 
man,  as  I  could  a  child  whose  bubble  of  soap  has  burst  be- 
tween his  hands.  We  go  to  the  presence-chamber.  My 
Lord  of  Leicester,  we  command  your  close  attendance  on  us." 

All  was  eager  expectation  in  the  hall,  and  what  was  the 
universal  astonishment  when  the  Queen  said  to  those  next 
her,  "  The  revels  of  Kenilworth  are  not  yet  exhausted,  my 
lords  and  ladies:  we  are  to  solemnize  the  noble  owner's  mar- 
riage." 

There  was  an  universal  expression  of  surprise. 

"  It  is  true,  on  our  royal  word,"  said  the  Queen;  "  he  hath 
kept  this  a  secret  even  from  us,  that  he  might  surprise  us  with 
it  at  this  very  place  and  time.  I  see  you  are  dying  of  curi- 
osity to  know  the  happy  bride.  It  is  Amy  Robsart,  the  same 
who,  to  make  up  the  May-game  yesterday,  figured  in  the 
pageant  as  the  wife  of  his  servant  Yamey." 

"  For  God's  sake,  madam,"  said  the  earl,  approaching  her 
with  a  mixture  of  humility,  vexation,  and  shame  in  his  coun- 
tenance, and  speaking  so  low  as  to  be  heard  by  no  one  else, 


KENILWORTH,  481 

**  take  my  head,  as  you  threatened  in  your  anger,  and  spare 
me  these  taunts!  Urge  not  a  falling  man — tread  not  on  a 
crushed  wonn." 

"  A  worm,  my  lord!  '^  said  the  Queen,  in  the  same  tone; 
"  nay,  a  snake  is  the  nobler  reptile,  and  the  more  exact  simili- 
tude— the  frozen  snake  you  wot  of,  which  was  warmed  in  a 
certain  bosom " 

"  For  your  own  sake — for  mine,  madam,"  said  the  earl — 
"  while  there  is  yet  some  reason  left  in  me " 

"  Speak  aloud,  my  lord,"  said  Elizabeth,  "  and  at  farther 
distance,  so  please  you;  your  breath  thaws  our  ruff.  What 
have  you  to  ask  of  us?  " 

"  Permission,"  said  the  unfortunate  earl  humbly,  "  to 
travel  to  Cumnor  Place." 

"  To  fetch  home  your  bride  belike?  Why,  aye,  that  is  but 
right,  for,  as  we  have  heard,  she  is  indifferently  cared  for 
there.  But,  my  lord,  you  go  not  in  person:  we  have  counted 
upon  passing  certain  days  in  this  castle  of  Kenilworth,  and  it 
were  slight  courtesy  to  leave  us  without  a  landlord  during  our 
residence  here.  Under  your  favor,  we  cannot  think  to  incur 
such  disgrace  in  the  eyes  of  our  subjects.  Tressilian  shall  go 
to  Cumnor  Place  instead  of  you,  and  with  him  some  gentle- 
man who  hath  been  sworn  of  our  chamber,  lest  my  Lord  of 
Leicester  should  be  again  jealous  of  his  old  rival.  Whom 
wouldst  thou  have  to  be  in  commission  with  thee,  Tres- 
silian?" 

Tressilian,  with  humble  deference,  suggested  the  name  of 
Ealeigh. 

"  Why,  aye,"  said  the  Queen;  "  so  God  ha'  me,  thou  hast 
made  a  good  choice.  He  is  a  young  knight  besides,  and  to 
deliver  a  lady  from  prison  is  an  appropriate  first  adventure. 
Cumnor  Place  is  little  better  than  a  prison,  you  are  to  know, 
my  lords  and  ladies.  Besides,  there  are  certain  faitours  there 
whom  we  would  willingly  have  in  fast  keeping.  You  will 
furnish  them,  Master  Secretary,  with  the  warrant  necessary 
to  secure  the  bodies  of  Kichard  Varney  and  the  foreign 
Alasco,  dead  or  alive.  Take  a  sufficient  force  with  you,  gen- 
tlemen; bring  the  lady  here  in  all  honor;  lose  no  time,  and 
God  be  with  you!  " 

They  bowed,  and  left  the  presence. 

Who  shall  describe  how  the  rest  of  that  day  was  spent  at 
Kenilworth?  The  Queen,  who  seemed  to  have  remained 
there  for  the  sole  purpose  of  mortif)dng  and  taunting  the 
Earl  of  Iveicester,  showed  herself  as  skillful  in  tliat  female  art 


48S  WAVERLEY  NOVELS, 

of  vengeance  as  she  was  in  the  science  of  wisely  governing 
her  people.  The  train  of  state  soon  caught  the  signal,  and, 
as  he  walked  among  his  own  splendid  preparations,  the  Lord 
of  Kenilworth,  in  his  own  castle,  already  experienced  the  lot 
of  a  disgraced  courtier,  in  the  slight  regard  and  cold  manners 
of  alienated  friends,  and  the  ill-concealed  triumph  of  avowed 
and  open  enemies.  Sussex,  from  his  natural  military  frank- 
ness of  disposition,  Burleigh  and  Walsingham,  from  their 
penetrating  and  prospective  sagacity,  and  some  of  the  ladies, 
from  the  compassion  of  their  sex,  were  the  only  persons  in 
the  crowded  court  who  retained  toward  him  the  countenance 
they  had  borne  in  the  morning. 

So  much  had  Leicester  been  accustomed  to  consider  court 
favor  as  the  principal  object  of  his  life,  that  all  other  sensa- 
tions were,  for  the  time,  lost  in  the  agony  which  his  haughty 
spirit  felt  at  the  succession  of  petty  insults  and  studied  neg- 
lects to  which  he  had  been  subjected;  but  when  he  retired  to 
his  own  chamber  for  the  night,  that  long  fair  tress  of  hair 
which  had  once  secured  Amy's  letter  fell  under  his  observa- 
tion, and,  with  the  influence  of  a  counter-charm,  awakened 
his  heart  to  nobler  and  more  natural  feelings.  He  kissed  it 
a  thousand  times;  and  while  he  recollected  that  he  had  it 
always  in  his  power  to  shun  the  mortifications  which  he  had 
that  day  undergone,  by  retiring  into  a  dignified  and  even 
prince-like  seclusion  with  the  beautiful  and  beloved  partner 
of  his  future  life,  he  felt  that  he  could  rise  above  the  revenge 
which  Elizabeth  had  condescended  to  take. 

Accordingly,  on  the  following  day,  the  whole  conduct  of 
the  earl  displayed  so  much  dignified  equanimity;  he  seemed 
so  solicitous  about  the  accommodations  and  amusements  of 
his  guests,  yet  so  indifferent  to  their  personal  demeanor  to- 
ward him;  so  respectfully  distant  to  the  Queen,  yet  so  patient 
of  her  harassing  displeasure,  that  Elizabeth  changed  her  man- 
ner to  him,  and,  though  cold  and  distant,  ceased  to  offer  him 
any  direct  affront.  She  intimated  also,  with  some  sharpness, 
to  others  around  her,  who  thought  they  were  consulting  her 
pleasure  in  showing  a  neglectful  conduct  to  the  earl,  that, 
while  they  remained  at  Kenilworth,  they  ought  to  show  the 
civility  due  from  guests  to  the  lord  of  the  castle.  In  short, 
matters  were  so  far  changed  in  twenty-four  hours  that  some 
of  the  more  experienced  and  sagacious  courtiers  foresaw  a 
strong  possibility  of  Leicester's  restoration  to  favor,  and  regu- 
lated their  demeanor  toward  him,  as  those  who  might  one 
day  claim  merit  for  not  having  deserted  him  in  adversity.    It 


EENILWORTH.  488 

is  time,  however,  to  leave  these  intrigues,  and  follow  Tres- 
silian  and  Ealeigh  on  their  journey. 

The  troop  consisted  of  six  persons;  for,  besides  Wayland, 
they  had  in  company  a  royal  pursuivant  and  two  stout  serv- 
ing-men. All  were  well  armed,  and  traveled  as  fast  as  it 
was  possible  with  Justice  to  their  horses,  which  had  a  long 
journey  before  them.  They  endeavored  to  procure  some 
tidings  as  they  rode  along  of  Vamey  and  his  party,  but  could 
hear  none,  as  they  had  traveled  in  the  dark.  At  a  small  vil- 
lage about  twelve  miles  from  Kenilworth,  where  they  gave 
some  refreshment  to  their  horses,  a  poor  clergyman,  the 
curate  of  the  place,  came  out  of  a  small  cottage,  aud  en- 
treated any  of  the  company  who  might  know  aught  of  sur- 
gery to  look  in  for  an  instant  on  a  dying  man. 

The  empiric  Wayland  undertook  to  do  his  best,  and  as  the 
curate  conducted  him  to  the  spot,  he  learned  that  the  maji 
had  been  found  on  the  highroad,  about  a  mile  from  the  vil- 
lage, by  laborers,  as  they  were  going  to  their  work  on  the  pre- 
ceding morning,  and  the  curate  had  given  him  shelter  in  his 
house.  He  had  received  a  gun-shot  wound  which  seemed  to 
be  obviously  mortal,  but  whether  in  a  brawl  or  from  robbers 
they  could  not  learn,  as  he  was  in  a  fever,  and  spoke  nothing 
connectedly.  Wayland  entered  the  dark  and  lowly  apart- 
ment, and  no  sooner  had  the  curate  drawn  aside  the  curtain 
than  he  knew  in  the  distorted  features  of  the  patient  the 
countenance  of  Michael  Lamboume.  Under  pretense  of 
seeking  something  which  he  wanted,  Wayland  hastily  ap- 
prised his  fellow-travelers  of  this  extraordinary  circumstance; 
and  both  Tressilian  and  Raleigh,  full  of  boding  apprehen- 
sions, hastened  to  the  curate's  house  to  see  the  dying  man. 

The  wretch  was  by  this  time  in  the  agonies  of  death,  from 
which  a  much  better  surgeon  than  Wayland  could  not  have 
rescued  him,  for  the  bullet  had  passed  clear  through  his  body. 
He  was  sensible,  however,  at  least  in  part,  for  he  knew  Tres- 
silian, and  made  signs  that  he  wished  him  to  stoop  over  his 
bed.  Tressilian  did  so,  and  after  some  inarticulate  murmurs, 
in  which  the  names  of  Vamey  and  Lady  Leicester  were  alone 
distinguishable,  Lamboume  bade  him  "Make  haste,  or  he 
would  come  too  late."  It  was  in  vain  Tressilian  urged  the 
patient  for  farther  information;  he  seemed  to  become  in  some 
degree  delirious,  and  when  he  again  made  a  signal  to  attract 
Tressilian's  attention,  it  was  only  for  the  purpose  of  desiring 
him  to  inform  his  uncle,  Giles  Gosling  of  the  Black  Beax, 
"  That  he  had  died  without  his  shoes  after  all."     A  eonvul- 


484  WA  VBBLET  NO  VEL8. 

sion  verified  his  words  a  few  minutes  after,  and  the  travelers 
derived  nothing  from  having  met  with  him  save  the  obscure 
fears  concerning  the  fate  of  the  countess  which  his  dying 
words  were  calculated  to  convey,  and  which  induced  them  to 
urge  their  journey  with  the  utmost  speed,  pressing  horses  in 
the  Queen's  name  when  those  which  they  rode  became  unfit 
for  service. 


CHAPTER  XLI. 

The  death-bell  thrice  was  heard  to  ring, 

And  aerial  voice  was  heard  to  call ; 
Thrice  the  raven  flapp'd  its  wing 

Around  the  towers  of  Gumnor  Hall. 

— MlCKLS. 

We  are  now  to  return  to  that  part  of  the  story  where  we 
intimated  that  Vamey,  possessed  of  the  authority  of  the  Earl 
of  Leicester,  and  of  the  Queen^s  permission  to  the  same  effect, 
hastened  to  secure  himself  against  discovery  of  his  perfidy  hy 
removing  the  countess  from  Kenil worth  Castle.  He  had  pro- 
posed to  set  forth  early  in  the  morning;  but  reflecting  that 
the  earl  might  relent  in  the  interim,  and  seek  another  inter- 
view with  the  countess,  he  resolved  to  prevent,  by  immediate 
departure,  all  chance  of  what  would  probably  have  ended  in 
his  detection  and  ruin.  For  this  purpose  he  called  for  Lam- 
bourne,  and  was  exceedingly  incensed  to  find  that  his  trusty 
attendant  was  abroad  on  some  ramble  in  the  neighboring 
village  or  elsewhere.  As  his  return  was  expected,  Sir  Eich- 
ard  commanded  that  he  should  prepare  himself  for  attending 
him  on  an  immediate  journey,  and  follow  him  in  case  he  re- 
turned after  his  departure. 

In  the  meanwhile,  Vamey  used  the  ministry  of  a  servant 
called  Robin  Tider,  one  to  whom  the  mysteries  of  Cumnor 
Place  were  already  in  some  degree  known,  as  he  had  been 
there  more  than  once  in  attendance  on  the  earl.  To  this 
man,  whose  character  resembled  that  of  Lamboume,  though 
he  was  neither  quite  so  prompt  nor  altogether  so  profligate, 
Vamey  gave  command  to  have  three  horses  saddled  and  to 
prepare  a  horse-litter,  and  have  them  in  readiness  at  the 
postern  gate.  The  natural  enough  excuse  of  his  lady's  in- 
sanity, which  was  now  universally  believed,  accounted  for  the 
secrecy  with  which  she  was  to  be  removed  from  the  castle, 
and  he  reckoned  on  the  same  apology  in  case  the  unfortunate 
Amy's  resistance  or  screams  should  render  such  necessary. 
The  agency  of  Anthony  Foster  was  indispensable,  and  that 
Vamey  now  went  to  secure. 

This  person,  naturally  of  a  sour,  unsocial  disposition,  and 
somewhat  tired,  besides,  with  his  joumey  from  Cumnor  to 
Warwickshire,  in  order  to  bring  the  news  of  the  countess' 

4u; 


486  WAVERLET  N0VEL8. 

escape,  had  early  extracted  himself  from  the  crowd  of 
wassailers,  and  betaken  himself  to  his  chamber,  where  he  lay 
asleep,  when  Vamey,  completely  equipped  for  traveling,  and 
with  a  dark-lantern  in  his  hand,  entered  his  apartment.  He 
paused  an  instant  to  listen  to  what  his  associate  was  murmur- 
ing in  his  sleep,  and  could  plainly  distinguish  the  words, 
"  *  Ave  Maria,  ora  pro  nobis ';  no — it  runs  not  so.  Deliver  us 
from  evil — aye,  so  it  goes.'* 

"  Praying  in  his  sleep,"  said  Vamey,  "  and  confounding  his 
old  and  new  devotions.  He  must  have  more  need  of  prayer 
ere  I  am  done  with  him.  What  ho!  holy  man — most  blessed 
penitent!  Awake — awake!  The  devil  has  not  discharged 
you  from  service  yet." 

As  Vamey  at  the  same  time  shook  the  sleeper  by  the  arm, 
it  changed  the  current  of  his  ideas,  and  he  roared  out, 
"  Thieves! — thieves!  I  will  die  in  defense  of  my  gold — my 
hard- won  gold,  that  has  cost  me  so  dear.  Where  is  Janet? 
Is  Janet  safe?" 

"  Safe  enough,  thou  bellowing  fool! "  said  Varney;  "  art 
thou  not  ashamed  of  thy  clamor?  " 

Foster  by  this  time  was  broad  awake,  and,  sitting  up  in  his 
bed,  asked  Vamey  the  meaning  of  so  untimely  a  visit.  "  It 
augurs  nothing  good,"  he  added. 

*'  A  false  prophecy,  most  sainted  Anthony,"  returned  Var- 
ney: "it  augurs  that  the  hour  is  come  for  converting  thy 
leasehold  into  copyhold.     What  say'st  thou  to  that  ?  " 

"  Hadst  thou  told  me  this  in  broad  day,"  said  Foster,  "  I 
had  rejoiced;  but  at  this  dead  hour,  and  by  this  dim  light,  aad 
looking  on  thy  pale  face,  which  is  a  ghastly  contradiction  to 
thy  light  words,  I  cannot  but  rather  think  of  the  work  that 
is  to  be  done  than  the  guerdon  to  be  gained  by  it." 

"Why,  thou  fool,  it  is  but  to  escort  thy  charge  back  to 
Cumnor  Place." 

"Is  that  indeed  all?"  said  Foster;  "thou  look'st  deadly 
pale,  and  thou  art  not  moved  by  trifles — is  that  indeed 
all?" 

"  Aye,  that — and  maybe  a  trifle  more,"  answered  Varney. 

"  Ah,  that  trifle  more! "  said  Foster;  "  still  thou  look'st 
paler  and  paler." 

"  Heed  not  my  countenance,"  said  Varney,  "  you  see  it  by 
this  wretched  light.  Up  and  be  doing:,  man.  Think  of 
Cumnor  Place,  thine  own  proper  copyhold.  Why,  thou  mayst 
found  a  weekly  lectureship,  besides  endowing  Janet  like  a 
baron'g  daughter.     Seventy  pounds  and  odd." 


KENILWORTK  43^/ 

"Seventy-nine  pounds,  five  shillings,  and  fivepence  half- 
penny, besides  the  value  of  the  wood,^'  said  Foster;  "  and  I  am 
to  have  it  all  as  copyhold?  " 

"  All,  man — squirrels  and  all:  no  gypsy  shall  cut  the  value 
of  a  broom,  no  boy  so  much  as  take  a  bird's  nest,  without 
paying  thee  a  quittance.  Aye,  that  is  right — don  thy  mat- 
ters as  fast  as  possible;  horses  and  everything  are  ready,  all 
save  that  accursed  villain  Lambourne,  who  is  out  on  some  in- 
fernal gambol." 

"  Aye,  Sir  Eichard,"  said  Foster,  "  you  would  take  no  ad- 
vice. I  ever  told  you  that  drunken  profligate  would  fail  you 
at  need.  Now,  I  could  have  helped  you  to  a  sober  young 
man." 

"What,  some  slow-spoken,  long-breathed  brother  of  the 
congregation?  Why,  we  shall  have  use  for  such  also,  man. 
Heaven  be  praised,  we  shall  lack  laborers  of  every  kind.  Aye, 
that  is  right — forget  not  your  pistols.  Come  now,  and  let  us 
away." 

"  Whither?  "  said  Anthony. 

"  To  my  lady's  chamber,  and,  mind,  she  must  along  with  us. 
Thou  art  not  a  fellow  to  be  startled  by  a  shriek?  " 

"  Not  if  Scripture  reason  can  be  rendered  for  it;  and  it  is 
written,  '  Wives,  obey  your  husbands.'  But  will  my  lord's 
commands  bear  us  out  if  we  use  violence?  " 

"Tush,  man!  here  is  his  signet,"  answered  Vamey;  and 
having  thus  silenced  the  objections  of  his  associate,  they  went 
together  to  Lord  Hunsdon's  apartments,  and,  acquainting 
the  sentinel  with  their  purpose,  as  a  matter  sanctioned  by  the 
Queen  and  the  Earl  of  Leicester,  they  entered  the  chamber 
of  the  unfortunate  countess. 

The  horror  of  Amy  may  be  conceived  when,  starting  from 
a  broken  slumber,  she  saw  at  her  bedside  Vamey,  the  man  on 
earth  she  most  feared  and  hated.  It  was  even  a  consolation 
to  see  that  he  was  not  alone,  though  she  had  so  much  reason 
to  dread  his  sullen  companion. 

"  Madam,"  said  Varney,  "  there  is  no  time  for  ceremony. 
My  Lord  of  Leicester,  having  fully  considered  the  exigencies 
of  the  time,  sends  you  his  orders  immediately  to  accompany 
us  on  our  return  to  Cumnor  Place.  See,  here  is  his  signet, 
in  token  of  his  instant  and  pressing  commands." 

"  It  is  false!  "  said  the  countess;  "  thou  hast  stolen  the  war- 
rant— thou,  who  art  capable  of  every  villainy,  from  the 
blackest  to  the  basest!  " 

"  It  is  TEUE,  madam,"  replied  Vamey;  "  so  true,  that  if  you 


438  WAVERLBT  NOVELS. 

do  not  instantly  arise  and  prepare  to  attend  us,  we  must  com- 
pel you  to  obey  our  orders/^ 

"  Co-mpel!  thou  darest  not  put  it  to  that  issue,  base  as  thou 
art,"  exclaimed  the  unhappy  countess. 

"  That  remains  to  be  proved,  madam,"  said  Vamey,  yf\io 
had  determined  on  intimidation  as  the  only  means  of  sub- 
duing her  high  spirit;  "  if  you  put  me  to  it,  you  will  find  me 
a  rough  groom  of  the  chamber." 

It  was  at  this  threat  that  Amy  screamed  so  fearfully  that, 
had  it  not  been  for  the  received  opinion  of  her  insanity,  she 
would  quickly  have  had  Lord  Hunsdon  and  others  to  her  aid. 
Perceiving,  however,  that  her  cries  were  vain,  she  appealed 
to  Foster  in  the  most  affecting  terms,  conjuring  him,  as  his 
daughter  Janet's  honor  and  purity  was  dear  to  him,  not  to 
permit  her  to  be  treated  with  unwomanly  violence. 

"  Why,  madam,  wives  must  obey  their  husbands — there's 
Scripture  warrant  for  it,"  said  Foster;  "  and  if  you  will  dress 
yourself  and  come  with  us  patiently,  there's  no  one  shall  lay 
finger  on  you  while  I  can  draw  a  pistol-trigger." 

Seeing  no  help  arrive,  and  comforted  even  by  the  dogged 
language  of  Foster,  the  countess  promised  to  arise  and  dress 
herself,  if  they  would  agree  to  retire  from  the  room.  Varney 
at  the  same  time  assured  her  of  all  safety  and  honor  while  in 
their  hands,  and  promised  that  he  himself  would  not  ap- 
proach her,  since  his  presence  was  so  displeasing.  Her  hus- 
band, he  added,  would  be  at  Cunmor  Place  within  twenty- 
four  hours  after  they  reached  it. 

Somewhat  comforted  by  this  assurance,  upon  which,  how- 
ever, she  saw  little  reason  to  rely,  the  unhappy  Amy  made  her 
toilet  by  the  assistance  of  the  lantern,  which  they  left  with 
her  when  they  quitted  the  apartment. 

Weeping,  trembling,  and  praying,  the  unfortunate  lady 
dressed  herself — with  sensations  how  different  from  the  days 
in  which  she  was  wont  to  decorate  herself  in  all  the  pride  of 
conscious  beauty!  She  endeavored  to  delay  the  completing 
of  her  dress  as  long  as  she  could,  until,  terrified  by  the  impa- 
tience of  Vamey,  she  was  obliged  to  declare  herself  ready  to 
attend  them. 

When  they  were  about  to  move,  the  countess  clung  to 
Foster  with  such  an  appearance  of  terror  at  Varney's  ap- 
proach, that  the  latter  protested  to  her,  with  a  deep  oath, 
viiat  he  had  no  intention  whatever  of  even  coming  near  her. 
**If  you  do  but  consent  to  execute  your  husband's  will  in 
^etness,  you  shall,"  he  said,  "  see  but  little  of  me.     I  will 


KENILWORTK  439 

leave  you  undisturbed  to  the  care  of  the  usher  whom  your 
good  taste  prefers." 

"My  husband's  will!  "  she  exclaimed.  "But  it  is  the  will  of 
God,  and  let  that  be  sufficient  to  me.  I  will  go  with  Master 
Foster  as  unresistingly  as  ever  did  a  literal  sacrifice.  He  is  a 
father  at  least,  and  will  have  decency  if  not  humanity.  For 
thee,  Varney,  were  it  my  latest  word,  thou  art  an  equal 
stranger  to  both." 

Varney  replied  only,  she  was  at  liberty  to  choose,  and 
walked  some  paces  before  them  to  show  the  way;  while,  half 
leaning  on  Foster  and  half  carried  by  him,  the  countess  was 
transported  from  Saintlowe's  Tower  to  the  postern  gate, 
where  Tider  waited  with  the  litter  and  horses. 

The  countess  was  placed  in  the  former  without  resistance. 
She  saw  with  some  satisfaction  that,  while  Foster  and  Tider 
rode  close  by  the  litter,  which  the  latter  conducted,  the 
dreaded  Varney  lingered  behind,  and  was  soon  lost  in  the 
darkness.  A  little  while  she  strove,  as  the  road  winded  round 
the  verge  of  the  lake,  to  keep  sight  of  those  stately  towers 
which  called  her  husband  lord,  and  which  still,  in  some  places, 
sparkled  with  lights,  where  wassailers  were  yet  reveling.  But 
when  the  direction  of  the  road  rendered  this  no  longer  possi- 
ble, she  drew  back  her  head,  and,  sinking  down  in  the  litter, 
recommended  herself  to  the  care  of  Providence. 

Besides  the  desire  of  inducing  the  countess  to  proceed 
quietly  on  her  journey,  Varney  had  it  also  in  view  to  have  an 
interview  with  Lamboume,  by  whom  he  every  moment  ex- 
pected to  be  joined,  without  the  presence  of  any  witnesses. 
He  knew  the  character  of  this  man — prompt,  bloody,  resolute, 
and  greedy — and  judged  him  the  most  fit  agent  he  could  em- 
ploy in  his  farther  designs.  But  ten  miles  of  their  journey 
had  been  measured  ere  he  heard  the  hasty  clatter  of  horse's 
hoofs  behind  him,  and  was  overtaken  by  Michael  Lam- 
bourne. 

Fretted  as  he  was  with  his  absence,  Varney  received  his 
profligate  servant  with  a  rebuke  of  unusual  bitterness. 
"  Drunken  villain,"  he  said,  "  thy  idleness  and  debauched 
folly  will  stretch  a  halter  ere  it  be  long;  and,  for  me,  I  care 
not  how  soon! " 

This  style  of  objurgation,  Lamboume,  who  was  elated  to 
an  unusual  degree,  not  only  by  an  extraordinary  cup  of  wine, 
but  by  the  sort  of  confidential  interview  he  had  just  had  with 
the  earl,  and  the  secret  of  which  he  had  made  himself  master, 
did  not  receive   with   his   wonted   humility.     "He   would 


440  WAVEBLET  NOVELS, 

take  no  insolence  of  language,"  he  said,  "from  the  best 
knight  that  ever  wore  spurs.  Lord  Leicester  had  detained 
him  on  some  business  of  import,  and  that  was  enough  for 
Varney,  who  was  hut  a  servant  like  himself/^ 

Vamey  was  not  a  little  surprised  at  his  unusual  tone  of 
insolence;  but,  ascribing  it  to  liquor,  suffered  it  to  pass  as  if 
unnoticed,  and  then  began  to  tamper  with  Lambourne  touch- 
ing his  willingness  to  aid  in  removing  out  of  the  Earl  of 
Leicester's  way  an  obstacle  to  a  rise  which  would  put  it  in 
his  power  to  reward  his  trusty  followers  to  their  utmost  wish. 
And  upon  Michael  Lambourne's  seeming  ignorant  what  was 
meant,  he  plainly  indicated  "  the  litter-load,  yonder,"  as  the 
impediment  which  he  desired  should  be  removed. 

"Look  you.  Sir  Richard,  and  so  forth,"  said  Michael, 
"some  are  wiser  than  some,  that  is  one  thing,  and  some  are 
worse  than  some,  that's  another.  I  know  my  lord's  mind  on 
this  matter  better  than  thou,  for  he  hath  trusted  me  fully  in 
the  matter.  Here  are  his  mandates,  and  his  last  words  were, 
^  Michael  Lambourne ' — for  his  lordship  speaks  to  me  as  a 
gentleman  of  the  sword,  and  useth  not  the  words  *  drunken 
villain,'  or  such-like  phrases  of  those  who  know  not  how  to 
bear  new  dignities — *  Varney,'  says  he,  *  must  pay  the  utmost 
respect  to  my  countess.  I  trust  to  you  for  looking  to  it, 
Lambourne,'  says  his  lordship,  *  and  you  must  bring  back  my 
signet  from  him  peremptorily.'" 

"Aye,"  replied  Vamey,  "said  he  so  indeed?  You  know 
all,  then?" 

"  All — all,  and  you  were  as  wise  to  make  a  friend  of  me 
while  the  weather  is  fair  betwixt  us." 

"  And  was  there  no  one  present,"  said  Varney,  "  when  my 
lord  so  spoke?  " 

"  Not  a  breathing  creature,"  replied  Lambourne.  "  Think 
you  my  lord  would  trust  anyone  with  such  matters  save  an 
approved  man  of  action  like  myself?  " 

"  Most  true,"  said  Vamey;  and,  making  a  pause,  he  looked 
forward  on  the  moonlight  road.  They  were  traversing  a  wide 
and  open  heath.  The  litter,  being  at  least  a  mile  before 
them,  was  both  out  of  sight  and  hearing.  He  looked  behind^ 
and  there  was  an  expanse,  lighted  by  the  moonbeams,  without 
one  human  being  in  sight.  He  resumed  his  speech  to  Lam- 
bourne: "And  will  you  turn  upon  your  master,  who  has  i^i- 
troduced  you  to  this  career  of  court-like  favor — whose  ap- 
prentice you  have  been,  Michael — who  has  taught  you  the 
depths  and  shallows  of  court  intrigue?  " 


KENILWORTH,  441 

'^  Michael  not  me! ''  said  Lamboume;  "  I  have  a  name  will 
brook  a  master  before  it  as  well  as  another;  and  as  to  the  rest, 
if  I  have  been  an  apprentice,  my  indenture  is  out,  and  I  am 
resolute  to  set  up  for  myself/' 

"  Take  thy  quittance  first,  thou  fool! "  said  Vamey;  and 
with  a  pistol,  which  he  had  for  some  time  held  in  his  hand, 
fihot  Lamboume  through  the  body. 

The  wretch  fell  from  his  horse  without  a  single  groan;  and 
Vamey,  dismounting,  rifled  his  pockets,  turning  out  the  lin- 
ing, that  it  might  appear  he  had  fallen  by  robbers.  He 
secured  the  earl's  packet,  which  was  his  chief  object,  but  he 
also  took  Lamboume's  purse,  containing  some  goM  pieces, 
the  relics  of  what  his  debauchery  had  left  him,  and  from  a 
singular  combination  of  feelings,  carried  it  in  his  hand  only 
the  length  of  a  small  river  which  crossed  the  road,  into  which 
he  threw  it  as  far  as  he  could  fling.  Such  are  the  strange 
remnants  of  conscience  which  remain  after  she  seems  to- 
tally subdued,  that  this  cruel  and  remorseless  man  would 
have  felt  himself  degraded  had  he  pocketed  the  few 
pieces  belonging  to  the  wretch  whom  he  had  thus  ruth- 
lessly slain. 

The  murderer  reloaded  his  pistol,  after  cleansing  the  lock 
and  barrel  from  the  appearances  of  late  explosion,  and  rode 
calmly  after  the  litter,  satisfying  himself  that  he  had  so 
adroitly  removed  a  troublesome  witness  to  many  of  his  in- 
trigues, and  the  bearer  of  mandates  which  he  had  no  inten- 
tion to  obey,  and  which,  therefore,  he  was  desirous  it  should 
be  thought  had  never  reached  his  hand. 

The  remainder  of  the  journey  was  made  with  a  degree  of 
speed  which  showed  the  little  care  they  had  for  the  health 
of  the  unhappy  countess.  They  paused  only  at  places  where 
all  was  under  their  command,  and  where  the  tale  they  were 
prepared  to  tell  of  the  insane  Lady  Vamey  would  have  ob- 
tained ready  credit  had  she  made  an  attempt  to  appeal  to  the 
compassion  of  the  few  persons  admitted  to  see  her.  But  Amy 
saw  no  chance  of  obtaining  a  hearing  from  any  to  whom  she 
had  an  opportunity  of  addressing  herself,  and,  besides,  was 
too  terrified  for  the  presence  of  Varney  to  violate  the  implied 
condition  under  which  she  was  to  travel  free  from  his  com- 
pany. The  authority  of  Vamey,  often  so  used  during  the 
earl's  private  journeys  to  Cumnor,  readily  procured  relays  of 
horses  where  wanted,  so  that  they  approached  Cumnor  Place 
upon  the  night  after  they  left  Kenilworth. 

At  this  period  of  the  journey,  Vamey  cam©  up  to  the  r««r 


442  WAVERLET  NOVEL& 

of  the  litter,  as  he  had  done  before  repeatedly  during  their 
progress,  and  asked,  "What  does  she?" 

"  She  sleeps,"  said  Foster.  "  I  would  we  were  home;  her 
strength  is  exhausted." 

"  Rest  will  restore  her,"  answered  Vamey.  "  She  shall 
soon  sleep  sound  and  long;  we  must  consider  how  to  lodge  her 
in  safety." 

"  In  her  own  apartments,  to  be  sure,"  said  Foster.  "  T 
have  sent  Janet  to  her  aunt's,  with  a  proper  rebuke,  and  the 
old  women  are  truth  itself,  for  they  hate  this  lady  cordially." 

"  We  will  not  trust  them,  however,  friend  Anthony,"  said 
Vamey;  "  we  must  secure  her  in  that  stronghold  where  you 
keep  your  gold." 

"  My  gold! "  said  Anthony,  much  alarmed;  "  why,  what 
gold  have  I  ?     Grod  help  me,  I  have  no  gold — I  would  I  had." 

"  Now,  marry  hang  thee,  thou  stupid  brute,  who  thinks  of, 
or  cares  for,  thy  gold?  If  I  did,  could  I  not  find  an  hundred 
better  ways  to  come  at  it?  In  one  word,  thy  bedchamber, 
which  thou  hast  fenced  so  curiously,  must  be  her  place  of 
seclusion;  and  thou,  thou  hind,  shalt  press  her  pillows  of 
down.  I  dare  say  the  earl  will  never  ask  after  the  rich  furni- 
ture of  these  four  rooms." 

This  last  consideration  rendered  Foster  tractable;  he  only 
asked  permission  to  ride  before,  to  make  matters  ready,  and, 
spurring  his  horse,  he  posted  before  the  litter,  while,  Vamey 
falling  about  threescore  paces  behind,  it  remained  only  at- 
tended by  Tider. 

When  they  had  arrived  at  Cunmor  Place,  the  countess 
asked  eagerly  for  Janet,  and  showed  much  alarm  when  in- 
formed that  she  was  no  longer  to  have  the  attendance  of  that 
amiable  girl. 

"  My  daughter  is  dear  to  me,  madam,"  said  Foster  gruffly; 
"  and  I  desire  not  that  she  should  get  the  court  tricks  of  lying 
and  'scaping;  somewhat  too  much  of  that  has  she  learned 
already,  an  it  please  your  ladyship." 

The  countess,  much  fatigued  and  greatly  terrified  by  the 
circumstances  of  her  journey,  made  no  answer  to  this  inso- 
lence, but  mildly  expressed  a  wish  to  retire  to  her  chamber. 

''Aye — ave,"  muttered  Foster,  "'tis  but  reasonable,  but 
under  favor,  you  go  not  to  your  gew-gaw  toy-house  yonder; 
you  will  sleep  to-night  in  better  security." 

"  I  would  it  were  in  my  grave,"  said  the  countess,  "  but  that 
mortal  feelings  shiver  at  the  idea  of  soul  and  body  parting." 

**  You,  I  guess^  have  no  chance  to  shiver  at  that,"  replied 


KENILWORTE,  443 

Foster.  "My  lord  comes  hither  to-morrow  and  doubtless 
you  will  make  your  own  ways  good  with  him." 

"But  does  he  comes  hither? — does  he  indeed,  good 
Foster?  " 

"  0  aye,  good  Foster! "  replied  the  other.  "  But  what 
Foster  shall  I  be  to-morrow,  when  you  speak  of  me  to  my 
lord;  though  all  I  have  done  was  to  obey  his  own  orders?  " 

"  You  shall  be  my  protector — a  rough  one  indeed,  but  still 
a  protector,"  answered  the  countess.  "  0  that  Janet  were 
but  here! " 

"  She  is  better  where  she  is,"  answered  Foster,  "  one  of 
you  is  enough  to  perplex  a  plain  head;  but  will  you  taste  any 
refreshment?" 

"  0  no — no;  my  chamber — my  chamber.  I  trust,"  she 
said,  apprehensively,  "  I  may  secure  it  on  the  inside?  " 

"  With  all  my  heart,"  answered  Foster,  "  so  I  may  secure  it 
on  the  outside  ";  and  taking  a  light,  he  led  the  way  to  a  part 
of  the  building  where  Amy  had  never  been,  and  conducted 
her  up  a  stair  of  great  height,  preceded  by  one  of  the  old 
women  with  a  lamp.  At  the  head  of  the  stair,  which  seemed 
of  almost  immeasurable  height,  they  crossed  a  short  wooden 
gallery,  formed  of  black  oak,  and  very  narrow,  at  the  farther 
end  of  which  was  a  stroTag  oaken  door,  which  opened  and  ad- 
mitted them  into  the  miser's  apartment,  homely  in  its 
accommodations  in  the  very  last  degree,  and,  except  in  name, 
little  different  from  a  prison  room. 

Foster  stopped  at  the  door  and  gave  the  lamp  to  the  count- 
ess, without  either  offering  or  permitting  the  attendance  of 
the  old  woman  who  had  carried  it.  The  lady  stood  not  on 
ceremony,  but  taking  it  hastily,  barred  the  door,  and  secured 
it  with  the  ample  means  provided  on  the  inside  for  that 
purpose. 

Vamey,  meanwhile,  had  lurked  behind  on  the  stairs,  but 
hearing  the  door  barred,  he  now  came  up  on  tiptoe,  and  Fos- 
ter, winking  to  him,  pointed  with  self-complacence  to  a  piece 
of  concealed  machinery  in  the  wall,  which,  playing  with  much 
ease  and  little  noise,  dropped  a  part  of  the  wooden  gallery, 
after  the  manner  of  a  drawbridge,  so  as  to  cut  off  all  com- 
munication between  the  door  of  the  bedroom,  which  he  usu- 
ally inhabited,  and  the  landing-place  of  the  high  winding 
stair  which  ascended  to  it.  The  rope  by  which  this  ma- 
chinery was  wrought  was  generally  carried  within  the  bed- 
chamber, it  being  Foster's  object  to  provide  against  invasion 
from  without;  but  now  that  it  was  intended  to  secure  the  pris- 


444  WAVERLE7  NOVELS, 

oner  within,  the  cord  had  been  brought  over  to  the  landing- 
place,  and  was  there  made  fast,  when  Foster,  with  much 
complacency,  had  dropped  the  unsuspected  trap-door. 

Varney  looked  with  great  attention  at  the  machinery,  and 
peeped  more  than  once  down  the  abyss  which  was  opened  by 
the  fall  of  the  trap-door.  It  was  dark  as  pitch,  and  seemed 
profoundly  deep,  going,  as  Foster  informed  his  confederate 
in  a  whisper,  nigh  to  the  lowest  vault  of  the  castle.  Varney 
cast  once  more  a  fixed  and  long  look  down  into  this  sable 
gulf,  and  then  followed  Foster  to  the  part  of  the  manor- 
house  most  usually  inhabited. 

When  they  arrived  in  the  parlor  which  we  have  mentioned, 
Varney  requested  Foster  to  get  them  supper  and  some  of  the 
choicest  wine.  "  I  will  seek  Alasco,"  he  added;  "  we  have 
work  for  him  to  do,  and  we  must  put  him  in  good  heart.'' 

Foster  groaned  at  this  intimation,  but  made  no  remon- 
strance. The  old  woman  assured  Varney  that  Alasco  had 
scarce  eaten  or  drunken  since  her  master's  departure,  living 
perpetually  shut  up  in  the  laboratory,  and  talking  as  if  the 
world's  continuance  depended  on  what  he  was  doing  there. 

"I  will  teach  him  that  the  world  hath  other  claims  on 
him,"  said  Varney,  seizing  a  light  and  going  in  quest  of  the 
alchemist.  He  returned,  after  a  considerable  absence,  very 
pale,  but  yet  with  his  habitual  sneer  on  his  cheek  and  nostril. 
"  Our  friend,"  he  said,  "  has  exhaled." 

"How!  what  mean  you?"  said  Foster.  "  Eun  away — fled 
with  my  forty  pounds,  that  should  have  been  multiplied  a 
thousandfold?    I  will  have  hue  and  cry! " 

"  I  will  tell  thee  a  surer  way,"  said  Varney. 

"How!  which  w^ay?"  exclaimed  Foster.  "I  will  have 
back  my  forty  pounds — I  deemed  them  as  surely  a  thousand 
times  multiplied — I  will  have  back  my  in-put,  at  the  least." 

"  Go  hang  thyself,  then,  and  sue  Alasco  in  the  Devil's 
Court  of  Chancery,  for  thither  he  has  carried  the  cause." 

"How!     What  dost  thou  mean — ^is  he  dead?" 

"  Aye,  truly  is  he,"  said  Varney;  "  and  properly  swoln 
already  in  the  face  and  body.  He  had  been  mixing  some  of 
his  devil's  medicines,  and  the  glass  mask  which  he  used  con- 
stantly had  fallen  from  his  face,  so  that  the  subtle  poison 
entered  the  brain  and  did  its  work." 

*' Sanda  Maria!''  said  Foster — "I  mean,  God  in  His 
mercy  preserve  us  from  covetousnees  and  deadly  sin!  Had  he 
not  had  projection,  think  you?  Saw  you  no  ingots  in  the 
craciblM?  " 


KENIL  WORTH.  446 

•^Nay,  I  looked  not  but  at  the  dead  carrion/*  answered 
Vamey — "an  ugly  spectacle:  he  was  swoln  like  a  corpse 
three  days  exposed  on  the  wheel.  Pah!  give  me  a  cup  of 
wine." 

"  I  will  go,"  said  Foster,  "  I  will  examine  myself "     He 

took  the  lamp  and  hastened  to  the  door,  but  there  hesitated 
and  paused.  "  Will  you  not  go  with  me  ?  "  said  he  to  Var- 
ney. 

"  To  what  purpose  ? "  said  Vamey;  "  I  have  seen  and 
smelled  enough  to  spoil  my  appetite.  I  broke  the  window, 
however,  and  let  in  the  air;  it  reeked  of  sulphur  and  such- 
like suffocating  steams,  as  if  the  very  devil  had  been  there." 

"  And  might  it  not  be  the  act  of  the  demon  himself?  "  said 
Foster,  still  hesitating;  "  I  have  heard  he  is  powerful  at  such 
times,  and  with  such  people." 

"  Still,  if  it  were  that  Satan  of  thine,"  answered  Vamey, 
"  who  thus  jades  thy  imagination,  thou  art  in  perfect  safety, 
unless  he  is  a  most  unconscionable  devil  indeed.  He  hath 
had  two  good  sops  of  late." 

"How,  two  sops — what  mean  you?"  said  Foster — "what 
mean  you?" 

"  You  will  know  in  time,"  said  Vamey.  "  And  then  this 
other  banquet;  but  thou  wilt  esteem  her  too  choice  a  morsel 
for  the  fiend's  tooth:  she  must  have  her  psalms,  and  harps, 
and  seraphs." 

Anthony  Foster  heard,  and  came  slowly  back  to  the  table: 
"  God!  Sir  Ei chard,  and  must  that  then  be  done?  " 

"  Aye,  in  very  truth,  Anthony,  or  there  comes  no  copyhold 
in  thy  way,"  replied  his  inflexible  associate. 

"  I  always  foresaw  it  would  land  there!  "  said  Foster;  "but 
how,  Sir  Eichard — how?  for  not  to  win  the  world  would  I  put 
hands  on  her." 

"  I  cannot  blame  thee,"  said  Vamey;  "  I  should  be  reluc- 
tant to  do  that  myself;  we  miss  Alasco  and  his  manna  sorely — 
aye,  and  the  dog  Lamboume." 

"Why,  where  tarries  Lamboume?"  said  Anthony. 

"  Ask  no  questions,"  said  Varney,  "  thou  wilt  see  him  one 
day,  if  thy  creed  is  true.  But  to  our  graver  matter.  I  will 
teach  thee  a  springe,  Tony,  to  catch  a  pewit;  yonder  trap- 
door— yonder  gimcrack  of  thine,  will  remain  secure  in  ap- 
pearance, will  it  not,  though  the  supports  are  withdrawn 
beneath?" 

"  Aye,  marry,  will  it,"  said  Foster;  "  so  long  as  it  is  not 
trodden  on." 


446  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

"  But  were  the  lady  to  attempt  an  escape  over  it/'  replied 
Yamey,  "  her  weight  would  carry  it  down?  " 

'*  A  mo-use's  weight  would  do  it/'  said  Foster. 

'*  Why,  then,  she  dies  in  attempting  her  escape,  and  what 
could  you  or  I  help  it,  honest  Tony?  Let  us  to  bed;  we  will 
adjust  our  project  to-morrow." 

On  the  next  day,  when  evening  approached,  Vamey  sum- 
moned Foster  to  the  execution  of  their  plan.  Tider  and 
Foster's  old  manservant  were  sent  on  a  feigned  errand  down 
to  the  village,  and  Anthony  himself,  as  if  anxious  to  see  that 
the  countess  suffered  no  want  of  accommodation,  visited  her 
place  of  confinement.  He  was  so  much  staggered  at  the 
mildness  and  patience  with  which  she  seemed  to  endure  her 
confinement,  that  he  could  not  help  earnestly  recommending 
to  her  not  to  cross  the  threshold  of  her  room  on  any  account 
whatever  until  Lord  Leicester  should  come,  "  Which,"  he 
added,  "  I  trust  in  God,  will  be  very  soon."  Amy  patiently 
promised  that  she  would  resign  herself  to  her  fate,  and  Foster 
returned  to  his  hardened  companion  with  his  conscience  half- 
eased  of  the  perilous  load  that  weighed  on  it.  "  I  have 
warned  her,"  he  said;  "  surely  in  vain  is  the  snare  set  in  the 
sight  of  any  bird!  " 

He  left,  therefore,  the  countess'  door  unsecured  on  the 
outside,  and,  under  the  eye  of  Varney,  withdrew  the  supports 
which  sustained  the  falling  trap,  which,  therefore,  kept  its 
level  position  merely  by  a  slight  adhesion.  They  withdrew 
to  wait  the  issue  on  the  ground-floor  adjoining,  but  they 
waited  long  in  vain.  At  length  Vamey,  after  walking  long 
to  and  fro,  with  his  face  muffled  in  his  cloak,  threw  it  sud- 
denly back,  and  exclaimed,  "  Surely  never  was  a  woman  fool 
enough  to  neglect  so  fair  an  opportunity  of  escape! " 

"  Perhaps  she  is  resolved,"  said  Foster,  "  to  await  her  hus- 
band's return." 

"  True! — most  true,"  said  Vamey,  rushing  out,  "  I  had 
not  thought  of  that  before." 

In  less  than  two  minutes,  Foster,  who  remained  behind, 
heard  the  tread  of  a  horse  in  the  courtyard,  and  then  a  whistle 
similar  to  that  which  was  the  earl's  usual  signal;  the  instant 
after  the  door  of  the  countess'  chamber  opened,  and  in 
the  same  moment  the  trap-door  gave  way.  There  was  a 
rushing  sound — a  heavy  fall — a  faint  groan — and  all  was 
over. 

At  the  same  instant,  Vamey  called  in  at  the  window,  in  an 
accent  and  tone  which  was  an  indescribable  mixture  betwixt 


KENILWORTH.  447 

horror  and  raillery — "Is  the  bird  caught? — is  the  deed 
done?" 

"  0  God,  forgive  us! "  replied  Anthony  Foster. 

"  Why,  thou  fool,"  said  Vamey,  "  thy  toil  is  ended,  and 
thy  reward  secure.  Look  down  into  the  vault — what  seest 
thou?" 

"  I  see  only  a  heap  of  white  clothes,  like  a  snowdrift,"  said 
Foster.     "  0  God,  she  moves  her  arm!  " 

"  Hurl  something  down  on  her — thy  gold  chest,  Tony — ^it 
is  an  heavy  one." 

"  Varney,  thou  art  an  incarnate  fiend! "  replied  Foster. 
"  There  needs  nothing  more — she  is  gone!  " 

"  So  pass  our  troubles,"  said  Varney,  entering  the  room. 
"I  dreamed  not  I  could  have  mimicked  the  earPs  call  so 
well." 

"  Oh,  if  there  be  judgment  in  Heaven,  thou  hast  deserved 
it,"  said  Foster,  "  and  wilt  meet  it!  Thou  hast  destroyed  her 
by  means  of  her  best  affections.  It  is  a  seething  of  the  kid 
in  the  mother's  milk! " 

"  Thou  art  a  fanatical  ass,"  replied  Vamey.  "  Let  us 
now  think  how  the  alarm  should  be  given;  the  body  is  to  re- 
main where  it  is." 

But  their  wickedness  was  to  be  permitted  no  longer;  for, 
even  while  they  w^ere  at  this  consultation,  Tressilian  and 
Raleigh  broke  in  upon  them,  having  obtained  admittance  by 
means  of  Tider  and  Foster's  servant,  whom  they  had  secured 
at  the  village. 

Anthony  Foster  fled  on  their  entrance;  and,  knowing  each 
corner  and  pass  of  the  intricate  old  house,  escaped  all  search. 
But  Varney  was  taken  on  the  spot;  and,  instead  of  expressing 
compunction  for  what  he  had  done,  seemed  to  take  a  fiendish 
pleasure  in  pointing  out  to  them  the  remains  of  the  mur- 
dered countess,  while  at  the  same  time  he  defied  them  to 
show  that  he  had  any  share  in  her  death.  The  despairing 
grief  of  Tressilian,  on  viewing  the  mangled  and  yet  warm 
remains  of  what  had  lately  been  so  lovely  and  so  beloved,  was 
such  that  Raleigh  was  compelled  to  have  him  removed  from 
the  place  by  force,  while  he  himself  assumed  the  direction  of 
what  was  to  be  done. 

Vamey,  upon  a  second  examination,  made  very  little  mys- 
tery either  of  the  crime  or  of  its  motives;  alleging,  as  a  reason 
for  his  frankness,  that  though  much  of  what  he  confessed 
could  only  have  attached  to  him  by  suspicion,  yet  such  sus- 
picion would  have  been  sufficient  to  deprive  him  of  Leicester's 


448  WA  VEBLEY  NO  YEL8. 

confidence,  and  to  destroy  all  his  towering  plans  of  ambition. 
"  I  was  not  bom/'  he  said,  "  to  drag  on  the  remainder  of  life 
a  degraded  outcast;  nor  will  I  so  die  that  my  fate  shall  make 
a  holiday  to  the  vulgar  herd/' 

From  these  words  it  was  apprehended  he  had  some  design 
upon  himself,  and  he  was  carefully  deprived  of  all  means  by 
which  such  could  be  carried  into  execution.  But,  like  some 
of  the  heroes  of  antiquity,  he  carried  about  his  person  a  small 
quantity  of  strong  poison,  prepared  probably  by  the  cele- 
brated Demetrius  Alasco.  Having  swallowed  this  potion 
over-night,  he  was  found  next  morning  dead  in  his  cell;  nor 
did  he  appear  to  have  suffered  much  agony,  his  countenance 
presenting,  even  in  death,  the  habitual  expression  of  sneering 
sarcasm  which  was  predominant  while  he  lived.  "  The 
wicked  man,"  saith  Scripture,  "  hath  no  bonds  in  his  death." 

The  fate  of  his  colleague  in  wickedness  was  long  unknown. 
Cumnor  Place  was  deserted  immediately  after  the  murder; 
for,  in  the  vicinity  of  what  was  called  the  Lady  Dudley's 
chamber,  the  domestics  pretended  to  hear  groans,  and  screams, 
and  other  supernatural  noises.  After  a  certain  length  of 
time,  Janet,  hearing  no  tidings  of  her  father,  became  the  un- 
controlled mistress  of  his  property,  and  conferred  it  with  her 
hand  upon  Wayland,  now  a  man  of  settled  character,  and 
holding  a  place  in  Elizabeth's  household.  But  it  was  after 
they  had  been  both  dead  for  some  years,  that  their  eldest  son 
and  heir,  in  making  some  researches  about  Cumnor  Hall,  dis- 
covered a  secret  passage,  closed  by  an  iron  door,  which,  open- 
ing from  behind  the  bed  in  the  Lady  Dudley's  chamber, 
descended  to  a  sort  of  cell,  in  which  they  found  an  iron  chest 
containing  a  quantity  of  gold,  and  a  human  skeleton  stretched 
above  it.  The  fate  of  Anthony  Foster  was  now  manifest. 
He  had  fled  to  this  place  of  concealment,  forgetting  the  key 
of  the  spring-lock;  and  being  barred  from  escape  by  the 
means  he  had  used  for  preservation  of  that  gold  for  which  he 
had  sold  his  salvation,  he  had  there  perished  miserably.  Un- 
questionably the  groans  and  screams  heard  by  the  domestics 
were  not  entirely  imaginary,  but  were  those  of  this  wretch, 
who,  in  his  agony,  was  crying  for  relief  and  succor. 

The  news  of  the  countess'  dreadful  fate  put  a  sudden  period 
to  the  pleasures  of  Kenilworth.  Leicester  retired  from 
court,  and  for  a  considerable  time  abandoned  himself  to  his 
remorse.  But  as  Varney,  in  his  last  declaration,  had  been 
studious  to  spare  the  character  of  his  patron,  the  earl  was  the 
object  rather  of  compassion  than  resentment.     The  Queen 


KENILWOBTH.  44fif 

at  length  recalled  him  to  court;  he  was  once  mor«  distin- 
guished  as  a  statesman  and  favorite,  and  the  rest  of  his  career 
is  well  known  to  history.  But  there  was  something  retribu- 
tive in  his  death,  if,  according  to  an  account  very  generally 
received,  it  took  place  from  his  swallowing  a  draught  of 
poison  which  was  designed  by  him  for  another  person.* 

Sir  Hugh  Robsart  died  very  soon  after  his  daughter,  hav- 
ing settled  his  estate  on  Tressilian.  But  neither  the  prospect 
of  rural  independence  nor  the  promises  of  favor  which  Eliza- 
beth held  out  to  induce  him  to  follow  the  court,  could  re- 
move his  profound  mel&ncholy.  Wherever  he  went,  he 
seemed  to  see  before  him  the  disfigured  corpse  of  the  early 
and  only  object  of  his  affection.  At  length,  having  made 
provision  for  the  maintenance  of  the  old  friends  and  old 
servants  who  formed  Sir  Hugh's  family  at  Lidcote  Hall,  he 
himself  embarked  with  his  friend  Raleigh  for  the  Virginia 
expedition,  and,  young  in  years  but  old  in  grief,  died  before 
his  day  in  that  foreign  land. 

Of  inferior  persons  it  is  only  necessary  to  say,  that  Blount's 
wit  grew  brighter  as  his  yellow  roses  faded;  that,  doing  his 
part  as  a  brave  commander  in  the  wars,  he  was  much  more  in 
his  element  than  during  the  short  period  of  his  following  the 
couri:  and  that  Flibbertigibbet's  acute  genius  raised  him  to 
favor  and  distinction  in  the  employment  both  of  Burleigh 
and  Cecil. 

*  See  Death  of  the  Earl  of  Leiceiter.    Note  SO. 


NOTES  TO  KENIL WORTH. 

Note  1.— Cumnor  Hall,  p.  vi. 

In  a  valuable  work,  by  Mr.  Adlard,  on  "  Amy  Robsart,  the  Earl  of  Leicester, 
and  Kenihvorth,"  8vo,  London,  1870,  the  author  says  [pp.  24,  25]  that  Cumnor 
Place  was  originally  one  of  the  country  seats  of  the  abbots  of  Abingdon,  and 
that,  on  the  ciissolution  of  the  monasteries,  it  was  granted  by  Henry  VIII.  to 
his  physician,  George  Owen.  At  Owen's  death  in  1561  it  was  bought  by 
Anthony  Forster,  and  was  occupied  by  him  for  several  years  ;  and  at  his 
demise  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Earl  of  Leicester.  The  Place  ultimately 
became  the  property  of  Lord  Abingdon. 

'*  For  a  long  period,"  says  Mr. Adlard,  **  Cumnor  was  deserted  ;  the  recollec- 
tion of  Amy  Dudley's  melancholy  end  was  revived  amongst  the  ignorant  villa- 
gers, whose  imaginations  conjured  up  forms  and  horrors  before  unheard  of,  and 
hence  arose  tlie  legendary  tales  that  have  descended  to  the  present  day.  Decay 
followed  fast  on  desertion,  and,  with  the  aid  of  the  wanton  and  mischievous, 
before  a  century  had  rolled  away  it  had  become  almost  a  ruin.     .     , 

"A  few  fine  elms  scattered  here  and  there  are  all  that  is  left  to  aid  in 
realizing  the  former  picturesque  appearance  of  this  retreat,  where  we  are 
privileged  to  sympathize  with  sufifering  innocence  and  blighted  affection." 

The  ballad  of  *'  Cumnor  Hall,"  as  stated  in  the  Introduction,  appeared,  "now 
first  printed,"  in  Evans'  "  Collection  of  Old  Ballads,"  vol.  iv.  p.  130,  1784  ;  and 
the  new  edition  (the  editor  discarding  the  antique  mode  of  spelling),  vol.  iv.  p. 
94,  1810.  In  this  form  it  is  given  above.  The  author,  William  Julius  Mickle, 
was  a  son  of  the  minister  of  Langholm,  in  Dumfriesshire,  where  he  was  born  in 
1734,  and  died  at  London  in  1788.  He  is  now  chiefly  known  by  his  transitv- 
tion  from  Camoens  of  the  Lusiad. — Laing. 

NoTK  2.— FosTEE,  Lambourne,  and  the  Black  Bear,  p.  30. 

If  faith  is  to  be  put  in  epitaphs,  Anthony  Foster  was  something  the  very 
reverse  of  the  character  represented  in  the  novel.  Ashmole  gives  this 
description  of  his  tomb — I  copy  from  the  "Antiquities  of  Berkshire,"  vol.  i. 
p.  143. 

"  In  the  north  wall  of  the  chancel  [at  Cnmnor  Church]  is  a  monument  of  grey 
marble,  whereon,  in  brass  plates,  are  engraved  a  man  in  armour,  and  his  wife 
in  the  habit  of  her  times,  both  kneeling  before  a  fald-stoole,  together  with  the 
figures  of  three  sons  kneeling  behind  their  mother.  Under  the  figure  of  the 
man  is  this  inscription  : 

Antonius  Forstkr,  generis  ^enerosa  propago, 

Cumnerae  Dominus  Bercheriensis  erat. 
Armiger,  Armigero  prognatue  patre  Ricardo, 

Qui  quondam  Iphlethse  Salopieneis  erat. 
Quatuor  ex  isto  fluxerunt  etemmate  nati, 

Ex  isto  Antonius  stemmate  quartus  erat. 

Mente  eagax,  animo  precellens,  corpore  promptOB, 

Eloquii  dulcis,  ore  disertus  erat. 
In  factis  probitas,  fuit  in  sermone  venustas, 

In  vnltu  gravitas,  relligione  fides, 
In  patriam  pietas,  in  egenos  grata  voluntas, 

Accedunt  reliquis  annumeranda  bonis. 
81  quod  cuncta  rapit,  rapuit  non  omnia  Lethnm, 

Si  quod  Mors  rapuit,  vivida  fama  dedit. 

461 


451  NOTES. 

"  These  yeries  following  are  writ  at  length,  two  by  two,  in  praise  of  him : 

Argute  resonae  Cithare  pretendere  chordas 

Novit,  et  Aonia  concrepuieee  Lyra. 
Gaudebat  terre  tenerae  defigere  plantas  ; 

Et  mira  pulchras  conetruere  arte  domos, 
Composita  vari  as  lingua  formare  loquelas 

Doctus,  et  edocta  ecribere  multa  manu. 

"The  arms  over  it  thus  : 


Quart. 


I.  3  Hunter's  koms  stringed. 
II.  3  Pinions  with  their  points  upwards. 


"The  crest  is  a  stag  couchant,  vulnerated  through  the  neck  by  a  broad 
arrow  ;  on  his  side  is  a  martlett  for  a  difference." 

From  this  monumental  inscription  it  appears  that  Anthony  Forster, 
instead  of  being  a  vulgar,  low-bred,  Puritanical  churl  was  in  fact  a  gentleman 
of  birth  and  consideration,  distinguished  for  his  skill  in  the  arts  of  music  and 
horticulture,  as  also  in  languages.  In  so  far,  therefore,  the  Anthony  Foster 
of  the  romance  has  nothing  but  the  name  in  common  with  the  real  individual. 
But,  notwithstanding  the  charity,  benevolence,  and  religious  faith  imputed 
by  the  monument  of  grey  marble  to  its  tenant,  tradition,  as  well  as  secret 
history,  name  him  as  the  active  agent  in  the  death  of  the  countess  ;  and  it  is 
added  that,  from  being  a  jovial  and  convivial  gallant,  as  we  may  infer  from 
some  expressions  in  the  epitaph,  he  sunk,  after  the  fatal  deed,  into  a  man  of 
gloomy  and  retired  habits,  whose  looks  and  manners  indicated  that  he 
suffered  under  the  presfeure  of  some  atrocious  secret. 

The  name  of  Lambourne  is  still  known  in  the  vicinity,  and  it  is  said  some 
of  the  clan  partake  the  habits,  as  well  as  name,  of  the  Michael  Lambourne  of 
the  romance.  A  man  of  this  name  lately  murdered  his  wife,  outdoing 
Michael  in  this  respect,  who  only  was  concerned  in  the  murder  of  the  wife  of 
another  man. 

I  have  only  to  add  that  the  jolly  Black  Bear  has  been  restored  to  his  pre- 
dominance over  bowl  and  bottle,  in  the  village  of  Cumnor. 

Note  8.— Martin  Swabt,  p.  92. 

The  first  verse,  or  something  similar,  occurs  in  a  long  ballad,  or  poem,  on 
Flodden  Field,  reprinted  by  the  late  Henry  Weber. 

See  Weber's  Notes  in  the  above  volume,  p.  182. — Laing. 

The  second  verse,  from  an  old  song,  actually  occurs  in  an  old  play,  where 
the  singer  boasts — 

Courteonsl  J I  can  both  counter  and  knack 
Of  Martin  Swart  and  all  his  merry-men. 

Note  4.— Legend  of  Wayland  Smith,  p.  143. 

The  great  defeat  given  by  Alfred  to  the  Danish  invaders  is  said,  by  Mr. 
Gough,  to  have  taken  place  near  Ashdown,  in  Berkshire.  "The  burial-place  of 
Bacseg,  the  Danish  chief,  who  was  slain  in  this  fight,  is  distinguished  by  a 
parcel  of  stones,  less  than  a  mile  from  the  hill,  set  on  edge,  inclosing  a  piece 
of  ground  somewhat  raised.  On  the  east  side  of  the  southern  extremity  stand 
three  squarish  flat  stones,  of  about  four  or  five  feet  over  either  way,  support- 
ing a  fourth  .  .  .  and  now  called  by  the  vulgar  Wayland  Smith,  from  an  idle 
tradition  about  an  invisible  smith  replacing  lost  horse-shoes  here." — Gough's 
Edition  of  Camden's  "Britannia,"  vol.  i.  p.  221. 

The  popular  belief  still  retains  memory  of  this  wild  legend,  which,  con- 
nected as  it  is  with  the  site  of  a  Danish  sepulcher,  may  have  arisen  from  some 
legend  concerning  the  northern  Duergar,  who  resided  in  the  rocks,  and  were 
cunning  workers  in  steel  and  iron.  It  was  believed  that  Wayland  Smith's  fee 
was  sixpence,  and  that,  unlike  other  workmen,  he  was  offended  if  more  was 
offered.  Of  late  his  offices  have  again  been  called  to  memory  ;  but  fiction 
has  in  this,  as  in  other  cases,  taken  the  liberty  to  pillage  the  stores  of  oral 
tradition.    This  monument  must  be  very  ancient,  for  it  has  been  kindly 


NOTES.  453 

pointed  out  to  me  that  it  is  referred  to  in  an  ancient  Saxon  charter  ai 
a  landmark.  The  monument  has  been  of  late  cleared  out,  and  made  con- 
siderably moi-e  conspicuous. 

The  Vale  of  the  Whitehorse  derives  its  name  from  the  figure  of  a  horse 
^hich  has  been  described  on  the  hillside  at  this  place,  the  turf  having  been 
removed  from  the  chalky  soil  in  such  a  way  as  to  show  at  a  distance  the 
form  of  a  white  horse.  This  figure  is  supposed  to  have  been  cut  out  during 
the  Saxon  period  to  celebrate  some  victory.  On  certain  occasions  the  white 
horse  is  "scoured"  or  repaired  by  the  peasantry  of  the  neighbourhood,  who 
turn  out  in  large  numbers  and  remove  any  turf  that  may  have  settled  itself 
on  the  figure  of  the  horse.— iamgr. 

Note  5.— Obvietan,  p.  148. 

Orvietan,  or  Venice  treacle,  as  it  was  sometimes  called,  was  understood  to 
be  a  sovereign  remedy  against  poison  ;  and  the  reader  must  be  contented,  for 
the  time  he  peruses  these  pages,  to  hold  the  same  opinion,  which  was  once 
universally  received  by  the  learned  as  well  as  the  vulgar. 

Note  6. — Leicester  and  Sussex,  p.  151. 

Naunton  gives  us  numerous  and  curious  particulars  of  the  jealous  struggle 
which  took  place  between  Ratcliffe,  Earl  of  Sussex,  and  the  rising  favorite 
Leicester.  The  former,  when  on  his  death-bed,  predicted  to  his  followers 
that  after  his  death,  the  gypsy  (so  he  called  Leicester,  from  his  dark  com- 
plexion) would  prove  too  many  for  them. 

Note  7.— Sib  Walteb  Raleigh,  p.  154. 

Among  the  attendants  and  adherents  of  Sussex,  we  have  ventured  to  intro- 
duce the  celebrated  Raleigh,  in  the  dawn  of  his  court  favor. 

In  Aubrey's  "Correspondence"  there  are  some  curious  particulars  of  Sir 
Walter  Raleigh.  "  He  was  a  tall,  handsome,  and  bold  man  ;  but  his  nseve  was 
that  he  was  damnably  proud.  Old  Sir  Robert  Harley  of  Brampton  Brian 
Castle,  who  knew  him,  would  say,  'twas  a  great  question  who  was  the 
proudest.  Sir  Walter  or  Sir  Thomas  Overbury  ;  but  the  difference  that  was 
judged  on  Sir  Thomas's  side.  ...  In  the  great  parlour  at  Downton,  at  Mr. 
Raleigh's,  is  a  good  piece,  an  original  of  Sir  Walter,  in  a  white  satin  doublet, 
all  embroidered  with  rich  pearls,  and  a  mighty  rich  chain  of  great  pearla 
about  his  neck.  The  old  servants  have  told  me  that  the  [real]  pearls  were  near 
as  big  as  the  painted  ones.  He  had  a  most  remarkable  aspect,  an  exceeding  high 
forehead,  long-faced,  and  sour-eyelidded.     A  rebus  is  added,  to  this  purpose : 

"  The  enemy  to  the  stomach,  and  the  word  of  disgrace, 
Is  the  name  of  the  gentleman  with  a  bold  face." 

Sir  Walter  Raleigh's  beard  turned  up  naturally,  which  gave  him  an 
advantage  over  the  gallants  of  the  time,  whose  mustachios  received  a  touch  o< 
the  barber's  art  to  give  them  the  air  then  most  admired. — See  vol.  ii.  part  ii. 
pp.  509-512  [ed.  1813]. 

Note  8.— Coubt  Favob  of  Sib  Walteb  Raleigh,  p.  168. 
The  gallant  incident  of  the  cloak  is  the  traditional  account  of  this  cele- 
brated statesman's  rise  at  court.  None  of  Elizabeth's  courtiers  knew  better 
than  he  how  to  make  his  court  to  her  personal  vanity,  or  could  more  justly 
estimate  the  quantity  of  flattery  which  she  could  condescend  to  swallow. 
Being  confined  in  the  Tower  for  some  offense,  and  understanding  the  Queen 
was  about  to  pass  to  Greenwich  in  her  barge,  he  insisted  on  approaching  the 
window,  that  he  might  see,  at  whatever  distance,  the  queen  of  his  affections, 
the  most  beautiful  object  which  the  earth  bore  on  its  surface.  The  lieutenant 
of  the  Tower  (his  own  particular  friend)  threw  himself  between  his  prisoner 
and  the  window;  while  Sir  Walter,  apparently  inflamed  with  a  fit  of  unre- 
strainable  passion,  swore  he  would  not  be  debarred  from  seeing  his  light,  his 
Ufe,  his  goddess !  A  scuffle  ensued,  got  up  for  eflfect's  sake,  in  which  the 
lieutenant  and  his  captive  grappled  and  struggled  with  fnry,  tore  each  other's 


454  NOTES. 

hair,  and  at  length  drew  daggers  and  were  only  separated  by  force.  The 
Queen  being  informed  of  this  scene  exhibited  by  her  frantic  adorer,  it 
wrought,  as  was  to  be  expected,  much  in  favor  of  the  captive  Paladin.  There 
is  little  doubt  that  his  quarrel  with  the  lieutenant  was  entirely  contrived  for 
the  purpose  which  it  produced. 

Note  9.— Robebt  Laneham,  p.  195. 

Little  is  known  of  Robert  Laneham,  save  in  his  curious  letter  to  a  friend  in 
London,  giving  an  account  of  Queen  Elizabeth's  entertainments  at  Kenil- 
worth,  written  in  a  style  of  the  most  intolerable  affectation,  both  in  point  of 
composition  and  orthography.  He  describes  himself  as  a  hon  vivant,  who  was 
wont  to  be  jolly  and  dry  in  the  morning,  and  by  his  good-will  would  be  chiefly 
in  the  company  of  the  ladies.  He  was,  by  the  interest  of  Lord  Leicester,  clerk 
of  the  council-chamber  door,  and  also  keeper  of  the  same.  "  When  council  sits," 
says  he,  "  I  am  at  hand.  If  any  makes  a  babbling,  '  Peace,'  say  L  If  I  see  a 
listener  or  a  pryer  in  at  the  chinks  or  lockhole.  I  am  presently  at  the  bones  of 
him.  If  a  friend  comes,  I  make  him  sit  down  by  me  on  a  form  or  chest.  The 
rest  may  walk,  a  God's  name  !"  There  has  been  seldom  a  better  portrait  of  the 
pragmatic  conceit  and  self-importance  of  a  small  man  in  office.  [Compare 
Note  16.] 

Note  10.— Scottish  Wild  Cattle,  p.  208. 

A  remnant  of  the  wild  cattle  of  Scotland  are  preseived  at  Chillingham 
Castle,  near  Wooler,  in  Northumberland,  the  seat  of  Lord  Tankerville.  They 
fly  before  strangers  ;  but  if  disturbed  and  followed,  they  turn  with  fury  on 
those  who  persist  in  annoying  them.  [See  also  "Bride  of  Lammermoor," 
chap,  v.,  and  note  to  "  Castle  Dangerous."] 

Note  11.— Db.  Julio,  p.  221. 

The  Earl  of  Leicester's  Italian  physician,  Julio,  was  affirmed  by  his  contem- 
poraries to  be  a  skillful  compounder  of  poisons,  which  he  applied  with  such 
frequency  that  the  Jesuit  Parsons  extols  ironically  the  marvelous  good  luck 
of  this  great  favorite  in  the  opportune  deaths  of  those  who  stood  in  the  way 
of  his  wishes.    There  is  a  curious  passage  on  the  subject : 

' '  Long  after  this,  he  fell  in  love  with  the  Lady  Sheffield,  whom  I  signified  be- 
fore, and  then  also  had  he  the  same  fortune  to  have  her  husband  die  quickly, 
with  an  extreme  reume  in  his  head  (as  it  was  given  out),  but  as  other  say,  of 
an  artificiall  catarre,  that  stopped  his  breath.  The  like  good  chance  had  he 
in  the  death  of  my  Lord  of  Essex  (as  I  have  said  before),  and  that  at  a  time 
most  fortunate  for  his  purpose  ;  for  when  he  was  coming  home  from  Ireland, 
with  intent  to  revenge  himselfe  upon  my  Lord  of  Leycester  for  begetting  his 
wife  with  childe  in  his  absence  (the  childe  was  a  daughter,  and  brought  up  by 
the  Lady  Shandoies,  W.  Knooles  his  wife),  my  Lord  of  Ley.  hearing  thereof, 
wanted  not  a  friend  or  two  to  accompany  the  deputy,  as  among  other  a  couple 
of  the  Earles  owne  servants, Crompton  (if  I  misse  not  his  name),  yeoman  of  his 
bottels,  and  Lloid  his  secretary,  entertained  afterward  by  my  Lord  of  Leyces- 
ter, and  so  he  died  in  the  way  of  an  extreame  flux,  caused  by  an  Italian  recipe, 
as  all  his  friends  are  well  assured,  the  maker  whereof  was  a  surgion  (as  is  be- 
lieved) that  then  was  newly  come  to  my  Lord  from  Italy— a  cunning  man  and 
sure  in  operation,  with  whom,  if  the  good  Lady  had  beene  sooner  acquainted, 
and  used  his  helpe,  she  should  not  have  needed  to  have  sitten  so  pensive  at 
home,  andfearefullof  her  husband's  former  returne  out  of  the  same  countrey. 
.  .  Neither  must  you  marvaile  though  all  these  died  in  divers  manners  of 
outward  diseases,  for  this  is  the  excellency  of  the  Italian  art,  for  which  this 
•urgion  and  Dr.  Julio  were  entertained  so  carefully,  who  can  make  a  man  die 
in  what  manner  or  shew  of  sicknesse  you  will ;  by  whose  instructions  no  doubt 
but  his  lordship  is  now  cunning,  especially  adding  also  to  these  the  counsell 
of  his  Doctor  Bayly,  a  man  also  not  a  little  studied  (as  he  seemeth)  in  his  art ; 
for  I  heard  him  once  myselfe,  in  publique  act  in  Oxford  (and  that  in  pres- 
ence of  my  Lord  of  Leycester  if  I  be  not  deceived),  maintaine  that  poison 
Blight  so  be  tempered  and  given  as  it  shoiilr'  not  anpeare  presently,  and  yet 


NOTES.  455 

ihuuld  kill  the  party  afterward,  at  what  time  should  be  appointed ;  which 
argument  belike  pleased  well  his  lordship,  and  therefore  was  chosen  to  be 
discussed  in  his  audience,  if  I  be  not  deceived  of  his  being  that  day  present. 
So,  though  one  die  of  a  flux,  and  another  of  a  catarre.  yet  this  importeth 
little  to  the  matter,  but  sheweth  rather  the  great  cunning  and  skill  of  the 
artificer."— Parsons'  "Leicester's  Commonwealth,"  pp.  23,  24. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  state  the  numerous  reasons  why  the  earl  is  represented 
in  the  tale  as  being  rather  the  dupe  of  villains  than  the  unprincipled  author 
of  their  atrocities.  In  the  latter  capacity,  which  a  part  at  least  of  his  contem- 
poraries imputed  to  him,  he  would  have  made  a  character  too  disgustingly 
wicked  to  be  useful  for  the  purposes  of  fiction. 

I  have  only  to  add,  that  the  union  of  the  poisoner,  the  quacksalver,  the 
alchemist,  and  the  astrologer  in  the  same  person  was  familiar  to  the  pretend- 
ers to  the  mystic  sciences. 

Note  12.— Pilobims  to  Kenilworth,  p.  288. 

Dr.  Beattie,  in  his  "  Castles  of  England"  [vol.  i.  p.  214,  1844],  says,  "The 
romance  of  *  Kenilworth, '  it  is  probable,  has  brought  within  the  last  fifteen 
years  more  pilgrims  to  this  town  and  neighborhood  than  ever  resorted /to  its 
ancient  shrine  of  the  "Virgin,  more  knights  and  dames  than  ever  figured  in  its 
tilts  and  tournaments." — Laing. 

Note  13.— Amy  Bobsart  at  Kenilworth,  p.  294. 

The  historical  critic  will  recognize  an  obvious  anachronism  in  the  author's 
account  of  Amy's  visit  to  Kenilworth  Castle.  The  festivities  there  took  place 
in  July,  1575,  several  years  after  the  death  of  the  real  Amy  Dudley.  It  may  be 
mentioned,  however,  that  during  these  festivities  the  Earl  of  Leicester  was 
living  in  secret  wedlock  with  Lady  Sheffield. 

With  reference  to  these  historical  liberties,  see  the  conclusion  to  the  "Mon- 
astery.—" Laing  [vol.  x.  p.  874,  of  this  edition]. 

Note  14.— Chopin,  p.  295. 

The  old  traveler  Coryat,  in  his  amusing  work  called  "  Crudities"  [vol.  ii.  p. 
36],  1611,  says  the  chopin  is  a  thing  "so  common  in  Venice,  that  no  woman 
whatsoever  goeth  without  it,  either  in  her  house  or  abroad— a  thing  made  of 
wood,  and  covered  with  leather  of  sundry  colors,  some  with  white,  some 
redde,  some  yellow.  It  is  called  a  '  chapiney,'  whicn  they  weare  under  their 
shoes.  .  .  There  are  many  of  these  chapineys  of  a  great  height,  even  half  a 
yard  high,  which  maketh  many  of  their  women  that  are  very  short  seeme 
much  taller  than  the  tallest  women  we  have  in  England." — Laing. 

Note  15. — Imitation  of  Gasooigne,  p,  328. 

This  is  an  imitation  of  Gascoigne's  verses  spoken  by  the  herculean  porter, 
as  mentioned  in  the  text.  The  original  may  be  found  in  the  republication  of 
the  "Princely  Pleasures  of  Kenilworth,"  by  the  same  author,  in  the  "  History 
of  Kenilworth,"  Chiswick,  1821. 

Note  16. — Festivities  at  KBNHiWOBTH,  p.  330. 

See  Laneham's  "Account  of  the  Queen's  Entertainment  at  Killingworth 
Castle  "  in  1575,  a  very  diverting  tract,  written  by  as  great  a  coxcomb  as  ever 
blotted  paper.  [See  Note  9  above.]  The  original  is  extremely  lare,  but  it  has 
been  twice  reprinted  ;  once  in  Mr.  Nichols'  very  curious  and  interesting  col- 
lection of  the  "  Progresses  and  Public  Processions  of  Queen  Elizabeth,"  vol.  i.; 
and  more  lately  in  a  beautiful  antiquarian  publication  termed  "Kenilworth 
Illustrated,"  printed  at  Chiswick  for  Merridew  of  Coventry  and  Badclyflfe  of 
Birmingham  [1821].  It  contains  reprints  of  Laneham's  "  Letter,"  Gascoigne's 
"  Princely  Progress,"  and  other  scarce  pieces,  annotated  with  accuracy  and 
ability.  The  author  takes  the  liberty  to  refer  to  this  work  as  his  authority  for 
the  account  of  the  festivities. 


456  NOTES. 

Note  17. — Elizabeth  and  Leicestee,  p.  332. 

To  justify  what  may  be  considered  as  a  high-colored  picture,  the  author 
ouotes  the  original  of  the  courtly  and  shrewd  Sir  James  Melville,  being  then 
Queen  Mary's  envoy  at  the  Court  of  London  : 

"I  was  required,"  says  Sir  James,  *'  to  stay  till  I  had  seen  him  made  Earl 
of  Leicester  and  Baron  of  Denbigh,  with  great  solemnity  at  Westmester ; 
herself  (Elizabeth)  helping  to  put  on  his  ceremonial,  he  sitting  upon  his  knees 
before  her,  keeping  a  great  gravity  and  discreet  behaviour  ;  but  she  could  not 
refrain  from  putting  her  hand  in  his  neck  to  kittle  {i.  e.,  tickle)  him,  smil- 
ingly, the  French  ambassador  and  I  standing  beside  her."—"  Memoirs,"  Ban- 
natyne  ed.,  p.  120. 

Note  18.— Italian  Poetry,  p.  340. 

The  incident  alluded  to  occurs  in  the  poem  of  "  Orlando  Innamorato  "  of 
Boiardo,  libro  ii.  canto  4,  stanza  26. 

Non  si  ritrova,  etc. 
It  may  be  rendered  thus  : 

As  then,  perchance,  unguarded  was  the  tower, 

8o  enterM  free  Anglante's  daantlees  knight. 
No  monster  and  no  giant  guard  the  bower 

In  whose  recess  reclined  the  fairy  light, 
Robed  in  a  loose  cymar  of  lily  white, 

And  on  her  lap  a  sword  of  breadth  and  might, 
In  whose  broad  blade,  as  in  a  mirror  bright, 

Like  maid  that  trims  her  for  a  festal  night, 
The  fairy  deck'd  her  hair  and  placed  her  coronet  aright. 

Elizabeth's  attachment  to  the  Italian  school  of  poetry  was  singularly  mani- 
fested on  a  well-known  occasion.  Her  godson,  Sir  John  Harrington,  having 
offended  her  delicacy  by  translating  some  of  the  licentious  passages  of  the 
*'  Orlando  Furioso,"  she  imposed  on  him,  as  a  penance,  the  task  of  rendering 
the  whole  poem  into  English. 

Note  19.— Fubnittjbe  of  Kenilwobth,  p.  344. 

In  revising  this  work  for  the  present  edition,  I  have  had  the  means  of  mak- 
ing some  accurate  additions  to  my  attempt  to  describe  the  princely  pleasures 
of  Kenilworth,  by  the  kindness  of  my  friend  William  Hamper,  Esq.,  who  had 
the  goodness  to  communicate  to  me  an  inventory  of  the  furniture  of  Kenil- 
worth in  the  days  of  the  magnificent  Earl  of  Leicester.  I  have  adorned  the 
text  with  some  of  the  splendid  articles  mentioned  in  the  inventory,  but  anti- 
quaries, especially,  will  be  desirous  to  see  a  more  full  specimen  than  the  story 
leaves  room  for. 

EXTBACTS  FBOM  KbNILWOBTH  INVENTOBY,   A.   D.    1584. 

A  salte,  ship-fashion,  of  the  mother  of  perle,  garnished  w^h  silver  and  divers 
workes,  warlike  'ensignes,  and  ornaments,  with  xvj  peeces  of  ordinance, 
whereof  ij  on  wholes,  two  anckers  on  the  foreparte,  and  on  the  stearne  the 
image  of  Dame  Fortune  standing  on  a  globe  with  a  flag  in  her  hand.  Pois 
xxxij  oz. 

A  gilte  salte  like  a  swann,  mother  of  perle.    Pois  xxx  oz.  iij  q'ters. 

A  George  on  horseback,  of  wood,  painted  and  gilt,  with  a  case  for  knives  in 
the  tayle  of  the  horse,  and  a  case  for  oyster  knives  in  the  brest  of  the  dragon. 

A  green  barge-cloth,  embrother'd  w^h  white  lions  and  beares. 

A  perfuming  pann,  of  silver.    Pois  xix  oz. 

In  the  halle.    Tabells,  long  and  short,  vj.    FormeB,  long  and  short,  ziiij. 

Hangings. 

Theie  are  minutely  specified,  and  consisted  of  the  following  subjects,  in 
tapestry  and  gilt  and  red  leather  : 

Flowers,  beasts,  and  pillars  arched.  Forest  worke.  Historie.  Btorie  of 
Susanna,  the  Prodigall  Childe,  Saule,  Tobie,  Hercules,  Lady  Fame,  Hawking 


NOTES.  457 

and  Hunting,  Jezabell,  Judith  and  Holofeines,  David,  Abraham,  Sampgon, 
Hippolitus,  Alexander  the  Great,  Naaman  the  Assyrian,  Jacob,  etc. 

Bedsteds,  with  theib  Furnitube. 

These  are  magnificent  and  numerous.    I  shall  copy,  verbatim,  the  de- 
scription of  what  appears  to  have  been  one  of  the  best : 

A  bedsted  of  wallnut-tree,  toppe  fashion,  the  pillars  ledd  and  varnished,  the 
ceelor,  tester,  and  single  vallance  of  crimson  sattin,  paned  with  a  broad  border 
of  bone  lace  of  golde  and  silver.  The  tester  richlie  embrotheied  with  my  Lo  : 
amies  in  a  garland  of  hoppes,  roses,  and  pomegranetts,  and  lyned  with  bucke- 
rom.  Fyve  curteins  of  crimson  sattin  to  the  same  bedsted,  striped  downe 
with  a  bone  lace  of  gold  and  silver,  garnished  with  buttons  and  loops  of  crim- 
son silk  and  golde,  containing  xiiij  bredths  of  sattin,  and  one  yarde  iij  q'ters 
deepe.    The  celor,  vallance,  and  curteins  lyned  with  crymson  tafifata  sarsenet. 

A  crymson  sattin  counterpointe,  quilted  and  embr  :  with  a  golde  twiste,  and 
lyned  with  redd  sarsenet,  being  in  length  iij  yards  good,  and  in  breadth  iij 
scant. 

A  chaise  of  crymson  sattin,  suteable. 

A  fayre  quilte  of  crymson  sattin,  vj  breadths,  iij  yai'des  3  q'ters  naile  deepe, 
all  lozenged  over  with  silver  twiste,  in  the  midst  a  cinquefoile  within  a  gar- 
land of  ragged  staves,  fringed  rounde  aboute  with  a  small  fringe  of  crymson 
silke,  lyned  throughe  with  white  fustian. 

Fyve  plumes  of  coolered  feathers,  garnished  with  bone  lace  and  spangells  of 
goulde  and  silver,  standing  in  cups  *  knitt  all  over  with  goulde,  silver,  and 
crymson  silk. 

A  carpett  for  a  cupboarde  of  crymson  sattin,  embrothered  with  a  border  of 
goulde  twiste,  aboute  iij  parts  of  it  fringed  with  silk  and  goulde,  lyned  with 
bridges  sattin,  in  length  ij  yards,  and  ij  bredths  of  sattin. 

There  were  eleven  down  beds  and  ninety  feather  beds,  besides  thirty-seven 
mattresses. 

Chaybes,  Stools,  and  Cushens. 

These  were  equally  splendid  with  the  beds,  etc.    I  shall  here  copy  that  which 
stands  at  the  head  of  the  list : 

A  chaier  of  crimson  velvet,  the  seate  and  backe  partlie  embrothered  with 
R.  L.  in  cloth  of  goulde,  the  beare  and  ragged  staffe  in  clothe  of  silver,  gar- 
nished with  lace  and  fringe  of  goulde,  silver,  and  crimson  silck.  The  frame 
covered  with  velvet,  bounde  aboute  the  edge  with  goulde  lace,  and  studded 
with  gilte  nailes. 

A  square  stoole  and  a  foote  stoole,  of  crimson  velvet,  fringed  and  garnished 
suteable. 

A  long  cushen  of  crimson  velvet,  embr  :  with  the  ragged  staffe  in  a  wreathe 
of  goulde,  with  my  Lo  :  posie  '*  Droyte  et  Loyall "  written  in  the  same,  and  the 
Ires  R.  L.  in  clothe  of  goulde,  being  garnished  with  lace,  fringe,  buttons,  and 
tassells,  of  gold,  silver,  and  crimson  silck,  lyned  with  crimson  taff :,  being  in 
length  1  yard  q'ter. 

A  square  cushen,  of  the  like  velvet,  embr  :  suteable  to  the  long  cushen. 

Cabpets. 

There  were  10  velvet  carpets  for  tables  and  windows,  49  Turkey  carpets  for 
floors,  and  32  cloth  carpets.    One  of  each  I  will  now  specify : 

A  carpett  of  crimson  velvet,  richlie  embr  :  with  my  Lo  :  posie,  beares  and 
ragged  staves,  etc.,  of  clothe  of  goulde  and  silver,  garnished  upon  the  seamei 
and  aboute  with  golde  lace,  fringed  accordinglie,  lyned  with  crimion  taffata 
sarsenett,  being  3  breadths  of  velvet,  one  yard  3  q'ters  long. 

A  great  Turquoy  carpett,  the  grownde  blew,  with  a  list  of  yelloe  at  each  end, 
being  in  length  x  yards,  in  bredthe  iiij  yards  and  q'ter. 

*  Probably  on  the  center  and  four  comers  of  the  bedstead.  Four  bears  and  ragged 
staves  occupied  a  similar  position  on  another  of  thes^  sipnptaoas  pieces  of  famitore. 


UB  NOTES. 

A  long  ct.rpett  of  blew  clothe,  lyned  with  bridged  sattin,  fringed  with  blew 
silck  and  goulde,  in  length  vj  yards  lack  a  q'ter,  the  whole  bredth  of  the  clothe. 

PlOTtTREB. 

Chiefly  described  as  having  curtains. 

The  Queene's  Majestie  (2  great  tables).  3  of  my  Lord.  St.  Jerome.  Lo  :  of 
Arundell.  Lord  Mathevers.  Lord  of  Pembroke.  Counte  Egmondt.  The 
Queene  of  Scotts.  King  Philip.  The  Baker's  Daughters.  The  Diike  of  Feria. 
Alexander  Magnus.  Two  Yonge  Ladies.  Pompaea  Sabina.  Fred:  D.  of 
Haxony.  Empr.  Charles.  K.  Philip's  Wife.  Prince  of  Orange  and  his  Wife. 
Marq:  of  Berges  and  his  Wife.  Counte  de  Home.  Count  Holstrate.  Monsr. 
Brederode.  Dnke  Alva.  Cardinal  Grandville.  Duches  of  Parma.  Henrie 
E.  of  Pembrooke  and  his  young  Countess.  Countis  of  Essex.  Occacon  and 
Bepentance.  Lord  Mowntacute.  Sir  Ja".  Crofts.  Sir  W^".  Mildmay.  Sr. 
Wm  Pickering.     Edwin  Abp.  of  York. 

A  tabell  of  an  historic  of  men,  weomen,  and  children,  molden  in  wax. 

A  little  foulding  table  of  ebanie,  garnished  with  white  bone,  wherein  are 
written  verses  with  l^es  of  goulde. 

A  table  of  my  Lord's  armes. 

Fyve  of  the  plannetts,  painted  in  frames. 

Twentie-three  cardes,  or  maps  of  countries. 

Instbuments. 

I  shall  give  two  specimens. 

An  instrument  of  organs,  regalls,  and  virginalls,  covered  with  crimson  velvet, 
and  garnished  v/ith  goulde  lace. 
A  fair  pair  of  double  virginalls. 

Cabonetts. 

A  cabonett  of  crimson  sattin,  richlie  embr:  with  a  device  of  hunting  the 
stagg,  in  goulde,  silver,  and  silck  with  iiij  glasses  in  the  topp  thereof,  xvj  cupps 
of  flowers  made  of  golde,  silver,  and  silck,  in  a  case  of  leather,  lyned  with 
greene  sattin  of  bridges. 

Anoi'  of  purple  velvet.    A  desk  of  red  leather. 

A  chess  borde  of  ebanie,  with  checkars  of  christall  and  other  stones,  layed 
with  silver,  garnished  with  beares  and  ragged  staves,  and  cinquefoiles  of  silver. 
The  xxxij  men  likewyse  of  christall  and  other  stones  sett,  the  one  sorte  in  silver 
white,  the  other  gilte,  in  a  case  gilded  and  lyned  with  green  cotton. 

Anor  of  bone  and  ebanie,    A  pair  of  tabells  of  bone. 

A  great  brason  candlestick  to  hang  intheroofeof  thehowse,  verie  fayer 
and  curiouslye  wrought,  with  xxtieiiij  branches,  xij  greate  andxij  of  lesser 
size,  6  rowlers  and  ij  wings  for  the  spreade  eagle,  xxiiij  socketts  for  candells, 
xij  greater  and  xij  of  a  lesser  sorte,  xxiiij  sawcers,  or  candle-cupps,  of  like 
propor^on  to  putt  under  the  socketts,  iij  images  of  men  and  iij  of  weomen,  of 
brass,  verie  finely  and  artificiallie  done. 

These  specimens  of  Leicester's  magnificence  may  serve  to  assure  the  reader 
that  it  scarce  lay  in  the  power  of  a  modern  author  to  exaggerate  the  lavish 
style  of  expense  displayed  in  the  princely  pleasures  of  Kenilworth. 

Note  20.— Death  of  the  Eabl  of  Leicesteb,  p.  449. 

In  a  curious  manuscript  copy  of  the  information  given  by  Ben  Jonson  to 
Drummond  of  Hawthornden,  as  abridged  by  Sir  Robert  Sibbald,  Leicester's 
death  is  ascribed  to  poison  administered  as  a  cordial  by  his  countess,  to  whom 
he  had  given  it,  representing  it  to  be  a  restorative  in  any  faintness,  in  the 
hope  that  she  herself  might  be  cut  off  by  using  it.  We  have  already  quoted 
Jonson's  account  of  this  merited  stroke  of  retribution  (see  note  on  p.  ix.  of 


NOTES.  "159 

Introduction).  It  may  be  here  added,  that  the  following  satirical  epitaph  on 
Leicester  occurs  in  Druinmond's  "Collections,"  but  is  evidently  not  of  his 
composition  : — 

EPITAPH  ON  THE  ERLE  OF  LEISTER. 

Here  lies  a  valiant  wa-rior, 

Who  never  drew  a  eword  ; 
Here  lies  a  noble  courtier, 

Who  never  kept  his  <M>rd  ; 
Here  lies  the  Earle  of  Leister, 

Who  trovern'd  the  estates. 
Whom    he  earth  coulfl  never  living  lore, 

And  the  just  Heaven  now  hntes.— 

See  "  Archseologia  Scotica,"  vol.  iv. ;  and  the  volume  published  by  the 
Shakespeare  Society,  "  Notes  on  Ben  Jonson's  Conversations,"  p.  24,  1842. 
— Laing. 


GLOSSARY 


OP 


WORDS,  PHRASES,  AND  ALLUSIONS 


Abye,  suffer  for. 

Accolade,  the  light  touch 
made  with  the  sword  on 
the  shoulder  of  one  who 
is  knighted. 

Afrite,  an  evil  demon  in 
Mahoramedan  mythology. 

AiGuiLLETTE,  lace  tag. 

Albumazar,  a  famous  Ara- 
bian astronomer,  born  in 
Persia  near  close  of  8th 
century  a.  d.,  wrote 
"  Flores  Astrologici " 
(Augsburg,  1488),  and 
other  works  on  astrology. 

Alicant,  Spanish  wine. 

j^^LLAN,  or  Allen,  Thomas, 
mathematician  (1542- 
1632),  regarded  by  the 
vulgar  as  a  magician. 

Almains,  Germans. 

Alter  ego,  second  self. 

Amoret,  the  beau-ideal  of 
female  beauty  in  the 
"  Faerie  Queene,"  Bk.  iii. 

Amsterdam,  great 
SCHOLAR  OF.  ErEsmuB 
was  a  native,  not  of 
Amsterdam,  but  of  Rot- 
terdam. 

Anan,  I  beg  your  pardon? 
presently. 

Angel,  gold  coin=108.  in 
Elizabeth's  reign. 

Another-guess,  another 
sort  of,  kind  of. 

Anticly,  grotesquely. 

Arcanum,  the  great  secret 
of  the  conversion  of  base 
metals  into  gold. 

Argent,  silver. 

Arion,  ancient  Greek  poet, 
who,  when  driven  into 
the  sea  by  envious  sailors, 
was  carried  to  land  on 
a  dolphin's  back. 

ARROW;  e'er  a,  ever  a. 

AacAPART,  a  giant  over- 
come by  Sir  Bevis  of 
Hampton  (Southampton), 

AscHAM,  Roger,  tutor  to 
Elizabeth,  and  royal  sec- 
retary to  Edward  VI., 
Mary,  and  Elizabeth. 

▲■PIC,  the  aip. 


Astra    regunt,    etc.,   (p. 

212),  The  stars  rule  men, 

but  God  rules  the  stars. 
A-towling,  a-tolling. 
AuTOLYCUS,  a  crafty  pedlar 

in  "  The  Winter's  Tale." 
Ave  Maria,  ora  pro  nobis, 

Hail,  Mary,  pray  for  us. 
AvisED  OF,  aware  of. 

Babies,  to  look,  small 
images  of  one's  self  re- 
flected in  the  eyes  of 
another. 

Baillie,  Harry,  of  the 
Tabard,  mine  host  of  the 
Tabard  Inn  in  South- 
wark,  where  Chaucer's 
Canterbury  Pilgrims  as- 
sembled. 

Bartholomew  Fair,  held 
at  West  Smithfleld,  Lon- 
don, on  24th  August  (3d 
September  from  1753),  a 
great  cloth  market  and 
pleasure  fair,  illustrated 
in  Ben  Jonson's  play, 
"  Bartholomew  Fair." 

Base,  a  plaited  skirt,  some- 
times imitated  in  mailed 
armor. 

Bastard,  a  sweet  Spanish 
wine,  resembling  Mus- 
cadel. 

Bears,  are  you  there 
WITH  YOUR.  A  man,  dis- 
liking a  sermon  on  Elisha 
and  the  bears,  went  on 
the  following  Sunday  to 
another  church ;  but  the 
sermon  was  on  the  same 
subject,  leading  him  to 
utter  this  exclamation. 

Bear  the  bell,  take  the 
first  place  :  comp  the  bell- 
wether, that  guides  the 
flock. 

Beliai^is,  hero  of  the 
chivalric  romance,  "Don 
Bellanis  of  Greece." 

Bell  Savage,  or  Belle 
Sauvage,  inn  in  Ludgate 
Hill,  London.  See  Spec- 
tator, No.  28. 

Belos,  Bel,  or  Baal,  the 

461 


sun-god  of  the  AesyrianB 
and  Babylonians. 

Besognio, worthless  fellow. 

Bittern  bump,  the  deep 
trumpet-like  boom  of  the 
bittern  or  butter-bump. 

Black  Bull,  perhaps  the 
Red  Bull,  in  St.  John's 
Street,  Smithfleld ;  per- 
haps the  Bull  in  Bishops- 
gate  Street,  both  theaters. 

Black-jack,  a  large  jug  of 
waxed  leather,  for  hold- 
ing ale. 

Black  Sanctus,  a  bur- 
lesque of  the  Sanctus  of 
the  Roman  missal. 

Board  of  Green  Cloth, 
a  committee  of  the 
royal  household,  for- 
merly charged  with  the 
duties  of  purveyance. 

BoNA-ROBA,  a  wench,  a 
showy  wanton. 

Boon  whids,  cut,  give  good 
words. 

Botcher,  a  cobbler,  a  tailor 
who  does  repairs. 

Bratchet,  a  little  brat. 

Briarbus^,  the  hundred- 
armed  giant  in  ancient 
Greek  mythology. 

Bridges  sattin,  eatin  made 
at  Bruges,  in  Flanders. 

Brill,  or  Briel,  captured 
in  1572  by  the  patriotic 
"  Beggars  of  the  Sea," 
who  shortly  after  were  in 
their  turn  besieged  there 
by  the  Spaniards. 

Burleigh  and  Cecil, 
Elizabeth's  great  states- 
man William  Cecil,  Lord 
Burleigh,  and  his  son, 
Sir  Robert  Cecil,  whom 
Elizabeth  made  Secretary 
of  State  in  1596. 

Bush  over  the  door,  a 
sign  that  the  house  so 
adorned  was  an  inn. 

Cabala,  a  mystic  system 
of  mingled  philosophy, 
theology,  and  magic  that 
originated    amongst    th« 


4fi2 


GLOSSARY 


Jews  of  the  Middle  Ages ; 
OABALiSTs,  alchemists, 
dealers  in  magic. 

Cacodemon,  an  evil  spirit. 

Calipolis,  wife  of  the 
Moorish  prince  in  Peele's 
play,  "The  Battle  of  Al- 
cazar." 

CALivfcR,  16th  century 
musket. 

Cameradoes,  comrades. 

Camici^,  shirts. 

Capotaine,  or  capotb, 
close-fltiing  hat. 

Gardes,  chnrts,  maps. 

Castino  bottle,  bottle 
for  sprinkling  perfumed 
waters. 

Cater-cousin,  on  terms  of 
close  intimacy. 

Catlowdie,  or  catlowdy, 
a  village  in  the  extreme 
north  of  Cumberland. 

Ceklor,  or  CELURE,  bed- 
haugings,  a  canopy  cover- 
ing a  bed. 

C'bst  l'hommbj  qui,  etc. 
(p.  133),  'Tis  the  man  who 
does  the  fighting  and 
gives  counsel. 

Charlatani,  charlatans. 

Cherry-pit,  a  game  in 
which  cherry-stones  are 
thrown  into  a  hole  in  the 
ground. 

Chopin,  a  high-soled  shoe, 
worn  in  Spain  and  Italy 
about  1600. 

Clary,  a  mixture  of  wine, 
honey,  and  spices. 

Cockatrices,  prostitutes. 

Cod's-head,  fool. 

C(KLEB8,  unwed. 

Cog's  wounds,  God's 
wounds,  a  form  of  oath. 

CoiP,  a  lady's  head-dress. 

Coil,  herb's  a,  'here's  a 
to-do,  pother ;  keep  a 
COIL,  make  a  fuss,  ado, 
about. 

Col  BRAND,  a  Danish  giant 
slain  by  Sir  Guy  of  War- 
wick. 

Combust,  astrological  term 
applied  to  a  planet  when 
it  is  so  near  to  the  sun 
as  to  be  almost  burnt  up 
or  extinguished. 

Compos  voti,  having  ac- 
complished your  wish. 

Compter,  a  prison  for 
debtors.  London  had  two 
in  the  16th  century,  one 
in  the  Poultry,  the  other 
in  Wood  Street. 

Cordovan,  Spanish  leather. 

Corinthian,  a  bully,  ad- 
venturer. 

ConRAGio,  courage. 

Costard,  the  head. 

Cote,  pass,  overtake. 

CoucHER,  going  to  bed. 


Cricket,  a  small,  low  stool. 
Cross,  silver  coin  marked 

with  a  cross. 
CuLiss,  or  CULLI8,  broth  of 

boiled  meat  strained. 

CURETUR  JENTACULUM, 

Look  after  the  breakfast. 

Cut  boon  whids,  give  good 
words. 

Cutter,  bully,  sharper ; 
cutter's  law,  thieves' 
law;  cuTTiNG,8wnggering. 

Cyclops,  or  cnclopes,  the 
assistant?  of  Vulcan,  who 
labored  in  his  work- 
shops in  Etna  and  other 
volcanoes. 

Cymar,  a  loose,  light  robe. 

CYPRUS,CYPREsS,Or  CIPRUS, 

a  thin,  transparent  kmd 
of  crape. 

Dan,  a  complimentary  title, 
equivalent  to  Master,  sir. 
common  with  the  old 
poets. 

Dandieprat,  dwarf, 
urchin. 

Deboshed,  debauched. 

Dee,  Dr.  John,  a  London 
alchemist,  who  lived  in 
the  reigns  from  Edward 
VI.  to  James  I. 

Devil  looking  over  Lin- 
coln, a  phrase  referring 
to  one  of  the  following 
—a  gargoyle,  shaped  like 
a  diabolic  figure  on  a 
witch's  back,  near  the 
south  porch  of  the  cathe- 
dral ;  a  figure  of  Satan  at 
the  east  end  of  the  south 
chapel  of  the  nave ;  a 
figure  of  the  devil  on  the 
top  of  Lincoln  College, 
Oxford. 

Diablotin.  little  devil,  mis- 
chievous young  imp. 

Died  without  his  shoes, 
i.  e.,  in  bed. 

Dificilium,  etc.  (p.  103), 
endurance  of  hardships 
from  day  to  day. 

Dink,  trim,  tidy. 

DioNYsius,  the  Younger, 
tyrant  of  Syracuse,  retired 
after  his  second  expulsion 
in  343  b.  c.  to  Corinth, 
where  he  is  said  to  have 
earned  his  living  as  a 
schoolmaster. 

DiRL,  thrill,  vibrate. 

Dole.  See  Happy  man  be 
his  dole. 

Douse,  blow,  stroke. 

Drap-db-burb,  or  burk, 
coarse  woolen  stuff. 

DUDMAN      AND     RaMHEAD, 

two  capes,  20  miles  apart, 
on  the  Corniph  coast, 
which  of  cou''8e  can  never 

meet. 


DuERGAR,  or  Dvkroer.  the 
dwarfs  of  Scandinavian 
mytholoL'y  and  folklore. 

Duke  of  Norfolk's  af- 
fair. Thomas  Howard, 
4th  Duke,  was  belieaded 
in  1572  for  treasonable 
plotting  in  behalf  of  Mary 
Queen  of  Scots  and  the 
Koman  Catholic  interest. 

Electuary,  a  medicine, 
consisting  of  powders, 
etc.,  mixed  with  honey 
or  syrup,  and  licked  by 
the  patient. 

Ell-wand,  measuring-rod 
an  ell  long. 

Erasmus  ab  die  Fausto, 
Erasmus  de  Holiday 

Ergo  hues.  etc.  (p.  106), 
So  ho  there,  Richard,  my 
pupil,  come  hither,  1  pray 
thee. 

Et  sic  de  CiBTERTS,  and  so 
on  with  the  rest. 

EUMBNIDBS,       St\  GIUMQUB 

NEFAS,  tiie  Furies  and  the 
Stytjian  monster. 

Excalibur,  famous  sword 
of  King  Arthur. 

Ex  NOMINE,  etc.  (p.  103), 
From  whose  name  is  de- 
rived the  common  word 
"gibberish." 

Eye,  by  the,  in  abundance. 

Paber  FERRARIU8,  black- 
smith. 

Faitour,  rogue,  hvpocrite. 

PALD-sTooLB,a  folding  stool 
or  chair,  ramp-stool. 

Fall  back,  fall  edge. 
come  what  may. 

Farcy,  a  disease  of  horses. 

Fa TiciD^,  those  who  pre- 
dict fate. 

Favete  linguis,  keep 
silence. 

Felix  bis  tbrqub,  twice 
yea,  three  times  fortu- 
nate. 

Ferrateen,  perhaps  fer- 
RANDiN,  a  kind  of  poplin; 
perhaps  harrateen,  a 
coarse  woolen  cloth. 

Festina  lente,  make  haste 
8lowly,don't  be  impatient. 

Flaw,  a  sudden  and  violent 
wind-storm. 

Flight-shot,  bow-shot. 

P'CENUM     HABET    in    CORNU, 

It  has  hay  wrapped  about 
its  horn's— a  proverbial 
expression  for  a  danger- 
ous fellow. 
Fortune,  the,  a  theater 
in  Aldersgate,  London, 
opened  about  1600,  after 
the  time  of  this  novel. 

POUR-NOOKED,          four-COf- 

nered. 


GLOSSARY 


463 


Fox,  an  old  name  for  the 
broadsword. 

"  FoxBs  AND  Firebrands, 
or  a  Specimen  of  the 
Danger  and  Harmony  of 
Popery  and  Separation  " 
(1682),  in  verse,  author 
not  positirely  known. 

Frippery,  old  clothes. 

FURENS         QUID        FBMINA, 

what   a  frenzied  woman 

(can  do). 
FuBMiTT,  hulled  wheat  or 

rice  boiled  in  milk,  and 

seasoned   with   currants, 

raisins,  etc. 
FusiLLK,  or  FUSIL,  an  elon- 

fated    lozenge,    term    in 
eraldry. 

Galliard,  lively,  jaunty. 

Galloon,  worsted  lace. 

Gambade,  gambol,  curvet. 

Gaudet  nomine  Sibylla, 
She  rejoices  in  the  name 
of  Sibyl. 

GAze,  to  look  attentively 
upon. 

Gazk-hound,  greyhound. 

Gear,  affair,  thing,  busi- 
ness. 

Geber,  a  famous  Arabian 
alchemist  of  the  8th 
century. 

Genbthliacally,  by  cal- 
culating nativities. 

Gillian,  rare.  See  Rare 
Gillian  of  Croydon. 

Globe,  the,  a  theater  on 
the  south  bank  of  the 
Thames  between  London 
and  Blackfriars  Bridges. 

GoGSNoxms,  a  similar  cor- 
ruption to  Cog's  wounds 
{q.  t>.). 

Gold  by  the  eye,  money 
in  plenty,  gold  in  abun- 
dance. 

Golden  opinions,  etc.  (p. 
193),  quoted  from  "  Mac- 
beth,'^ Act.  I.  sc.  7; 
Shakespeare  is  therefore 
alluded  to. 

Goodjbre,  or  goujeers,  a 
coarse  expletive,  the  pox! 

Grave  Maurice,  Count 
Maurice  of  Nassau,  sec- 
ond son  and  successor  of 
William  of  Orange  as 
Governor  of  the  Nether- 
lands. 

Groat,  silver  coin  worth 
4d. 

Groorah,  or  grograin,  a 
texture  of  silk  and  mo- 
hair or  Bilk  and  wool, 
stiffened  with  gum. 

Groyne  (the),  old  name 
for  Corunna  in  Spain. 

HALeAYBR,  Mayor  of.  See 
Mayor  of  Halgaver, 


Hali,  or  Ali  ben  Aben- 
Raobl,  an  Arab  astrol- 
oger of  the  eleventh  cen- 
tury, wrote  "De  Judiciis 
Astrorum"  (Venice,  1485). 

Handsel,  earnest-money  of 
a  bargain. 

Happy  man  be  his  dole, 
may  his  lot  be  that  of  a 
happy  man. 

Haro,  an  old  Norman  cry 
for  help. 

Harrowtry,  heraldry. 

Harry  noble.    See  Noble. 

Haruspices,  soothsayers, 
diviners. 

Hays,  or  hay,  a  country 
dance,  danced  in  a  ring. 

Head-borough,  head  of  a 
borough,  petty  constable. 

Heart-sponk,  the  depres- 
sion in  the  breast-bone; 
the  breast-bone. 

Hermetic,  relating  to  al- 
chemy, astrology,  magic. 

HiLDiNG,  a  mean,  worthless 
wretch. 

Hocktide,  second  Tuesday 
after  Easter  day. 

HoiSE,  to  heist,  lift. 

Holped  up,  embarrassed, 
in  a  pickle. 

Horse-courser,  dealer  in 
horses. 

HosPiTiuM,  inn,  tavern. 

Hunsdon,  Lord,  was 
Elizabeth's  first  cousin, 
being  the  son  of  her 
mother's  sister. 

Incontinent,  immediately. 
In  cuerpo,  in  plain  undress, 

without  cloak,  naked. 
Indamira,  more   correctly 

Indamora,    the    heroine 

of       Dryden's      tragedy 

"  Aurungzebe." 
In  fumo,  in  smoke. 
Ingle,  favorite,  intimate. 
In  rerum  natura,  as  an 

actual  fact. 
IPHYCLUs,     one     of      the 

Argonauts,  and  owner  of 

large    herds     of     cattle; 

QUID  hoc,  etc.  (p.  102),  is 

a    proverbial    phrase    of 

uncertain  origin. 
IvY-TOD,  ivy-bush. 

Jape,  jest,  trick. 
JowRiNG,    scolding,    curs- 
ing, 
Juvenal,  a  youth. 

Ka  me,  ka  thee,  Help  me, 

and  I'll  help  you. 
Keep  a  coil.    See  Coil. 
Kennel,  the  gutter. 
Kernes,  light-armed  foot- 

aoidiers. 
King  Cambyses'  vein,  i.  e., 

blustering  and   bullying. 


The  original  character 
figures  in  Eikanah  Settle's 
"  Cambyses,  King  of 
Persia  "  (1671). 

Lachrym.*!  (Christi),  red 
Italian  wine,  grown  on 
the  slopes  of  Mt.  Vesu- 
vius. 

Lacs  d'amour,  laqubi 
amoris,  love  snares. 

Largesse,  etc.  (p.  844), 
Your  gifts,  your  gifts, 
bold  knights. 

Left-handed,  morganatic. 

Levanter,  easterly  Medi- 
terranean wind. 

Lex  Julia,  law  of  the  Ro- 
man Emperor  Augustus, 
designed  to  promote  mar- 
riage and  punish  adultery. 

Limber,  supple,  pliant. 

LiNDABRiDKS,  heroine  in 
the  Spanish  romance  of 
'•  The  Mirror  of  Knight- 
hood"; a  kept  mistress. 

LiNGu.«!  Latin.*;,  etc.  (p.  99). 
Though  not  altogether 
ignorant  of  Latin,  most 
learned  sir,  I  prefer  to 
speak  in  my  mother 
tongue. 

List  (of  yelloe),  edge, 
border. 

LiTTocKs,  rags  and  tatters. 

LooN,  fellow. 

LuciNA  FER  OPEM,  Luciua, 
give  thine  aid.  Lucina 
was  the  goddess  who  pre- 
sided over  childbirth. 

LuDi  MAGiSTER,  master  of 
the  school;  also  master 
of  children's  play,  hence 
holiday-master. 

Lyme-hound,  sporting  dog, 
that  hunts  by  scent. 

Maddow,  right,  in  all 
probability  mead-wort  or 
meadow-sweet  is  meant, 
which,  if  gathered  on  the 
right  day,  St.  John's  Day, 
will  reveal  a  thief. 

Madge-howlet,  the  barn- 
owl. 

Maestricht,  besieged  and 
sacked  by  the  Spanish 
forces  under  Alexander 
of  Palma  in  1579. 

Magister  artium,  the  de- 
gree of  M.  a. 

Magisterium,  the  philoso- 
pher's stone. 

Mandragora,  mandrake, 
plant  believed  to  possess 
magic  qualities. 

Manna  of  St.  Nicholas 
(ofBari),  the  clear,  taste- 
less poison  sold  by  the 
infamous  hag  Toffania  of 
Naples  in  the  beginning 
of  the  18th  century. 


464 


GLOSSARY. 


MABOUS      TXTIiLITTS,     i.     «., 

Cicero,  the  Roman  orator, 

Haro,  i.  e.,  Vergil,  the 
Koman   poet. 

Martin  Swart.  The  old 
song  in  which  the  second 
verse  (p.  92)  occurs  is 
Skelton^s  "  Against  a 
Comely  Coystrowne." 

Matamoros,  or  AIata- 
MORB,  the  conventional 
boaster  of  Spanish 
comedy,  the  name  signi- 
fying "  Slayer  of  Moors." 

'  Match  for  match,'  quoth 
thb  devil  to  the  col- 
LIRR,  in  the  old  farce 
"The  Collier  of  Croydon." 

Mayor  of  Halgaver, 
an  imaginary  potentate, 
similar  to  the  Mayor  of 
Garrat,  who  enforced 
ofienses  against  the  un- 
written laws  of  popular 
opinion— a  Cornish  prov- 
erb. 

Mi  anime,  corculum 
MEUM,  my  life,  my  little 
heart. 

Minikin  minion,  a  little 
darling. 

MocRADO,  a  mixture  of  silk 
and  wool,  or  of  either 
with  flax,  and  resembling 
velveteen. 

Monsieur,  the  Duke  of 
Anjou,  youngest  son  of 
Henry  II.  of  France,  a 
courtier  and  a  suitor  of 
Queen  Elizabeth. 

Moppet,  pretty  young  girl. 

MoRioR,  etc.  (p.  8),  I  die,  I 
have  died,  to  die. 

Mountain-ash,  or  rowan- 
tree,  was  regarded  as  a 
safeguard  against  witch- 
craft." 

Mb.  Bayes's  tragedy, 
"  The  Rehearsal  (1671), by 
George  Villiers,  Duke  of 
Buckingham,  Bayes  be- 
ing the  name  of  the 
hero. 

MuLciBBR,  Vulcan,  the 
ancient  Roman  god  of 
fire. 

Murrey,  mulberry-col- 
ored. 

MuscADiNB,  a  rich  sweet 
wine. 

MusQUETON,  light,  short 
hand-gun 

Muster,  pattern. 

Naas,  the  Tyrant,  or 
Nahash,  king  of  the  Am- 
monites.   SeeQ&va..  xi. 

Kaunton,  Sir  Robert, 
author  of  "  The  Court  of 
Queen  Elizabeth"  (1641) 
and  "Fragmenta  Re- 
galia "0642). 


Ne  quisquam,  etc.  (p.  216), 
No  one  but  Ajax  can  con- 
quer Ajax. 

Ne  semissem  quidem,  not  a 
single  groat. 

Nether-stocks,  stockings. 

Nil  ultra,  nothing  be- 
yond. 

Noble,  a  gold  coin =68.  8d.; 
Harry  noble,  a  noble 
coined  in  the  region  of 
Henry  VIII.;  rose  noble, 
noble  bearing  represen- 
tation of  a  rose,  first 
coined  under  Edward  VI., 
and  worth  lOs. 

Nonsuch,  a  royal  castle,  3 
or  4  miles  from  Epsom  in 
Surrey, 

Nooning,  rest  and  repast  at 
noon. 

Nostra  paupbra  regna, 
our  poor  domains. 

NuQ^,  trifles. 

Numinibus,   etc.    (p.   1(X)), 

firayers     heard     by     un- 
riendly  deities. 

Oberon,  vision  op,  from 
"  Midsummer  Night's 
Dream,"  which  was  not 
acted  until  1600.  Shake- 
speare himself  was  only 
a  boy  at  the  date  of  this 
romance. 

O  C^CA  MENS    MORTALIUM, 

O  darkened  mind  of  man. 
Or,  gold. 

Ordinary,  eating-house. 
Orion,    a    gigantic   hunter 

of  handsome  appearance ; 

see  Homer's  "  Odyssey," 

Bks.  V.  and  xi. 

Palabras,  talk,  palaver. 

PANTOurLE,  slipper. 

Parcel,  partly. 

Paropa,  a  kind  of  textile 
material.  See  Taylor 
(Water-Poet),  "Praise  of 
Hempseed." 

Partlet,  covering  for  a 
woman's  neck,  and  shoul- 
ders, kerchief. 

Parvo  coNTBNTUS,  contcnt 
with  little. 

Passant,  walking— term  in 
heraldry. 

Pass-devant,  a  fashionable 
dress,  a  dress  worn  at 
dances. 

Passtime  op  the  Peoplb, 
a  rare  chronicle  (1529)  by 
John  Rastell. 

Patientia,  patience. 

Pauca  verba,  (say)  few 
words,  have  done. 

Perdue,  hidden,  in  con- 
cealment. 

Per  pale,  by  a  vertical 
line  ;  said  of  an  escutch- 
eon. 


Pert^sa  barbarjd  lo- 
QUKL.*;,  heartily  sick  of  a 
language  not  her  own. 

Pewit,  the  lapwing. 

Phaeto^,  the  charioteer  jf 
the  Sub. 

Philippine  Cheney,  that 
is  Philip  and  Cheney 
(i,  «.,  China),  some  kind 
of  worsted  or  woolen 
stuff.  "  Philip  and 
Cheney  "  is  an  early  equi- 
valent of  "  Dick,  Tom, 
and  Harry." 

Phrbnbsis,  violent  mad- 
ness, frenzy. 

Picaroon,  one  who  lives  by 
his  wife;  a  rogue. 

PiccADiLLoB,  sort  of  deep 
stiff  collar. 

Pize,  term  of  mild  execra- 
tion. 

Place  op  removal,  cell  or 
place  of  confinement. 

PoKiNG-AWL,  rod  for  curl- 
ing the  ruff,  sometimes 
used  as  a  stiletto. 

Portmantle,  portmanteau 

Port  St.  Mary's,  town  in 
the  bay  of  Cadiz,  Spain. 

Port  Christum  natum, 
after  the  birth  of  Christ, 

A.D. 

PoTosi,  a  town  in  South 
America  (Bolivia)  with 
rich  silver  mines,  famous 
since  the  Spanish  con- 
quest. 

Preci-ian,  Puritan. 

Primo  Henrici  Sbptimi,  in 
the  first  year  of  Henry 
VII.'s  reign. 

Princox,  or  PRiNCOCK,  a 
coxcomb. 

Profecto,  literally  so. 

Projection,  the  process 
of  transmuting  metals, 
especially  the  actual  fus- 
ing of  the  metals  in  the 
crucible. 

Provant  rapier,  army 
sword. 

PuoKFiST,  a  niggardly  per- 
son. 

PusEY  HORN.  The  manor 
of  Pusey  in  Berkshire  ii 
held  by  virtue  of  an  ox- 
horn,  presented  to  the 
Pusey  family  by  Canmte 
the  Great. 

Quasi  lucub  a  non  luobn- 
DO,  for  the  reverse  of  the 
most  obvious  reason,  foe 
an  absurd  reason. 

Quid  mihi  cum  OABAXiiO  f 
What  have  I  to  do  with 
the  nag  f 

QuiNTiLiAN,  celebrated  Ro- 
man grammarian  and 
teacher  of  rhetoric  of  tbs 
1st  century  a.d 


GLOSSARY. 


465 


RABATnoB,  broad  collar. 

Baodlb,  thrash,  beat. 

Eam's  AiiLBY,  off  Fleet 
Street,  and  near  White- 
friars,  a  resort  of  thieves 
and  bad  characters,  and 
noted  for  its  dirty  cook- 
shops  ;  now  called  Hare 
Place. 

Bare  Giujan  of  Croy- 
don, if  the  old  farce, 
"The  Collier  of  Croy- 
don," is  meant,  for  Gillian 
read  Marian. 

Bard  antecedbntem,  an 
allusion  to  a  passage  in 
Horace's  "  Odes,"  iii.  2,  in 
which  punishment  is  said 
nearly  always  to  dog  the 
heels  of  the  evil-doer. 

Bash,  species  of  inferior 
silk. 

BaTCLIPPB,  or  RADCLirFE, 

Earl   of    Sussex,   was 

Robert,  not  Thomas. 
Bectk    quidbm,     etc.    (p. 

280),    Assuredly   we  are, 

most  worthy  sir. 
Beevk,  steward. 
Begalls,  or  REGAL,  a  small 

portable  organ. 
Bequardant,     turned     to 

look  back. 

BiCARDB,     ADSIS,     NEBULO, 

Richard,  you  idle  scamp, 
come  hither. 

BoBBRTsoN,  William, 

Scottish  historian,  died 
in  1793. 

BosY  Cross,  order  of,  or 
RosiCRuciANS,  mystical 
philosophers,  who  pro- 
fessed the  transmuta- 
tion of  metals,  alchemy, 
magic,  etc. ;  flourished 
principally  in  17th  and 
i8th  centuries. 

BoUNDBLL,  anything  round, 
an  article  of  feminine 
attire. 

BuFFLBR,  bully,  swaggerer. 

Sadler,  Sir  Ealph,  whom 
Elizabeth  employed  in 
her  dealings  with  Scot- 
land ;  he  was  educated 
under  Thomas  Cromwell, 
Earl  of  Essex. 

fihr.  Antonlin's  or  rather 
St.  Antholin's,  a  church 
(pulled  down,  1874)  in 
Watling  Street,  London, 
where  in  1599  the  Puri- 
tans began  to  hold  very 
early  morning  services. 

8t.  Austen's  Eve.  St. 
Augustine's  (Austin's) 
Day  was  28th  August. 

St.  Barnaby,  or  Barna- 
bas, the  companion  of 
St.  Paul. 

St.  Johk'8  Bbro,  the  Bhine 


wine  known  as  Johannis- 
berger. 

St.  Julian,  patron  saint 
of  travelers  and  hospi- 
tality. 

St.  Lucy's  Eve,  18th  Sep- 
tember. St.  Lucy  was 
the  "  daughter  lo  a  king 
of  the  Scots,"  lived  in 
solitude  beside  the  river 
Meuse  in  France,  and 
died  in  1090. 

St.  Luke's  Hospital, 
Asylum  in  Moorflelds, 
London. 

St.  Michael's  Mount, 
rock  ofE  the  Cornish  coast, 
near  Penzance. 

St.  Peter  op  the  Fetters, 
best  explained  by  a  re- 
ference to  Acts  xii.  The 
chains  with  which  the 
Ajpostle  was  bound  were, 
it  is  said,  carried  to  Rome 
by  Eudocia,  wife  of 
Theodosius  the  Younger, 
in  439,  and  from  that  time 
regarded  with  almost 
idolatrous  veneration. 

Saltim  banqui,  quacks, 
mountebanks. 

Salve,  domine,  etc.  (p.  99,) 
Hail,  sir,  dost  thou  under- 
stand Latin. 

Salving  the  weapon,  etc. 
(p.  103),  as  for  instance 
with  Sir  Kenelm  Digby's 
sympathetic  powder. 

Santo  Diavolo,  St.  Satan. 

Sarsenet,  thin  soft  woven 
silk. 

Savin,  oil  of  juniper. 

Scholar,  great,  op  Am- 
sterdam, should  be,  of 
Rotterdam,  where  Eras- 
mus was  born. 

ScoNCE,a  fort,  detached  out- 
work. 

Scot  and  Lot,  rates  and 
taxes. 

ScROYLE,  a  mean  fellow, 
wretch. 

Seiant,  sitting,  a  term  in 
heraldry. 

Seven  sleepers,  martyrs 
of  Ephesus,  who,  accord- 
ing to  the  legend,  slept 
nearly  two  hundred  years 
in  a  cave,  from  the  reign 
of  the  Emperor  Deciiis  to 
that  of  Theodosius  II. 

Shag,  sort  of  rough  cloth. 

Sheres,  Jeres,  town  in 
Spain,  famous  for  its 
wine  (sherry). 

She-wolp  op  France, 
Isabella,  daughter  of 
Philip  v.,  king  of  France. 

Shooter's  Hill,  near 
Greenwich,  a  favorite 
haunt  of  highwaymen. 

S^ot- WINDOW,  window  pro- 


jecting from  a  wall,  used 
for  defense. 

Shovel-board,  in  which 
the  players  pushed  pieces 
of  money  or  counters  on 
to  certain  lines  and 
squares  on  a  board. 

Shrewsbury,  Countess 
OP.  Q,ueen  Mary  was  at 
this  time  in  the  custody 
of  the  Earl  of  Shrews- 
bury. 

Sidney,  Philip,  the  gal- 
lant poet  and  soldier  who 
fell  before  Zutphen  in 
Holland  in  1586. 

Sieve  and  shears,  divina- 
tion by  means  of  a  sieve 
and  a  pair  of  shears. 

Si  pixum  solvas,  etc.  (p. 
118),  If  you  dissolve  a 
fixed  substance  and  make 
the  solution  fly,  and  then 
fix  it  again,  being  vola- 
tile, you  will  live  safe 
and  sound  ;  if  the  proc- 
ess causes  a  wind,  it  is 
worth  a  hundred  pieces 
of  gold.  The  wind  blows 
where  it  lists.  Catch  who 
catch  can. 

Sine  PROLE,  childless. 

Sir  Pandarus  of  Troy, 
chief  of  the  Lycians  in 
the  Trojan  War,  but  de- 
graded in  the  romances 
of  chivalry  to  a  pimp  or 
procurer. 

Sir  Talbot,  a  dog's  name. 

Skelton'b,  *'  Books,"  or 
fuller,  "  Certaine  Bokes 
compiled  by  Master  Skel- 
ton,  Poet  Laureat,"  of 
various  contents. 

Skene,  short  sword,  knife. 

Skinker,  a  tapster. 

Sleuth-hound,  blood- 
hound. 

Slocket,  to  convey  things 
privately  out  of  the  house. 

Slop,  sort  of  trousers;  a 
long  loose  outer  sack-like 
garment. 

SMocK-PACED,of  girlish  face 
or  complexion. 

Snails,  an  oath,  corrupted 
from  Christ's  (God's) 
nails,  with  which  His 
hands  and  feet  were 
pierced. 

Snick  up,  go,  go  and  be 
hanged;  "Snick  up,"  or 
"  snack  up,"  is  possibly  a 
corruption  of  "  his  neck 
up." 

Spital,  hospital. 

Spitchcocked,  split  and 
broiled. 

Stand  and  deliver,  the 
formula  of  highwaymen. 

Startup,  high-topped  shoe, 
buskin. 


466 


GLOSSAET, 


Stirabout,  oatmeal  and 
dripping  stirred  together 
in  a  frying  pan-whilet 
cooking. 

Stoup,  a  drinking-vessel, 
liquid  measure. 

Strappado,  a  military  pun- 
iehment;  the  offender  was 
drawn  to  a  considerable 
height  and  suddenly  let 
fall. 

SuiTLAMiNA,  be  silent. 

SwAKF,  faint,  swoon. 

Swashing,  bullying,  brag- 
ging. 

Taffeta,  silk  stuff. 

Ta!!rlkton,  the  player, 
was  Richard  Tarlton 
(died  1588),  a  comic  actor 
and  jester,  patronized  by 
Leicester. 

Tau,  letter,  from  the 
Greek  alphabet,  corre- 
sponds to  "t." 

Tent  stitch,  single  stitch 
in  worsted  work  and  em- 
broidery. 

Tkrtio  Marine,  the  third 
year  of  Mary's  reign,  1556. 

Three  Cranks  in  the 
ViNTRY,  a  celebrated 
tavern  in  Upper  Thames 
Street,  between  London 
Bridge  and  Blackfriars 
Bridge. 

Trismegistus,  the  name 
given  in  the  early  Chris- 
tian ages  to  the  Egyptian 
god,  Thoth,  whom  the 
ancient  Greeks  identi- 
fied with  their  god 
Hermes.  Trismegistus 
wfUB    regarded     by    the 


alchemists  as  a  father  o 
their  art. 

Trowl,  to  pass  round. 

Truepenny,  the  name 
Hamlet  applies  to  his 
Father's  Ghost  in  Act 
i.  sc.  5. 

Tugukia,  huts,  cottages. 

Turnball,  or  Turnbull, 
Street,  now  Turnmill 
Street,  near  Clerkenwell, 
formerly  a  resort  of 
bullies  and  low  characters. 

Twin  streams  (p.  188),  the 
Rhone  and  the  Sa6ne. 
See  Csesar,"  DeBell.Gall," 
Bk.  i. 

Tyburn  tippet,  halter. 

Tyke,  a  dog. 

Uno  avulso,  etc.  (p.  103), 
when  one  has  been  torn 
off,  another  grows  in  its 
place. 

Untimeously,  untimely. 

Up  sey  es,  a  corrupted 
Dutch  or  German  phrase, 
meaning  toss  it  off  1  here 
it  goes  1 

Vails,  a  windfall,  tip, 
gratuity  given  to  serv- 
ants. 

Vanbbugh,  Sir  John, 
dramatist  and  architect 
of  Queen  Anne's  reign. 

Varium  et  mutabile, 
changeful  and  capricious. 

Venlo,  was  besieged,  but 
unsuccessfully,  by  the 
Spaniards  in  November, 
1578. 

Via  1  away  I 

ViReiNAL,      small     harp- 


sichord or  old-fashioned 

piano  without  legs. 
Vogue   la   oalere,   come 

what  may. 
VoTO  A  Dios,  Spanish  oath 

of  menace,  By  God  1 

WASSAiL.spiced  ale  orwine. 

Watchet,  pale  blue. 

'*  What  man  that  sees," 
etc.  (p.  153),  from  Spen- 
ser's Cantos  on  Muta- 
bility, a  fragment  of  the 
"Faerie  Queene." 

Whiteboy,  pet,  darling,  a 
term  of  endearment. 

White  witch,  wizard  or 
witch  of  beneficent  dis- 
position. 

Whittle,  a  large  knife, 
generally  one  carried  in 
the  girdle. 

Wife  of  Bath,  one  of 
Chaucer's  Canterbury 
Pilgrims. 

Willoughby,  Lord,  Pere- 
grine Bertie,  Lord  Wil- 
loughby de  Eresby,  a 
distinguished  soldier, 
hero  of  the  ballad  of 
"  The  Brave  Lord  Wil- 
loughby." 

Witch's  elm,  or  rather 
rowan-tree,  as  in  the 
passage  a  few  paragraphs 
lower  down  (p.  106). 

Witch's  mark,  a  wart  or 
mark,  insensible  to  pain, 
made  by  the  devil  on  his 
vassals. 

Won'd,  dwelt. 

Wus,  know. 

Wyvern,  a  winged  dragon, 
a  heraldic  term. 


INDEX. 


Adlard,  Amy  Robsart,qnoted ,  451 
Aglionby,  Recorder  of  Warwick,  289 
Alasco,  Holiday's  account  of,  103 ;  Way- 
land's,  119;  his  interview  witii  Leicester, 
212;  with   Varney,  215  ;  sent  down   to 
Cumnor,  221  ;  his  specious  casuistry, 
260  ;  found  dead,  444 
A8hmole,AntiquitiesofBerkshire,qnoied, 

iv,  451 
Astrology,  belief  in,  118,  211,  260 
Aubrey,  Correspondence,  quoted,  453 
Author's  Introduction,  iii 

Badger,    Will,    the  huntsman,  92;   de- 
scribes his  master's  condition,  130 
Bear,  the  Leicester  cognizance,  76 
Bear-baiting,  described,  199 
Beattie.  Castles  of  England,  quoted.  455 
Black  Bear  Inn,  Cumnor,  1,  223,  452 
Blount,  Nicholas,  at  Say's  Court,    151  ; 
sent  to  court  to  make  Sussex's  apolo- 
gi'  8,  160  ;  his  gay  dress,  821  ;  knighted, 
343 ;    his    astonishment   at   court   in- 
trigues, 425 
Boiardo,  Orlando  Innamorato,  456 
Burleigh,  advises  the  Queen,  427 

Camdbn's  Britannia,  quoted,  452 

Chopin,  or  chapiney.  Coryat  on,  455 

Coryat,  Crudities,  quoted,  455 

Coventry  custom,  416 

Coxe,  Captain,  of  Coventry,  416 

Crane,  Mistress,  125 

Crank,  Dame,  125 

Cumnor.  village,  1 ;  Black  Bear  Ion,  1, 
223,  452;  park,  23;  Hall  or  Place,  26, 
451  ;  apartments  at,  52;  secret  trap- 
door, 444 

Cumnor  Hall,  poem,  vi,  451 

Curate  of  Lidcote,  182 

Do»oo»iK,  Dr.  Set  Alasco 

Elizabeth,  Queen,  her  mode  of  govern- 
ing,  150 ;  on  the  river,  162  :  her  atten- 
tion drawn  to  Raleigh,  163  ;  visits  Say's 
Court,  169;  holds  court  at  Greenwich, 
178  ;  cross-questions  Varney,  180  ;  gives 
audience  to  Tressilian,  186 ;  receives 
Leicester  on  her  barge,  196 ;  completes 
Raleigh's  verse,  204 ;  her  peculiar 
temper,  241  ;  entry  into  Kenilworth, 
825  ;  calls  for  Amy,  334  ;  discovers  her 
In  the  grotto,  362  ;  scene  with  Leicester, 
866  ;  her  anger  on  his  disclosure,  427 

Evelyn,  Mr.,  149 

Fi.nBBRTiaiBBST,  106  ;  guides  Tressilian, 
108  ;  blows  up  the  smithy,  122  ;  replies 
to  Yarney's  questions,  280;  makes  nim- 
•elf  known  to  Wayland,  281 ;  his  iu- 


quisitiveness,     282,    803 ;   drops   npon 
Wayland's  horse,   294  ;    astonishes  the 

torter,  296;  prompts  him,  328;  stays 
eictster,  420 :  explains  his  behavior, 
423 

Foster,  Anthony,  14 ;  personal  appear- 
ance of,  27 ;  interview  with  Lam- 
bourne,  31  :  his  conversations  with 
Varnt-y,  42,  77  ;  attempts  to  quiet  Lam- 
bourne,  237  ;  quotes  Scripture  to  Amy, 
254;  brings  the  poison  lo  Amy,  257: 
prays  in  his  sleep,  436  ;  arranges  the 
trap,  446;  his  end,  448;  the  real 
Anthony  Forster,  451 

Foster,  Janet,  43,  55  ;  declines  the  earl's 
ring,  7 ;  her  dislike  to  the  peddler,  232  ; 
overhears  Lambourne's  ravings,  237 ; 
intercepts  the  poison,  258 ;  aiiis  Amy 
to  escape,  263  ;  weds  Waylaud,  44S 

Gascoione,  imitation  of,  328,  455 

Goldthred,  Laurence,  the  merct^r,  7  ;  tells 
of  the  lady  at  Cumnor  Place,  15 ;  his 
wager  with  Lambourne,  18;  carouses 
with  him.  226 ;  his  horse  seized  by 
Wiyland,273 

Gosling,  Cicely,  21 

Gosling,  Giles,  landlord  of  the  Black 
Bear,  1 ;  his  concern  about  Tressilian, 
10;  conversation  with -him,  89;  send* 
Wayland  to  Cumnor  Place,  229 

Qrimesby,  Gaffer,  123 

Harrixoton,  Sir  John,  241,  456 
Hobgoblin.    See  Flibbertigibbet 
Holiday,  Erasmus,  99,  101 
Hostler,  Jack,  of  Marlborough,  1S8 
Hunsdon,  Lord,  367,  413 

Introduction,  Author's,  iil 

Julio,  Dr.,  454 

Kenilworth,  the  novel,  iii 

Kenilworth  Casile,  290;  royal  entry  into, 
325 ;  entertainments  at,  329,  399,  416, 
455  ;  pilgrims  to,  455 ;  furniture  in,  456 

Lahbourne,  Michael,  returns  to  Cum- 
nor, 2  :  his  wager  with  Goldthred,  18  ; 
visits  P'oster,  27,  37  ;  interrupts  Varney 
and  Tressilian,  40  ;  taken  into  Varney's 
service,  80 ;  takes  Alasco  to  Cumnor, 
221  ;  commands  Foster  to  the  inn,  227  ; 
his  drunken  ravings.  287 ;  encounter 
with  Tressilian  at  Kenilworth,  810; 
turns  Wayland  out  of  the  castle,  815  ; 
his  welcome  to  the  Oueen,  380  ;  enters 
Amy's  apartment,  854 ;  sent  after 
Varney,  407  ;  his  death,  438  ;  shot  by 
Varney,  441;  note  on  his  name,  4CS; 


46« 


INDEX, 


LAneham,  Robert,  pays  court  to  Leices- 
ter, 198 ;  his  deHcription  of  Kenil- 
worth  festivities,  830,  455 :  accoant  of 
iiim,  453 

Leicester,  Earl  of,  visits  Amy  at  Cumnor, 
65  ;  offers  Janei  a  present,  70 ;  talks  of 
reuriug  from  court,  72  ;  tAken  farewell 
of  Amy.  75 ;  at  Woodstock,  84  ;  in  con- 
sultation witii  Varney,  172,  209,  243, 
845,  372  ;  summoned  to  Greenwich,  175  ; 
difticullies  of  his  position,  196,  240 ; 
courted  by  Laneham,  193 ;  summoned 
to  the  Queen's  barge,  195 ;  consults 
Alasco,  212;  receives  the  Queen  at 
Kenilworth.  332 ;  his  dress,  a33  ;  love 
passages  with  the  Q(ieen,  360,  456 ; 
confronted  with  Amy,  367  ;  last  inter- 
view with  her,  376  ;  his  desperate  strait, 
882 ;  fatal  decision,  390 ;  gives  Varney 
his  signet  ring,  396  ;  accosted  by  Trea- 
Bilian,  403;  sends  Lambourne  after 
Varney,  407 ;  his  meeting  with  Tres- 
silian,  409,  419  •  interrupted  by  Flibber- 
tigibbet, 420;  before  the  Queen,  427; 
his  death,  458 

Leicester's  Commonwealth,  v,  456 

Lidcote  Hall,  129 

HAKTEtts,  the  physician,  turned  away  by 
Saleigh,  158  ;    his  report  as  to  Amy'i 
condition,  397 
Mervvn's  Bower,  Kenilworth,  290 
Mickle,  author  of  Cumnor  Hall,  v,  451 
Mumblazen,  Master,  131  ;  gives  his  purse 
to  TresBilian,  139 

••  Of  all  the  birds  on  bush  or  tree,"  18 
Orvietan,  or  Venice  treacle,  148,  458 

Paokt,  Lady,  203 
Peddlers,  time  of  tale,  228 
Pinnit,  Orson  ^petition  of,  198 
Pleasance,  at  Kenilworth.  300,  858 
Porter,  gigantic,  at  Kenilworth,  295 ;  hia 
address  to  the  Queen,  828 

RjLLKiGH,  Walter,  at  Say's  Court,  168; 
refuses  to  admit  Dr.  Masters,  158  ;  ac- 
companies Blount  to  Court,  160 ;  lays 
down  his  cloak  for  the  Queen,  168; 
in  the  royal  barge,  164 ;  recites  the 
"  Vision  of  Oberon  "  201  ;  writes  on  the 
window-pane,  203 ;  at  Kenilworth,  321 ; 
knighted,  342 ;  sets  off  for  Cumnor,  438; 
Aubrey's  description  of,  453;  his  skill 
as  a  courtier,  453 

Robsart,  Amy,  Goldthrcd's  account  of, 
15 ;  interview  with  Tressilian,  35 ;  re- 
ception of  Varney,  43 ;  in  her  new 
apartments,  55  ;  interview  with  Varney, 
68 ;  visit  of  Leicester,  65 ;  Leicester 
takes  farewell,  75  ;  buys  from  the  pod- 
dler,  282;  her  tastes  and  trainincf,  248, 
285 ;  exciting  interview  with  Varney, 
251 ;  drinks  the  poison,  262 ;  epnapes 
from  Cumnor,  264 ;  intrusts  herself  to 
Wayland,  270 ;  amongst  the  mapqners, 
279 ;  her  irresolution,  286 :  on  the  way 
to  Kenilworth,  288 ;  enters  the  chase, 
298 ;  in  Kenilworth  Castle,  295 ;  gives 
Wayland  the  letter,  300 ;  discovered  by 
TrMsilian,  806;  her   caae    before  the 


Queen,  a34 ;  in  Mervyn'a  Bower,  86i  j 
her  privacy  invaded  by  Lambourne,  864  ; 
discovered  by  the  Queen,  862 ;  screens 
Leicester,  368  ;  put  in  confinement,  369  ; 
last  interview  with  Leicester,  376 ; 
slandered  by  Varney,  385 ;  carried  back 
to  Cumnor,  435  ;  arrives  there,  USt ;  her 
death,  446 ;  anachronisms  regarding, 
455 

Robsart,  Sir  Hugh,  92,  131,  449 

Robwart,  Sir  Roger,  91,  133 

Rutland,  Duchess  of,  proposes  Raleigh 
for  knighthood,  341 

Sat's  Court,  149 

Shakspere,  192,  198,  200  ;  his  "  Vision  oi 
Oberon,"  201 

Shrewsbury,  Earl  of,  427 

Sludge,  Gammer,  99 

Sludge,  Richard.    See  Flibbertigibbet 

Staples,  Laurence,  315,  354 

Sussex,  Earl  of,  hit*  letter  to  Tressilian, 
140 ;  his  lineage,  151  ;  takes  Wayland's 
drugs,  155  ;  surprised  by  Elizabeth,  169  , 
summoned  to  Greenwich.  175  ;  supports 
Orson  Pinnit's  petition,  198 ;  proposes 
Blount  for  knighthood,  841 ;  his  Jeal- 
ousy of  Leicester,  453 

Swart,  Martin,  91,  452 

TiDKR,  Robin,  435 
Tracy,  Earl  of  Sussex's  man,  158 
Tressilian,  Edmund,  at  Cumnor,  9;  his 
interest  in  the  lady,  16 ;  joins  Lami- 
bourne  in  his  wager,  18  ;  visits  Cumnor 
Place,  27  ;  his  interview  with  Amy,  35; 
encounter  with  Varney,  39  ;  conversa- 
tion with  Giles  Gosling,  89  ;  in  the  Vale 
of  the  Whitehorse,  98  ;  interview  with 
Wayland,  113;  at  Marlborough,  123: 
arrives  at  Lidcote  Hall,  129 ;  summoned 
to  court  by  Sussex,  140 ;  goes  with 
Wayland  to  buy  drugs,  144 ;  arrives  at 
Say's  Court,  162;  before  the  Queen, 
186 ;  returns  to  Kenilworth,  305  ;  dis- 
covers Amy  in  Mervyn's  Bower,  306  ; 
meeting  with  Lambourne,  310;  hears 
Wayland's  report,  313 ;  offends  the 
Queen,  335 ;  accosts  Leicester,  403 ; 
fights  with  him,  409,  419;  saved  by 
Flibbertigibbet,  420  ;  summoned  before 
the  Queen,  425 ;  sets  off  for  Cumnor. 
438  ;  his  end,  449 

Vabnkt,  Richard,  encounter  with  Tres- 
silian, 39;  reception  of,  by  Amy,  42 ; 
conversation  with  Foster,  43  ;  interview 
with  Amy,  58  ;  in  counsel  with  Leices- 
ter, 72,  172,  209,  248.  345,  372;  con- 
sults with  Foster,  77  :  takes  Lambourne 
into  his  service.  fO ;  refused  admission 
by  Bowyer,  17'> ;  examined  by  the 
Queen,  180;  his  talk  with  Alasco,  215  ; 
sends  him  to  Cumnor,  221  ;  ommons 
visit  to  Amy,  251  ;  constrains  her  to 
take  the  poinon,  262 ;  overtakes  the 
masquers.  280  ;  presents  the  certificates, 
884  ;  knigl\ted,  340  ;  extricates  Leices- 
ter from  his  dilemma,  368  ;  argues  with 
him,  883,  394  ;  slanders  Amy,  385  ;  car 
ries  her  off  to   Cumnor,  486 :  shoots 


INDEX, 


469 


l;amboarne,  441  ;    imitates  Leicester's 
whiBtle,  446  ;  his  Buicide,  448 
Venice  treacle,  or  orvietan,  148,  468 

Watland  Smith,  Holiday's  account  of, 
108;  surprised  by  Tressilian,  113;  his 
history,  117;  his  haunt  blown  up,  122; 
at  Marlborough,  123;  Rivee  a  draught 
to  Sir  Hugh  Robsart,  138  ;  buyn  drugs, 
144  ;  prescribes  for  the  Earl  of  Sussex, 
149  ;  his  fear  of  Alasco,  206 :  sent  down 
to  Ciimnor,  207  ;  disguised  as  a  peddler, 
223  ;  has  audience  of  Amy,  232  ;  guides 
her  to  Kenilworth,  270  ;  appropriates 
Qoldthred's  horse,  378 ;  mingles  with 


the  masquers,  879  ;  accosted  by  Flibber 
tigibbet,  281 ;  on  the  way  to  Keuil 
worth,  288 ;  enters  the  chase,  293 
watches  for  Tressilian,  808  :  loss  of  the 
letter,  313  ;  expelled  by  Lambonme^  816 
appears  before  Leicester  and  Tressilian 
421 ;  weds  Janet  Foster,  448 ;  note  on 
from  Camden's  Britannia,  452 

"  What  stir,  what  turmoil,"  8S8 

Whitehorse,  Vale  of,  98.  463 

Wild  cattle.  Scottish,  208,  464 

Willonghbv.  Lord,  197 

Woodstock  Park,  84 

YoGLAK,  the  Jew,  W 


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